Scott DesJarlais

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. As the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I was proud to work in a bipartisan fashion along with my friend Ranking Member Seth Moulton on some of the most consequential issues to our national security. This legislation authorizes full funding to keep modernizing the Nation's nuclear forces as well as the Department of Energy's scientific and production capabilities upon which our deterrent depends. It also approves acquisition flexibility for the nuclear enterprise and refocuses statutory requirements related to plutonium pit production on the long-term need for the deterrent. We authorize significant increases for many programs that support the Golden Dome Initiative and border missile defense efforts, including space-based sensing, development of the Next-Generation Interceptor, and procurement of Standard Missile 3 interceptors. In space, we require a single official to lead the vital positioning, navigation, and timing enterprise and eliminate the current PNT bureaucracy. We also streamline redundant space acquisition organizations to build on the progress made last year to reform acquisitions. Perhaps most importantly, this bill authorizes a historic increase in the Space Force's budget. This will allow them bring online the next generation of systems necessary to fight and win in space and support new missions to address emerging threats. This bill prioritizes the industrial base, expands U.S. defense production capacity, and supports the President's request to raise all servicemembers' pay. It rebuilds depleted munition stockpiles through new authorities and saves taxpayers over $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs and government bureaucracy. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eddie Hart for his induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. A Californian from birth, Eddie won State and NCAA titles during his collegiate track and field career where he became known as one of the top sprinters in the Nation. Eddie's performance in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games earned him the title the ``World's Fastest Human'' and a gold medal for him and the United States of America. Today, Eddie serves disadvantaged youth in our community through his Eddie Hart All In One Foundation. Eddie's commitment to service and his athletic excellence has touched countless lives for generations. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Eddie Hart, gold medalist, for his induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. Eddie Hart was once the world's fastest human. He is still one of the world's best humans.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Smith, and Ranking Member Seth Moulton on the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the compromise bill for the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill continues the fundamental reforms to defense acquisition that started in our committee and supports a fighting force that will stand against those who threaten the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I am proud the compromise product builds on the subcommittee's work to enhance our National Security Space capabilities, strengthen our nuclear forces, and expand our missile defense, all critical elements of our national security. First and foremost, this bill supports the continued modernization of our Nation's nuclear triad, our nuclear command and control systems, and the scientific capabilities that maintain our nuclear stockpile. We also established a new Rapid Capabilities Program within the National Nuclear Security Administration to enhance our ability to respond to growing nuclear threats from China and Russia. Our adversaries, China in particular, continue to rapidly develop and deploy new nuclear weapons, while U.S. nuclear capabilities can take over a decade to design, develop, and produce. This bill will apply innovative and rapid acquisition approaches to keep pace with the dynamic threat environment and ensure our Nation continues to field a nuclear deterrent that is second to none. For the defense of this homeland, the bill supports development of the Golden Dome system to achieve President Trump's bold vision. It also includes multiyear procurement authority and additional resources to expand production of critical missile defense interceptors. In space, we push to sustain the growth and development of Space Force Guardians. We must ensure we have the highly skilled and technically proficient acquisition cadre capable of bringing online the next generation of systems necessary to fight and win in space. As we develop those space systems, we are going to need both better- trained acquisition Guardians and more of them. The joint force will be looking to these professionals to deliver significant portions of the Golden Dome architecture. This bill helps them do that. We also ensure that the National Security Space Launch enterprise is led by one individual who has the authority to make decisions and make trades to support the warfighter. This bill revitalizes the defense industrial base and American manufacturing, supports a well-deserved pay raise for our servicemembers, creates a more lethal and agile force to counter our adversaries, and secures our Nation's borders, all while saving taxpayers over $20 billion through cutting inefficient programs and government bureaucracy. This is a compromise bill that meets the moment and the need to support our warfighters and protect