Michelle Fischbach

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to cast a vote on April 30, 2024, for a bill that I have been a cosponsor of and a strong advocate for, which would delist the Gray Wolf from the ESA. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 169, passage of H.R. 764--Trust the Science Act.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1173 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), 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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, we are here to debate the rule providing for consideration of six bills to support our natural resources, public lands, and outdoor recreation. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Committee on Natural Resources and provides each bill one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of the Antisemitism Awareness Act under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Committee on the Judiciary and one motion to recommit. First and foremost, House Republicans stand with Israel and are horrified by the increase in harassment on college campuses toward Israel and its allies. For years, Jewish college students have faced increasing anti-Semitism, and since October 7 there has been an over 300 percent increase in incidents on campuses. Students are supposed to be protected from harassment, but it has been made abundantly clear that the leaders of these institutions are not going to do anything to stop it. Instead, they are allowing large- scale harassment to reign, forcing Jewish students to stay home. Since these institutions refuse to protect their students, it is time for Congress to take action. H.R. 6090 clearly defines anti-Semitism according to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition. This will empower universities to take clear steps to keep Jewish students safe and respond to hostile, hateful speech not protected under the First Amendment. Additionally, the bills under this rule protect domestic energy production; reverse the Biden administration's stop to push mineral production in my home State of Minnesota; and, finally, delist the gray wolf from the endangered species list. I am proud to stand in support of these today. The gray wolf is an ESA success story. Its numbers in most of the country are thriving to the point where they have become a menace across much of northern Minnesota. The only reason it has not been delisted as yet is because there are a handful of activist groups and judges that would like to keep it listed forever. Rather than pushing for radical environmental activism, we should be celebrating the fact that the ESA achieved its goal and gratefully turn management and conservation efforts back to the States. Madam Speaker, America is home to a wealth of natural resources, but this administration and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to wage war on domestic production. From energy in Alaska to minerals in Minnesota, the bills under this rule empower our domestic producers. H.R. 6285 reverses Biden's decision to ban oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, supporting energy independence, good-paying jobs, lower fuel prices, and economic security that comes with it. H.R. 3397 will ensure rural economies across the West maintain access to public lands for grazing, energy and mineral development, recreation, and timber production. H.R. 615 upholds State wildlife management authority to protect against baseless claims that traditional lead fishing tackle and ammunition should be restricted. H.R. 2925 would ensure responsible mineral development can continue on Federal lands. It unlocks mining projects across Western States, returning to the past 100 years of precedence and removing uncertainty created by the Rosemont decision from the Ninth Circuit. H.R. 3195 helps the United States meet the rise in demand for critical minerals across the world by unlocking access to critical minerals in Minnesota. The Biden administration is leaving America at a disadvantage while adversaries, like China, work to expand their global influence. We cannot let this happen. We can be both good stewards of our public lands and take advantage of the many resources they provide. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. (Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I am disturbed by my colleagues who are shameless enough to argue in favor of anti-Semitism. It is not covered by the First Amendment. It is hateful. Universities have been rewarding bad behavior and punishing the ones being attacked, who now don't feel safe enough to go to class. This cannot be the norm. I am disappointed in the universities that are standing by and allowing this and equally disappointed in my colleagues who do not see it as a problem. Stopping anti-Semitism is not a messaging tactic like the other side implies. Stopping anti-Semitism is something we must do. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean), my colleague.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time, and I am prepared to close.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. House Republicans trust the American people to be good stewards of the land. The amount of regulations in place under this administration is insulting, and it is economically unsound. While China and our adversaries are bolstering their capabilities, the Biden administration is tying our hands behind our backs. The bills counter Federal Government overreach, empower producers, and protect our lands. I am proud to stand in support of these bills today. The gray wolf should be taken off the endangered species list. The American people should be permitted to access the wealth of resources this land provides, and they should be trusted to manage their lands at the State level without the Federal Government breathing down their neck at every turn. Finally, universities are failing to keep their Jewish students safe, so Congress is taking action. Those in the Jewish community should know that House Republicans support them and condemn the failed actions of universities to intervene. I am hopeful that H.R. 6090 clarifies the definition of anti-Semitism so that these universities finally run out of excuses for their inaction. Stopping anti-Semitism is something we must do. Madam Speaker, I support the rule and the underlying legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. The material previously referred to by Ms. Leger Fernandez is as follows: An Amendment To H. Res. 1173 Offered by Ms. Leger Fernandez of New Mexico At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 7. Immediatety upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 17) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit. Sec. 8. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 17.

