Andrew Clyde

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, my Democrat colleagues have challenged why the deregulation of silencers is in this bill and why are we removing the $200 tax. Under the law, they are firearms and therefore are protected by another law enacted in 1791 called the Second Amendment of our beloved Constitution. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and neither shall it be taxed. Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 declared that ``the power to tax includes the power to destroy.'' If you can tax it, then you can destroy it. Mr. Speaker, you can raise the tax so high that almost no one can afford it, and then you really don't have a right at all. However, the Second Amendment is an unalienable constitutional right, God-given, that governments are required to protect, not to tax. The Supreme Court in the Heller decision of 2008 declared the Second Amendment to be an individual constitutional right further protecting it from taxation, just like the right to speak and the right to vote. This bill simply restores that right from over 90 years of draconian tax. My Democratic colleagues have asked: How did this get in the bill? What was the deal? Who asked for it? There was no deal. I believe the Speaker with the purest of motives simply wanted to restore a constitutional right. Who asked? It was me. I asked.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I missed Roll Call No. 105, On Ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 354. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 105.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Biggs for holding tonight's Special Order and leading on this critical border issue. Since day one, President Trump has taken incredible steps to secure our border and protect the American people. These measures include ending catch and release, reinstating remain in Mexico, restarting construction of the border wall, and cracking down on sanctuary cities. Recently, the Trump administration ended the taxpayer subsidization of open borders, meaning Americans' hard-earned tax dollars will no longer be used to support or incentivize illegal immigration. Additionally, the Trump administration has made great progress in carrying out its mass deportation operation. What used to be called the CBP One app to allow illegals to more easily come into the country is now the CBP Home app. Why is it called the CBP Home app? It is good for a one-way ticket home for illegal aliens so they can self-deport. President Trump is emptying our country of illegal aliens. Promises made; promises kept. Border Czar Tom Homan and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem are tirelessly working to detain and deport illegal aliens. ICE agents, along with key assistance from local, State, and Federal law enforcement partners, have already arrested and issued detainers for thousands of criminal illegal aliens including murderers, drug traffickers, suspected terrorists, and MS-13 gang members. For example, ICE recently arrested an illegal alien in Atlanta, in my home State of Georgia, whose criminal history includes a conviction of four counts of indecent liberty with a child. This heinous criminal illegal has no place in the Peach State or anywhere else in our great country for that matter. I am deeply appreciative of the Trump administration for taking criminal illegals off of our streets. My northeast Georgia district has seen the devastating impact of criminal illegal alien crime up close and personal. Last year, Maria Gomez Perez, a 12-year-old girl, was abducted in Gainesville, Georgia, by an illegal alien. Thankfully, she was rescued and found in Ohio. Days before the 2024 election, Mimi Rodriguez-Ramirez, a 25-year-old mother, was murdered by an illegal alien from Mexico. That happened in Habersham County. Just outside my district, Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student, was brutally murdered by an illegal alien in Athens, Georgia. Mr. Speaker, President Trump is working to prevent these tragedies from devastating additional families and communities across our country. I applaud his work to make America secure, safe, and great once again.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval which seeks to overturn the Department of Energy's final rule on the Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Certification Requirements, Labeling Provisions, and Enforcement Provisions. Over the past 4 years, the Biden-Harris administration has flooded our economy with burdensome regulations, stifling growth and restricting Americans' freedoms. In total, these regulations have imposed a staggering $1.7 trillion in costs on the American people. Fortunately, House Republicans and President Trump are committed to rolling back these unnecessary and costly mandates. The latest example of overreach came in October of 2024, when the Department of Energy finalized new certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements affecting 20 different consumer and commercial products, including dishwashers, central air conditioners, heat pumps, washing machines, battery chargers, and light bulbs. These new mandates add unnecessary red tape, disrupt supply chains, limit consumer choice, and drive up prices. It is time to get the Washington bureaucracy out of Americans' everyday lives. My legislation seeks to rescind this final rule which places excessive costs and bureaucratic obstacles on appliance manufacturers, costs that will inevitably be passed down to consumers. In its broader push against fossil fuels, the Biden administration has imposed at least 31 appliance regulations at an estimated cost of over $60 billion. This resolution would eliminate Biden-era energy conservation certification and labeling regulations, ensuring that American consumers, not Washington bureaucrats, decide which appliances best fit their needs. Even the Biden-Harris Department of Energy acknowledges that this rule will increase annual costs for individual manufacturers by $213,000 and require an additional 2,905 