Paul Gosar

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my own bill, H.J. Res. 7, terminating the COVID national emergency declaration. It is the same bill text that I sponsored in the 117th Congress and the same bill text that passed the Senate twice last year, most recently in November with the bipartisan support of all Republican Senators and 12 Democratic Senators. Emergency powers were created to give the executive branch flexibility to respond to a range of crises facing the United States, and the National Emergencies Act was passed in 1974 to rein in the Presidential emergency powers that are activated when a formal emergency is declared. As I have said before, good process builds good policies builds good politics. So, let's look at the timeline. On March 13, 2020, President Trump rightfully declared a national emergency concerning COVID-19. Mr. Biden has since abused Presidential authorities by repeatedly extending pandemic powers beyond their timeline and scope. Section 202 of the National Emergencies Act requires Congress to review termination of all national emergencies, stating that 6 months after declaration, and every 6 months after the emergency continues, Congress must--must--meet to consider a resolution of termination. Sadly, rather than debate and vote on terminating the emergency declaration, the former Speaker changed the rules of the entire House of Representatives and handicapped Congress' ability to perform its most basic constitutional duty: check the powers of the executive branch and the power of the purse. As a result, Mr. Biden continues to extend the COVID national emergency into perpetuity. Until now, there has been zero oversight from the House, even though Federal law requires congressional review. By now, and by any measure, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has ended, but Biden has dubiously continued to extend his pandemic power. Why? Under the continued COVID national emergency extension, more than 120 special statutory powers only meant for times of actual emergency continue to be available to Mr. Biden, including the power to draft Americans without consent, barricade the United States Capitol, place the Public Health Service under military control, and, yes, even move money around. Biden's unwillingness to let go of the temporary pandemic powers is tyranny, and the former Speaker is complicit. Thankfully, with our new Republican majority and restored House rules, Members of Congress and millions of Americans that they represent are finally able to weigh in on their concerns with continued pandemic powers. The COVID pandemic emergency in the U.S. has ended, and most Americans have returned to prepandemic normalcy. Biden himself stated: ``The pandemic is over.'' So, why does Biden continue to extend the COVID national emergency? The answer is simple: To force Americans to live under extreme measures that deprive us of our freedoms. It is sad to hear the other side talk about all this lack of tyranny and not following the rules. We were forbidden to do our job. The National Emergencies Act requires, demands, that Congress, every 6 months, look at this national emergency and decide whether to go up or down. That is all it did. In the 2 years since he has been President, we have done neither. It is high time that we answer that call and do our job. At least the Senate has done it twice. I think we need to get back to getting back the power of the purse and holding this administration accountable. Time is up. I ask that everybody vote for these bills.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, censorship in America is a major problem. Congress cannot continue to deputize Big Tech to censor competition and lawful political speech. Reforming section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is critical. That is why I have sponsored Stop the Censorship Act: to empower users with their editorial control, not government or Big Tech. Making it worse, Big Government has colluded with Big Tech to censor American citizens and to influence elections, which is a clear and illegal violation of the Hatch Act and First Amendment. Now, we have AT&T's DIRECTV deplatforming Newsmax. It is all unacceptable. Corrupt corporations and bureaucrats must be held accountable. We will utilize the Holman rule and all tools at our disposal in Congress. Looking back even 10 years, it was difficult to predict the totalitarian instincts that Big Tech and fake news media now promote. Our country was literally founded on free speech and other civil liberties. Today, the fragile Big Tech hipsters are afraid of ideas. They are afraid of open discussion. They cannot fathom how to issue a counterpoint to anyone or an idea they don't like. Censorship is un-American. It is uncivil. It is a recipe for discontent and authoritarianism. An enforced contract between the subscriber and user protects free speech. I thank the Congressman from Colorado for hosting this Special Order on this important issue, and I look forward to our investigations and to our reforms.