Andrew Clyde

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, too many falsehoods have been spread about the Democrats' multitrillion-dollar tax and spend bill, the most radical and expensive piece of legislation in our history. The American people deserve to know the truth about the grave ramifications of passing this fiscally irresponsible liberal wish list. Let's unpack some of these egregious Pinocchios. For starters, the left has erroneously claimed that the so-called Build Back Better Act is fully paid for and will cost American taxpayers zero dollars. This is false. While we have not yet received the official CBO score, models show that Biden's Big Government socialist spending package should cost more than double what Democrats have previously reported. The number could be upward of $4.5 trillion, with $3 trillion of it being in new debt. Additionally, President Biden has touted for months that this legislation will not raise taxes on Americans earning less than $400,000 a year. According to early reports from the Congressional Budget Office, this is completely false as well. A recent analysis from the Tax Policy Center found that the reckless reconciliation bill would hike taxes for 20 to 30 percent of middle- class families next year, yet taxpayers in the top 5 percent will see a combined total tax cut of $32 billion. What a slap in the face to millions of small businesses, hardworking employees, and their families. Lastly, the President and his Democrat allies have absurdly stated that passing their pricey package will help ease inflation. Ease inflation? Really? This is completely illogical and defies all reason unless, of course, your intent is to deceive. Injecting trillions of dollars of borrowed Federal money into the economy, with billions of it going to climate change, will only worsen the already burdensome effects of record-high inflation. The result will be Americans struggling to afford gas, groceries, and heating bills. Keep in mind, the sole intent of the Biden, Bernie bankruptcy act's enormous cost is to fund unpopular and radical policies, such as taxpayer-funded abortion, weaponizing the IRS, and mass amnesty for illegal migrants. Oh, and don't forget about the 150-plus new government programs that will further expand the Federal Government's size and scope. Simply put, the unfortunate truth is that by ramming through their Big Government socialist spending spree, Democrats are selfishly prioritizing their dangerous, far-left agenda over the needs of the American people.

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Jackson County Deputy Lena Marshall, whose picture is displayed beside me right here. Last week, Jackson County lost a mother and a heroic law enforcement officer. After responding to a domestic call that spiraled into a violent shootout, Deputy Marshall tragically lost her life while serving to keep Georgians in our community safe. While I never had the privilege of meeting Deputy Marshall personally, I am deeply moved by her immeasurable sacrifice and willingness to put Georgians' safety above her own. As a resident of Jackson County myself, I believe I can speak for all of us in the county in saying that we are forever thankful for Deputy Marshall's dedication, her service, and her bravery. My wife, Jennifer, and I continue to pray for Lena's family and for her fellow Jackson County officers during this difficult time. May God bless our men and women in blue who selflessly put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring much-needed attention to the Houthis' latest act of aggression. Back in February, President Biden naively removed the Houthis, the Iranian-backed proxy force in Yemen, from designation as a foreign terrorist organization and from the specially designated global terrorist lists. Taking full advantage of President Biden's foolish decision and complete lack of leadership, the Houthis stormed the U.S. Embassy in Yemen last Wednesday, using the raid to take hostages and equipment. After years of brutal tactics, this latest act of hostility confirms again that the ruthless Houthis must be designated as a foreign terrorist organization. In June, I proudly introduced legislation to do just that. H.R. 3965, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, would reinstate the sanctions that the Trump administration placed on the Houthis, and redesignate the group as a foreign terrorist organization. I am deeply concerned for the safety of the Yemeni locals who were kidnapped while protecting our embassy. And again, I call on the Biden administration to provide an immediate briefing to Congress regarding that dangerous situation. I also implore all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3965, and I urge Speaker Pelosi to bring this legislation to the floor for immediate consideration. We have already witnessed devastating impacts of the administration's botched Afghanistan withdrawal. We cannot allow President Biden's void in leadership to develop additional disasters in the Middle East. In fact, at this very moment, our adversaries are defiantly gearing up to cause destruction. From China aggressively preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan, to Russia successfully testing an anti- satellite weapon in space, numerous emerging international crises present additional leadership tests for President Biden. So far, the silence has been deafening. For the sake of the American people and our allies, Mr. President, lead from the front. America's Soaring Inflation