hours of compliance paperwork, just paperwork, a major burden, particularly for small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I understand how crushing regulations like these harm the small businesses that drive our economy, especially in rural communities like northeast Georgia. Last November, the American people soundly rejected the Biden-Harris administration's disastrous policies. Now, as President Trump moves swiftly to get our country back on track, Congress must act to roll back these costly misguided regulations, starting with the Department of Energy's appliance rule. I thank Chairman Guthrie, Chairman Griffith, and House leadership for prioritizing this commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its final passage to protect consumer choice, reduce costs, and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the House Budget Committee's FY25 budget resolution which advances President Trump's America First agenda by unlocking the budget reconciliation process to achieve the President's priorities and restore fiscal sanity in Washington. This budget resolution paves the way to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by President Trump in 2017, which fueled historic economic growth and raised real wages. This resolution also provides instructions to reverse Biden's assault on domestic energy, rein in reckless spending, and deliver critical resources to the Trump administration so we can secure our border and strengthen our national security. Finally, I want to address the fear-mongering among our Democrat colleagues. This budget resolution does not cut benefits for any legitimate recipient of Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. I challenge anyone to find a single provision in this 45-page resolution that cuts benefits because they can't. This resolution simply sets a budget framework so we can deal with the incredible fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid to stabilize and preserve it for those who really need it. GAO alone estimates that the fraud--

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize retired Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum as the very first Special Georgian of the Ninth. This award highlights those who make a real difference in north Georgia, and Janis has done just that. For nearly four decades, Janis dedicated her life to law enforcement, starting as a radio operator in 1985, serving 19 years as a criminal investigator, and then leading as Jackson County Sheriff for 12 years. Janis rightfully earned the Georgia Sheriffs' Association's 2023 Sheriff of the Year award, and she recently retired in December after 39 remarkable years of dedicated service. Her impact extends beyond the Peach State, as she has also done inspiring work to help North Carolinians recover from the devastating destruction of Hurricane Helene. The Ninth District is blessed to have heroes like Janis Mangum who continuously display a true servant's heart. I thank Janis for her service and unwavering dedication to our North Georgia community. She is truly a Special Georgian of the Ninth. In her retirement, may the Lord give her fair winds and following seas.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: The 100th birthday of Alan Kinder, a man whose life embodies resilience, courage, and a passion for service. Alan's story is one of bravery, from storming Omaha Beach during the second wave of D-Day to surviving the Battle of the Bulge. After his heroic service in defense of our Nation, he returned home to build a life filled with family, purpose, and more adventure. Alan has been both a witness to history and a keeper of it, reminding us all of the sacrifices made for our precious freedom. Yet, it is his warmth and compassion that shines the brightest. Both Alan's kindness and the stories of his remarkable service have left an indelible mark on every person lucky enough to know him. On behalf of the Ninth District, I wish Alan a happy 100th birthday and entire 100th birthday year. I thank him for his service, his stories, and his example.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to imagine, hard to believe that we are actually here debating a born-alive act, that we actually have to do this. The question is about life. When does life begin and is government responsible for protecting life. I say life begins at conception and government is responsible for protecting life. If we go back to the document that is before our Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, what does it actually say? It 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, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.'' What is one of the first unalienable rights? It is life. I guess the question is: When does life begin? Life begins at conception, and that is why I stand here in support of this bill.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act. This bill is in remembrance of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student who was tragically murdered last year in my home community of Athens, Georgia, by an illegal alien from Venezuela who should have never even been in our country. After illegally crossing the southern border in 2022, Laken's murderer was released through the Biden administration's weaponization of the parole program. The following year, he was arrested by the NYPD for acting in a manner to injure a minor and for committing a motor vehicle license violation. According to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department report, this illegal alien went on to shoplift in Georgia just weeks after his encounter with law enforcement in New York. Clearly, this illegal alien had a pattern of criminal history, one that started when he accepted Joe Biden's invitation to illegally enter our country. He should never have been allowed to reside in the United States illegally, and ICE should have immediately issued a detainer after he committed these crimes. Ultimately, if ICE had been aware and then issued a detainer, this criminal illegal alien would not have