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

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear about what this bill actually does. This bill does not reduce any environmental protections. It simply tells the Secretary of the Interior to do her job and complete the necessary environmental and regulatory reviews. Apparently, President Biden and congressional Democrats are so opposed to mining here in America that they won't even allow a company to prove that they can mine in an environmentally safe way. By opposing this bill, Democrats are allowing mines with unregulated labor practices and environmental standards to control the critical minerals market. Republicans are for American jobs, economic security, supply chain security, and protecting the environment by mining here in the United States, where we have more environmental protections than anywhere else in the world. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Stauber, for his enduring work on this important issue. I look forward to voting to reestablish mining for vital minerals in Minnesota's Superior National Forest.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding me the time and for bringing this piece of legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, we know that investing in preventive care benefits an individual's health and pocketbook in the long run. Unfortunately, current statute only allows the Congressional Budget Office to assess a 10-year cost estimate window, despite the fact that assessing the impact of preventive care usually takes much longer than that. I proudly support the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act, which allows the CBO to score the long-term cost benefit of preventive care. This is a simple bill, and it will not only benefit the health of Americans, but it will also save taxpayer dollars.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for the opportunity to say a few words. Mr. Speaker, this administration and my colleagues on the left claim that they want to give pregnant women every option. If that were true, then they would have no problem with this bill. The fact is the left is only interested in funding avenues that encourage women to have abortions. This line of thinking belittles the abilities of women to make informed decisions across the country. Unfortunately for women everywhere, the left is shouting lies and inaccuracies at the top of their lungs, calling pregnancy centers a scam. These people clearly have not been to a pregnancy center. I have been to many. The fact is pregnancy centers empower women. Take, for example, Kristen in Louisiana. She thought her pregnancy was the end of the world. She contacted her local pregnancy center, sharing her concerns about single parenting, including physical, emotional, and financial concerns. She was so relieved to work with a team that was ``confidential and nonjudgmental every step of the way.'' They informed her of all the resources available to her, including free Lamaze and parenting classes and even scholarships. She would never have known about all of these resources available to her had she not gone to a pregnancy center that was committed to empowering her with the knowledge, information, and support she needed to feel confident in choosing life. Today, nobody could imagine their lives without Kristen's daughter. Since working with her local pregnancy center, she has gotten married. Her husband adopted her daughter, and the two went on to have more children together. Kristen graduated college, got her master's degree, is a professor, and is applying to the Ph.D. programs. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, conservatives are here for unborn babies and their mothers. I introduced the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act to ensure the administration does not block funding for pregnancy care centers across the country like the one that helped Kristen. They are providing support and empowering women to raise their families.

Mrs. FISCHBACH

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 969 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon), 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, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, we are here to debate the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6914 and H.R. 6918, which provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means, respectively, and provides each one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of H. Res. 957 under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Speaker, citizens across this country, and even Members on both sides of the aisle, have been imploring this administration to end its open-border policies, yet these cries have fallen on deaf ears. The President has failed to maintain operational control of this Nation's borders, causing the worst border crisis in American history. Of course, this crisis extends way beyond the border. Every community in the country is facing the consequences of this administration's failure, from the strain on schools to the horrifying fentanyl epidemic being worsened by the astonishing amount of narcotics coming across the border. In short, the policies of this administration have created a border crisis, a national security crisis, and a humanitarian crisis. It is so irresponsible and embarrassing that I almost understand why the Biden administration refuses to take responsibility for it. Be that as it may, the fact is the responsibility lies with Secretary Mayorkas; the appointed border czar, Vice President Harris; and President Joe Biden. H. Res. 957 condemns the national security and public safety crises these actors and other Biden administration officials have created, denounces the Biden administration's open-border policies, and urges the President to end said policies. We are also here to discuss two pieces of legislation to support expectant mothers. H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, requires institutions of higher education to provide information on the rights of and accommodation and resources for pregnant students. According to the CDC, nearly one-third of all abortions performed in America are for women aged 20 to 24, college-aged students. While most colleges are required to accommodate pregnant students under Title IX, many women are unaware of those requirements and the resources available to them and feel that they have to have an abortion or give up their educational goals. This bill simply requires these institutions to share information about resources and accommodations they already provide. H.R. 6918, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, a bill I introduced with Representative Tenney from New York and Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey, prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from keeping TANF dollars from being used to support pregnancy centers. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides $16.5 billion annually to support assistance activities for needy families. Certainly, pregnancy centers, which provide a wide variety of resources to pregnant women, from treatments to diapers to counseling, qualify for this kind of funding. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has shown their antiwomen, pro-abortion hand again, proposing a rule to modify allowable uses of TANF that singles out pregnancy centers in a way that could prevent States from using these funds for these vital care centers. Make no mistake, conservatives are here for unborn babies and their mothers, and we want to ensure these moms are supported throughout their pregnancies and empowered to raise their families. These bills do just that. Each of these bills delivers on the commitment House Republicans have made to the American people. We are here to protect the rights of Americans; we are here to hold the government accountable; and we are here to secure this country and its borders, all of which this administration has failed to accomplish. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy).

