Ben Cline

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, American families are ready for a joyous holiday season. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is the grinch that stole Christmas, as its failed Green New Deal agenda is forcing folks to pay record-high costs to heat their homes, fuel their cars, and feed their families. From diesel to fuel oil, energy prices have skyrocketed. Households will pay an average of $1,359 on energy bills this winter, the highest in 25 years. Diesel prices are up 50 percent, and we shouldn't be surprised. President Biden likes to say: ``I guarantee you, we are going to end fossil fuel.'' He has worked with the Pelosi majority to continue to push anti-energy policies. Just last week, the Biden White House doubled down, saying they are still committed to phasing out fossil fuels. Well, they should look at what is happening over in Europe. After the European Union struck a deal to ban new fossil fuel cars and speed up the switch to electric vehicles, Switzerland is now going to ban electric vehicles if it faces blackouts this winter. You can't make it up. It is time for this administration to end its war on American energy. If we are going to regain our energy independence, we need an all-of- the-above approach.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great Virginian, WDBJ7's legendary meteorologist, Robin Reed, as Reed recently announced his well-deserved retirement from local news. Since graduating from James Madison University in 1978, Reed pursued a career in local journalism. Forty of his 44 years in the business have been at WDBJ7 out of Roanoke. Even though weathermen take undeserved hits for nasty weather forecasts, Reed's long-running weather reports were a favorite of the community, sunshine, rain, or snow. Additionally, Reed teaches as a professor of practice at Virginia Tech School of Communication, a position he will continue in, preparing the next generation to improve their communication skills for the betterment of society. Reed is also a devout family man, as his children remember him regularly coming to big events in their lives, from marching band performances to camping in the Adirondacks with the Scouts. Among numerous journalistic accomplishments, Reed received the Citizen of the Year Award in Media from the Roanoke branch of the NAACP and was honored as a favorite member of the Virginia Tech faculty after being nominated by numerous students. I join countless Roanoke Valley residents and viewers in wishing Reed a great retirement and thank him for his lasting contributions to local journalism.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, the American people are all looking forward to the holiday season. Unfortunately, the annual pre-Thanksgiving shopping receipt will be a sad reminder that Washington hasn't been working for them. Up and down the grocery store aisle, prices have risen on all our Thanksgiving necessities. Turkeys cost 23 percent more, eggs cost 43 percent more, butter is up 27 percent, and milk up 15 percent. The overall price of groceries over the last year has risen 12.4 percent. For those traveling far to see their families and loved ones this year, airline fares are up 43 percent over last year. While everyone is having to tighten their budgets, those working two jobs or on fixed incomes are getting hit the hardest, forcing roughly one in four Americans to forego Thanksgiving dinner altogether. An additional $9 trillion in government spending has fueled this inflation crisis, and hardworking Americans are paying the price. If we are going to get this country back on track, Congress needs to cut spending, unleash American energy independence, and push pro-growth policies. It is time to fix a broken Washington and save America from this administration's failed economic agenda. Stuarts Draft Cougars Cheer Team Wins Again

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Stuarts Draft Cougars cheer team for winning this year's Class 1-2 Virginia State cheerleading championship. This victory marks the program's fifth straight title in 6 years. The Cougars faced numerous hurdles to reach this victory, placing second behind Fort Defiance during the first round. However, before the second round began, Coach Tammy Carter told the team to be ``the athletes they trained to be,'' and they did just that. By focusing on what they needed to improve, the Cougars left it all on the mat and increased their score by over 30 points, earning the State title. These talented young ladies include Lexi Almarode, Addison Colvin, Jenna Comer, Sofia Coppola, Taylor Huffman, Zoe Mader, Zane Marshall, Abby Mikolay, Caydence Morris, Tarynn Morris, Baleigh Painter, Eiko Puckett, Olivia Puckett, Alyssa Sanner, Holly Stevens, A'mya Swats, and Natalie Thompson. For six seniors on the team--Mses. Coppola, Mader, Marshall, Mikolay, Morris, and Painter--this was their last memory of cheering together. There was an outpouring of emotion hoisting the State championship trophy for one final time. Senior Zane Marshall said of her class' historic reign, ``To have three State championships, I don't even know how to feel. It is crazy.'' The seniors will leave their high school cheerleading careers with their heads held high, knowing their leadership and performance have left a lasting legacy on their team. Congratulations to all the talented athletes and dedicated coaches on this incredible victory. They have earned it.