our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work of this committee to bring forth this strong bipartisan bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with our Republican colleagues, including Mr. Fleischmann, who joins me as the dean of our Republican delegation, to welcome our new colleague to the House. Matt Van Epps brings a great personal story to us here in the Congress. He is a West Point graduate and a lieutenant colonel, and he has a distinguished record of combat service as a helicopter pilot and mission commander. He is a proven leader with government experience as a member of Governor Bill Lee's Cabinet, serving as the commissioner of the Department of General Services for the State of Tennessee, managing the day-to-day operations of just about every aspect of Tennessee State government. Most importantly, he is a husband and father, titles much more important than the one he will soon have as Congressman. We are also happy that Meg and Emilia are here, as well as so many other family and friends joining him on this momentous occasion. Matt has lived his life to the values of duty, honor, and country, and I know that he will carry those values into the Congress. We are excited to have him working with us, and I know so many in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle will also appreciate and enjoy serving with him, as well. Matt, let me quickly interject here. This institution is built on debate, and as every Member in this Chamber can tell you, we don't always agree on things. Matt, let me give you your first chance at providing a rebuttal. As the father of a Naval Academy graduate, we have a pretty important game coming up, so I will simply say: Go Navy, beat Army. Mr. Speaker, I now welcome and yield to the gentleman from Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District, Congressman Matt Van Epps, for his response.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Rogers for the time. Madam Chair, I rise today in favor of the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill fundamentally reforms defense acquisition to support a fighting force that will stand against those who threaten the United States of America. As the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I was proud to work in a bipartisan fashion to support some of the most critical elements of our national defense. First, and perhaps most importantly, we continue to support the modernization of our nuclear triad, as well as the scientific capabilities and the NC3 architecture that underpin it. We also established a new rapid capabilities program within the NNSA to enhance our ability to respond to growing nuclear threats from China and Russia. As China's recent military parade demonstrated, our adversaries continue to rapidly develop and deploy new nuclear weapons. On the other hand, U.S. nuclear capabilities can take over a decade to design and develop. This bill would apply innovative and rapid approaches to address this and ultimately ensure our deterrent continues to keep pace with the dynamic threat environment. For defense of the homeland, this bill supports development of the Golden Dome system to achieve President Trump's bold vision. In space, we established the Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking program as a formal program of record to provide badly needed space products from commercial providers to combatant commands. We also provide tools to sustain the growth and development of United States Space Force guardians to ensure we have the highly skilled and technical proficient acquisition cadre capable of bringing online the next generation of systems to fight and win in space. This bill revitalizes the defense industrial base and American manufacturing, supports a well-deserved pay raise for our servicemembers, creates a more lethal and agile force to counter our adversaries, and secures our Nation's borders, all while saving taxpayers over $20 billion through cutting inefficient programs and government bureaucracy. This is a bill that meets the moment and the need to support our warfighters to protect our Nation. I applaud the work of the committee to bring forth this strong and bipartisan bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for today's votes due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 436, YEA on Roll Call No. 437, YEA on Roll Call No. 438, and YEA on Roll Call No. 439. personal explanation

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for today's votes due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 432, YEA on Roll Call No. 433, NAY on Roll Call No. 434, and YEA on Roll Call No. 435. personal explanation

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rhea County's 18 years of participation in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Parton first founded the program in 1995 in Sevier County where she grew up. The library provides a monthly book to children from birth until age 5 as a way to promote early literacy. In 2004, Dolly Parton worked with the Governor and the Tennessee State Legislature to expand the program statewide. Tennessee is celebrating 20 years of public-private partnership between the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to help children across our great State develop a solid foundation for literacy and love of reading from an early age. On September 11, 2006, the program was brought to Rhea County and in that time has graduated over 4,500 children. I congratulate the Rhea County Library on this wonderful accomplishment and thank them for all they do to help the children of their community learn necessary foundational literary skills that will set them up for future success.