even been in the United States to commit the horrific murder of Laken Riley. We must enact changes now to protect our communities across the country from facing additional avoidable tragedies. Thankfully, H.R. 29 provides a commonsense solution to do just that. This legislation requires ICE to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit crimes like theft, burglary, and larceny. The local jurisdiction, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, was a sanctuary city, and that is another problem. That is a big problem. The sanctuary policy hampered the Athens-Clarke County Department of Police Services and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office from recognizing and acting upon an ICE detainer, which could have prevented Laken's murder. Time and time again, communities and families throughout our Nation have been devastated by heinous crimes committed by illegal aliens. In fact, this past October, the Peach State faced another unspeakable tragedy. In Habersham County, in my home district, Ms. Mimi Rodriguez- Ramirez was brutally murdered by an illegal alien from Mexico. She was just 25 years old and left behind a young daughter and a loving family. The citizens of Clarke County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border but are still being brutally victimized by illegal aliens. Enough is enough. These preventable tragedies must come to an end. As a cosponsor of this critical legislation, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the Laken Riley Act. After all, one of the most formidable ways that Congress can deliver justice for Laken Riley, Mimi Rodriguez-Ramirez, and their families is by passing this legislation to prevent additional avoidable tragedies from victimizing the law-abiding citizens of our Nation.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thomas Eye Group. For one-half century, Thomas Eye Group has provided exceptional eye care for folks throughout the north Georgia region, becoming a cornerstone of Georgia's healthcare community. Whether it is through pediatric care, advanced surgeries, or the everyday gift of clearer sight, Thomas Eye Group has embodied what it means to serve with purpose. Their skilled doctors and staff have not only improved their patients' vision but transformed lives, restoring hope and clarity to countless Georgians. I applaud their unwavering commitment to their patients, their integrity in practice, and their drive to embrace innovation while never losing sight of their mission. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Thomas Eye Group on this incredible milestone. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, I am confident their top-notch team will continue leading the way in delivering exceptional eye care. Wishes for a merry Christmas.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the city of Suwanee in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Folks have called Suwanee home for over 200 years, with Suwanee Old Town dating back as far as 1817. Yet, it wasn't until 1949 that Suwanee was officially chartered. At that time, the city was roughly 3.1 square miles, consisting of just a few hundred residents. In the 75 years since, Suwanee has flourished, more than tripling in size, and expanding its population to over 22,000 Georgians. The once small agricultural town now boasts a charming downtown community, many prosperous businesses, and beautiful parks, offering an exceptional place for families to live and work. In fact, in Fortune's ``50 Best Places to Live for Families 2024'' in the United States, the city of Suwanee ranked 27th in the entire Nation. That is incredible. I congratulate Mayor Jimmy Burnette and the city of Suwanee on this exciting milestone. I am honored to represent the great folks of Suwanee in Congress, and I look forward to seeing the city thrive for many years to come.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the remarkable career and legacy of my dear friend, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, who is retiring after serving as sheriff for 16 years. Randy, who has been in law enforcement for five decades, has always given his unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of the folks in north Georgia, leaving an indelible mark on our community. For 16 years, Sheriff Randy Shirley has led the Stephens County Sheriff's Office with integrity, vision, and a servant's heart. His achievements are many, but what stands out the most is his tireless devotion to our community. From fighting crime and keeping drugs off our streets to enhancing transparency and mentoring the next generation of law enforcement, his actions have always reflected his deep love for the people he has served. Madam Speaker, I thank Sheriff Shirley for putting his life on the line to protect ours. After December 31, while his boots may no longer be on the ground under that badge, his legacy will continue to inspire us all. I wish my friend fair winds and following seas.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2024 SEC champions, my MBA alma mater, the University of Georgia Bulldogs. During a thrilling overtime game last Saturday, the Dawgs defeated the University of Texas Longhorns 22-19. This exciting win marks the 15th time the University of Georgia will bring home the SEC championship trophy to Athens. Congratulations to all the talented young men who put their everything into the game but especially to the Ninth District's own quarterback, Gunner Stockton, from Rabun County, who came off the bench to help lead the Georgia Bulldogs to victory. I also want to recognize the other incredibly talented Dawgs from Georgia's Ninth District who helped clinch another SEC title. Well done to Buford's K.J. Bolden, Jake Pope, and Marek Briley, as well as to Gainesville's own Dan Jackson. Congratulations to the entire University of Georgia football team and coaching staff led by the legendary Coach Kirby Smart. Go Dawgs. Let's bring home another national championship.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, objection.