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow doctor and the great chairwoman of the Republican Party of Arizona, Dr. Kelli Ward. Kelli and I share a similar story. We got into medicine in order to help others lead healthier lives. The last thing on our minds was serving in politics. Around the same time--after seeing the disastrous fall into socialism after President Obama's first election, we both felt the call to defend and serve the people of the greatest country on Earth. After a successful stint in the Arizona Senate and a near historic upset of Senator John McCain in the 2016 Republican Senate primary, Kelli set her sights on the chairmanship of the Arizona Republican party, winning in 2019 and earning reelection in 2021. Kelli's tenure as chairwoman has been nothing short of spectacular. She led the charge in defiance of unconstitutional and abusive COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. She was also one of the few activists willing to highlight and condemn the many instances of clear and significant voter fraud perpetrated in the 2020 elections. She even wrote a bestselling book about it. She also played an instrumental role in ensuring a successful audit of Maricopa County's disastrous election management. Kelli created enthusiasm with our grass roots. She was relentless in her efforts to grow the party and register voters. She kept her politics conservative, but she gave her time liberally. She attended meetings across the state and kept a schedule few could match. She was tireless in her focus and getting the job done. Without her, many elections would have been lost and through her efforts she was able to stem otherwise insurmountable odds against candidates. In short, against difficult circumstances, she never gave up and helped many successful candidates. Her work was noticed from the local chapters up to the White House. President Trump has Kelli on speed dial and seeks her counsel regularly. I consider Kelli, and her husband Mike, friends. I hired their daughter Katie to work in my office. Like her parents, she was a joy to have. Lake Havasu and Arizona are blessed to have the talent and dedication of Kelli and Mike. Like so many Americans--whether they be Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, Mike Lindell, Mark Meadows, peaceful pro-life and election protestors, parents disgusted by sexual indoctrination, or even the former President, Kelli is facing persecution for her political beliefs through a Soviet-style weaponization of the federal justice system. It is wrong. It must end. But it will not tarnish the stellar reputation and career of Kelli Ward. My message is one that is unnecessary for a warrior like Kelli but I will say it anyway. Keep fighting. Her country needs her. And thank you for all your work and sacrifice.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Tom Brady of Bullhead City, Arizona. Mayor Brady will be retiring after eight years of service to this beautiful city located along the border of Arizona, Nevada, and California. Mayor Brady has made this spectacular, picturesque city along the Colorado River a major tourist destination, leading to economic flourishing while creating a positive, safe environment that entices those looking for a great place to raise a family. Mayor Brady has spent his entire life in service to his country and neighbors. He served on the 173rd Airborne Brigade, where he earned a Bronze Star Medal. His leadership skills allowed for a natural transition to positions of prestige within the community, first as Justice of the Peace in Bullhead City for 10 years and then as Mohave County Parks Director for 19 years. Mayor Brady has not limited the use of his personal gifts to his profession. He has volunteered in a wide range of activities, from work as a board member of the Salvation Army and the Colorado River Boys and Girls Club to activism within the America Legion. I would like to thank Mayor Brady's wife, Karen, for her willingness to share the talents of her husband with the residents of Bullhead City. I wish her and Mayor Brady the best of retirement and more fruitful future endeavors.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our ally, and a friend to our Nation, Azerbaijan, on its Day of Restoration. This day recognizes the emancipation and liberation of Azerbaijan from the authoritarian communist Soviet regime. The scourge of communism and leftist authoritarianism is not just something we face today, but people across Europe were subjected to this evil since the 1920's. Azerbaijan was taken over by leftists aligned with the communist block leading to generations of misery and oppression. But all that changed. I wish nothing but peace and prosperity for the Azeris. There has been conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over borders and other issues. It is my fervent prayer that the people in that region know peace and turn to God for guidance. There are many factors that lead to military action, and I will not pretend to know the circumstances of every conflict, but I do know that war must be a last resort, and nations must do everything in their power to minimize death and destruction. During these tense times of global uncertainty, I hope and pray that peace will prevail. While not failing to admit that flaws are present in the decisions of every nation, I am happy that the United States has maintained a strong relationship with Azerbaijan. May both of our nations never experience the bondage of an evil, foreign, totalitarian power ever again.