Liz Cheney

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, President Trump is hiding behind executive privilege. All of my colleagues, all of them knew that what happened on January 6 was an assault on our Constitution. They knew it at the time, yet now they are defending the indefensible. Whether we tell the truth, get to the truth and defend ourselves against it ever happening again is the moral test of our time. How we address January 6 is the moral test of our generation. It is very sad to see how my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are addressing this issue. Mr. Meadows has refused to testify about nonprivileged material. He is in contempt. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, a year ago today, the election was still a couple of weeks off. We knew it would be a tight race. Most of us did not anticipate that President Trump, or any President, frankly, would ever simply reject the outcome of the vote. President Trump had the right to challenge the outcome in our State and Federal courts, which have an appropriate and constitutional role in resolving election claims. But what he did thereafter has no precedent in our history. He rejected the courts' rulings in dozens of cases, including the rulings of judges President Trump himself appointed. He rejected what his own Department of Justice officials told him over and over again, that they found no evidence of widespread fraud sufficient to overcome the election. He rejected the conclusions of both the Department of Justice and the intelligence community that the Dominion Voting machines had not secretly changed the election outcome. President Trump had no factual or constitutional basis for his claims. And the lawyers he found who would carry his false claims forward have paid the consequences. Rudy Giuliani's license to practice law has been suspended, and Sidney Powell has been sanctioned by a Federal judge. But Donald Trump persisted, attempting through every manner he could imagine to try to overturn the outcome of the election. We all saw what happened. The people who attacked this building have told us on video, on social media, and now before the Federal courts exactly what motivated them. They believed what Donald Trump told them, that the election was stolen and that they needed to take action. Today, Madam Speaker, we are here to address one witness, Mr. Steve Bannon. I urge all Americans to watch what Mr. Bannon said on his podcast on January 5 and 6. It is shocking and indefensible. He said, ``All hell is going to break loose.'' He said, ``We are coming in right over the target. This is the point of attack we have always wanted.'' Madam Speaker, there are people in this Chamber right now who were evacuated with me and with the rest of us on that day during that attack; people who now seem to have forgotten the danger of the moment, the assault on the Constitution, the assault on our Congress; people who you will hear argue that there is simply no legislative purpose for this committee, for this investigation, or for this subpoena. In fact, there is no doubt that Mr. Bannon knows far more than what he said on the video. There is no doubt that all hell did break loose. Just ask the scores of brave police officers who were injured that day protecting all of us. The American people deserve to hear his testimony. Let me give you just four examples of the legislative purpose of this investigation. First, the plot we are investigating, involving Mr. Eastman, Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Bannon, President Trump, and many others, their plot attempted to halt or delay our count of electoral votes and reverse the outcome of the 2020 election. The 1887 Electoral Count Act is directly at issue, and our investigation will lead to recommendations to amend or reform that act. Second, while the attack was underway, President Trump knew it was happening; indeed, he may have been watching it all unfold on television, and yet he took no immediate action to stop it. This appears to be a supreme dereliction of duty by President Trump, and we are evaluating whether our criminal laws should be enhanced to supply additional and more severe consequences for this type of behavior. Third, we know from our investigation to date that President Trump was pressuring the Department of Justice in late December 2020 to support his false claims that the election was stolen. Several brave and honorable Trump appointees at the department flatly refused to go along with this fraud and threatened to resign. We are evaluating what, if any, additional laws may be required to prevent a future President from succeeding in such an effort. Fourth, we know that President Trump made efforts to persuade State election officials to ``find votes'' to change the election outcome in his favor. We are evaluating whether the criminal laws of the United States should be enhanced to make the penalty for this type of behavior even more severe, and, if so, in what manner. Mr. Bannon's own public statements made clear he knew what was going to happen before it did, and thus he must have been aware of and may well have been involved in the planning of everything that played out on that day. The American people deserve to know what he knew and what he did. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I wanted to correct the Record. The gentleman from Indiana asserted that the FBI has found there was no coordination. That is just simply not true. The gentleman also said that he is not on the committee. He noted that the Speaker had determined that he wouldn't be on the committee. Madam Speaker, I have a number of letters the gentleman from Indiana has been sending to Federal agencies, and I include in the Record one dated September 16, 2021, for example, signing his name as the ranking member of the committee he has just informed the House he is not on and that, in fact, he is not on. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 16, 2021. Hon. Deb Haaland, Secretary, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Dear Secretary Haaland: You are receiving this letter because the House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the events of January 6th may have sent you a request for information. The House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy appointed me to serve as the Ranking Member of the Select Committee. Yet, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to allow me to fulfill my duties as Ranking Member. Pursuant to the rules of the House of Representatives, the minority party in Congress retains rights to the same information that is provided to the majority party. For those reasons, I ask that you provide me any information that is submitted to the Select Committee. Additionally, please include me on any update or briefing that you provide. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff. Sincerely, Jim Banks, Ranking Member.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar).