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent for today's vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 218, H. Res. 1213.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Claude Morse, who sadly passed away November 12, 2023. Tennessee has long been known as The Volunteer State for a reason, and no one I have met personified the spirit of that motto more than Claude Morse.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Chief Teddy Loftis, who sadly passed away November 5, 2023, after 51 years of service to various law enforcement agencies, including his most recent position as Chief of Police for the Lynnville Police Department, located in Giles County within the Fourth Congressional district of Tennessee. Chief Loftis was born in Nashville, graduated from Hendersonville High School, and immediately embarked on a career of public service. He received his Emergency Medical Technician License from Volunteer State in 1975 and was a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1980. During his long and successful career, Teddy would serve his local communities with honor and distinction including the Goodlettsville Police Department, Hendersonville Police Department, Sumner County Sheriff's Office, Millersville Police Department, and Ethridge Police Department. His experience and skills led him to the position of Chief of the Lynnville Police Department, where he continued to serve his community until his untimely passing. Working in law enforcement is a difficult and dangerous job regardless of the size of the community, and the best officers are the ones that go above and beyond the call of duty. Teddy was well regarded as a personable soul, a man who made friends easily, and a man who knew the distinction of when firm law and order was needed and when friendly advice and understanding would suffice. He also knew the value of continuous training for himself and the value of sharing his experience and knowledge with the future generations of law enforcement leaders. A devoted family man who loved the outdoors and could handle any ``do it yourself'' fix-it project, Teddy most enjoyed spending time with his wife Teresa and all his children and grandchildren. His decades of dedication to the citizens of Tennessee are truly respected and appreciated. I am proud to represent a community that has the utmost respect for all the men and women who serve our communities as members of the law enforcement community. Teddy had a professional standard and a kind, personal touch that should be the established standard for service to a community. I ask all Members of Congress to join me in paying respect to Chief Teddy Loftis for a job well done and a life well lived, and I ask this institution to join me in sending the deepest sympathies to all his family and friends.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a cultural staple in Middle Tennessee that has left an indelible mark on the history of the Volunteer State for over a century. Each year, communities across Tennessee unite in celebration of the rich tradition of rhythmic flatfoot buckdancing through the National Buckdancing Championship. The annual National Buckdancing Championship has recently experienced a change of venue, with the Tennessee Old-Time Music and Dance Association now shouldering the responsibility of commemorating this time-honored tradition. Through their production of the Thomas Maupin Festival, affectionately known as MaupinFest, in Unionville, Tennessee, the Tennessee Old-Time Music and Dance Association has played a pivotal role in preserving this significant piece of American cultural heritage. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Uncle Dave Macon Days Association, who diligently oversaw the National Buckdancing Championship annually since 1986 when Congress entrusted them with this duty, up until 2019. Since its inception in 2019, the Tennessee Old- Time Dance Association has organized MaupinFest and has continued to bestow the title of National Buckdancing Champion on behalf of Uncle Dave Macon Days. In light of this transition in production, the Uncle Dave Macon Days Association has expressed their desire to transfer the responsibility for the National Buckdancing Championship permanently to the Tennessee Old-Time Music and Dance Association. MaupinFest aims to pay tribute to Mr. Maupin's dance style, which stands as the quintessential representation of traditional Tennessee rhythmic flatfoot buckdancing, distinct from the more common clogging. Mr, Maupin's old-time buckdancing style merits preservation as a cherished Tennessee treasure. Therefore, I proudly announce that henceforth, the title of National Old-Time Buckdancing Champion will be conferred by the Tennessee Old-Time Music and Dance Association. This ensures that this historical American art form receives the recognition it so rightfully deserves.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this measure because we are a country of laws, and it is not right to allow your first measure in entering this country to be something illegal. It flies in the face of all the people who did it correctly. Thank God we have a chairman like Chairman Green who is addressing this issue. It should be a bipartisan issue. Everyone is feeling it. It is time that we act. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Republicans for bringing this forward. It is important, and I strongly support it.