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in continued support of the reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). I first learned about RECA through my constituents over 10 years ago, and since then I have been determined to get justice for the victims of reckless federal government policies that injured thousands. From 1945 to 1962, the United States government, through its military, conducted nearly 200 atmospheric weapons development tests as part of our nation's Cold War security strategy during an era when other nations were also engaged in nuclear weapons testing and proliferation. These tests exposed millions of innocent Americans to potentially cancer-causing ionized radiation from nuclear fallout. It is hard to believe today, but for over a decade the military was blasting tons of radioactive material into our skies. And this was the military that was supposed to protect Americans. One report, from the University of Kansas, explained that ``enormous clouds, pinkish-gray in color, rose up into the air, spreading out and reaching over nearby communities. At the time, not much information about these tests was available to the public, but the radioactive dust that fell from the clouds--gathering on people's homes, their cars, their clothes lines, and their vegetable gardens--caused serious and harmful long-term medical issues.'' The report further documents just one person's experience with the radiation delivered over their farm in Utah: ``Not till the 1960s were we really aware of the danger of those fallout materials. Mom and Dad were told that there was nothing to worry about, it wasn't going to harm anybody. And then people started getting sick! And passing away! And thyroid cancer was a big one, it was huge . . . and then our family lost that sweet little baby. Dad still thinks that it's the milk Mom drank, and then Mom later on got colon cancer, and none of that has ever shown up in her family. There's no sign of colon cancer anywhere in the family. And Mom died with colon cancer, and Dad and Warren were plagued with skin cancer, and I've had a bit of skin cancer myself. It's always a worry because, the people realized that the government were lying to them! Literally lying to them. And it just was sad, it was a sad situation.'' When the injuries were discovered, Congress subsequently provided an apology on behalf of the nation and passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990, or RECA, to establish a trust fund for partial restitution to individuals--commonly referred to as ``Downwinders''--who have contracted certain cancers and other serious diseases that can be directly attributed to the radiation exposure from the nuclear weapons testing. The spread of radioactive material was not limited to Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It went essentially nationwide. The University of Kansas states, ``While the areas surrounding test sites in the southwestern states are some of the most heavily affected, air currents carried the radioactive particles all over the country, and even beyond the borders of the U.S.'' This information came from the National Cancer Institute. RECA was and is an effort to provide some very minimal compensation for the radiation victims. RECA is all we have now, even though it was too little and too late for many. I have long led legislation that would reauthorize RECA and expand eligibility for Downwinders compensation by including qualified individuals who were exposed in any part of Clark County, Nevada, or Mohave County, Arizona--immediately downwind jurisdictions from the testing site that have been excluded from compensation for decades due to a drafting error. The exclusion of my constituents in Mohave County, Arizona is an egregious injustice. It's clear that the original legislative intent was to include all of Mohave County and that the partial exclusion is a drafting error in the statutory text: In 1990, RECA was passed with Mohave County included. Then in 2000, S. 1515 amended RECA expanding qualification to additional counties. The expansion of compensation to additional counties did not seek to exclude any jurisdiction. It only sought to ``increase'' Downwinders compensation to additional counties. In amending the Act, the House of Representatives stated in the House Report that Congress's goal in amending the Act was to ``increase'' the existing Downwinder areas to ``include'' additional areas. The House report makes clear that the drafters sought to increase the area that had been covered under the prior version and to add new counties. In reality, Congress added new counties to the affected area but also mistakenly eliminated a large portion of Mohave County. In short, legal malpractice in drafting the statute cut out more than half of Mohave County, one of the most impacted counties in the U.S. The statutory text is at odds with the stated goals of House Report 106-697 which states ``S. 1515 would increase the Downwinder ``affected area'' to include . . . the counties of Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, and Gila in Arizona.'' It says nothing about excluding any county. This drafting