Mr. CLYDE. Withdrawn.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Matthew Osborne, a dedicated editor, family man, and cherished member of the northeast Georgian community, who tragically passed away last month. After graduating from George Washington University right here in D.C., he began his 25-year career in journalism as a sportswriter in Florida. Over the years, Matthew worked for several newspapers, going on to become the editor of The Northeast Georgian in 2019. His love of writing and commitment to objectivity earned him respect, not only from his peers but from his local readers. Matthew won numerous State and regional awards for his outstanding work, and through it all, he never lost his passion for covering sports. Matthew is more than a talented reporter and editor. He was also a devoted husband to his wife, Samantha, a family man, and father to their three boys, Hunter, Cal, and Ollie. Mr. Speaker, may God continue to comfort Samantha and her sons, as well as Matthew's peers and loved ones, during this difficult time. Georgia's Ninth District will always remember the profound impact that Matthew Osborne had on his readers and on our community as a whole.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the left's dangerous rhetoric that has led to two assassination attempts on President Trump in 2 months. First and foremost, I would like to thank all the law enforcement officers who fearlessly prevented a second utter catastrophe from taking place this past Sunday. I am also thankful for God's continued hand of protection over President Trump. However, I am deeply disturbed that within a 64-day span, President Trump has seen an assassin's attempt to take his life not once but twice. After the first horrifying attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, many Americans asked for politicians and media pundits alike to turn down the temperature of their political rhetoric. Yet given the continued targeting of President Trump's life, it is evident that many on the left have not stopped spewing hateful speech and malicious lies. For years, we have heard rhetoric from the radical left that goes well beyond policy disagreement and crosses into dangerous territory. Think about all the times liberal figures have erroneously labeled Trump as Hitler, or the biggest threat to democracy, or a dictator who must be stopped. Now we are seeing the tragic results of that false rhetoric. President Trump has faced not one, but two assassination attempts. This isn't a partisan issue. This is about the safety of our leaders, the stability of our Republic, and the rule of law. Yet disturbingly, we have seen numerous Democrats and the leftwing media blame these attempts on President Trump himself. This level of victim blaming isn't just ghoulish. It is a sinister attempt to normalize this senseless violence and to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing. There are still many unknowns about both of these attacks, and while I certainly have concerns and questions about the obvious security failures that have taken place, I can't silently sit by as the left, including many of my Democratic colleagues, take no accountability for their incendiary rhetoric and shameless lies that undoubtedly have played a part in inspiring the assassination attempts on President Trump. Since the liberal media won't hold them accountable, I will. Here are examples of the left's violence inciting and dangerous rhetoric. Vice President Kamala Harris: ``Trump is a threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms.'' Again, she says: ``It's on us to recognize the threat [Trump] poses.'' Governor Tim Walz said: ``Are [Republicans] a threat to democracy? Yes. Are they going to put peoples' lives in danger? Yes.'' Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: Trump is ``a threat to our democracy of the kind that we have not seen.'' Jasmine Crockett said: ``MAGA in general, they are threats to us domestically.'' Representative Dan Goldman said: He is a threat to our democracy, and, ``He has to be eliminated.'' Representative Steve Cohen said: ``Trump is an enemy of the United States.'' Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz said: Trump is ``an existential threat to our democracy.'' Representative Adam Schiff said: Trump is ``the gravest threat to our democracy.'' Representative Gregory Meeks said: ``Trump cannot be President again. He is an existential threat to our democracy.'' Representative Abigail Spanberger said: ``Trump is a threat to our democracy. . . . The threats to our democratic Republic are real.'' Representative Mike Levin said: ``Donald Trump is a threat to our Nation, our freedom, and our democracy.'' Representative Eric Sorensen said: ``He is the greatest threat to law and order we have in our country today.'' Representative Jake Auchincloss said: ``What unifies us as a party is knowing that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy.'' Yesterday, just 2 days after the second assassination attempt, White House Press Secretary KJP said: ``President Biden has been clear-eyed about the threat that the former President represents to our democracy.'' Seriously? She just couldn't stop herself and had to join in. Moreover, let's not forget President Biden who said: It is ``time to put Trump in a bull's-eye.'' President Biden has also said: ``I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Trump is a threat to this Nation.'' As well as: ``Donald Trump is a genuine threat to this Nation.'' ``He's literally a threat for everything this America stands for.'' For the last 9 years, the left erroneously labeled Trump as a racist, a Fascist, and an existential threat to our democracy. They have encouraged protests, approved of violent rhetoric, and, in some cases, refused to condemn violent actions. They have made it acceptable to view someone with opposing political beliefs not as a fellow American but as an enemy to be destroyed. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is when you constantly tell people that our democracy is in existential danger because of one man, and when you label that man a threat to the very fabric of our country, then you should take some responsibility and not be surprised when unhinged individuals take matters into their own hands. Words have power, and Democrats have recklessly used that power for nefarious political gain, no matter the cost. We, as a nation, must be better than this. I have six words for my Democrat colleagues: Stop it and stop it now.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, due to the Cloudstrike outage, I experienced extreme flight delays and was delayed at the Atlanta airport for twelve hours. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 356; NAY on Roll Call No. 357; and NAY on Roll Call No. 358.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from California, the chairman of our subcommittee, for yielding time. I rise today to speak in opposition to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, and I think we can all agree that everything that this body does must be measured against the Constitution, as it is the supreme law of the land. All of us raised our hand and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and this legislation has constitutional problems. In 1989, Congress passed the Ethics Reform Act, which granted Members an annual cost-of-living adjustment, known as a COLA, meant to adjust for inflation so that the value of congressional compensation would remain the same. This COLA was meant to be capped at the annual percentage that every other Federal employee would receive. In exchange for the annual COLA, all Members of Congress were prohibited or severely limited from earning additional outside income, like speaking fees or other fees that could be easily translated into pay-for-play arrangements resulting in potentially tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars of additional income, especially for more popular or more powerful Members. I certainly agree with the prohibition of this type for outside income for Members of Congress, yet I disagree with the manner in which the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act addresses eliminating the lawfully required COLA. If Congress wants to eliminate the annual COLA, Congress can certainly do so, but this cannot, and I repeat, cannot be done through the appropriations process and remain in compliance with the Constitution. It must be done through a bill on the House floor that goes into effect after the next election. The 27th Amendment says: ``No law, varying the compensation for the services of Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.'' This means that the 27th Amendment prohibits any law from taking effect that varies congressional compensation without an intervening election of Members of the House. It was originally drafted by James Madison in 1789 and meant to ensure Members stay accountable to the people who elect them. I firmly believe that the appropriations process is the wrong vehicle for this effort because appropriation bills are annual only by fiscal year, and there will never be an intervening election necessary between enactment and implementation in order to comply with the 27th Amendment of the Constitution. Now, we all know that even if we pass this bill this fiscal year, the Senate will do nothing with it before the November election, and we will have a continuing resolution that goes to either December or into the new year. For over the last decade, the continuing resolutions have included the COLA prohibition language, and when it passes, the COLA prohibition will immediately go into effect on October 1. Again, there will be no intervening election, therefore failing to be compliant with the 27th Amendment. The language stripping the COLA has been added as section 214 of this FY 2025 appropriation, and so, per the 27th Amendment, it will have to wait until after the November 2024 election before it can take effect. Yet, it takes effect October 1, 2024, the beginning of FY 2025 without an intervening election. To have the COLA prohibition language in H.R. 8772 would violate the 27th Amendment of the Constitution and make the bill unconstitutional. My opposition to this bill is solely on a constitutional basis, and I would support the rest of the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act if this were not in it. Shy of section 214, I do commend our committee chairman for the excellent work in the rest of the bill. I did offer an amendment to remove section 214, but it was not accepted for a vote, and I certainly wish it had. I regretfully cannot vote for a piece of legislation that as I see clearly violates the Constitution because--and solely because--of section 214. I would hope none of my colleagues would either.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Lancaster Music Company. Since Lancaster Music opened its doors in 1949, the family-owned business rooted in Gainesville, Georgia, has grown exponentially. Currently, the company is managed by a third-generation Lancaster, Mrs. Emily Lancaster Barron, who loves music and working in the family business that is owned by Emily's father, Joey Lancaster. Fun fact: In the early 2000s, Lancaster Music Company forged a relationship with the Bush administration, supplying pianos to the White House for its Christmas decor. The business went on to provide a new grand piano for the chapel at Camp David, which was custom-made in oak to match the interior during the Bush administration. Lancaster Music Company's pianos have been at Camp David now for the past four administrations. The Lancaster family's commitment to filling our community events, our churches, and our lives with music is noteworthy. I am truly honored to represent such an outstanding family-owned business that has provided pianos, guitars, trumpets, violins, and more to the Ninth District, the Peach State, and the country. I congratulate Lancaster Music Company on 75 strong and successful years. May they have many more to come.

