Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Our colleagues want Americans to believe that this discharge petition and underlying legislation are the be-all and end-all in this investigation. However, it is House Republicans who have worked tirelessly to achieve true justice for victims. To date, the significant information that has come out has come from the Oversight and Government Reform Committee as a result of it issuing 13 subpoenas. We have released 65,000 pages of documents from the Department of Justice; the Epstein estate, which was not mentioned in the underlying legislation; the former U.S. attorney; and others. Let me say it again. The unanimous-consent request to pass the legislation immediately last week was blocked by the minority leader, full stop. If Democrats truly cared about finding justice immediately for victims, this legislation would have been passed last week. Instead, they want political theater to capitalize on. House Republicans, on the other hand, remain focused on truth, accountability, and delivering real justice for Epstein's victims, not political points. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I am prepared to close.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, those of us who did not sign the discharge petition are just as concerned about the victims or, as some are calling them, survivors as our colleagues who signed the discharge petition. We share contempt for anyone who abused anyone else. I have stood on this floor many times, Mr. Speaker, to speak out for victims and survivors of people who have been abused and against anyone who breaks the law or takes advantage of an innocent person. We will not be characterized as insensitive to that, but House Republicans who didn't sign the discharge petition remain focused on truth, accountability, and delivering real justice for Epstein victims. Again, I will point out that it was under President Trump's Department of Justice that Jeffrey Epstein was arrested and tried. We have not tried to avoid this situation. We want things done the right way. We want maximum justice for these victims and survivors. Our rule today simply expedites consideration of the Massie-Khanna legislation. As I said, we would have liked to have seen it pass last week when we gave an opportunity for it, but it was blocked by the Democratic minority leader. Mr. Speaker, I ask for support for this rule and the underlying legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, psychologists have a word for the things the Democrats accuse us of: ``projection.'' Mr. Speaker, I sure hope you did not watch all 7 hours of the Democrat group therapy session last night in the Rules Committee, but if you did, you saw what a clown show it was. It was a crisp 40 degrees outside when we adjourned at around 1:30 a.m. this morning, but with the amount of hot air being spewed by Democrats in the committee room for 7 straight hours, you would have thought we were in the dead of summer. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I don't think Democrats really agree on anything. Last night and into the early hours of this morning, they showed everyone that they couldn't even agree on what they were angry about. They went off on so many tangents that it would have been a miracle if they arrived at a single, coherent thought at any point during our meeting. The American people will see the exact same thing play out from them during this debate and during general debate on the floor later today. Apparently, the only thing Democrats can agree on is that the government needs to stay shut down and that the American people need to suffer even more than they have already made them suffer. We heard from Democrats repeatedly about the millions of people they believe are going to be affected when their own temporary COVID credits sunset at the end of this year--their own temporary COVID credits. Did we hear anything about the millions of Americans who got walloped by Democrats when they shut the government down? Did we hear an apology from Democrats to the American people for deliberately misleading them over 40 days? Did we hear an admission that the only reason they shut down the government is to cover up for a catastrophic policy failure that they concocted and set an end date on? No, we didn't hear one of those things, not one. Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised. This is the kind of behavior that Americans have come to expect from Democrats. Has anyone ever noticed how Democrats have developed such a visceral reaction when confronted about their abdication of responsibility? They shut the government down, and the moment you call attention to their own actions, all they do is obfuscate and start shrieking about unrelated things. Scientists should study this at length and try to come up with a cure. It is a serious affliction, as was evidenced numerous times over in our Rules Committee meeting. It is well past time to reopen the government and end the Democrat- concocted nightmare that Americans have been living through for over 40 straight days. The CR before us will end that nightmare. It will get this legislative body and the entire Nation moving once more. Democrats should grow a spine and accept responsibility for their own failures. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 119-299) to accompany House Resolution 722 should have included in its waivers of all points of order against consideration of H.R. 5371 a disclosure of the following violations: Section 303 of the Congressional Budget, which prohibits consideration of legislation providing new budget authority, a change in revenues, or a change in the public debt limit, for a fiscal year until the budget resolution for that year has been agreed to.