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the soaring inflation that continues to burden Americans across this great Nation. There are plenty of reasons to be thankful this holiday season, but Biden's Thanksgiving tax is not one of them. Prices of common grocery items are skyrocketing, just in time for folks to gather around the table with loved ones. The price of a 15- pound turkey is up 27 percent. Apples are up 6.7 percent. Potatoes are up 13 percent. Cranberries are up 5.2 percent. And the list goes on and on. In fact, this year's Thanksgiving is expected to be the most expensive holiday meal in history. But it doesn't just stop at the grocery store checkout line. Consistent with months of increasing gas prices, holiday travelers will face sticker shock at the gas pump, where the cost of a gallon of gas is up 61 percent from this time last year. Gas is up 61 percent. Purposely moving forward with another massive multitrillion-dollar spending package, Democrats continue to ignore these very troubling inflation concerns. American workers, families, and small businesses deserve better. In the face of a volatile economy, we should prioritize fiscal responsibility and offer solutions to the inflation crisis, not make it worse and fan the flames of inflation by injecting trillions of dollars of borrowed Federal money into the economy. Celebrating Mars Wrigley Flowery Branch Plant's 50th Anniversary

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mars Wrigley plant in the city of Flowery Branch, in the Ninth District of Georgia. The plant opened back in 1971, becoming one of the very first confection factories in northern Georgia. Now, it is the manufacturing hub for the company's iconic gum brands, producing 75 percent of the chewing gum volume for the North American market. Currently, the plant employs over 920 associates, of which 250 have been with Mars Wrigley for over 20 years. Due to their hard work, this factory is one of the fastest growing manufacturing plants in the State of Georgia, and has been recognized as such by the chamber of commerce for its impact on the Hall County community. In fact, Mars Wrigley continues to go the extra mile by giving back to the local community, regularly volunteering in clean-ups, Christmas gift donations, and food banks. Congratulations, Mars Wrigley, on 50 productive years in northern Georgia, and best wishes for another prolific half century.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2021 World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves. After a stunning six-game World Series against the Houston Astros, culminating in a shutout victory last night, the Braves brought home the Commissioner's Trophy for the first time since 1995. I, along with millions of Georgians, am incredibly proud of this Braves team for their unparalleled talent, electric team spirit, and unwavering determination. Candidly, last night's victory was poetic justice after the Major League Baseball commissioner caved to the woke left and stole the All- Star game from Georgia earlier this year over Georgia's new election law reform that made it easier to vote and harder to cheat. While ill-advised political ploys fade away, World Series championships are forever. Chop on, Atlanta Braves.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Miller for her leadership on this vital issue of protecting education. In their quest for absolute power, Democrats are not just stopping with doubling the size of the IRS to target Americans, granting mass amnesty for millions of illegal migrants, or imposing burdensome tax hikes on workers and small businesses. No. They also plan to nationalize early education. The Democrats' $1.75 trillion Big Government socialist spending bill aims to strip parents of their freedom and hand over more power to bureaucrats and politicians in Washington. Under this irresponsible spending package, the Biden administration obtains total control in approving early childhood education standards while limiting parents' choice in their children's education. Mark my words, Madam Speaker. The Democrats' reckless reconciliation bill is a shameless ruse to indoctrinate America's youth with divisive curriculum and radical ideas. It is no coincidence that this comes at a time when the Department of Justice is targeting parents--yes, targeting parents--for exercising their First Amendment rights to speak out against critical race theory curriculum and unscientific mask mandates in schools. No wonder parents across the country are fed up with this nonsense. Parents are the primary stakeholders in their children's education. It is not the radical left; it is not the Federal Government; and it is not the failed teachers unions. It is parents. By injecting woke political propaganda into our schools instead of focusing on beneficial subjects such as history, reading, writing, and arithmetic, Democrats are holding children back from a top-tier education. Additionally, through the Democrats' empty promise guise of affordable childcare, this legislation would actually drive childcare prices through the roof, forcing middle-class families to spend roughly $13,000 more per year. Simply put, the Democrats' Big Government, socialist bill has the Federal Government's fingerprints all over education, which is not in accordance with the Constitution, and that should terrify every parent across the country. This is one of the many reasons why we need to preserve school and parental choice at the local level. It will ensure every solitary student has the opportunity to receive an education that will adequately prepare them for the future and that every solitary parent has the choice to decide where their children receive that education. Madam Speaker, let's empower parents and not embolden the Federal Government.