error has had a direct impact on people's health and safety and has cost many of my constituents the compensation they deserve. I call for immediate rectification of RECA to clarify that the original text and later amendments never sought to exclude my constituents in Mohave County, Arizona from qualifying for Downwinders compensation. But Madam Speaker, there is more. As the maps demonstrate, radioactive fallout was documented across the United States. It is not just Mohave County that should be included under RECA, but all contiguous 48 states. There is evidence of fallout in every state. Only the furthest west areas, such as L.A. escaped radiation. But Eastern California was exposed. For that reason, I am urging an amendment to RECA as we reauthorize it: RECA should allow claims from any person who lived in a documented radiation zone during the test years that later developed a cancer related to radiation exposure. The government sacrificed its people to test the bombs. Moralists can argue if that was the right thing to do at the time. But today, 70 years later, the moral debate is irrelevant. The people have been hurt. Families devasted. They were unwittingly sacrificed as foot soldiers in a war they did not sign up for. At a minimum, the federal government today has the moral obligation to recognize their sacrifice and compensate the victims.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Greenback Valley Ranch, owned and operated by Bill and Penny Conway in the Sierra Ancha Mountains 14 miles to the east of Tonto Basin, Arizona. The valley derives its name from a Confederate greenback found by an army captain in an Indian camp in 1865. The ranch was founded by pig-farmer David Harer in 1872. Harer originally came from California and was looking for land to raise his pigs. When scouting for a possible site, Harer encountered an Apache Indian camp and decided to approach with a rattlesnake on his back. After allowing the snake to bite him, he earned the Indians' respect for this impressive feat to challenge and defeat death. He never told them that he defanged the snake. Harer's bravery and resilience has been passed on to five generations of ranchers. His daughter married Edward Conway, and the Conways have immersed themselves in cattle ranching since the end of the 19th century with no plans to stop. Bill Conway has been working on the ranch for nearly 50 years and married Penny in 1979. His family is an embodiment of the American spirit that hard, honest work and openness to life will yield ``fruit that will last.'' I pray that the Greenback Valley Ranch will continue to provide for the material and spiritual needs of the Conways and the community for at least another 150 years to come.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to denounce political persecution. As of Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 860 people have been charged with crimes for actions on January 6, 2022. A large percentage of these people were peaceful protestors who did not even know they were violating the law. As long as defendants groveled to the judges by renouncing their support of Donald Trump and insisting that he made them do it, they received plea deals of little or no jail time. If not, you might find yourself in jail for seven years, as happened with Guy Reffit, whose son the Department of Justice encouraged to turn against his father. Another man, activist Brandon Straka, who did not even enter the Capitol on January 6th, was given the choice by the FBI to either admit to saying an incendiary remark he in fact did not say, or go to trial. Perhaps the person most hated by the Deep State was Dr. Simone Gold. Not only did she have a problem with massive electoral fraud, she also was a leader in combatting COVID-19 misinformation. That is a bad twofer. Anyone who dares to speak out against a dangerous, deadly, and useless vaccine or abusive and illegal lockdowns that led to countless deaths and immeasurable suffering deserves maximum cancellation. A judge sentenced her to prison for two months just for trespassing. She remained completely peaceful throughout her brief time in the Capitol. And now she fears for her safety and has complained of terrible treatment by prison officials, as have so many January 6 defendants--whose constitutional rights to due process and a speedy trial have been shredded and annihilated. The left gets on its high horse about human rights abuses by the likes of Putin and deservedly so. But what about our own secret police and rotten justice system who pick and choose who to prosecute based on political beliefs? Hillary, Hunter, Peter Strozk, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, Black Lives Matter and antifa rioters, and those who destroy pregnancy care centers are free to egregiously break the law however they please. But innocent people like Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon, Roger Stone, Donald Trump, and the majority of January 6 defendants must go to jail. If all protestors who trespassed in D.C. were thrown in a D.C. gulag for six months or several years, that would be one thing. Democrat activists have invaded the Senate floor and halted official business. No one went to jail. Democrat activists illegally