Andrew Clyde

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Americans are blessed to have brave men and women protecting our precious freedoms, including the more than 400,000 members of the National Guard. These servicemembers selflessly put their lives on the line in defense of our Nation. Today and every day, we honor their service and sacrifice. Guard members serve a unique mission, safeguarding our country as a whole and protecting the individual States that make up our Nation, including my home State of Georgia. From assisting at COVID-19 testing sites, to maintaining law and order during violent demonstrations, to helping out during extreme weather emergencies, the Georgia guardsmen always answer the call to serve. This service regularly extends beyond the Peach State such as at the southern border, where there are over 100 Georgia National Guard troops assisting Border Patrol agents in handling President Biden's out-of- control border crisis. Additionally, Georgia currently has combat forces at all six geographic combatant commands, serving our great State and our Nation around the world. In fact, members of the Georgia Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Wing were deployed to Europe in response to Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Georgians are tremendously thankful for their service in this vital mission, and we continue to pray for their safety overseas. Our Nation is forever grateful for all the past, the current, and the future men of the National Guard, and we thank you for your duty to our Nation and dedication to our freedoms.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Perry for leading the House Freedom Caucus and for leading this Special Order. The Declaration of Independence--what an incredible document that was--that was truly the birth certificate, I believe, of our Nation. It was the promise, I would call it, and the Constitution was the fulfillment of that promise. In the Declaration of Independence, it says--and you have heard this mentioned tonight, but I echo it: ``We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' The very first among those unalienable rights is life. ``That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.'' So who is responsible for securing that right of life? Well, that is the government--``deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.'' That is us. That is the American people. That is who consents to the government. That right of life is endowed by our Creator--by God. God gives you a right. Who can take it away? I don't think anyone can take it away. Our Declaration recognizes that some people will try, and so our government is supposed to protect that right. I am so thankful that our Supreme Court, which is one of our coequal branches of government, that they actually stood up after 49 years to defend that right to life. I echo my friend, Congressman Jody Hice from the great State of Georgia--Georgia's 10th District, just a little bit below mine--I echo his sentiments in thanking the Justices that stood for life: Justice Samuel Alito, who actually had to be moved from his residence because of the threats; Justice Clarence Thomas; Neil Gorsuch; Brett Kavanaugh; and Amy Coney Barrett. I think we as a nation should be telling these Justices: Thank you, thank you, and thank you. How many millions more lives will be saved because of this decision that--though it is not final--we believe will be final and will come out in a month? We need to encourage them for standing up and defending life. I think that is so very important because what we have seen so far has been absolutely despicable when it comes from the radical left and their threats to the Supreme Court. There is a reason that the Supreme Court Justices are confirmed for life on the bench, and that is so they are not intimidated. Here we have someone in the Supreme Court that leaked a draft decision with what I believe was the intent to intimidate, so maybe one of those Justices would change their mind. I am praying that they don't. From what we see, they will not. Thank God for that.

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I was illegally detained at the pointless metal detectors leading to the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 127, H.R. 7314.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that Biden's self-inflicted border crisis continues to spiral out of control, and it is only getting worse. President Biden's reckless immigration agenda may be easy for the left to dismiss, because it is what they want, but the heartbreaking and illegal consequences of his failed policies are impossible to ignore. Last week, at just 22 years old, Texas Army National Guard Specialist Bishop Evans made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to save two illegals from drowning. And you know, those two illegals turned out to be alleged drug smugglers. This young man served his country and his State honorably while fighting on the front lines of President Biden's border crisis. To my knowledge, the President still hasn't said one word about this young soldier's tragic death. The President's silence is deafening and disappointing. Keep in mind, it only took the President a matter of hours to accuse Border Patrol agents on horseback of misconduct when dealing with a rush of Haitian illegals just a few months ago. Simply put, the President's lack of interest and empathy reveals the sinister, but undeniable, fact that the chaos at our southern border is intentional. Since stepping foot into the White House, Joe Biden has eagerly destroyed our border security, putting Border Patrol agents at risk and threatening every community across the country with