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, it was indeed the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918. World War I, the war to end all wars, was finally over. It was called Armistice Day. Today, it is called Veterans Day, and it is the day we honor the service and sacrifice of all veterans, those living and those who have gone before us. This coming Veterans Day is not about having another day off work. It is not about enjoying another Federal holiday where we have an opportunity to uncover the grill. It is about honoring those who have served our country and sacrificed so we can live in freedom in the greatest Nation on the Earth. Madam Speaker, I grew up in Canada. My mom was Canadian and my father was a U.S. citizen and a U.S. Navy officer in the Korean war. In Canada, we didn't call November 11th Veterans Day, we called it Remembrance Day; and we always wore a red poppy to remind everyone of the sacrifices made for freedom. This is a picture of one right here. The poem ``In Flanders Fields'' from World War I talks about those poppies. As an elementary school student, I was required to memorize that poem. I think everyone should know that poem, because it is so powerful. The symbol of the poppy for remembrance, however, did not come from Canada. It came from my home State of Georgia, from a professor at the University of Georgia named Moina Michael. In fact, the highway between Athens, Georgia, and Monroe, Georgia, is called the Moina Michael Highway to honor her efforts. In 1917, she took a leave of absence from the university to volunteer with the Young Women's Christian Association to assist overseas workers in the war effort. In November of 1918, inspired by the poem ``In Flanders Fields'' by John McCrae, she vowed to always wear a poppy as a remembrance of those who sacrificed in the war. In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. We are so blessed to live in a country where men and women willingly put their lives on the line for our liberty. We must not, we cannot break faith. As we celebrate Veterans Day 2021, let's honor their service and remember their sacrifice by asking one simple question: How can we carry the burden for liberty? May God bless America and may God bless our military. Soli Deo gloria.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to continue to recognize the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and to further highlight the importance of cybersecurity across our country. Our Nation's safety and security are being challenged by enemies through cyberspace. As we have seen over the last year, these attacks can lie dormant for many months before being detected and can have devastating impacts on our economy and way of life. Furthermore, these cyberattacks can be carried out by both state and nonstate actors with ease, as they are relatively inexpensive to execute. There are certainly effective ways to immediately respond to a cyberattack, yet victims are often constrained due to lack of capabilities, knowledge, or resources. In many ways cyberattacks have emerged as a near-perfect weapon against our Nation. During these last 10 months in Congress, I have become aware of just how destructive a cyberattack can be on a small business. It makes no difference what the business does. The only concern of the thieves is that the business be vulnerable. That is what happened to a company in my district in rural north Georgia 3 years ago. The operations of a company that manufactured various bathroom fixtures came to a screeching halt when it was hijacked by a ransomware attack. This business was then forced to send a $100,000 ransom using cryptocurrency, bitcoin, to obtain the decryption key that would allow them to resume functioning. For almost 5 weeks their operations were shut down by the attack. When I spoke to the business management team, they told me the attack happened so quickly that they were not sure what to do or to whom to turn. In the end, this business suffered a loss of over $1 million in hard currency--money that had to be paid out to fix or replace equipment and almost $10 million in lost revenue. Any American or business can face the same horrifying reality. That is why it takes all of us to prevent these intrusions from occurring. It starts with fundamental cybersecurity practices that work to strengthen network resiliency; commonly known as good cyber hygiene. The Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, spearheads efforts to educate Americans on what steps they can take to practice proper cyber hygiene. I fully support CISA's efforts in this endeavor and encourage everyone, especially businesses, to take a look at the resources CISA has to offer to be more safe and more secure online. Madam Speaker, you can find them online at www.CISA.gov. Biden Border Crisis

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the ongoing and record-breaking Biden border crisis. Hidden in last Friday's news dump, the latest data from Customs and Border Protection reveals Biden's self-inflicted crisis at our southern border is far from over. Last month there were 192,000 encounters at our southern border alone--a 232 percent increase from September of last year. This is the seventh straight month of more than 170,000 illegal encounters--a trend never before recorded. This insanity must stop. The chaos at our southern border has now recklessly reached over 1.4 million illegal border crossings since President Biden took office. Yet during the President's townhall last week, he claimed that he hasn't had time to visit the crisis that he created. Keep in mind, Madam Speaker, the President has managed to visit his Delaware beach house almost every weekend of his Presidency. It is shameful, Madam Speaker, that the President doesn't feel the need to witness the very crisis that he created. I refuse to ignore this administration's blatant dereliction of duty. The country needs to continue to hear about it until the issue is fixed, and I will continue working with my Republican colleagues to strengthen border security and put Americans first.