stalked and harassed conservative Supreme Court justices, and no one went to jail. Indeed, the halls of the Capitol have been subjected to leftist sit-ins, demonstrations, and other misbehavior for decades, and no one was sentenced to months or years in prison. Further, just recently, members of a film crew for the left-wing activist Stephen Colbert were caught vandalizing a house office and trespassing. They then lied to Capitol Police. All charges were dropped and they spent no time in a D.C. gulag. But conservative or Trump-supporting protestors who also trespassed on federal property have faced the full force of the law. This bifurcated treatment is a sign of corruption. Our judicial system is broken. The FBI must be abolished. Irresponsible and corrupt DOJ officials must be purged, starting with Merrick Garland. The United States is in an existential crisis between the forces of persecution, thuggery, and violence--administered and enforced by an unholy alliance of the long arm of the State and left-wing terrorists-- and everyday Americans who want to live their life, raise a family, and worship their God. The only question is who will win. And time is running out.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to condemn the dramatic rise in left-wing terrorism. One member of Congress called antifa an ``idea.'' In reality, it is a left-wing terror organization dedicated to violence against ``fascists''--or anyone who believes, just as the Founders did, that our rights come from Almighty God. Left-wing terrorists have attacked 64 pro-life pregnancy centers since the Supreme Court leak, according to Catholic Vote, including a number of fire bombings. 207 churches have been attacked and vandalized since May of 2020--and 70 since the Supreme Court leak. One terrorist group called Ruth Sent Us told a Catholic that she should ``stuff [her] rosaries and [her] weaponized prayer'' and that the group will ``be burning the Eucharist to show our disgust for the abuse Catholic Churches have condoned for centuries.'' The Bible warns of persecution constantly. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, ``But before all this, they will seize and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.'' The two-tiered justice system has existed for a while. Democrats have always gotten away with things that would have ended the career of anyone on the right. But a new level has been reached nowadays. Parents must be prosecuted for standing up to sexual and racial indoctrination in public schools. A ``disinformation board'' is needed to keep an eye on those who believe in massive voter fraud and who recognize the toxicities of the COVID-19 vaccine. The raid of the residence of a duly-elected former president for political reasons is just the culmination of statist weaponization that runs the gamut from the invention of treasonous activity by President Trump to the persecution of peaceful election protestors. When the Deep State is not busy destroying political opponents, they are standing down to left-wing terrorists. The massive amounts of damage caused by Black Lives Matter and antifa rioters in 2020 remain unpunished. So do the attacks on pregnancy resource centers and churches. There were no arrests made on rioters who were illegally picketing and intimidating Supreme Court justices outside their homes-- a clear and obvious violation of federal law. Persecution of the God-fearing and those with countercultural beliefs has existed for centuries, all the way back to the time of Christ and before. These hate crimes are abhorrent and are to be expected. However, that does not mean we must not fight back. We will not accept this persecution without a response. I have called for the abolition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I will not cease in my calls to defend those persecuted by the State for political reasons--whether they be January 6 defendants or quality public figures like Scott Perry, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, or Steve Bannon. I signed onto a petition to impeach Merrick Garland. I believe any corrupt senior officials at the Department of Justice and FBI must resign immediately or be fired. We are in the eye of the storm. Christ said he came to bring division, fire, and the sword. Conflict with the forces of darkness is inevitable. We must expect it. And we must use the political system--as corrupt, rotten, and putrid as it is--to combat the persecution before it is too late.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Michael Morrison. Michael was a contributor to the common good in a myriad of ways. He served his country in the Army and the Navy. He continued his career in law enforcement at the Monterey County Sheriff's Department and returned overseas to work in the securing of U.S. Embassies in Africa. After seven years in Africa, he founded a very successful security company in Arizona that still exists to this day--Lionheart Security Services. I got to know Michael at numerous roundtables and town halls throughout the years. He was a very sharp guy, who even helped me draft legislation shoring up security at U.S. Embassies. From my first interactions with him, I understood that nothing would stop this man from accomplishing the thing he sets his mind out to do. I am not at all surprised by the enormous success that Lionheart Security Services enjoys. I do not think that I have ever witnessed a resume that screamed patriot more than Michael--veteran, protector of U.S. government officials abroad, dabbler in legislation. When I imagine a modern-day pioneer, I think of Michael. To his family and friends, I offer my sincerest condolences and prayers. This America we love is what it is thanks to generous servants like Michael.