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my colleague from Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2. If you watch TV and listen to the administration and Secretary Mayorkas, they would tell you that the border is secure and that the border is not open. In other words, they are telling you to believe what they say and not what you see. Anybody who looks at the border can see the crisis that is there. They can look in their communities and see the tragedy that is unfolding with fentanyl. They can look to the sanctuary cities where all the mayors love to say: ``We will take anyone. Send your immigrants to our cities.'' Now, they are screaming: ``No more.'' As soon as they got a taste of what the border States are feeling and dealing with every day, they wanted no part of it. The toll that this is causing our country is hard to grasp. Look no further than our SNAP program. Everyone wants to expand SNAP and make sure no one goes hungry. I agree that anyone in need should get food, but we cannot get an answer to how many people who are here illegally are on the SNAP program. We have been trying for a year. We have asked Secretary Mayorkas via letter, and we have asked Secretary Vilsack via letter how many people who are here illegally or undocumented are on SNAP. We know that 45 percent of non-documented households receive SNAP, and only 21 percent of U.S. citizens receive SNAP. When I bring this up in committee, I am told it is very hard to get SNAP benefits if you are in the country illegally, but there are several exceptions--more than 11. Two of the main exceptions are: One, if you are under 18, you automatically qualify. We all know how many children are coming across the border. They are receiving SNAP benefits. The other is if you are seeking asylum. Well, who is coming here that is not seeking asylum? I heard the gentleman mention that anyone can claim asylum, but what we are seeing here is not true asylum seeking. It is what they are told to say because they know that is the clearest pathway into the country. People are just simply being released in record numbers. Mr. Speaker, 5 million to 6 million people have come into our country illegally. Do you know who hates illegal immigration more than any of us? People who did it right. We have the most generous immigration system in the world. Almost a million per year can come here legally. We are letting millions in illegally, and the people who do it right resent that.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 5441 the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act of 2021. This act is an unnecessary overreach that will give the federal government the ability to inflict undue harassment upon the Tennessee Walking Horse community. The call for this kind of federal oversite has been promulgated by targeted misinformation campaigns. This legislation will add a layer of red tape that will be purposeless, and taxpayers will likely be made to bear the burden of this cost. The Tennessee Walking Horse industry has a multibillion- dollar impact on rural communities in my state and even more specifically in my district. It provides jobs to over 20,000 people and is a tourism staple. It will place an undue ban on equipment making horse shows and events impossible to put on. Equine experts themselves have said these bans are not based on scientific evidence. No one condones the abuse of animals, but the oversite of this industry should be left up to local officials who know it best. Therefore, I have introduced H.R. 6341 the Protecting Horses from Soring Act of 2021 which will ensure that the Tennessee Walking Horse industry is regulated by state agencies and industry experts, not Washington bureaucrats. Those who participate in the abuse of these animals must be held accountable and brought to justice. For this reason, I implore to vote no on H.R. 5441 and support sensible and practical legislation.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Claudia Mae Taylor Donalson. Claudia is the most recent honoree of the Women of Lincoln County Committee--a group that has joined together to recognize and honor influential women that have played such a significant role in the County's history. Claudia was a lifelong Lincoln County resident born April 13, 1916. She was the only child to her proud parents Jessie and Mary Lacy Taylor. She was educated in Fayetteville public schools where she would later return as a teacher. Donalson attended Tennessee State University in Nashville for her undergraduate degree and Alabama A&M University in Huntsville for her graduate studies. She was married in 1944 to a prominent Lincoln County community member, Dr. Latha Mitchell Donalson, known as L.M., who was a surgeon and hospital administrator. After Claudia retired from teaching, she worked as a dietician for her husband who founded Donalson Hospital now known as Donalson Nursing Home. One of the greatest joys of her life was being an educator. She spent thirty years working to better the lives of children as a teacher in both the Fayetteville and Lincoln County school systems. Claudia was a woman of great faith. She was baptized as a child and became a lifetime member of the St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Fayetteville. She served her church in many capacities as Trustee, Vice President of the Women's Missionary Society, the Layman's Organization, and the Kitchen Committee. A woman with a true servant's heart, she was incredibly active in making her community a better place. She was a member of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association, the NAACP, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Advisory Board of First National Bank-Pulaski, the Fayetteville and Lincoln County Child Development Center, Lincoln Medical Center Auxiliary, Lincoln County Historical Society, Hannah's House, and the R.F. Boyd Auxiliary at Meharry Medical Hospital. She was also a Volunteer Hostess for the Fayetteville/Lincoln County Museum and Civic Center. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling with her husband abroad, gardening, reading, refinishing furniture and mastering her needlework skills. She passed away on October 2, 2007. I hope that the Congress will join me in recognizing the life of Mrs. Donalson, and I congratulate the efforts of the Women of Lincoln County Committee for their work in recognizing and adding to the historical records of the women who have helped shaped the history of their county.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor from H.R. 8167.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on motions to suspend the rules be vacated to the end that the motions stand disposed of in accordance with the earlier voice votes thereon, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with respect to the following:

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today, to honor Chief Richard Howell for 32 years of dedicated service to the City of Fayetteville, located in Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District. Chief Howell joined the Fayetteville Police Department in January of 1990. He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy on April 27, 1990. During his long and successful career, Chief Howell steadily rose in rank, receiving a series of promotions beginning in 1997, when he was named Sergeant, becoming a Lieutenant in 2003, and then a Commander in 2004. The Board of Mayor and Alderman recognized the quality of his work and endorsed his promotion to Fayetteville Police Chief on July 1, 2013. Chief Howell held this position until his well-earned retirement this month. Chief Howell achieved multiple certifications/specializations during his career that included certified armorer, certified arms instructor, specialized training in homicide investigations, hazardous materials technician and team operations, chemical weapons instructor, and Training Officer. He was the founder and the first Team Commander of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) established in 2001. Chief Howell developed an active shooter program through SORT that would help train his team members and other departments on active shooter situations. Chief Howell performed the project management oversight, in coordination with the Fayetteville Board of Mayor and Alderman, of the construction of the current Police Headquarters. Chief Howell is a graduate of the Leadership Lincoln Class of 2003, attended the Huntsville Police Academy for Critical Deployment of Patrol Officers, attended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Development Seminar, and attended the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy. In addition to his work as a member of SORT, Chief Howell was also a member of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Officer Association, the TN Association of Chiefs of Police, and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. A devoted family man, Chief Howell enjoys spending time with his wife Suzanne and daughters Kaitlyn and Jessica. His decades of dedication to the citizens of Fayetteville and Lincoln County, Tennessee are truly appreciated. I am proud to represent a community that has the utmost respect for all the men and women who serve our communities as members of law enforcement. Chief Howell's professional demeanor and management skills were well respected and have established a standard for service to community. I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Richard Howell for a job well done and sending well wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 357, I mistakenly voted No when I intended to vote Yes. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Axne (Spanberger) Babin (Nehls) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Boebert (Van Drew) Bowman (Tlaib) Cardenas (Gomez) Cawthorn (Nehls) Doggett (Raskin) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Gaetz (Greene (GA)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Gomez) Gosar (Greene (GA)) Jayapal (Pocan) Khanna (Auchincloss) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Long (McHenry) Meeks (Kelly (IL)) Meng (Jeffries) Payne (Pallone) Pingree (Kuster) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Steube (Franklin, C. Scott) Strickland (Jeffries) Swalwell (Gomez) Waltz (Salazar) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Young (Joyce (OH))

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Pocan amendment. A 10 percent cut to this budget will leave America vulnerable to our adversaries. The United States is facing daily threats from China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and a whole host of other bad actors. We must fully fund our military so the U.S. has every capability necessary to deter those who wish to do us harm. The fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act has bipartisan support from the House Armed Services Committee already. With the approved budget on the floor today being $23.9 billion more than the bare-bones budget that originally came through. There is a reason why the improved budget was approved in a bipartisan vote of the committee by an overwhelming 57-2 margin. Modernization is an important part of our military strategy. Our military leaders have spent the past year sounding the alarm and testimony before Congress that our top competitors, Russia and China, are working at a startling pace to close the gap between themselves and the U.S. in areas like nuclear modernization. In other areas, like hypersonic capabilities, they may have already surpassed us. This budget is absolutely necessary in order to maintain advantages over our enemies as technology continues to evolve and change rapidly. Now is not the time to recklessly cut what we must spend to protect our country and provide for our men and women in uniform. We must ensure our brave men and women in the armed services have every resource necessary to keep the American people safe.