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, just outside this Chamber, over the north door in Statuary Hall, which was the old House Chamber, stands a statue of Clio, the muse of history. She is one of the oldest works of art in our Capitol. She stands in a winged chariot, the chariot of time, and she takes notes in her book, reminding all of us that our words and our actions will be judged by history. History will particularly judge those of us in positions of public trust for what we are doing today. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Madam Speaker, we all recognized how profoundly wrong January 6 was. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan), who just suggested that we were here because we opposed President Trump's policies, seems to have forgotten that actually on January 6 he, himself, said, ``What happened today is wrong and is not what America is about.'' The next day Mr. Jordan said, ``What happened Wednesday is a tragedy. Everyone knows that. It is as wrong as wrong can be.'' And today, Madam Speaker, the former President suggested that the violence was justified. My colleagues in the Republican Party, the Republican Members of this body, have to understand, have to recognize, that there is a moment when politics must stop if we want to defend and protect our institutions. A violent assault on the Capitol to stop the constitutional process of counting electoral votes is that moment. They all knew that on that day. In fact, the minority leader himself stood in this Chamber and said, ``The President bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding.'' Mr. McCarthy was right then. The President bears responsibility. We need to know what happened. This body must have the ability to understand what caused the attack, to understand who was responsible, and to take legislative action to ensure that it never happens again. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this motion for contempt for Mr. Steve Bannon. I urge them to do so because it is right; it is morally right; it is constitutionally right; and it is all of our duty. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, on Friday, September 24, 2021, I was attending a funeral in Wyoming and was absent for votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: yea on rollcall No. 294 and nay on rollcall No. 295. Personal Explanation

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendments included in En Bloc No. 1. My first amendment, No. 100, would require DoD to develop more distributed military and Intelligence Community satellite architectures through a limitation of funds until Secretary of Defense certifies that the Secretary of Air Force is carrying out the program and the appropriate report on implementation is provided. His amendment was part of a China Task Force recommendation from last year that was dropped from the FY21 NDAA, despite its inclusion in the report. Section 1607 of the FY2020 NDAA mandated that the Secretary establish a program to prototype an M-code based, multi-global navigation satellite system receiver that is capable of receiving covered signals with the intent to increase the resilience and capability of military position and navigation equipment. This program would as a result deter the liklihood of attack on the worldwide Global Positioning System by reducing the benefits of such an attack. In last year's annual report to congress, the ``Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China'' highlighted PRC military strategists increasing development of capabilities that utilize space-based systems and to deny use of space-based systems to adversaries as central to modern warfare. The report further cites China's strengthening of its military space capabilities despite its public stance against the militarization of space. This program is critical to countering the CCP's intent to reduce U.S. competitive technological advantage in space. Just this spring, the DNI's annual Threat Assessment highlighted the PRC's advancing interests in advancements in the space domain, detailing China's intent to continue to develop craft to intercept, capture, or destroy US satellites. Additionally, this past summer Director of Intelligence for Indo- Pacific Command, Rear Adm. Studeman repeated similar concerns: ``From dazzling to jamming, to kinetic kill-from-the-ground, from space--all that, they're on the march. They take a look at our space capability and want to equal and exceed those and be able to dominate to guarantee themselves the maneuvering they need to be able to secure their objectives if they're in a fight.'' It is critical that as we further develop space-capabilities we do so by prioritizing resilience in these systems as our adversaries continue to develop technology to not just rival, but dominate our efforts in the space domain. My second amendment included in this En Bloc, No. 101, would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from altering the designation of uranium as a critical mineral until a report assessing the effects of the loss of domestic uranium production. The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of Energy and