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, it is an obvious fact that the conflict in Ukraine has led to an inordinate amount of human suffering. As much as global elites insincerely bemoan the death and devastation, their tinkering and meddling in Eastern Europe--treating countries with long, complicated histories almost as pieces on a chess board--has done nothing to bring about peace. With the American working class suffering from crippling inflation and still reeling from unconstitutional and abusive lockdowns, sending billions of dollars to a country 6,000 miles away takes ``out-of- touch'' to a new level. Could what happened in Afghanistan--billions of dollars-worth of defense equipment squandered and left in the hands of our enemies--occur again in Ukraine? Two large French artillery units have already been captured by the Russians. Is that a foretaste of another Afghanistan-like debacle? Politically correct politicians on both sides of the aisle are constantly preaching about the need to send more arms, more aid, more support to Ukraine. One word that is noticeably absent is the word ``peace.'' Instead of constant finger pointing, world leaders should be doing all in their power to facilitate negotiations and make reasoned arguments for why peace benefits both countries. The problem with peace is that the Biden administration would no longer have a distraction to their horrific domestic crises--ridiculous inflation, a tepid housing market, a weak supply chain, an invasion of criminal illegal aliens, failing public schools, and a deadly drug epidemic, to name a few. The obstinacy implicit in this conflict--Putin's insistence on Donbas and Zelensky's determination to oppose him--highlights the error of attempting to intrude in foreign affairs not connected to American security. An amendment I offered to the National Defense Authorization Act requires the Biden administration to explain their objectives that would justify involvement in a country thousands of miles away. It was ignored. America's military strength has served as a deterrent to hostile foreign powers over its history. However, aid to Ukraine has depleted military stockpiles. A quarter of Stinger missiles and a third of Javelins have been sent to Ukraine. An expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that it could take 32 months to restock the Javelins. And that was when the U.S. had only spent $2.6 billion total. Now, the tally isup to $63 billion. Imagine how strong our military would be if that money was invested here at home. The United States is weaker as a result of interference in Eastern Europe. Russia is depleted. Ukraine is devastated. Sending money to Ukraine extends and fuels war. Can peace be obtained through diplomatic means? Maybe. But U.S. military involvement has only worsened the conflict.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Yavapai County Sheriff Sergeant Rick Lopez, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 28. R-Lo, as he was affectionately referred to by friends and family, was callously killed by a cold-blooded murderer for simply doing his job, a job he loved and served for more than 14 years at the Yavapai County Sheriff's office. The rise in violence against our brave law enforcement officers is both staggering and deeply troubling. Sadly, shootings of police officers have increased nearly 40 percent from one year ago. Thirty- seven officers, including Sergeant Lopez, have been killed this year. I pray to God there will be no more. Sergeant Lopez was not just a hero in our community, he was a husband and a father to two beautiful children. He was beloved by his family, his neighbors, and his fellow officers. This brave man will be greatly missed. To his wife and family, I offer my deepest sympathy. Please know that Sergeant Lopez and you will continue to be in Maude and my prayers.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated on July 8, 2022. The whole world mourns the loss of this great leader--the longest serving prime minister in the history of Japan. As the leader of his party, he won an unprecedented four elections spanning a time period of eleven years. His popularity was undeniable. Prime Minister Abe always focused on the positive contributions made by the Japanese people. Instead of apologizing for the sins of his forebears, he promoted economic and foreign policies that put the people of Japan first. He was not afraid of China and taught the watching world that strength in the face of communist totalitarianism beats coddling and submission. This great patriot never tired in his commitment to fight for his people. Prime Minister Abe taught the world about true leadership. Take care of your own people. Protect them. Value them. I offer my condolences and deep sympathies to the people of Japan, and the friends and family of Mr. Abe. They gave the world a shining star. And now he returns to the heavens.