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill before us today represents a much-improved effort over the Biden-Harris administration's proposed budget. There is no more important job than providing for the defense of our Nation. The specter of threats from an aggressive China, a revitalized Russia, and radical Islamic terrorist states demand that we maintain a strong national defense readiness and posture. This NDAA will give a much-deserved and needed pay raise and expanded benefits to members of our armed services. We are making investments to ensure our military is the best equipped and trained in the world, with a focus on American jobs and our domestic manufacturing base. We are also investing in important new technologies like quantum computing, hypersonic weapons, and autonomous systems. I am proud to say that Arnold Air Force Base, the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Vanderbilt University, Fort Campbell Army Base, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and other Tennessee stakeholders will receive the funds that they need to carry out vital operations for our United States military. That said, the bill is not perfect. I am disappointed in House Democrats for preventing my ``no first use'' amendment from coming to the floor for a vote. In hearings before our committee, our military leadership emphasized that a ``no first use'' policy is a limiting strategic mistake, and a number of our allies have expressed these concerns directly to me as well. We should never tip our strategic plans to our adversaries. It is also disappointing that those on the other side of the aisle have taken a bill intended to improve our military and muddled it with attempts to score political points. While I don't support these poison pills, I am hopeful that my colleagues will remove them during conference before its final passage. That said, we must move forward with this legislation. I support making it stronger, avoiding nongermane political issues, and getting it signed into law for our brave men and women in uniform.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to today's impeachment resolution, H. Res. 24, against President Trump. First, it is a tragedy that we are here once again with this body, the United States House of Representatives, moving forward with impeaching President Trump. This body impeached the president during the 116th Congress which resulted in his acquittal in the Senate. Before President Trump, there have only been two presidents impeached by the House of Representatives. Now, after the majority party in the House did not get what they wanted the first time with impeachment, they are at it again a second time. Their blind hatred of the President and four years of denying the results of the election have led them to one final moment of doing this again. This impeachment is being held in the court of public opinion. I have found no constitutional grounding for President Trump's impeachment. If Democratic leadership wanted us to take their stunt seriously, the least they could have done was attempted to present some sort of evidence in a formal trial. Make no mistake, this is not the way the House should be conducting business. The nation and world have been through a global pandemic this past year which has destroyed many small businesses and jobs across our county. Yet, the House majority leadership could not be bothered to compromise on much-needed relief. They focused on playing politics with people's lives and making sure the president had one less accomplishment on his record ahead of the November 2020 election. So why is the House spending its time on impeachment with H. Res. 24? Simply there are many who never liked President Trump, never gave him a chance, and have only sought to remove him from office since day one. With just days left before the president leaves office, House Democrats have decided to implement their double standard yet again. Many of my House colleagues from the other side of the aisle have spent an incredible amount of energy on fanning the flames of political unrest. They have called for riots and said peaceful protests are not enough. President Trump called for his supporters to protest peacefully. When things got out of hand, he called on them to stand down and listen to law enforcement officials. When violent protests got out of hand across the country this past summer you did not see the same type of condemnation from the Democratic Party. President Trump has already said there will be an orderly transition on January 20, 2021. We need to move forward and help to ensure that the incoming Biden-Harris administration has everything they need to assume office on day one. We are deeply divided in this country right now. Impeachment without constitutional grounding does nothing but disenfranchise the 74 million people that voted for President Trump. I strongly oppose these impeachment efforts in the House and do not wish to create a further divide in our country.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, I rise to voice my concerns about the certification of the Electoral College vote. First, I think it is imperative to highlight the importance of how our nation's elections are conducted. I have received many calls, emails, letters, and I have spoken to many of my constituents who are concerned about the irregularities in the 2020 election cycle. Today, I have many concerns about our most recent election, but my objection is focused on one primary constitutional question around changes to election laws made by state officials without the approval of their state legislatures. This is, of course, a legal question, concerning the constitutionality of last-minute election law changes made by executive orders without the approval of the state legislatures. Article II, Section 1 includes the ``Electors Clause,'' stating: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. There is no question that changes in state election laws were made by executive orders without legislative approval (usually under the guise of COVID) to allow for ballots to be allowed after deadlines had passed and mail-ins and absentees to be allowed under far more liberal circumstances which created an environment that allowed ``vote harvesting'' and thousands of ballots to be counted days and weeks after the election--without the requisite standards of verification that we should expect for a secure election. It is a valid constitutional question and I note a recent observation by Justice Gorsuch in an unrelated recently decided case between the Brooklyn diocese and Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York on unlawful forced shutdowns: ``Government is not free to disregard the [Constitution] in times of crisis. . . . Yet recently, during the COVID pandemic, certain States seem to have ignored these long- settled principles.'' All of these issues