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, if you drive around Harrisonburg, Virginia, you are bound to see an officer with the Harrisonburg Police Department, keeping residents, visitors, and college students safe. As HPD reminds us, ``So many things have changed since those handwritten meeting notes of November 12, 1872 . . . when the 700 residents of the town of Harrisonburg at that time wrote the single-man police department into being.'' By January 1, 1873, the force was comprised of the Chief of Police, Joseph Kelly, and a ``police aide,'' Officer Willis. Current HPD Captain Jason Kidd said of the anniversary, ``It is so important to reach this milestone because the city has grown tremendously and developed tremendously during these past 150 years. The growth of the department, personnel, added positions, and technological improvements have allowed the department to police better and police smarter and just do the best job they can for the community.'' To celebrate this milestone, HPD established a 150-year committee, and the officers will be sporting a 150-year badge to mark the occasion. HPD will also be building a time capsule to look back on this milestone in the future. Mr. Speaker, I join the citizens of Harrisonburg in thanking the Harrisonburg Police Department for their 150 years of service. Thanksgiving Holiday Season Inflation Woes

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, Americans are hurting. Their paychecks are declining in value, but Democrats continue to fund these out-of-touch policies with billions of taxpayer dollars from hardworking Americans. That is why I am voting ``no.'' I hope my colleagues will join me.

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of the Sixth District of Virginia who are contacting my office right now expressing their outrage at this failed, do-nothing Democratic majority who has brought us to the brink of a government shutdown. They are furious, furious because Democrats control the House, the Senate, the White House, and still, here we are at the point where we have to keep the government running, and instead of confronting these crises that are leading us to this shutdown, this Democratic majority is kicking the can down the road until after the elections in November. The American people are furious at a broken, business-as-usual Washington that refuses to confront the crises. In fact, it exacerbates the crises created by President Biden and the Democratic majority. This continuing resolution we are voting on today, once again, makes clear that the Democrats' business-as-usual Washington must end. Just look at some of these policies that Democrats have stuffed in this bill, thrown taxpayer dollars at Biden's wide-open border crisis, the raging inflation crisis, and the skyrocketing energy crisis. $57.5 billion for DHS to continue wide-open border and amnesty policies that have allowed illegal migrants to pour across our southern border and drug cartels to smuggle deadly fentanyl into our communities under Secretary Mayorkas' failed leadership. $10.8 billion for the FBI that the Biden administration has weaponized against Americans who disagree with its policies, including parents concerned about their kids in schools. $12.6 billion for the IRS, on top of the $80 billion that Democrats just gave to hire 87,000 new agents to spy into the bank accounts of Americans and conduct more audits on small businesses. $728 billion to a Department of Defense that is more focused on promoting the radical left's woke ideology than protecting our national security here at home and abroad. $3.8 billion for a Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program that pays for the increased energy costs for those that live in anti- fracking States like New York, without addressing the real cause of the energy crisis, which is the Democrats' socialist Green New Deal agenda. Americans are hurting and their paychecks are declining in value, but Democrats continue to fund these out-of-touch policies, and that is why I am voting ``no.''