Mr. CLYDE

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

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), my good friend and colleague, for yielding. Madam Speaker, veterans and their families have made many sacrifices for our great Nation. Through their service, these men and women have earned numerous benefits, and those benefits are validated by the member's individual service record. The repository for those records is the National Personnel Records Center. The center is behind in its work. With the pandemic, the backlog to obtain military records jumped from 56,000 to over 500,000 requests. That is a tenfold increase. That is 500,000 veterans and their families who are waiting on documentation that they need to apply for and receive benefits that they earned, including the GI Bill education benefits, VA loans, medical benefits, disability compensation, life insurance, and even burial benefits for their families. When these issues were first reported last year, the National Personnel Records Center stated that the pandemic prevented their employees from being able to process record requests in a safe environment. As such, Congress appropriated additional funds to address the center's concerns and to help expedite the digitization of records. However, the center did not grant its employees the proper technology to work from home during the pandemic until early 2021, nearly a year after the pandemic began. This choice by the center only compounded the worsening backlog. Also, the Archivist of the United States, who oversees the NPRC's operations, noted in his latest correspondence to Congress that he expects the center to eliminate the backlog of veteran requests by the end of fiscal year 2022. That means this time next year, a whole year. This is simply unacceptable. Each Member of this body has at least one veteran in their district impacted by this backlog, probably many, many veterans. It is time for all of us to step up to the plate to demand results. Show us that these record requests are being processed in a timely manner. I commend Representative Keller for spearheading this tonight to fix this issue. Part of that is through the introduction of his bill, the RECORDS Act. I appreciate his efforts very much, and I am proud to join him in this fight. I thank him for the invitation to participate.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express, once again, my sincere dismay that Democrats continue to ignore the wishes of the American people by removing the Hyde amendment and other life-affirming protections for the unborn from their bills, including their Big Government, socialist tax-and-spend reconciliation bill. My constituents are righteously angry that Democrats in control of this body time and time again choose to violate the sanctity of life. Moreover, they are furious at the thought of their tax dollars being used to violently end the lives of millions of unborn babies, millions of precious heartbeats in the womb. Madam Speaker, you and I both know full well that the Hyde amendment has saved lives. This is not just an opinion but a proven fact that simply cannot be ignored. I will always stand in support of the Hyde amendment and unapologetically fight for the sanctity of life. I urge my Democrat colleagues to abandon their political charade and restore the Hyde amendment in the bipartisan way it has been supported for almost 45 years. Again, I urge you to restore the Hyde amendment.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Johnson, my good friend from Louisiana, for yielding. Madam Speaker, no matter how hard the White House attempts to spin this economic crisis as a high-class problem, our Nation's financial future is in shambles because of the Biden administration's policies and it affects all of us. Inflation continues to climb ahead of the holiday season hitting a 13-year high just last week. From the gas pump to the grocery store, Americans are paying more for just about everything while they are working less. Despite having over 10 million job openings across the country, only 194,000 jobs were added last month, making September President Biden's worst jobs report since taking office. Instead of putting the brakes on spending, Biden and his allies in Congress are carelessly adding fuel to the inflationary fire by advancing their $1.2 trillion--only 9 percent--infrastructure bill, and $4.3 trillion Big Government socialist spending package. So in the face of an economic catastrophe, Democrats are gearing up to spend a whopping $5.5 trillion on their liberal wish list. That is wrong for small businesses. That is wrong for hardworking people across the country, and that is just wrong for America. Squandering trillions of dollars for unpopular, radical, and dangerous policies, while imposing a $2.1 trillion tax hike to pay for it, will only inflame the current economic crisis and burden Americans with more financial instability. How many more empty shelves will it take and record-high gas prices-- yes, look, $3.30 per gallon is where we are right now. That is a 50 percent increase from where we were for the last 4 years under the Trump administration. How many more struggling Americans will it take for the Biden administration to get serious about this economic crisis and call it a crisis, and act like it is a crisis? For the sake of our country, I call on President Biden to join us. Reverse course and work with Republican lawmakers to get our economy back on track.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the tremendous achievements of two law enforcement officers in Stephens County, Georgia. Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant Patricia ``Pat'' Brown recently reached her 30-year tenure with the Stephens County Sheriff's Office. After serving in the field for many years, Lieutenant Brown now diligently leads the records division and continues to display exceptional service to her community. Senior Deputy Sheriff Paul Shiffer reached his 50-year tenure this past year. Yes, I said 50 years of law enforcement service. And he continues to faithfully serve as head of the civil division. Whether he is working extra hours or using his personal time to custom make Christmas ornaments for each employee, Senior Deputy Shiffer has gone above and beyond to serve his community for half a century. The good folks of Stephens County are fortunate to have Deputies Brown and Shiffer, and I congratulate them both for their devoted service to the Ninth District.