Commerce, are to conduct the assessment of the national security impact of removing uranium from the list and submit a follow-up report. The U.S. Geological Survey, which updates the critical minerals list every three years, published its revised methodology published in May noting that ``Fuel minerals, including uranium, were explicitly excluded from consideration in this analysis.'' Removing uranium from this list, as the Biden Administration is proposing, is another effort to cave to the whims of environmental groups. The impact of this is not exclusive to national security. Domestic uranium production has almost completely idled and the source of uranium for our reactors has increasingly become foreign state-owned entities. Keeping it as a resource on the list will go a long way to restoring and securing American uranium production. Producing less energy at home means that we are forced to rely on our adversaries for these critical resources, emboldening them and weakening our global standing as they attempt to undermine our interests. U.S.-origin uranium is critical to national defense for the purpose of nuclear weapons and the naval fleet, providing propulsion for 11 aircraft carriers and 70 submarines. Many international nuclear cooperation agreements to which the United States is a party, restrict the use of nuclear material imported under those agreements to peaceful uses. The United States requires U.S.-origin uranium and nuclear technologies for use in the production of uranium-based products for U.S. defense systems, with no foreign obligations that restrict the uses of such nuclear material. At this time, there is only one functional enrichment facility in the United States despite employing three major defense systems that require highly-enriched uranium. Removing uranium from the critical minerals list would be a dangerous and misguided decision as it is a vital component to both our national security and energy security. We cannot continue to rely on unfriendly nations that leverage energy dominance for geopolitical influence. These amendments are important additions to the National Defense Authorization Act and highlight the diverse challenges to our national security. I am encouraged by their inclusion into En Bloc No. 1 and urge adoption into the final bill.

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to amendment No. 38, offered by my colleague Rep. Garamendi. The sponsors of this amendment would have you believe that this amendment is an attempt to save money and that life extending the Minuteman III ICBM is a cost saver. This is simply untrue. The House Armed Services Committee has heard witness after witness testify that any Minuteman Ill life extension will cost billions more than GBSD. We've heard from Admiral Richard of STRATCOM, General Hyten, and General Milley that the current ICBM can no longer be credibly or affordably sustained--and even if it could, it would not meet deterrence requirements of the future. According to Secretary Austin, even if the Minuteman III could be life extended, which is increasingly difficult as antiquated parts fall out of production, such an effort would be at least $38 billion more expensive than GBSD. For the MM III to be usefully life extended, the United States would need to replace a number of major missile components--which, even if accomplished at cost and on time, would still fall short of the Department of Defense's requirements--including accommodating modern safety and security features and defeating the emerging anti-missile technologies of our adversaries. GBSD will incorporate low risk, technically mature components; feature a modular architecture that can incorporate emerging technology to adapt to rapidly evolving threat environments; and will be easier to maintain than the MM III--all of which will save on costs and provide great value as GBSD operates well into the 2070s. Finally, the GBSD program will not only replace the MM III missile, but also modernize the launch facilities, improve command and control, and increase safety and security. While our adversaries are modernizing their deterrents at breakneck speed, the proposed amendment would keep America in the past. I will oppose the Garamendi amendment.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madame Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and sacrifice of Marine Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum. Rylee was a beloved son, brother, friend, husband, and soon-to-be father who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedoms and defending our interests while serving in Afghanistan. His family remembers him as someone who was wholly intolerant of injustice and stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves. He was a deeply patriotic young man who had a passion for learning. Specifically, he was interested in the ceremonies that encompassed our Nation's most sacred traditions. As his father remarked ``He's the most patriotic kid you could find, loved America, loved the military. Tough as nails with a heart of gold.'' His willingness to put himself in harm's way to keep our country safe and preserve our freedom represents a level of selflessness and heroism that embodies the best of America. Rylee was a native of Bondurant, Wyoming, and demonstrated an interest in joining the Armed Services from an early age. He attended Jackson Hole High School, where he became a decorated wrestler, and later went on to graduate from Summit Innovations School in Jackson in 2019. It was no surprise to his friends and family when right after graduation, on his 18th birthday, he followed through on his determination to serve this Nation at the highest level by enlisting in the U.S. Marines. Rylee McCollum died a hero, and his bravery will never be forgotten. I want to thank him for his service to our country and express the deepest condolences of the entire Congress to his family and loved ones.