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Daniel Harrington, the vice dean of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia, who is set to retire at the end of this month after more than 14 years of service. From humble beginnings, Dr. Harrington attended West Virginia University for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. He then took a residency at the University of Virginia, and it was there that he learned about Carilion's nascent psychiatry residency program, which would give him a chance to develop something that was all his own. Dr. Harrington took that opportunity in 1990, and he and his family moved to Roanoke. In 2006, former Carilion CEO Ed Murphy approached Dr. Harrington with the idea of partnering with Virginia Tech and starting a medical school. Dr. Harrington began traveling the country with then-Virginia Tech President Charles Steger and operated a public-private academic partnership to make the dream a reality. Ever since, the school has been led on multiple fronts by the strong leadership of Dr. Harrington. Mr. Speaker, I wish Dr. Harrington and his wife, Gil, best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to criticize President Biden and House Democrats in Washington for turning their backs on hardworking families. Month after month, they have continued to advance a radical agenda that has crushed the American Dream. Grocery costs are up 13\1/2\ percent, electricity costs are up 15\1/ 2\ percent, fuel oil costs are up nearly 70 percent. Everything has gone up since this failed President took office. Why? Because Biden and the Democrats are obsessed with spending taxpayer dollars and pushing Socialist Green New Deal policies. Last week, after yet another inflation report showed that prices were up again, Joe Biden and the Democrats threw a party at the White House. To add insult to injury, on his recent interview on ``60 Minutes,'' President Biden had zero remorse for the devastating effects of his raging inflation crisis. He continues to claim that the economy is great and that tons of jobs are being created. That is a lie. Here is what he is not telling you. Full-time jobs are way down, and it is only part-time jobs that are growing. Biden and Democrats have sent a clear message that they don't care about American families. There is one solution to this problem: Stop reckless government spending. Virginia families are sick and tired of paying the price for Biden's radical agenda. When Republicans retake the majority next year, we will end this inflation-fueled spending, fix this broken economy, and deliver power back to the American people.

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of Fincastle, Virginia. In 1772, western-moving settlers John Mill and Israel Christian founded the town of Fincastle, and by 1784 there were 59 homes as well as taverns and the early formation of a justice system. Once Virginia's gateway to the West, Fincastle is the county seat of Botetourt, which once extended to the Mississippi River. Meriweather Lewis and William Clark visited Fincastle during their great expedition into the West. William returned to Fincastle and married Julia Hancock in 1808 in the historic home, Santillane. The town has been nationally recognized as a Lewis and Clark community. Passing settlers stopped in Fincastle on their way into the interior of what would become the United States, conducting business and buying goods from the merchants in town. Today, Fincastle proudly maintains its heritage and history. Their version of the Botetourt County Courthouse, designed by President Thomas Jefferson, is located in Fincastle and contains records going back hundreds of years. Fincastle's annual Historic Fincastle Festival will be a bit more special this year, celebrating the town's 250th anniversary, and being held this weekend. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent this historic town, a bedrock of the oldest colony and the great Commonwealth of Virginia. biden's radical agenda

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the human tragedy that is President Biden's border crisis. From day one, the Biden administration has blatantly ignored U.S. immigration laws and policies that are designed to keep America safe. The consequences from the human trafficking, the sex trafficking, and the drug trafficking are devastating. Under the incompetent administration of Biden and his Border Czar, the Vice President, and DHS Secretary Mayorkas, savage drug cartels now control our U.S. border and are sending massive amounts of deadly fentanyl illegally into our communities, including mine in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Worse, they are now smuggling rainbow- colored and candy-flavored drugs across our border in an effort to target our children. Biden's disastrous open border and amnesty policies have made this crisis worse every single day, but he is blind to see the chaos at our border. Americans are justifiably outraged by his failed leadership. Border Czar Kamala Harris recently said that the border is secure. The only thing that is secure is the cash flow to the drug cartels so long as Biden's border crisis continues.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we know the real story. We know what happened a year and a half ago when the so-called American Rescue Plan was passed--40-year high inflation rates resulted. We see now what the result is from the Build Back Better plan that had no chance of passage in the Senate. This is the offspring of Build Back Better. Even Bernie Sanders, a socialist who can come up with a million flawed excuses to spend your tax dollars, says he can't find a way to even say this would reduce inflation one iota. We know that instead of fostering American energy independence, increasing purchasing power for the American family, and reducing inflation, this bill includes: $16.5 billion in higher taxes for those making less than $200,000 a year; $38 billion in new taxes on American oil and gas producers, which will be passed along to consumers in the form of even higher costs for heating homes and gas prices, and; $480 billion in tax hikes that will hit workers through slashed wages. Half the bill is Green New Deal climate change special interest funding, including taxpayer-funded subsidies on electric vehicle purchases, and; $80 billion to double the size of the IRS, creating an army of new enforcement agents. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this horrible legislation.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. My fellow Americans, the Democrats are coming for your guns. This assault weapons ban is unconstitutional because it would ban firearms that are currently in common use, making the scope of the bill, a semiautomatic assault weapons ban, overly broad by capturing millions of sporting rifles, shotguns, and pistols that simply have certain accessories and cosmetic features. In fact, the bill focuses mostly on appearance, which would arbitrarily ban some firearm models while exempting others with the same functionality. This bill would not reduce violent crime, as Democrats claim. Studies have shown that the effect of the last assault weapons ban in 1994 on violent crime was perhaps too small for a reliable measurement. Instead, what this bill and all other legislation from Democrats aimed at gun control would do is directly infringe on the rights of law- abiding Americans. They are not going to stop here. There will always be a scary-looking gun that they think needs to be banned. There will always be another loophole that they have created out of thin air that they need to close with more bans. Mr. Speaker, this document says ``shall not be infringed.'' I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute and pay tribute to a member of the Greatest Generation in celebration of his 100th birthday. Donald Keller is a World War II veteran who has lived in Strasburg, Virginia, for almost his whole life. At 21, Keller joined the Army as a radio operator, and he served in the military for almost 2 years from 1943 to 1945. During his deployment, he was awarded two Purple Hearts, one after being wounded in Normandy and the other when he was injured in Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge. Keller later received the French Legion of Honor for carrying two injured soldiers to safety while he himself was injured. After Keller fought in the war, he returned to Strasburg where he served the city by opening his own radio repair company. The Sixth District thanks Donald Keller for his service and contributions to the city of Strasburg. His commitment to the city is clearly shown by the community's commitment to celebrate his 100th birthday. So, again, I thank him for his service, and I wish Donald Keller a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, as a former prosecutor, I saw many different types of crimes committed and many different criminals through court, but none so heinous as the targeting and abuse of our Nation's children. That is why I urge the House to consider legislation that I introduced last year, the Child Rescue Act, which is currently in the House Judiciary Committee. This bipartisan bill, which I introduced with Congresswoman Spanberger, requires the Department of Justice to convene with experts to focus on protecting children who are suffering abusive situations, whether this be trafficking, sexual abuse by family and trusted adults, or pornography. Technology companies report more than 45 million photos and videos online of children being sexually abused in 2018, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission also released a report last year which studied child sexual abuse image producers and found that these crimes had increased by 422 percent over the last 15 years. I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to develop proactive solutions to protect our Nation's youth and safeguard them from heinous predators. The Child Rescue Act is a targeted solution supported by child protection advocacy organizations, and I urge Chairman Nadler and the Judiciary Committee to act on this legislation as quickly as possible.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an incredible achievement in youth sports. The Amherst All Star Darlings, a girls' youth softball team of 7- and 8-year-olds, just finished their season undefeated. After winning both the district and State championships, they have set their eyes on Cochran-Bleckley, Georgia, where the girls' softball world series will be played later this month. These young ladies worked hard and enjoyed the competition, and their determination to win throughout the length of their season has been unmatched. Now, they are planning and working toward making their trip to Georgia possible to get the chance to make this Cinderella story a reality. Their efforts are a story of camaraderie, hard work, and laying the foundation for a bright future not only in sports but in all of their future endeavors. Amherst has been a special part of the Sixth District for decades, and it has been an honor to represent the people of Amherst, first in Richmond and now in Washington. The Sixth District, along with the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, will be cheering them on when they compete on July 31 in the Dixie youth softball league world series. Congratulations to the Amherst All Star Darlings for representing friends and family, the Amherst community, and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia so well.