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, I rise today in opposition to section 513, 529, and 529A of the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 513 would require our daughters to register for Selective Service, which is the database behind the military draft. I thank Congressman Green and Congressman Davidson for allowing me the opportunity to cosponsor their amendments to strip this provision from the bill. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee refused to make either amendment in order, meaning that Members are now not afforded the opportunity to vote their consciences on the issue of drafting our Nation's daughters. Since our country's founding, women have played a vital role in many of the critical support functions in military forces. The choices these women made in raising their hands to volunteer, to wear the uniform, and to swear an oath to uphold the Constitution are commendable and should be honored. However, it is unconscionable to me that this body would enact a provision to force women into registering for Selective Service. This would put women in a position where they could be called at random to report for duty before all registered males have been called in the extreme scenario of authorizing a draft during a national emergency. First of all, adding women to Selective Service is unnecessary. Our Nation has been fortunate enough through volunteer enlistment to have a force that is battle-ready and capable of withstanding any threat posed by our adversaries. If that was not the case, we would not have had a completely voluntary military for the last 40 years. A draft has not been needed since the 1970s, and I am confident that if it ever did get to that point, we would have more than enough men to satisfy the need for increased combatants. And that is the purpose of the draft, to increase available combatants to replace combatants after casualty losses. Thus, this provision is nothing more than an attempt to search for a solution to a problem that would not exist. In 2015, combat positions were open to women who could meet the physical requirements, but only a small number of women were able to meet those requirements because men and women are distinctly different and not the same physically. A 2015 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that, on average, men had about 26 pounds more skeletal muscle mass than women. For example, in the Marine Corps, the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force found that the musculoskeletal rate of injury for a woman was nearly twice the rate of injury for a man. And research at the Infantry Training Battalion found that the rate of injury for an enlisted woman was six times the rate of injury for a man. More muscle means more strength and less injury. The U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld the constitutionality of an all-male draft. So why are we doing this? Why are we trying to draft our daughters? It is just not right. Secondly, I have serious concerns about the lack of explicit accommodation provided in the text that would be needed to ensure we don't haphazardly draft two parents with dependents. While I realize the bill modernizes language regarding to whom the President is authorized to grant deferments from training and service, which does take into consideration dependents, there is no explicit language to prevent both a mom and a dad from being drafted. That is greatly concerning to me. And it should be greatly concerning to all Americans. I believe it is an issue that should be addressed by this body and not one determined by unelected officials at the Department of Defense. The family unit has always and always will continue to play a critical role in forming the posterity of our Nation. And it is imperative that we strive to retain it to the extent within our power to do so and not to erode it. Ensuring women are never forced to sign up for Selective Service and, therefore, never drafted, would be the correct solution. I also stand in opposition to section 529 of the NDAA, which would shred the due process rights of servicemembers while taking away their unalienable Second Amendment rights. Just think, this section of the NDAA would create the equivalent of a red flag law in the military to eliminate the due process rights of servicemembers who have fought to preserve those very rights for the rest of the country. That is the ultimate in hypocrisy. I also stand in opposition to section 529A. It includes a prohibition that says an individual who engages in extremist activities or is a member of an extremist organization may not serve as a member of the Armed Forces. The real issue is the definition of extremism: ``The terms extremist activities and extremist organization have the meanings prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.'' So it is up to the Secretary of Defense and, thus, under considerable influence of the administration and party in control to decide the meaning of the term. Mr. Speaker, this area is ripe for First Amendment abuse.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today on behalf of our Nation's unborn children, children, let me remind you, with heartbeats at 6 weeks, with fingers and toes at 10 weeks, and with the ability to feel and react to pain as early as 12 weeks. For too long, our Nation's leaders have tolerated the murder of millions of our precious children through cruel and painful abortions. Madam Speaker, this cruelty and insanity must stop. Many States have passed legislation to protect both these unborn babies and their mothers, but my Democratic colleagues are actively attempting to undermine and overturn these protections through H.R. 3755, the Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act. In addition, the bill disregards the conscience rights of millions of Americans. An Associated Press poll released in June of this year shows that up to 66 percent of adults believe abortions should be illegal in the second trimester and up to 81 percent in the third trimester. Yet H.R. 3755 is set in direct contradiction to the beliefs of the people as it allows for full-term abortions for any reason under the bill's all-inclusive health clause. The abortion on demand bill is murder in the