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, today, I am offering an amendment to flat fund the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also known as CISA, to keep it at the FY24 enacted level saving $57.8 million. On CISA's website, the mission reads: ``We lead the national effort to understand, manage, and reduce risk to our cyber and physical infrastructure.'' Unfortunately, CISA has strayed far from this mission. Two years ago, CISA was part of the infamous Disinformation Governance Board, which was established at the Department of Homeland Security to censor Americans' free speech. While the so-called Disinformation Governance Board was rightfully disbanded a few months later after enormous public outcry, many will be shocked to learn that CISA has not stopped monitoring and censoring Americans' free speech. According to a 2022 news report: CISA drafted plans to target ``inaccurate information'' on a wide range of topics, including the origins of COVID-19, the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, racial justice, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the nature of U.S. support to Ukraine. Also, business records released by Twitter suggest that CISA distorted its mission from protecting the Nation's critical cyber and physical infrastructure into controlling what Americans can say and what speech is acceptable online. This is terrible. Americans' First Amendment should not be regulated or controlled through government by proxy censorship. CISA was first created before my arrival in Congress with bipartisan support. Under the Trump administration, CISA focused on foreign disinformation and countering foreign influence. Unfortunately, since the current administration took office, CISA has aggressively shifted beyond the original mandate of countering foreign threats. In January 2021, CISA officials renamed the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force, one of the key bodies of countering disinformation founded during the Trump administration, to the ``mis-, dis-, and malinformation team,'' meaning they took the word ``foreign'' out of the title. Last summer, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government released a report, titled: ``The Weaponization of CISA: How a `Cybersecurity' Agency Colluded With Big Tech and `Disinformation' Partners to Censor Americans.'' Several disturbing details about CISA were released in this report, including that CISA is ``working with Federal partners to mature a whole-of-government approach'' to curb alleged misinformation and disinformation and that CISA wanted to use the same taxpayer-funded nonprofits as its mouthpiece to ``avoid the appearance of government propaganda.'' This is simply censorship by proxy. Last week, I had a conversation with the Director of CISA, and she told me that this report by the Select Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government is full of inaccuracies. Basically, it is not worth the paper it is written on. I strongly disagree. I think our Weaponization Subcommittee has done a phenomenal job. CISA needs to return to its original mission of strengthening and protecting our national cybersecurity and infrastructure, not censoring Americans' free speech. CISA's bloated budget and the agency's increased weaponization mission to police free speech has gone on simultaneously. There is a clear connection: Given extraordinary increases in funding, CISA has used taxpayer dollars to censor Americans and target speech that they find disagreeable. Therefore, I offer an amendment to flat fund CISA to maintain the FY24 enacted level. This agency must be refocused on their true mission, not given more funding to continue undermining our constitutional rights. The only thing that gets agency attention in Washington, D.C., is funding. By flat funding CISA for FY25 it is simply putting them on notice, a shot across the bow would be the Navy way of saying it, to get their attention and cease the weaponization of this agency. Mr. Chair, I hope that all Members of this committee will support this amendment to correct this weaponized agency and thereby defend our First Amendment rights for all Americans. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, first, I commend the chairman here of our Appropriations Subcommittee. On sections 544 and 545 of this bill, I think it is critically important to prohibit the funding to classify or facilitate the classification of any communications by a United States person as mis-, dis-, or malinformation. I think, though we put the policy in the bill, it is the funding that gets agency attention, as I have mentioned before. I think it is critically important to ensure that the funding that we have sends that signal to CISA that they cannot abridge Americans' First Amendment rights through modifying what people can see by classifying information. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. CLYDE