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chair, it is with sadness that I come to the floor to speak against this measure. We had opportunities in the Appropriations Committee to work across the aisle to address the concerns of the minority and to fund the priorities of this country and its people. Unfortunately, with a 40- year high in inflation, CPI rising to 9.1 percent in June, $30 trillion in debt, and the CBO recently predicting $1.6 trillion in deficits over the next decade, business as usual can no longer be contemplated. We must take action to secure the financial stability of this country for the future, for our children, for their children, and for future generations. We have to return to fiscal sanity through these appropriations bills to rein in inflation and rescue this economy. Transportation-Housing and Urban Development has an increase of more than 12 percent; Agriculture an increase of 8 percent; Financial Services and General Government an increase of 17 percent over FY22; Interior, 18 percent increase; MILCON, more than 10 percent above 2022. All of these bills contain important priorities, but they also contain excessive amounts of waste and liberal priorities that are not in keeping with the priorities of the American people, so I urge their defeat. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her hard work in trying to get our priorities considered. I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that fiscal responsibility is the watchword of the day and that the American people have their tax dollars looked after by the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. ``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.'' Life. Abortion is a termination of that life and a grave human rights abuse, and it must end. No one has the right to end the life of an innocent human being. The government has a duty to protect that right to life. Since 1973, more than 63 million unborn babies have had their lives cut short. That is a tragedy and simply unacceptable, and I stand here for the sake of millions of children, for the sake of the integrity of our Nation. Let's follow the science. Preborn humans are, in fact, humans and deserving of life. But, unfortunately, the pro-abortion left has decided that ``human'' doesn't automatically grant that right and that humans should only be accorded human rights depending on their location, level of dependency, or size. That mindset is a travesty, and the practice of abortion will go down in history as a great stain on this Nation.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, skyrocketing prices are eating away at family budgets across the country; 8.3 percent, 8.6 percent, and now 9.1 percent--those were the inflation rates for April, May, and June of this year. Year over year, energy prices are up 34 percent; gas, 48 percent; fuel oil, 106 percent; electricity, 12 percent; meat, poultry, and eggs, 14 percent. But worse is the majority's answer: Double down on Build Back Better and a tax-and-spend agenda that raises taxes on local businesses and farmers as our country enters a recession. While targeted stimulus during the COVID pandemic may have been appropriate, the plodding reaction of the Federal Reserve, combined with the typical reaction of the Democratic majority to spend trillions on Green New Deal projects and blue State bailouts, have caused paychecks to shrink and a lack of faith in the economic future of Americans to rise. Inflation is a tax on all of us. This 40-year high inflation rate is a wake-up call to return to fiscal sanity. Unfortunately, no one needs a crystal ball to see that my friends on the other side of the aisle are busy hitting the snooze button once again on addressing this inflation crisis.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County for winning the 2022 Quality Award at their national conference. Big Brothers Big Sisters aims to connect mentors, or ``bigs,'' with local youth, known as ``littles.'' This prestigious Quality Award is granted to only a third of chapters in the country. To achieve it, the chapter must succeed in having 73 percent of mentors meet with a youth member for a whole year. Additionally, 54 percent of participants must meet with their ``littles'' at school for that year. The Harrisburg-Rockingham chapter knocked that standard out of the park, reporting a 70 to 80 percent meeting success rate. According to Lindsay Douglas, the executive director of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham chapter, the reason for the chapter's superb performance is strong communication between the mentors, children, and their parents. It is community organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters that foster an environment where our youth can thrive. Congratulations, again, to the Harrisburg-Rockingham chapter.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in defense of our Constitution today, in defense of law- abiding American citizens, and against this Senate gun control bill. This legislation takes the wrong approach in attempting to curb violent crimes. It turns our system of due process on its head. You will now be found guilty and your guns taken away until you can prove your innocence. It has vague language containing insufficient guardrails to keep guns out of the hands of criminals or prevent mass violence. It creates a de facto waiting period for up to 10 business days for legal, law-abiding citizens' firearm purchases and the consideration of whether an adult purchaser's juvenile record should prohibit an individual from buying a firearm. We are committed to identifying and solving the causes of violent crimes and mental health crises, putting officers in our schools, and reinforcing our school buildings, but we must not infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while doing so. I cannot support this misguided legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Liberty Christian Academy Bulldogs on winning the VHSL baseball Class 3 State title game. The academy was founded in 1967, and in addition to its academic and biblical teachings, the school excels in sports. Their baseball State title this year marked their second State crown, as they won the 4A State title in 2017. This game all came down to the seventh inning at the field in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Their opponent, the Abingdon Falcons, had taken the lead in the top of the seventh when Lane Duff of the academy walked three straight batters, sending home Cole Lambert for the go-ahead run. The Falcons scored again on a bases-loaded walk to Jack Ferguson that scored Daniel Fellhauer and made it 5 to 3. Yet, when the Bulldogs got their chance in the bottom of the seventh, they started a rally as Logan Duff led off with a triple. Then a sac fly by Tanner Thomas scored Duff to cut the Abingdon Falcons' lead to 5 to 4. Finally, Lane Duff's two-run, walk-off single marked a three-run Liberty Christian Academy rally that propelled the Bulldogs to a 6 to 5 win last Saturday in the coveted VHSL Class 3 State title game. Congratulations to the players, coaches, and parents on a great season.