first degree. Madam Speaker, it is impossible to justify the murder of a precious child in the womb. We all know that it is wrong to take innocent life, and no amount of slick talk will make it right. The scientific community has made great advancements through modern medicine and patient care practices to extend longevity for those who could not otherwise survive on their own, both old and young. At the time of Roe v. Wade, the average life expectancy for a man was close to 68 years and for a woman 75 years. Today, the average life expectancy is 78 years for men and nearly 83 for women. These are significant increases thanks to modern medicine. Such scientific and medical advancements have also proven viability for many infants born as early as 21 weeks gestational age, a feat that was nearly impossible at the time of Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey. We also now know that a heartbeat exists at 6 weeks. While science is ever improving, the moral and ethical considerations are crystal clear: To end an innocent human life is to end a heartbeat. That is murder. I firmly believe that life begins at conception, and speaking objectively, I ask you this: What better scientific metric to determine the existence of life than the presence of a heartbeat? You have a heartbeat, and I have a heartbeat. We both are alive. A heartbeat means life. When a heartbeat ceases, then life ceases. So when a heartbeat is present, we know there is life. When two heartbeats are present, a mom and her child, we know there are two lives. Madam Speaker, a heartbeat is a defining evidence of life. A small child and an aged adult alike can both wrap their minds around the fact that a heartbeat equals life, and that to end a heartbeat is to end life. This bill, H.R. 3755, ends heartbeats, so it ends life. The Declaration of Independence says: ``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. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men . . . '' Life is the first of the unalienable rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. And to secure these rights, government is instituted. To protect life is our first responsibility. We cannot ignore this. We must not ignore this. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to reject H.R. 3755 and join me in standing for the sanctity of life, for the preservation of the most innocent heartbeats in America. Soli Deo gloria.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson). Mr. Speaker, everyone sees it on the news. No one can legitimately deny it. Our country is going through the worst immigration crisis in the country. Now, statistics reported by Customs and Border Patrol show that, in August 2021, our frontline border agents encountered 208,000 illegal migrants. That is a 317 percent increase from August 2020, just 1 year ago. In total, over 1.3 million illegal aliens have crossed our border this year alone, and we are on track to reach almost 2 million by the end of the calendar year. We do not have a secure border. Now, with the continued failure of the administration to fully use Title 42 authority to expel illegal immigrants and reduce the spread of COVID-19, it is not just border communities facing the consequences of the Biden administration's policies; it is every community. Every State is now a border State thanks to the administration's open border policies that have green-lighted drug smugglers, human trafficking, and other criminal enterprising that are finding their way into our communities. Instead of using the Federal Government and the resources at its disposal to protect American citizens, the White House and my Democrat colleagues are doing nothing, failing to even call what we continue to witness at the border a crisis. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. We must finish the wall to control the crisis at our southern border, and then we must consistently implement our immigration laws. Americans deserve nothing less.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, as elected Representatives, we are obligated to handle taxpayer dollars in a manner that is both responsible and above reproach. For decades, legislators, through provisions such as the Hyde amendment, have rightfully shielded hardworking citizens' tax dollars from the unethical practice of abortion. However, countless legislative proposals this Congress prove that my colleagues across the aisle are not interested in preserving vital pro- life, good government provisions upon which our constituents depend, as they have intentionally eliminated the Hyde amendment at every opportunity. By removing pro-life provisions like Hyde, we are subjecting the American people to funding practices that violate the sanctity of life. I could speak at length about the horrors of abortion, but the simple fact of the matter is this: Taxpayer dollars should never financially support abortion, and we should always protect the conscience rights of our constituents. As such, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House. I am proud to stand up for the lives of the unborn, and I strongly urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Encounters at the southern border have reached a 20-year high of now over one million illegals trying to smuggle themselves into our country. This proves that the Biden administration's immigration policies are not working and that they have reignited a crisis at our southern border previously contained by the Trump administration. In fact, the border crisis is getting so bad that States not even geographically connected to the border are feeling the effects. Just last week I was traveling down I-24 East from Nashville, Tennessee, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and larger than day was this huge yellow billboard that said: ``CRISIS, Biden Fix the Border.'' The problems are drugs, cartels, and illegals. This was not some political party that put up that billboard, it was organic. It was homegrown right from the heart of the American people. The message is crystal clear, and America should stand up and take notice. So why am I seeing this sign in Tennessee, a State that has no connection to the southern border? It is because the Biden administration is flying illegals to every State in the