an invasion of illegal aliens. From illegally defying a Federal court order to reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, to fighting to terminate title 42 next month, the Biden administration has egregiously worked to undermine President Trump's successful solutions that protected our southern border. Biden's border crisis also represents a significant economic burden on the American people. According to a recent study written by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, the number of illegal aliens living in the United States increased by one million in President Biden's first year in office, bringing the estimated total of illegal aliens in the country to 15.5 million. Additionally, FAIR's fiscal analysis finds that the millions of illegal aliens currently residing in our great Nation are imposing a net fiscal burden of at least $143 billion, an increase of almost $10 billion since Joe Biden took office. Keep in mind, this comes at a time when American taxpayers are footing the bill for Democrats' senseless spending and battling the consequences of 40-year high inflation. The bottom line is that President Biden's radical open-border agenda is illegal, intentional, and disastrous for our economy. It is no wonder over 60 percent of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of immigration. Americans simply know the truth: President Biden puts illegal aliens first and Americans last, and the Biden administration is actively working to cover up that truth. Today, we learned that Biden's Department of Homeland Security is creating a Disinformation Governance Board which will be led by political hack Nina Jankowicz. This is nothing more than a blatant attempt to install a ministry of truth in order to push Biden's propaganda, lies, and radical agenda while concealing and censoring the truth about what is really happening at the southern border. Mr. Speaker, this is seriously dangerous and wholly unconstitutional, which is why I am demanding that Congress immediately investigate President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas' Disinformation Governance Board. We need answers now, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Her decisions will impact future Americans for generations to come, setting precedent that will ultimately guide our great Nation once you and I are long gone.

Mr. CLYDE. Without question, Americans from Maine, Utah to Alaska, from sea to shining sea, are watching intently, praying their Senators' vote will represent----

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to emphasize my concern about President Biden's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, commonly known as KBJ, and to express my deep disappointment for any Senator that votes for her confirmation this week. While I do not have a vote on KBJ's confirmation, I do have a voice. And I will continue using my voice to tell the American people the truth. The truth is that Ketanji Brown Jackson is incapable of holding criminals accountable. Throughout her career, Judge Jackson's sentences have been drastically lower than the national average, even for individuals who have committed the most egregious crimes imaginable. When analyzing all criminal case sentencing imposed by U.S. District Courts, Judge Jackson issued significantly lighter sentences, almost 34 percent less than the national average. Specifically, the statistics reveal a more sinister pattern when broken down to child pornography and child sex torture cases. When sentencing criminals for possession of child pornography, KBJ imposed sentences 57 percent less than the national average. Additionally, she issued sentences 47 percent less than the national average for those convicted of distributing these atrocious images of child sex torture. Disturbingly, child sex torture, one of the most heinous crimes of all, is met with compassion and concessions from Judge Jackson. In fact, here are some quotes from KBJ in the U.S. v. Hawkins cases involving Mr. Hawkins, an 18-year-old adult man charged with downloading many images and videos of innocent children being tortured by sex offenders. During this case KBJ said: ``I feel so sorry for you''--in reference to Mr. Hawkins himself--``and for the anguish that this has caused all of you.'' Judge Jackson feels sorry for the perpetrator. Excuse me? What about the victims and the anguish that this torture has caused them? In addition, KBJ stated: ``This seems to be a situation in which you were fascinated by sexual images involving what were essentially your peers.'' Peers? Really? The vile content Mr. Hawkins possessed depicted boys as young as 8 years old. Mr. Hawkins was 18 at the time, over twice their age. Keep in mind, the sentencing guidelines called for up to 10 years in prison for Mr. Hawkins, yet Ketanji Brown Jackson sentenced this predator to just 3 months in jail. Three months. Madam Speaker, we are not talking about someone who disobeyed traffic laws. This is a man convicted of possessing multiple images of child sex torture. This is sickening and wrong, plain and simple. It is not just Judge Jackson's record that is worthy of outrage. Revelations from her recent testimony speak volumes to KBJ's interest in legislating from the bench. When asked to provide the definition for the word ``woman,'' KBJ absurdly said she could not, adding that she isn't a biologist. Can you think of a more illogical excuse? The word ``woman'' is a term I am sure that most third graders can accurately describe with ease. By failing to define a woman, Judge Jackson has shown her true narrative to the American people, exposing her loyalty to the woke left. It is no secret that radical activists are waging a bizarre