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Reva Lobatos on being named the 2021 Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom Educator of the Year. Reva Lobatos currently teaches fourth grade at Fort Washakie Elementary in Fremont County and is active in her school, education communities, and WAIC programs. Over the past four years, Reva has taught the Wyoming Stewardship Program to her fourth grade students on the Wind River Indian Reservation. These lessons provide a meaningful way for Reva to discuss natural resources, the economic impacts of those resources, and caring for the land. Over the past year, as the Covid-19 pandemic forced our children to attend school virtually, Reva found new and creative ways to give her students a hands-on learning experience. She utilized resources from the Wyoming Stewardship Program to allow her students to explore Devil's Tower and a Wyoming trona mine through virtual field trips. This new and creative way of teaching allowed her students to engage with the curriculum and develop an interest in our unique landmarks. This outstanding accomplishment is a true reflection of Reva's hard work, dedication, and commitment to her students. Washakie Elementary school is lucky to have someone who puts students first and finds new and creative ways to make learning interactive for their students. I thank Reva for her dedication to Wyoming students and contributions to education.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Dr. Jim Logan on being selected for induction into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Veterinarian Dr. Jim Logan has served livestock producers across the nation for many years in a multitude of capacities. Throughout his distinguished career, Jim has played a key role in developing animal disease regulations, providing common sense approaches to animal health issues, and above all, working with a true passion for agriculture. Jim attended the University of Wyoming in 1969 and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1975. Shortly after graduating, he returned home to Riverton and opened his own veterinary practice in 1981. Jim's service to the livestock industry here in Wyoming did not stop at providing top quality care to animals. Jim served his community by staying active as well as taking on leadership roles within the U.S. Animal Health Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Wyoming Veterinary Medical Association, the Wyoming Livestock Board, American Sheep Industry Association, the National Animal Health Surveillance System Steering Committee, Wyoming Wool Growers Association, and Western States Livestock Health Association. Our state has been truly blessed by Jim's work within the Wyoming livestock industry. Through both his private veterinarian practice and serving as the Wyoming State Veterinarian, Jim has strengthened the agriculture and livestock industry here in Wyoming and across the Nation. I thank Jim for his dedication to Wyoming's agriculture industry, and congratulate him on the well-deserved induction in the Hall of Fame.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Keith Hamilton on being selected for induction into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Keith grew up as the fourth generation on the Hamilton Ranch. His family's long-standing roots in the agricultural industry gave him a vast knowledge of our state's unique ranching traditions. Keith used this information to benefit his community by working to conserve natural resources important to our western lifestyle. Over the course of his career, Keith has been recognized as a strong voice for the agriculture industry and quickly became a role model for aspiring young ranchers. In 1975, Keith joined the Wyoming Farm Bureau and began taking on leadership positions. In 1981, he became the Big Horn County Farm Bureau Vice President. In 1988, Keith joined the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors and represented Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie counties as the Northwest District Director until 2010. He also serves on the American Farm Bureau's Public Lands working committee. Keith has been very active in serving on other boards including the Wyoming State Grazing Board, Wyoming Wool Growers, Wyoming Stockgrowers. wildlife working groups, and his local school board. Through his service, Keith has shown his genuine passion and