Union making every State a border State. This must stop. Further complicating the crisis, the Biden administration is considering the elimination of title 42, a Centers for Disease Control public health authority that allows border officials to turn back illegal migrants due to the danger posed by communicable diseases. By doing this, the Biden administration is not only preventing U.S. border officials from doing their jobs, but unnecessarily exposing American citizens to the dangers of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the crisis, the Biden administration's reckless policies implemented by executive order have been exposing communities to COVID-19 by refusing to test every illegal migrant that is apprehended. Even Secretary Mayorkas himself admitted to me in a committee hearing that his agency has released illegals into the interior of the United States who are known to be infected with COVID-19. Local communities are then forced to deal with it. This is simply unacceptable. For these reasons I introduced H.R. 2076, the COVID-19 Border Protection Act. My bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with Health and Human Services, to develop a comprehensive strategy to test illegals that are encountered at the border and quarantine those who test positive. With the rise of the new COVID-19 delta variant, it is critical that every illegal alien who crosses the border be tested. H.R. 2076 has bipartisan support and 41 cosponsors, including the support of all the GOP Members of the House Homeland Security Committee. I will continue to push this effort to safeguard the American people and will soon introduce an amendment to the fiscal year 2022 DHS appropriations that will help accomplish the goals of H.R. 2076. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation. I thank my good friend and colleague from Texas for holding this very important Special Order.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in hosting a Special Order on the Second Amendment, which is both near and dear to my heart and which is also near and dear to the many millions of Americans who cherish their rights and freedoms. The Second Amendment says: ``A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.'' Though it brings me great joy to talk at length about the Second Amendment and the foresight our Founding Fathers had to enshrine this God-given right into the U.S. Constitution, I regret that lawmakers today must still rise to defend it, a matter that was settled 230 years ago. We must still do this because the Second Amendment is, again, under direct and constant attack from not just gun control activist groups and the left, but now from our very own government within the executive branch. The Founding Fathers enumerated our right to keep and bear arms in the Bill of Rights to ensure the people had the ability to protect themselves from a treacherous government that sought tyranny over democracy. We know, Madam Speaker, and our Founding Fathers knew as well, that the first step toward tyranny is to disarm the citizenry. The irony is not lost on me that the Democrats in control today are trying to do everything they can to gain power and keep power through rule changes and enacting sweeping laws that will forever tilt the scales of that power in their favor. It was announced just this past week that Republicans and Democrats were able to strike a deal on an infrastructure plan which was heralded as great news and no easy feat in this partisan body. But then the news broke that the Democrats wanted to add to the bipartisan agreement a vast human infrastructure proposal. What is human infrastructure? So now infrastructure becomes redefined to be anything they want it to be. So if you cannot get something done legitimately via legislation because you don't have the votes, then the new tactic is to accomplish it by redefinition. Just redefine the meaning of the word. So when does this act of redefining everything as we know it stop? Madam Speaker, I fear that it won't, and I see that to be true when it comes to attacks on the Second Amendment, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' newly proposed rules on the definition of a frame or receiver and on pistol stabilizing braces makes that abundantly clear. Through these proposed regulations, the administration is attempting to unilaterally redefine what constitutes a firearm under Federal law and in doing so, restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners. In some cases, the courts have not ruled in ATF's way, so ATF wants to change the rules, so the courts have to abide by new regulations more favorable to them. The ATF wants to increase their influence and authority and do it by edict, making it harder on law-abiding citizens to own firearms. They want a new definition for a firearm, one that will greatly expand its meaning and give ATF immense additional authority. It was Congress who created the law that defines a firearm. ATF does not have that authority. We have a separation of powers issue here that ATF wants to ignore. It seems they don't want the representatives of the people to have a say. No, ATF wants to make the change themselves and thereby increase their own power. This is wrong thinking and it is dangerous. Before I go further, let me pause for a second and review the legislative history of our key gun laws. Congress passed the National Firearms Act, or NFA, in 1934; the Gun Control Act, or GCA, in 1968; and the Firearms Owners' Protection Act in 1986. While two of these acts have since been amended, with the GCA amending portions of the NFA, the current definition of the term ``firearm'' can be found in the GCA under 18 U.S.C. 921 and has been effectively used for over 50 years. But the ATF has decided to expand its authority by proposing broad and arbitrary definitions of industry terms including some that are not even referenced in the definition section of the current law, including the terms, ``privately made firearm,'' and ``complete weapon.'' It is one thing for an agency to use its regulatory authority to clarify terms included in statute for purposes of implementation, but it is clear to me that the AFT has overstepped its authorities by legislating new terms not even referenced in the statute. Under