and dangerous war on women. From women's sports to large corporations, liberals are attempting to erase women while claiming to fight for women's rights. So by refusing to define a woman, Judge Jackson has revealed that she both accepts and supports the left's treacherous agenda. Furthermore, KBJ's inability to accept and acknowledge the differences between men and women raises serious doubt and questions about her ability to decide judicial outcomes regarding sex, such as title IX cases. Bottom line, Ketanji Brown Jackson's resistance to the realities that exist between men and women is deeply unsettling and proves that she will adjudicate with an agenda, an immoral agenda that is blatantly wrong for our country. In another disheartening display of her disqualifications, KBJ also refused to recognize Americans' natural rights. From the founding of our great country, both our citizenry and our government have acknowledged that we are provided unalienable rights by our creator. It is unconscionable that a nominee to our Nation's highest court would reject this foundational principle, and it is alarming that Senators will still ignore KBJ's appalling testimony and vote for her to serve our judicial system for life. Mark my words, Ketanji Brown Jackson's refusal to acknowledge Americans' natural rights from God is a Trojan horse for tyranny, presenting yet another glaring example of why she is unfit for the Supreme Court. We know she is soft on crime. We know she is a vessel for the woke left's dangerous ideology. And we know she cannot definitively defend Americans' God-given rights or precious freedoms. Yet, despite KBJ's frightening record and recent testimony, the Senate intends to vote on her confirmation to the Supreme Court this week. If KBJ becomes a Supreme Court Justice, she will serve for decades, solidifying and strengthening the left's menacing grip on our rule of law.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate your leadership and willingness to highlight the issues facing our country, including the very serious issue of the possible confirmation of an unqualified person, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the U.S. Supreme Court. President Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, commonly known as KBJ, is simply unfit to serve our Nation's highest court. Throughout her legal career, Judge Jackson has garnered a disconcerting record of being soft on crime, as evidenced by her lenient sentencing, particularly for criminals convicted of egregious acts involving child sex torture. Judge Jackson simply is incapable of holding dangerous criminals accountable. Additionally, Judge KBJ has revealed her allegiance to the radical left by refusing to define what a woman is, excusing her extremism by claiming she isn't a biologist. There are indisputable differences between men and women, and those differences must be both acknowledged and accepted in order for KBJ to properly adjudicate title IX cases. Judge Jackson also recently declined to recognize Americans' natural rights, the precious rights granted to us by God. Failing to accept the basic principle that individuals possess unalienable rights, a principle that is the very foundation of our American values, is supremely disqualifying for any individual seeking to serve our Nation's highest court. Yet, despite Judge Jackson's frightening record and recent disqualifying revelations, the Senate intends to vote to potentially confirm her to the Supreme Court this week. While it is true that Judge Jackson's confirmation will not immediately alter the makeup of the Court, it is naive and cowardly to make excuses when the stakes are this high. Our country, our liberties, and the makeup of the Supreme Court are on the line. If Judge Jackson becomes a Supreme Court Justice, she will serve for decades, solidifying and strengthening the left's menacing grip of our rule of law. Her decisions will impact future Americans for generations to come, setting precedent that will ultimately guide our great Nation once many of us in these Chambers are long gone. This is exactly why Judge Jackson's confirmation is much larger than just one vote. It is about preserving justice, protecting our freedoms, and defending our Constitution. Mr. Speaker, I urge every solitary Senator to contemplate their vote and the significant weight that it carries for our future. I encourage them to vote ``no'' on this confirmation. Without question, Americans from Maine to Utah to Alaska, from sea to shining sea, are watching intently, praying their Senators' votes will represent our Nation's constitutional principles rather than appeasement to the left. America is watching. Will our Senators defend America by voting ``no,'' or will they shrink back? We will not forget.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to highlight the abhorrent record of President Biden's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, commonly known as KBJ. In a posthearing written question and answer from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, KBJ refused to comment on whether she believes an individual possesses natural rights. This is unacceptable. The Declaration of Independence is crystal clear. ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' Yet, Ketanji Brown Jackson does not hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights. This is disqualifying, plain and simple. Any Senator, Republican or Democrat, that votes to confirm KBJ later this week isn't just voting for a soft-on-crime, woke judge. They are also voting for a judge who does not recognize the natural rights, or civil rights which come from the natural rights, given to us by our heavenly creator, dangerously ignoring the fundamental foundation of our American values.