Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2051) to reauthorize the Missing Children's Assistance Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean), Chairman of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. The successes of NCMEC over the past 40 years and the need for its continued funding have been well established. Today, NCMEC, with its 450 employees, operates a unique public-private partnership that is the essential formula for effective governance, working with families, law enforcement, schools, community leaders, and nonprofits. In 2023 alone, NCMEC received 148,695 calls, and the organization assisted law enforcement, families, and child welfare with 28,886 cases of missing children and recovered 88 percent of those cases. With the passage of S. 2051, the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023, we can ensure continuing success for NCMEC. Government's most basic duties include establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, and promoting the general welfare. Our most sacred responsibility is to protect the well-being and upbringing of future generations. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation to protect missing and exploited children, who deserve their shot at the American Dream, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6655.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who is the chair of the Agriculture Committee.

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin).

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

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Ranking Member Scott for his good work on this, as well as the staff on his side who have worked so diligently on this as well as the Members on the other side of the aisle. Fighting on behalf of American workers has been one of the great privileges of my time leading the Committee on Education and the Workforce. In fact, it has been one of the great privileges of my entire career. Mr. Speaker, I thank each staff member who has undertaken this duty with me over the years and especially on this bill. There is an unsung army behind me that equals every bit of my passion for the American worker. Together, we hammered out the details of this bill the old-fashioned way. This is a product of negotiation and compromise, and it is a welcomed sight. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from many organizations, including the Business Roundtable, Americans for Prosperity, and Associated Builders and Contractors. Americans for Prosperity, April 8, 2024. Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of more than 3 million Americans for Prosperity activists across all 50 states, I write in support of H.R. 6655, the Stronger Workforce for America Act. This bipartisan legislation represents a significant step forward in reforming our Nation's workforce development system. Since the enactment of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, our economy and labor market have evolved dramatically. However, the existing framework has struggled to keep pace with these changes. H.R. 6655 addresses many of these gaps, offering innovative marketplace solutions that are crucial for both economic growth and individual prosperity while reducing governmental inefficiency and interference. Specifically, the Stronger Workforce for America Act emphasizes the importance of upskilling and reskilling workers by allocating substantial funds towards individual training accounts (ITAs), on-the-job learning opportunities, and employer-led initiatives and less on the system's bureaucracy--shifting misallocated taxpayer money away from unaccountable and irrelevant programs. This focus on enhancing individuals' skills aligns with our commitment to fostering economic freedom and ensuring competitiveness in today's job market by strengthening labor force participation. This bill takes important steps to empower states to pilot One Door to Work reforms to assist working- age Americans re-enter the workforce more effectively by integrating workforce development and safety net programs while reducing the burden on taxpayers. Additionally, the bill strengthens the connection between employers and workers through enhanced employer involvement and industry-relevant upskilling programs. By fostering collaboration between employers and education providers, the bill ensures that workforce programs align with the current labor market demands, facilitating individuals' access to meaningful careers. Furthermore, the bill introduces measures to improve accountability and quality in workforce programs by implementing reforms in program evaluation and performance indicators. This emphasis on accountability and results is essential for building a more efficient and effective workforce development system that reduces the governmental footprint and propels individuals towards self-sufficiency. Additionally, the bill prioritizes modernization and innovation by emphasizing digital literacy, virtual services, and skills-based hiring practices, reflecting a forward- thinking approach that aligns training programs with the realities of the 21st-century workplace. This includes pathways for ex-offenders to re-integrate into their communities. H.R. 6655 is a blueprint for a more dynamic workforce where the private sector and education providers rather than government are empowered to meet the needs of America's workers and employers. We urge you to support this bill, recognizing its potential to significantly contribute to a stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous America. Sincerely Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report to the House that Article III courts have once again protected the American people from extreme executive overreach. I am talking, of course, about the President's so-called borrower defense rule. On Friday, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped the regulation in its tracks for now. This key decision gives strong reason to believe that the borrower defense scheme will be permanently scuttled. Writing for the court, Judge Edith Jones said: `` . . . we assess a strong likelihood that the plaintiffs will succeed on the merits in demonstrating the Rule's numerous statutory and regulatory shortcomings.'' This is a grand slam for taxpayers and for every American who never stepped foot on a college campus yet have been forced to pay for others' student debt. God bless our Republican system of checks and balances.