dedication to giving back to his community and the agriculture industry. Keith works from sunup to sundown with a smile on his face, a quick wit, and a joy that emulates from within. Through his commitment to his community, neighbors, and friends, Keith has become a great example of the type of rancher Wyoming needs. I thank Keith for his tireless efforts to promote agriculture and for his service to our state. Congratulations to him on his well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Linda Hamilton on being selected for induction into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Linda grew up on a ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska and attended college at Northwest College in Powell and later, the University of Wyoming. Linda has long been a leader in her community and in the field of agriculture in Wyoming. Through Linda's willingness to share her extensive knowledge of the agriculture industry, she has become known as a spearhead and a trusted adviser within our local community and other agricultural communities throughout the state. Linda has dedicated her time and efforts to many events and organizations within the Hyattville community, as well as serving as a founding member of Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom. Through her activism, Linda was able to further the work of the Wyoming Association of Conservation District to assist farmers and ranchers in improving their operations while also protecting soil, water, plant, and wildlife resources. You can find Linda feeding bum lambs, driving equipment, wrangling grandchildren, sewing or completing any task that needs to be done on the ranch or within the community on a regular basis. Linda's devotion to the ranch, her family, and the agriculture industry is unmatched. Wyoming is fortunate that Linda chose to move here from Nebraska all those many years ago. Linda possesses a drive and tenacity that is truly unmatched. You will not find anyone as dedicated to the promotion of local agriculture and the ranching way of life. I thank Linda for her dedication to Wyoming's agriculture industry, and congratulations to her on the well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on my amendment, No. 89, drawing attention to the lack of funding for the Uranium Reserve Program in this bill. I would like to thank the Rules committee for making this amendment in order, although I was disappointed that many other crucial amendments I supported will not be debated or voted on by the full House, including many that would have preserved the protections for unborn lives that have been included in every other appropriations bill in recent memory. The Department of Energy's Uranium Reserve Program is critical to both our energy industry and national security. In the Fiscal Year 21 appropriations, this program was funded at 75 million dollars, but it was not included this year at all. This program will play an important role in reviving domestic uranium production and will bring new jobs to states like Wyoming. Uranium, despite what this administration may believe, is a critical mineral that is essential to our energy security, armed forces, and strategic deterrence. The Uranium Reserve Program was designed to address identified risks to the unobligated uranium supply chain including the loss of domestic uranium mining and enrichment capabilities, and defunding it will only serve to make the United States more dependent on unreliable foreign sources owned by China and Russia. This is not the time to expand our reliance on these countries. Instead of stifling domestic production of uranium, we should be expanding it. I hope the Chair and Ranking Member will work with me, moving forward, to ensure this important program receives adequate funding. I hope eliminating the Uranium Reserve Program from this year's Energy and Water appropriations was simply an oversight and the result of a rushed, partisan process, and that this can be remedied before the September 30 deadline.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 1, 2021, I was absent for family medical reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted: Nay on rollcall No. 205, Nay on rollcall No. 206, Yea on rollcall No. 207, and Nay on rollcall No. 208. personal explanation

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank very much my friend, colleague, Mr. Buck, for yielding me time this evening. I know the topic, Mr. Speaker, is cancel culture. I have some thoughts about that. But tonight I rise to discuss freedom and our constitutional duty to protect it. Mr. Speaker, I have been privileged to see firsthand how powerful and how fragile freedom is. Twenty-eight years ago, I stood outside a polling place, a schoolhouse in western Kenya. Soldiers had chased away people who were lined up to vote. A few hours later, they came streaming back in, risking further attack, undaunted in their determination to exercise their right to vote. In 1992, I sat across the table from a young mayor in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. I listened to him talk of his dream of liberating his nation from communism. Years later, for his dedication