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Charlie Kirk stood for the open exchange of ideas, our God-given freedoms, and spirited debate that challenged people to view the issues of the day in a different light. He reminded us to remain rooted in our faith and to seek God's wisdom every day. Civil society lost one of its most vocal defenders, there is no question about it. Let me say this: Charlie Kirk's work and impact are far from over. Everyday men and women are rallying to carry on the mantle that he once carried. Mr. Speaker, that is a powerful testament to his impact upon the world. I pray that God gives his wife, Erika, his children, and his family continued comfort. I support the resolution before us today and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a dear friend and former colleague, Patrick McHenry. This week, the United States Capitol Historical Society is recognizing Patrick as a recipient of the Freedom Award. The award serves to recognize and honor individuals and organizations that have advanced greater public understanding and appreciation for freedom as represented by the U.S. Capitol and Congress. Madam Speaker, there is no question in my mind that Patrick McHenry deserves this award and continued praise for his service to the Nation and to North Carolina. I congratulate Patrick on this recognition for his patriotism, for being a wonderful role model, and for his overall service to the Nation. May God continue to bless Patrick, and may He continue to bless his wonderful family.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Congress is charged with upholding the solemn constitutional mandate of providing for the common defense of the Nation. We must guarantee that the men and women of the Armed Forces are equipped with the capabilities and resources to remain the most resilient and lethal fighting force on the planet. If we do not make good upon that guarantee, our Nation's warfighters and defense apparatus will be ill-equipped to confront all manner of threats to the homeland. The bipartisan FY26 NDAA is our answer, and it contains the necessary provisions needed to ensure that the Armed Forces can carry out their mission unimpeded. From pay raises for servicemembers to furthering innovation, slashing bureaucratic red tape to doubling down on President Trump's America First posture by authorizing the collection of funds to offset the cost of U.S. forces in Eastern Europe, this legislation meets the mark and then some. It also makes ironclad commitments to deter aggression from foreign adversaries that pose a serious threat to America's national security and our way of life. Ensuring the safety and security of the homeland will always be the top priority of Republicans in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I support the rule, the underlying legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 119-199) to accompany House Resolution 580 should have included in its waivers of all points of order against consideration of H.R. 3633 and S. 1582 a disclosure of the following violation: Section 303 of the Congressional Budget Act which prohibits consideration of legislation providing new budget authority, a change in revenues, or a change in the public debt limit, for a fiscal year until the budget resolution for that year has been agreed to.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 590 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and of the underlying legislation. This evening, the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, House Resolution 590, providing for the House's consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025. Passage of this Rule will send H.R. 4 directly to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, if you told the American people that wasteful spending overtook Washington during the Biden-Harris administration, they would not be surprised. Their jaws would not drop, and their pupils would not dilate in utter shock. The American people saw the fiscal ruin that was created by the previous administration. That is why they overwhelmingly chose Republicans to lead the Nation and restore fiscal sanity. That restoration is here, Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4 is part of our efforts to get Washington's fiscal house in order. H.R. 4 rescinds $9 billion in spending that the President has identified as wasteful and unnecessary. As I said in the Rules Committee, it is unfortunate that the Senate was not able to execute all of President Trump's recommended rescissions. That said, there are many pertinent rescissions that remain, and they are very impactful. Now, our Democrat colleagues will scoff and say that this $9 billion we are clawing back is a drop in the bucket; that it is merely peanuts. That is where they are wrong, Mr. Speaker. The thing is that in their arguments against H.R. 4, Democrats can only grasp at straws. Their positions are weak, and their claims are even weaker. They will talk in circles and just bloviate. In the end, they simply don't make any points that are worth remembering. They will rail against H.R. 4 so much that they say absolutely nothing. Here is the truth. If this rescissions package was not put forth and passed by Congress, taxpayer dollars would still be funneled to ideologues at PBS and NPR and taxpayer dollars would continue to be funneled to all manner of foreign aid repositories that do not align with the fiscal sensibilities and values of the American people. That money, the people's money, would continue to be squandered. That is the truth of the matter. Republicans understand that $1 of taxpayer money wasted is $1 too many. We must pass this rescissions package and send it to the President so that we can continue our work and continue to secure wins for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, two words from me: Low energy. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the majority leader.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, give me a break. Republicans are finally offering taxpayers relief from years of spending from Democrats. Again, with President Biden they expanded the Federal Government with an unprecedented $11 trillion in spending, $6 trillion of which has been added to the national debt. It needs to end. We voted to end it in H.R. 1. We are ending it in this package here today, and we won't stop fighting for taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), who is one of our most eloquent speakers.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), who is a Rules Committee member.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gill).