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the troubling record of President Biden's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, commonly known as KBJ. Throughout her legal career, Ketanji Brown Jackson has earned a disturbing record on crime. In advocating for and administering lighter sentences for sex offenders, particularly those preying on and sexually abusing innocent children, KBJ has set an unforgivable pattern that disqualifies her from our country's highest Court. A prime example of this pattern can be found in the case of U.S. v. Hawkins, where the sentencing guidelines called for up to 10 years in prison for a man, an adult convicted of possessing multiple images of child sex torture. Ketanji Brown Jackson sentenced this predator to just 3 months in jail. Unconscionable. Mr. Hawkins recently told The Washington Post, ``I wasn't very happy that she gave me 3 months, although after reflection when I was in jail, I was hearing from other people who said it was their first time arrested and they got 5 years, 6 years.'' And he got 3 months. As crime rates soar in our cities across the country, adding soft-on- crime Justices, especially a Justice who basically ignores the crime of possessing and promoting images of severe child sexual assault, adding a Justice like that to the bench sends an alarming message to communities fearing for their safety. Additionally, during her confirmation hearing last week, KBJ refused to define what a woman is, excusing her absurdity by claiming she isn't a biologist. From women's sports to woke corporations like Disney, liberals are pushing an evil agenda that is erasing women and undermining women's accomplishments. As conservatives like myself fight this woke extremism, there will surely be cases considered in the future at the Supreme Court that require Justices to understand and accept the differences between men and women. If KBJ can't define a woman, how is she to adjudicate Title IX cases? This is a legitimate question that no Democrat wants to answer. This, too, is disqualifying. While I do not serve in the body that decides this monumental confirmation, I do have a responsibility to tell the American people the truth. And the truth is, a vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson is a vote for lenient sentences for child sexual torture, a vote for the left's woke war on canceling the achievements of real women, and a vote for the liberals' dangerous agenda. Americans, including Georgians, don't want a Justice on the bench who supports any of this radical garbage. Georgians are watching Senators Warnock and Ossoff. Will they vote for a Supreme Court nominee that is soft on crime, on one of the most heinous crimes of all, child sex torture, or will they stand up for all of Georgia's family values, protect our children, and be tough on crime by voting ``no'' on this Supreme Court nominee? For the sake of our great Nation, the Senate must save the Supreme Court from a lifetime of votes siding with demented pedophiles by voting ``no'' on Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation. No Vaccine Mandates

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring the Federal Government never again abuses its power by ordering employees to receive a vaccine or lose their job. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven powerful elites will stop at nothing to quench their thirst for power, including President Biden, who issued through OSHA a rule that forced businesses with 100 or more employees to require the COVID-19 vaccine. Forcing workers out of a job if they refuse to take a jab is a wholly unconstitutional power grab that violates Americans' freedoms, exacerbates labor shortages, and intensifies the supply chain crisis. Congress occasionally gives our government agencies certain broad authorities, and when those powers are abused, it is our responsibility to claw them back and safeguard the rights of American citizens. While the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Biden's OSHA rule, Congress has the authority and the responsibility to prevent any future attempts by the executive branch to subject the American people to unlawful mandates. This is why I proudly introduced H.R. 7281, the Reversing Every Vaccine Emergency Requirement and Stopping Employee OSHA Mandates Act. My bill, whose short title, is REVERSE OSHA Mandates Act, amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to repeal the Secretary's authority to issue emergency temporary standards and is a commonsense and crucial step toward preventing future government overreach by OSHA and defeating their hand in medical tyranny. It is incumbent upon Congress to prohibit this dangerous abuse of power from further tarnishing our Nation's history and subverting American workers' rights, which is why I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation that reins in OSHA and protects the freedoms of American workers.

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2022 Georgia High School Association 3A State champions, the Lumpkin County Lady Indians girls' basketball team. After trailing behind in the third quarter, the Lady Indians defeated the Greater Atlanta Spartans girls' basketball team 51-47, winning their 28th consecutive game and securing their first championship title in school history. These talented young women, led by head coach David Dowse, fought till the very end, showing incredible athleticism, strength, and determination. Congratulations to the Lumpkin County Lady Indians girls' basketball team on a spectacular win and an exciting new title. Georgia's Ninth District is proud of them.