one of the proposed new regulations, a dummy receiver or an 80 percent lower would now be considered a firearm as it would be covered by the grossly expanded definition of a frame or receiver. As you can see in the illustration right here, you see the difference between the two. The top is actually functional. The other one on the bottom is a solid block of metal with no ability to accept a firing mechanism, no hammer, no trigger, no selector. And so it is completely nonfunctional. Now, let's look at those same two from the top-down view. Do you see the difference right here? The bottom one is a solid block of metal, but the top has been machined and has places for a trigger and a hammer and a selector. To make the bottom one work, you have to have the tools and the skill of a manufacturer. So let's take a closer look at the dummy receiver, Madam Speaker, right here. This solid block of metal doesn't look like a firearm to me and it certainly doesn't work like one either. There is not even a hole right down here for a trigger. The ATF, in its own rule, noted that Congress recognized that regulation of all firearm parts was impractical back when this body was debating the GCA in 1968. And in fact, Congress moved to make the regulation of the firearms industry more efficient and functional by striking language in the term ``firearm,'' that would have resulted in regulation of any part or parts of a firearm. Just like the bolt in the upper receiver assembly pictured right here, they are not firearms now. But ATF wants to make this a firearm. But there is another aspect of this redefinition that will go completely unnoticed unless it is challenged, and that is taxation. The more pieces and parts the ATF can call firearms, the more excise tax they can collect. Let that sink in for a minute. Yes, this is another tax hidden in the price of a firearm. Every firearm manufacturer pays a 10 or 11 percent excise tax to the ATF based on the invoice price when they sell a firearm to a dealer. So through this redefinition, the government is going to make more tax money on the backs of law-abiding citizens. And will Congress have passed a new law to increase taxes? No. The ATF will have created a new stream of tax revenue by simply changing the definition of a firearm frame or receiver. More taxation at the whim of ATF. The Second Amendment recognizes the right endowed by our creator and codifies it into law. Taxation of a constitutional right is unconstitutional. But if this redefinition is allowed to stand, then this will only be the beginning of more and more taxation on citizens' gun rights. ATF knows that they cannot make the law more stringent without action by Congress, and they know that such support does not exist in Congress. So they try a flanking maneuver and end run to bypass the legislative branch. They believe that they, along with gun control activists like David Chipman, can use the authority of the ATF, a law enforcement agency, as a political pawn to carry out their anti-Second Amendment agenda. Madam Speaker, that is exactly what the ATF is doing, as we speak. One day you have a perfectly legal firearm or part, the next day you wake up and your firearm is no longer legal as defined by ATF. Such legality must be left to Congress to decide as it has done through the legislation I previously referenced; not decided by unelected Federal bureaucrats, bureaucrats that may soon be led by a radical gun control activist named David Chipman, unless my colleagues in the Senate oppose his nomination, and I trust they will. I fear, Madam Speaker, that if my Senate counterparts do not thwart his nomination, we will have more redefining of words led by a partisan, radical gun control activist. I call it legislation by redefinition. But this abuse of power can be stopped, Madam Speaker, and I invite you to join me in defending our rights by submitting comments directly to the ATF through the Federal Register notice. The two proposed rules I have referenced so far are available online for the public to read and have collectively received more than 180,000 comments so far. One rule is called, ``Definition of `Frame or Receiver' and Identification of Firearms.'' The other rule is called, ``Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached `Stabilizing Braces'.'' Madam Speaker, I believe all Americans, especially gun owners, should inform themselves of the proposed changes and share their thoughts directly with the ATF through the public comment opportunity at www.regulations.gov. It is written right here. The public comment period will last for just a few more weeks, and I would love to see the total number of submitted comments hit half a million for each proposed rule. I think every single member of this body agrees with my belief that criminals who misuse firearms and perpetuate violent crimes should be held accountable for their actions. And I also hope my colleagues would concur with my belief that law- abiding firearm owners should not be punished because of the illegal acts of a few who knowingly commit evil acts. But rather than focusing their efforts on punishing criminals who use firearms in the commission of a crime, my Democratic colleagues have, instead, chosen again and again to slowly chip away at the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 are prime examples of Democrat-led efforts to curtail Americans' Second Amendment rights. That is why I introduced H.R. 1787, the Ensuring SAFETY Act which would mandate the Federal Government respond to a background check in three calendar days and not allow them to delay background checks potentially indefinitely as happened during the pandemic. Madam Speaker, I am thrilled to have so many of my colleagues join me in standing before you today to speak in defense of the Constitution and the Second Amendment. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson), our conference secretary, from the Eighth Congressional District.

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson) for introducing the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill that I am proud to support as a cosponsor. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls), my good friend from Texas' 22.

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.