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am a little confused. Helping women and their babies and providing information is now an extreme agenda according to my colleagues across the aisle. Supporting and promoting unrestricted abortion up until the time of birth is an extreme agenda. The majority of pregnancy resource centers are affiliated with a national organization and have voluntarily signed on to an industry standard called Commitment of Care and Competence created by Heartbeat International that set an ethical code where they agree to adopt a transparent and honest service model. Pregnancy resource centers provide honest information about services they offer, including ultrasounds and pregnancy testing. They do not hold themselves out to provide all forms of healthcare. According to a recent report surveying 2,750 pregnancy care centers in 2022, there were 4,779 licensed medical staff, 5,396 licensed medical volunteers, over 500,000 hours of ultrasounds performed, and over 100,000 hours of RNs meeting with STD and STI tests for clients. If my colleagues really believed in giving pregnant women every option, like they claim, they would have no problem with this bill. We are talking about information and care. However, the fact that they are pushing against it so passionately just proves what my colleagues and the pro-life community have been saying all along, the left is antiwoman and will find any avenue they can to encourage women to have abortions. There are so many resources that exist that would actually empower them during their pregnancy and raising their families. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have to repeat it: Helping women and their babies and providing information is not an extreme agenda. We are talking about taking care of women and their babies. Supporting and promoting unrestricted abortion up to the time of birth is an extreme agenda, and it is a real shame the Democrats and the Biden administration are purposefully targeting and misrepresenting pregnancy centers in the rule and seeking to intimidate States that fund them and denying college students information. Pregnancy resource centers play a vital role to both mothers, fathers, and their families, empowering them in their decision to choose life for their baby by providing realistic alternatives. They are another option for women who choose to use their services who are looking for an alternative to abortion. All pregnancy resource centers are open and receive clients on a voluntary basis, and it is disgraceful that Democrats misconstrue these organizations in an effort to limit a woman's choice to raise their child. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We certainly have covered a lot of topics here today, and House Republicans are working hard to keep our commitments to the American people: holding government accountable, securing our border, and protecting the rights of the unborn and their mothers. Conservatives care deeply about defending the unborn and empowering women to confidently choose life, whether it be on a college campus or by ensuring access to care at pregnancy centers. As thousands march for life across the country in the coming days, now is the perfect time to raise awareness of all the wonderful options that exist for women. For nearly 3 years, we have seen a failure to act by the executive branch of this government to secure our borders. Biden beat his own record, with the 2023 fiscal year beating 2022 as the worst year at the border. Mr. Speaker, 169 individuals on the terror watch list were apprehended trying to cross the border illegally. That number includes only the ones that we know about. I am thankful for the hard work and thankless work our Customs and Border Patrol agents are doing and do not want to diminish any of the work that they are doing, but the administration's negligence has damaged our national security. Whether it is done through incompetence or malice, those responsible must be held accountable for their inaction. To be clear, I am not talking about those hardworking CBP agents. I am talking about DHS Secretary Mayorkas; the so-called border czar, Vice President Harris; and President Joe Biden. Mr. Speaker, I support the rule and underlying legislation.

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