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the chilling state of the American economy. The stock market is tanking. The American people know what a disaster President Biden and the majority's economic policies have been, and they are acting accordingly and expressing the lowest consumer confidence in a record 50 years of data. Pumping trillions in spending through this body, including the so- called American Rescue Plan, has, in large part, caused a 40-year high in inflation as the CPI rose to 8.6 percent in May. The Nation is $30 trillion in debt, and the CBO predicts $1.6 trillion in deficits over the next decade. The Federal Reserve will be forced to continue to raise interest rates, further exacerbating the beleaguered economy. Gas prices are at $5 a gallon, due to the President's assaults on American oil drilling and fracking and domestic energy exploration, and the Green New Deal priorities of the majority and this administration are exacerbating the energy crisis. As The Wall Street Journal recently asked: Has anyone, other than unsuccessful green energy subsidy firms, benefited from the Biden economy? What is more, the President's $5.8 trillion tax-and-spend budget is fiscally irresponsible. Biden's budget cuts $428 million in Customs and Border Protection's budget in the midst of a border crisis. It skyrockets Federal spending by a third, compared to prepandemic levels, calls for $2.5 trillion in tax hikes, and sets this country on a course of extended fiscal doom at a time when we are currently on the precipice of a recession. The American economy cannot sustain a Federal Government that is vacuuming tax dollars out of the pockets of the private sector at a record pace. Still, today, the majority will not even propose a budget, much less one that achieves balance, and instead, funds the government and inflates the currency through massive omnibus bills and continuing resolutions. We need to return to regular order in this House and return to fiscal sanity to rescue this economy from a recession that looms large in what is likely to be a long, hot summer for millions of American families.

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. I rise in opposition to the so-called Protecting Our Kids Act. What we saw 2 weeks ago in Uvalde, Texas, was tragic and horrific, and we should take action to prevent future tragedies such as this one, but this bill is not the solution for several reasons. First, the bill restricts the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding adults. With very limited exceptions, the bill would prohibit 18- to 20-year-olds from buying nearly all semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. During the markup of this bill, the Judiciary Committee chairman argued that this is applicable because these young adults don't have fully formed brains. Yet, we entrust these same young adults to serve our country in the military and die for our country. We trust these young adults to vote in our elections. What is even more interesting is while Democrats believe that these young adults don't have fully formed brains, they certainly are more than willing to try to reduce the age at which a person can vote to 16. Second, the bill makes it more difficult for a domestic violence victim to keep a firearm for protection. As drafted, the bill would criminalize a domestic violence victim's attempt to seek help from a friend or neighbor in obtaining a firearm. The safe storage requirements of the bill make it harder for people to access a firearm in an emergency by mandating a one-size-fits-all approach for firearm storage. Finally, the bill's limits on magazine capacity will essentially ban many common firearms, some of which may accommodate between 15 and 30 rounds of ammunition. Overall, this bill is an attempt to restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while ignoring the broader problems of why these tragedies are happening. Let's talk about school resource officers in our schools. Let's talk about fortifying school buildings. Let's talk about ending the dangerous mirage of gun-free zones. And yes, let's talk about mental health. We have to look for commonsense solutions that make it easier for Americans to protect themselves and their loved ones. I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. CLINE

Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate retired Army Master Sergeant Silverine James on the naming of the Salem VA Medical Center's Women's Health Clinic in her honor. Allowed to enlist by her mother, James joined the Army in 1949 and, after leaving in 1951, she eventually returned to the service in 1953 as an administrative specialist at the New York Point of Embarkation. Though the Army was still segregated at the time of her rejoining, Mrs. James was given an assignment that would help lead to the integration of her company and later was a trailblazer while serving at Camp Zama in Japan as the only African American in the Judge Advocate General section of the Far East Command. By the time she retired in 1973, Master Sergeant James had completed 22 years of service. Taking a well-deserved year off after retirement, James began a job at the Salem VA, where she spent nearly 5 years before taking a job with FEMA. In an article chronicling her life, Master Sergeant James said simply, ``I gave my country the best part of my life.'' It was great to be with Mrs. James last week to name the center in her honor. She surely did give the VA the best part of her life and her country the best part of her life. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.