Michelle Fischbach

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I will clarify. I think my point was that the opposition went off on a whole bunch of other issues, and from his own admission, this is about E15. This is about decoupling from whatever the technical language is in that amendment. We are talking about E15, not about all of the other issues that he spoke about earlier, so I will focus on E15. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker and Mr. McGovern, I believe that you understand that that is referencing the decoupling, and it does allow for E15 to be brought to the floor--I mean maybe not exactly in the language that is on the paper.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, as it often happens with the opposition, they stray off into every topic that they can think of and forget to focus on what we are here to talk about. What we are talking about is a rule to allow E15 to come to the floor to have a vote, so we are talking about energy independence. We are talking about saving Americans dollars on their gas bill. I just wanted to remind the public that that is what we are talking about today. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) to talk about E15.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today is simple. Two weeks ago, the Rules Committee met to provide for consideration of the farm bill, H.R. 7567, in addition to H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. Nothing in this rule changes that. Instead, the rule before us makes a procedural change, which will allow H.R. 1346 and the farm bill, both, to be transmitted to the Senate separately for their consideration. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1346. For too long, the people of western Minnesota, along with families and farmers across the entire country, have been subjected to frustrating, outdated, and unnecessary regulations. Currently, our growers are subjected to patchwork regulations that effectively ban the sale of E15 during the summer months. The summer ban is a direct hit to the American taxpayer. It limits consumer choice, drives up prices at the pump during the height of the summer travel season, and restricts the market for homegrown biofuels. Because of these antiquated rules, farmers have been forced to rely on temporary, short-term emergency waivers that create confusion rather than progress. The legislation before us today changes that. It includes text for permanent, year-round E15 to finally provide the certainty that our agriculture and energy sectors deserve. We are moving past the era of temporary fixes and toward a future of long-term stability. The benefits of E15 are clear and backed by significant data. First, this is a major win for American consumers. E15 is a lower cost fuel option, typically priced 20 to 40 cents per gallon less than regular unleaded gasoline. In a time of fluctuating global energy markets, providing this relief is a necessity for hardworking Americans. In fact, E15 adoption would save American drivers an estimated $27 billion a year on gas purchases, putting roughly $200 back into the pocket of the average American household annually. Second, this is a win for our national security and energy independence. Ethanol is produced within American borders by American workers. Every gallon we blend is a gallon of oil we do not need to import from foreign countries. By leaning into domestic production, we are strengthening our energy independence and reinforcing our commitment to American-made energy. The American people understand this. Eighty percent of citizens believe renewable fuels, like ethanol, are necessary for our energy independence, and 71 percent support increasing the availability of E15 to help lower prices. Year-round E15 is a massive win for the American farmer. In western Minnesota, our corn growers are large supporters of the biofuels industry. They deserve a fair and consistent market for their product. Full adoption of E15 would increase corn consumption by 2.4 billion bushels, supporting our rural communities and ensuring steady, predictable demand year-round. Beyond the farm, the economic impact is staggering. Full E15 adoption would add $25.8 billion to the U.S. GDP and support an additional 128,000 full-time jobs. Beyond the economic and agricultural benefits, H.R. 1346 provides essential regulatory and market certainty. It enhances fuel supply chain stability and improves certainty for the entire fuel industry by eliminating unfair advantages for some refineries over others. By reforming the small refinery exemption process, this bill helps the Environmental Protection Agency set renewable fuel standard annual volumes in a timely, transparent, and fair manner. It removes the reoccurring tension between refiners and agricultural stakeholders, allowing everyone from farmers to fuel retailers to better plan for the future. It is important to address the technical advancements of vehicles since the current regulations were created. E15 is legally approved for all vehicles built since 2001 or later, which accounts for more than 96 percent of the cars on the road today. Furthermore, E15 burns cleaner and reduces emissions that harm our health and our environment. Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to keep hitting the pause button on American energy every summer. This legislation removes the hurdles that have stifled E15 for decades. It gives farmers the confidence they need to plan, and it gives consumers a lower-cost option when they need it most. The American people are calling for solutions. This bill provides more choice at the pump and lower prices for America. It is real savings and real money back in the pockets of hardworking Americans. It is time for a permanent, nationwide solution that supports our growers, lowers costs for families, and reinforces our commitment to American-made energy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. 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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1274 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to close this debate with a clear and unwavering message to my colleagues across the aisle and across the rotunda: you cannot fund only half of our Homeland Security. There has been a lot of loud voices from the other side of the aisle. I think they believe the louder they speak the more the American people will believe them. The American people do understand that this CR makes sense. It funds everything, people get paid, and it allows more time to continue the discussion. This is the commonsense thing to do. The proposal sent to us by the Senate in the dead of the night is not a solution. It is a Swiss cheese funding bill defined by its holes and deficiencies. While we all agree on the importance of protecting our airports, the Senate plan operates on the hope that we can secure our borders by using supplemental funds meant for construction and technology to cover basic operational needs. The current bill does not just ignore the border. It actively harms our border security infrastructure. It keeps our cybersecurity experts at CISA furloughed while adversaries target our networks. It leaves FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund depleted and keeps our Coast Guard crews from the training they need to operate in hazardous conditions. Our 60-day CR ensures that over 100,000 DHS employees receive paychecks. It ensures that investigations into drug trafficking, human smuggling, and child exploitation can commence. It ensures that our BioWatch systems remain active in over 30 major cities to warn us of bioterrorism attacks. The American people are tired of games. They do not want half- security or partial funding. They want a government that protects them at the airport, at the hospital, and at the border. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stop holding our homeland defenders hostage to push a radical open-border agenda. Support this rule, support this CR, and let's get back to the business of securing the entire United States.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), my colleague on the Rules Committee.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Moore).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McDowell).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan), the chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the true leader, the majority leader from Louisiana.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the chair of the Rules Committee.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from the other side of the aisle can yell and swear all he wants. The reality is this CR is a commonsense solution to fund critical needs and to continue the discussion. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my Rules Committee colleague.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, we are here tonight to debate the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendment for H.R. 7147, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026. The rule provides that the House shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's table H.R. 7147, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to have concurred in the Senate amendment with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-21. Simply put, a vote for this rule is a vote to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security through May 22, 2026. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the American people are tired of half measures when it comes to their safety. Last night, the Senate passed a funding deal that can only be described as an attempt to put a dead bolt on the front door while leaving the backdoor wide-open. They want us to believe they are securing our homeland, yet their proposal dedicates exactly zero dollars toward our Border Patrol operations. In a world of evolving threats, my colleagues across the aisle believe that we can protect this Nation by halves, but the message from House Republicans is clear: We will not and cannot fund only half of our Homeland Security. Security is not a buffet where you get to pick and choose which threats you acknowledge. House Republicans are aligned with the President on this. We will not accept a funding bill that does not support our homeland defenders, our ICE agents, and our Border Patrol. If it is important to stop tragedies from happening at our airports and everyone can agree on that, then it is equally important to stop these events from happening at our borders and in our communities. This week, the country felt the weight of Sheridan Gorman's death, a tragedy that is compounded by the bitter reality that it was entirely preventable and the result of Democrat policies that allow violent criminals to walk our streets. This loss is a grim reminder that when policies prioritize a radical agenda and the protection of violent illegal aliens over the protection of American citizens, it is innocent families that pay the ultimate price. We need to protect our citizens, and House Republicans will not vote for an even slightly open border. We will not leave portions of our homeland vulnerable while pretending the job is done. We know what happens when the border is treated as an afterthought. Under the Biden administration, America faced a national security risk. More than 20 million illegal immigrants entered the United States, straining our communities to the breaking point. Customs and Border Patrol recorded more than 2 million illegal immigrants were able to cross into the Nation without any record of who they were. That is nearly double what they tracked during the prior decade. Between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2024, more than 388 illegal aliens on the terrorist watch list attempted to cross the border and, most alarming, at least 99 illegal aliens on that same watch list were allowed into our country. We saw members from one of the most notorious gangs in the world, MS-13, infiltrate our cities, leading to takeovers like we saw in Aurora, Colorado. That is the result of Democrat hope-based border vulnerability strategies, but we do not operate on hope or whims. We operate on facts and action. Under the Trump administration, we have seen what happens when we prioritize enforcement. In the last 10 months, zero illegal aliens have been released into the United States. We have proven that when the law is followed and the border is secured, our communities are safer and Americans are protected. The transformation of Homeland Security is further proof that the U.S. Coast Guard seized nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine in fiscal year 2025, a 200 percent increase compared to the annual average in previous years, and yet, despite this clear progress, Democrats are choosing to block DHS funding leading to this shutdown. They would rather see the entire Department shuttered than to see our borders secure. This is a simple, commonsense, 60-day, 8-week clean CR so we can properly pay our homeland defenders and continue the discussions. It secures the border by fully funding the paychecks and resources that we need. It protects our airports. It supports the President's decisive leadership in allocating TSA funds. It keeps FEMA ready to ensure our disaster response is not a casualty of the Democrat shutdown, and it guarantees the men and women on the front lines are paid for the critical work they do. Mr. Speaker, the Senate bill is a nonstarter because it treats national security as an optional expense. House Republicans will not fund a half-baked idea that leaves our borders open and our communities at risk. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the other side of the rotunda to stop holding our security hostage. Join me in supporting this commonsense, 8-week CR and funding critical needs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. 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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1142 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National FFA Week. Since 1925, FFA has changed lives and developed young leaders in the areas of leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. It is the top school-based youth leadership development organization in the United States. Opportunities within the agriculture sector are vast, and FFA fosters the talents of members so that they can achieve real-world success. They participate in leadership conferences, career development events, and community service projects. The skills that these students develop serve them well when they embark on their future career paths. Not only are the students who participate in FFA future farmers, but they are also future business leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, bankers, veterinarians, public servants, biologists, and so much more. Every year, thousands of the iconic blue FFA jackets from across the country visit our offices on Capitol Hill. In my home State of Minnesota, FFA has 15,000 members and 220 chapters, as well as 97 alumni chapters. This year, Minnesota FFA chapters will participate in local events aligned with the National FFA Week calendar. I always appreciate having the opportunity to visit with these students and future leaders. Anyone who spends time with these young leaders will leave with a sense that our future is in good hands.