to the cause of freedom, Boris Nemtsov was assassinated by Vladimir Putin's thugs. In Warsaw in 1990, I listened to a young Polish woman tell me that her greatest fear was that people would forget; they would forget what it was like to live under Soviet domination, that they would forget the price of freedom. Three men--an immigrant who escaped Castro's totalitarian regime, a young man who grew up behind the Iron Curtain and became his country's minister of defense, and a dissident who spent years in the Soviet gulag--have all told me it was the miracle of America, captured in the words of President Ronald Reagan that inspired them. I have seen the power of faith and freedom. I listened to Pope John Paul II speak to thousands in Nairobi in 1985, and 19 years later, I watched that same Pope take my father's hands, look in his eyes, and say, ``God bless America.'' God has blessed America, Mr. Speaker, but our freedom only survives if we protect it, if we honor our oath, taken before God in this Chamber, to support and defend the Constitution, if we recognize threats to freedom when they arise. Today, we face a threat America has never seen before. A former President, who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him. He risks inciting further violence. Millions of Americans have been misled by the former President. They have heard only his words but not the truth, as he continues to undermine our democratic process, sowing seeds of doubt about whether democracy really works at all. I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative principles is reverence for the rule of law. The electoral college has voted. More than 60 State and Federal courts, including multiple judges the former President appointed, have rejected his claims. The Trump Department of Justice investigated the former President's claims of widespread fraud and found no evidence to support them. The election is over. That is the rule of law. That is our constitutional process. Those who refuse to accept the rulings of our courts are at war with the Constitution. Our duty is clear. Every one of us who has sworn the oath must act to prevent the unraveling of our democracy. This is not about policy. This is not about partisanship. This is about our duty as Americans. Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar. I will not participate in that. I will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former President's crusade to undermine our democracy. As the party of Reagan, Republicans have championed democracy, won the Cold War, and defeated the Soviet Communists. Today, America is on the cusp of another Cold War. This time with Communist China. Attacks against our democratic process and the rule of law empower our adversaries and feed Communist propaganda that American democracy is a failure. We must speak the truth. Our election was not stolen, and America has not failed. I received a message last week from a Gold Star father who said, ``Standing up for the truth honors all who gave all.'' We must all strive to be worthy of the sacrifice of those who have died for our freedom. They are the patriots Katharine Lee Bates described in the words of ``America the Beautiful'' when she wrote, Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self, their country loved and mercy more than life. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, this is at the heart of what our oath requires: That we love our country more, that we love her so much that we will stand above politics to defend her, that we will do everything in our power to protect our Constitution and our freedom that has been paid for by the blood of so many. We must love America so much that we will never yield in her defense. That is our duty.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Bertine Bahige on being named the 2021 Wyoming National Distinguished Principal. Bertine was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until he was kidnapped by the Mai Mai Rebel Group who came to his town in eastern DRC looking to abduct new recruits. He escaped after two years and spent five years in a refugee camp before being resettled in the United States. After he arrived in the United States, he juggled three jobs to put himself through community college and never missed a class. Bertine did so well in school that he was offered a scholarship to study at the University of Wyoming, and after graduating, decided to make Wyoming his home and begun looking for ways to give back to his community. He started his career as a high school teacher in Gillette and is now the Principal at Rawhide Elementary school. Bertine has had such an impact on his students that many of them come back years later to ask him for advice or guidance in their lives. This outstanding accomplishment is a true reflection of Bertine's hard work, dedication, and commitment to his students. Rawhide Elementary school is lucky to have someone who puts students first and values the positive impact teachers have on the students they teach. I thank Bertine for his dedication to Wyoming students and his contributions to education.

Ms. CHENEY

Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.