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment which relocates the reconciliation monument, sometimes referred to as the Reconciliation Memorial, back to its original location in Arlington National Cemetery. I am very grateful for the support of Chairman Rogers on this amendment. Under the direction of President Biden, the Reconciliation Memorial was removed on December 18, 2023. This monument in Arlington was a powerful symbol of the healing and unification of our Nation after the deep divisions of the Civil War. American leaders like President Abraham Lincoln and Union General Ulysses Grant knew that a divided nation could not stand, and they tirelessly worked on promoting reconciliation. In 1898, following the end of the Mexican-American War, President McKinley undertook a process to create greater national unity. In 1906, President McKinley authorized the construction of the Reconciliation Memorial. Unveiled in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson, this monument, designed by a Jewish-American sculptor, features a woman crowned with an olive wreath symbolizing peace. For over a century, Presidents of both parties have understood the purpose of this memorial of reconciliation and have honored it by sending wreaths to the monument. This tradition showing national unity and respect has been carried on regardless of the party or politics of the sitting President. Even President Obama understood the reconciliation monument in the context of what it stands for, unity not division, when he continued the Presidential tradition of sending a wreath to the monument. In doing so, Presidents have continued to emphasize the message of this monument, reconciliation and unity, not division. Former Democrat Senator Jim Webb, a highly decorated Marine Corps officer and former Secretary of the Navy, has strongly supported the preservation of the Reconciliation Memorial because the monument is one of the most potent symbols of healing in our Nation and across the globe. Democratic Senator Webb has said that the statue's removal would signify the desire of ``a deteriorating society willing to erase the generosity of its past, in favor of bitterness and misunderstanding conjured up by those who do not understand the history they seem bent on destroying.'' Now, I would like to share a little of this monument's history. When this monument was originally dedicated back in 1914, Reverend Dr. McKim pronounced these words within his invocation: And as the blue and the gray mingle their dust on this consecrated hill, may the men of the North and the men of the South join hands and hearts in the labors and sacrifices which must be undertaken in the years to come for the honor, the happiness, and the glory of our country. Grant also, O Lord, that this monument may stand as a perpetual memorial of the reconciliation between the people of the States once arrayed against each other in deadly conflict. Men who once met in wrath on the field of battle meet here today as friends and brothers in the great enterprises of peace. Henceforth, we pray and labor for the good and the glory of our reunited country. We have beat our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into pruning hooks. Ours it shall be to strive in fraternal emulation with our northern brothers, in all undertakings for the common weal. Meaning the common prosperity. President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, had these words to say at the ceremony: ``I assure you that I am profoundly aware of the solemn significance of the thing that has now taken place.'' Meaning the dedication of the Reconciliation monument. It was suggested by a President of the United States, who had himself been a distinguished officer of the Union Army. It was authorized by an act of Congress of the United States. The corner-stone of the monument was laid by a President of the United States elevated to his position by the votes of the party which had chiefly prided itself upon sustaining the war for the Union, and who, while Secretary of War, had himself given authority to erect it. And, now, it has fallen to my lot to accept in the name of the great government, which I am privileged for the time to represent, this emblem of a reunited people. Again, I say: `` . . . this emblem of a reunited people.'' Last year, I led a similar amendment, which passed the House floor by voice with no opposition prior to the removal of the monument. I ask that all Members support the adoption of my amendment to return the Reconciliation Memorial to the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. In doing so, we can maintain a critical piece of our national unity and fill the empty spot that now exists in Arlington. Let us unite against the destruction of our history. Let us fight for the principles of healing and unity, which is exactly what this memorial was created to accomplish. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.