are just some of the concerns and questions regarding the 2020 election and were not limited to these three states. Many other concerns of voting irregularities have been reported across the country including fraud and government officials changing state laws without legislature approval. These are serious concerns and allegations. It should be the state legislatures, and not government officials or judges, making changes to election laws. The timing of these election law changes is also problematic. In some states, changes were made to state election laws during the year of the election. These last-minute changes only allow for confusion and chaos, as we have seen since November 2020. From a global pandemic to one of the most consequential Presidential elections in our lifetimes, 2020 was a year of many unknowns. What should not be an unknown are the laws and rules states have on implementing our elections. However, the actions by many state officials and judges, along with improper voting activities, have allowed the 2020 Presidential election to be called into question. It is because of these questions and irregularities, that I object to today's certification process and today, our challenge asks for a simple remedy--an appointment of an electoral commission that can hear the claims of election irregularities, review the evidence, and decide as to what the facts are and whether or not election laws were followed. I do not believe that to be an unreasonable demand. I am proud to represent the state of Tennessee--a state that gets the election process done right and should be a role model for the nation. In addition to our open Election Day procedures, Tennessee provides a generous early voting process of 2 weeks in order for people to choose a day and time convenient to their schedule. In unique circumstances, there are also a number of statutory reasons where a citizen can request a mail-in or absentee ballot by mail and have their votes counted as well. It is a process that works and is fair and equitable to everyone in the state. It is not unfair, it does not suppress voting, and it provides an orderly, secure method for conducting elections and counting votes in a timely fashion. Everyone has the ability to do their civic duty with a minimum amount of effort--no drama, no long lines and waits, and a process that is free and fair to all candidates. Votes are tabulated, and results are provided in a timely fashion on election night. It's not complicated, we have done this for many election cycles now, and we did not change our procedures on the fly in 2020. We are very fortunate to do things the right way in Tennessee and we did once again in 2020. Sadly, there were a few states that got it wrong and call into question the integrity of the Presidential election. It is ridiculous and unacceptable in the 21st Century that other states have processes that lead to a situation where it took weeks to have votes tabulated, vote totals remaining uncertain, and the numbers of uncounted votes being uncertain for days--and weeks--after Election Day. I respectfully and vigorously disagree with people who suggest that the processes that were opened and expanded in 2020 in many states are not subject to fraud and abuse--under these new standards ballots are mailed on behalf of people, ballots are sent to the wrong addresses, and ballot harvesting is encouraged. And again, one of the biggest problems with mail-in ballots is managing this process in a way that allows votes to be counted and winners to be determined in a timely fashion. It should not take weeks to determine a winner in state and federal races, and the prospects of all future Presidential elections being undecided for weeks on end leads to uncertainty and a lack of confidence in the results and the fairness of the process. It is absurd. Even if you accept that everything is above board, no one should sit here and say that this process doesn't stink. Election reform is needed and the mail-in process will always be vulnerable to delays and the suggestion that foul play is involved--especially with the evidence being presented. Widespread mail in balloting with undefined rules and limitations is a solution in search of a problem and is unnecessary to conduct a fair election in this country. We need a defined in-person voting process that includes early voting. We need voter ID requirements. We need a limited mail in ballot process that allows for absentee votes for military personnel serving overseas or away from their homes, people traveling abroad for extended periods, and those that have serious health issues that would legitimately keep them from being able to make it to the polls. Beyond that, people should take a brief moment out of their lives to show up and make an informed vote for the candidates and issues on the ballot. Since the disputed Presidential election in 2000, this nation has spent billions upon billions of dollars for updated machines and processes, and 20 years later we are arguably in a worse position in terms of having a transparent process. There is no reason--NONE--that we can't have a procedure in this day and time to have almost all votes accounted for on Election Day. We cannot keep conducting our elections in a way that does not provide surety and confidence in its results. We need uniform processes for our federal elections, and we need laws in place to ensure that all legal voters are given their constitutionally protected rights to participate in civic engagement, but not through a process in which votes are gathered and harvested without their participation in the process. Tennesseans demand this fair process, and I will always fight for it.

Mr. DesJARLAIS

Mr. DesJARLAIS. Madam Speaker, as a result of my physician's recommendation to avoid travel as a result of recent knee replacement surgery, I was unable to be in the chamber for votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 105: Previous Question H. Res. 967, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 106: Passage H. Res. 967, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 107: Passage H. Res. 965, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 108: Motion to Recommit H.R. 6800, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 109: Passage H.R. 6800.