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Jared L. Perry, a major in the United States Marine Corps, an exemplary North Carolinian, and a proud native of Ashe County. On April 5, Major Perry will officially retire after 16 years of service to our Nation, a record of service that is admirable and respected. His service to our Nation has led him to travel to Central and South America on the USS Iwo Jima, to Afghanistan, where he served two combat tours, as well as to the Indo-Pacific. No matter where he has traveled to in service to our Nation, one thing has remained the same: his commitment to advancing and safeguarding the values and freedom that make America the greatest country in the world. I congratulate Major Perry on his well-earned retirement. The entire Nation thanks him for his service and sacrifice, and we are forever grateful.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, a Biden agency called PBGC wanted to fleece the taxpayer of $127 million by funding pensions for dead participants. Let me repeat: $127 million for dead pension participants. Only after repeated calls by the Committee on Education and the Workforce for PBGC to correct its work has it decided to claw back those funds. Thanks to the tireless work of the committee, PBGC is being held accountable. Accountability and fiscal responsibility were once shared, bipartisan values. A former Republican Senator has been famously quoted as saying: ``A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you are talking real money.'' This Senator's colleague, William Proxmire, notoriously presented the Golden Fleece Award to the government organization that had fleeced the American taxpayer the worst on any given week. The American people are tired of being fleeced. President Biden has already misspent billions in fraudulent COVID payments. I say not a dollar more.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 1-year anniversary of Julie Su's tenure as Acting Secretary of Labor. Why 1 year as Acting Secretary? Su doesn't have the support or votes to be confirmed. As California's Secretary of Labor, Ms. Su allowed fraudsters to steal $32 billion in unemployment insurance, and she supported AB5, a State law she now wants to make Federal law that denies workers the freedom to choose their work. Now, she is pursuing a radical agenda at the Department of Labor, writing 75 new regulations that will hurt workers and job creators. Acting Secretary Su continues to thumb her nose at Congress and the American public. Under Ms. Su's leadership, the DOL has stonewalled congressional oversight. In fact, in December, she failed to comply with a duly served congressional subpoena. The American people deserve better leadership at DOL. The President should withdraw Ms. Su's nomination.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, the Biden administration is desperate to shore up support before the November election. It is so desperate, in fact, it has announced its intent to co-opt the Federal Work-Study Program and begin paying college students to register voters and to work at the polls. That is right, the Federal Government will be handing out cold, hard cash for students to scoop up votes. Vice President Harris in recent remarks billed this scheme as nonpartisan and one that will promote voter participation for students. Nobody is buying that pitch, Madam Speaker. Here is the truth: The Biden administration is turning the Federal Work-Study Program into a vote-buying sweepstakes. Enough with the smoke and mirrors already. The American people are not fooled.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation faces a myriad of catastrophes, one of which is an open southern border and the mass migration of illegal aliens, Washington's fiscal house sits in utter disrepair. That is the reality we face. If we don't grasp the reins soon and stamp out wasteful spending, our Nation will suffer serious consequences that will continue to compound. Not a penny of taxpayer money should be directed to frivolous spending binges overseas while the southern border is sitting wide open. We should take care of our country's needs first. American families and hardworking taxpayers across the Nation demand that action be taken to cut spending, restore fiscal sanity, and get our country moving in the right direction. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly agree with them, and I have taken action to restore fiscal order in Washington. To cut wasteful spending and protect taxpayer dollars from rampant abuse, I have supported commonsense amendments to the ongoing fiscal year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Operations appropriations package. These amendments slash funding for the United States Agency for International Development by half, transfer millions of dollars from the Peace Corps budget to the spending reduction account, eliminate millions in funding for the Global Environment Facility fund, and prohibit funds from being used to implement the Paris climate agreement. Our children, grandchildren, and future generations of proud Americans to come deserve fiscal order in Washington and our country's needs being put first. Anything less is entirely unacceptable. In addition to my continuing efforts to uphold fiscal order and put the needs of our country first, I have also cosponsored H.R. 2445, the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act, legislation which would establish an office for an inspector general for Ukraine assistance to oversee all funding made available in support of Ukraine. Specifically, this legislation requires the President's nominee to serve as the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to be confirmed by the Senate; directs the Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance to submit quarterly reports to Congress on obligations and expenditures of U.S. funds and the provision of military equipment; requires a report on the Ukrainian Government's compliance with anticorruption measures and comparisons of America's contribution to Ukraine to those from our NATO allies. Mr. Speaker, oversight of taxpayer dollars and resources should never be cast aside or abandoned. We can stamp out wasteful spending, put our country's needs first, and ensure effective oversight of taxpayer dollars all at the same time. My record on cutting wasteful spending is clear, and I will always fight to ensure that the dollars of hardworking taxpayers are not only respected but also protected.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, at this very moment, America's dedicated farmers and the Nation's entire agricultural community are facing a serious threat. That threat is the Communist Chinese Party's continued purchasing of American farmland. This is a threat that I take very seriously and one that I remain committed to fixing. Here is the truth: The Chinese Communist Party has absolutely no interest in supporting our Nation's food supply. It cares only about improving its own bottom line while kneecapping a community that has always put food on the tables of families in every ZIP Code in America. Think about the threat that is being posed to our national security as more American farmland is acquired by the Chinese Communist Party. My record is crystal clear on standing with farmers, and I have recently taken action to confront and expose the Chinese Communist Party's covert agenda. I have cosponsored H.R. 7131, the AFIDA Improvements Act of 2024, legislation that makes serious reforms related to how the United States Department of Agriculture shares data on foreign investments in agricultural land. What is more, I have cosponsored H.R. 809, the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act. This legislation requires the President to take necessary actions to prohibit the purchase of public or private agricultural real estate located in the United States by nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, or any agent, trustee, or fiduciary associated with the Government of the People's Republic of China. Further, under this legislation, individuals or businesses with direct ties to the Government of the People's Republic of China will be prohibited from certain programs administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. Madam Speaker, the simple truth is that our Nation's food supply and supply chain are better off when American farmers are put first. The interests of the Chinese Government should never be put first. This threat is one that should not be ignored. I have long held that North Carolina's agricultural industry is the best that our Nation has to offer. It has always been and will always be a force to be reckoned with. Last Congress, I was proud to be a recipient of the Friend of the Farm Bureau award in recognition of my voting record in support of farmers across North Carolina and the Nation. These hardworking men, women, and families work tirelessly every day to support our Nation. I will always stand with them and push back against every attempt to undermine their livelihoods.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, at a San Francisco Bay Area school, only 16 percent of students were reading at grade level and only 8 percent were proficient at math. The school spent $250,000 in taxpayer money on a group called Woke Kindergarten to help boost test scores for some of the country's lowest performing schools. However, after 2 years with Woke Kindergarten, student scores are worse. Now, only 12 percent are reading at grade level and fewer than 4 percent are proficient in math. There is more. The head of Woke Kindergarten is on record wanting ``a world free of the U.S. empire''; believing space aliens are oppressed; and supporting ``a free Palestine from the river to the sea.'' A teacher who questioned the program has been put on leave. I wish this were made up, but it is real and, sadly, encapsulates so much of what is wrong with our education system.

Ms. FOXX

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, roughly 18 million students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, each year. Yet, this week, the Department of Education celebrated 3.6 million forms being submitted. That is 20 percent, a failing grade in any classroom, yet the Biden administration considers this success? Countless students and families are being negatively impacted by this administration's outrageously incompetent implementation of a bipartisan law passed more than 3 years ago. The Department had plenty of time to prepare for the FAFSA rollout. Instead, it zealously and recklessly pursued an illegal student loan scheme. The Department's actions have had real consequences. Students are hurting, especially low-income students who are most dependent on taxpayer aid from the Federal Government. The Department promises that colleges will receive financial aid information in mid-March. Given this Department's empty promises and missed deadlines throughout the past year, I won't hold my breath.