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of George Washington Reeve. George was a great man who worked hard for everything he earned in life. He grew up poor with a single mom. His first job was sweeping shop fronts. He had to work at a gas station to pay for college. He was a landscaper. Living the American dream is an overused phrase. But I cannot help but use that phrase with George. George moved up from landscaper to Vice President at the Del Webb Corporation in a period of only six years. And it was in the completion of the little things--small tasks that are often overlooked that led to George's professional break. The owner of the company, Mr. Webb, made an off-hand comment on a possible improvement for the property. By the next day, George had implemented the suggestion. He was not even asked. He just did it. We should all learn a lesson from George that the competent fulfillment of our daily duties can lead to human success, but more importantly--and as a man of faith also, I know George is nodding his head in heaven--God sees and appreciates all our small efforts no matter how things turn out. George went on to found a very successful real estate company, George W. Reeve Enterprises. The diligence, care, and competence George placed in his professional work overflowed into his personal life. George mentored a whole host of people seeking real estate experience. What they got was way more than just professional knowledge. They were exposed to the kindness and thoughtfulness of a man who cared more about their personal happiness than anything else. George started the George W. Reeve Foundation for the purpose of teaching children to share his love of nature. George was very close to his children, Renee and Derek, as well as his grandson Hadden and granddaughter Tatum. George built a chapel on his lonely, beautiful ranch in Cornville, AZ, where he spent so much time. Through all the business of his life, George never forgot to honor God, who he appreciated and saw in nature. To Renee, Derek, Hadden, and Tatum, I know your father and grandfather is watching over you. I hope his children and grandchildren especially remember him when life gets tough and those little duties become so hard. I hope they take a moment and step outside when it especially hurts, and remember their dad and grandfather in the nature he loved so much. God Bless them all.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise to demand that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) destroy their illegal lists of law-abiding gun-owning American citizens. The Firearms Owners' Protections Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. 926(A)(3), says that ``No such rule or regulation prescribed after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners' Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or dispositions be established.'' There could not be a clearer prohibition on lists of gun owners. However, incredibly ATF has 920,664,765 records. And 94 percent of those records are digitized. But never fear, we must trust ATF's word that these records are ``nonsearchable.'' But it begs the question; why have a database if it is unsearchable? Their excuse is ludicrous. This is a gun registry of lawful gun-owning citizens clearly prohibited by federal law. And they want more people on the list. The current process is already illegal and unconstitutional, as all firearms dealers are required to turn over EVERY record to the ATF when they lose their federal license. But now, the Biden administration's new regulations require that ALL records be kept. ATF has engaged in another troubling unconstitutional action--this time a violation of due process. Congressional candidate Laura Loomer was never notified that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found her possession of a firearm a violation of federal law. The only reason she became aware of the FBI's decision was due to the fact that she made several inquiries after being denied a concealed carry permit. In other words, the federal government did not tell Ms. Loomer that she was illegally owning firearms--a clear violation of due process. DOJ has still not yet responded to a letter I sent them over six months ago asking for clarification on this issue. The ATF is a rogue control agency violating American rights at every opportunity. They do not just want every gun serialized--they even want gun parts serialized. And they cleverly changed the definition of machine gun so that more guns would be considered illegal. I have introduced a bill, the No Gun Lists Act, that would force ATF to destroy all the ATF's illegal lists of gun-owning Americans. And the creation of any new lists is expressly prohibited. Furthermore, the bill would allow negatively affected individuals to sue the ATF for damages done by the agency in violation of the bill. These abuses of the Constitution--whether the Second Amendment or due process--must be opposed at all costs.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to expose the shameful treatment of Iraq war veteran Brian Kolfage by the U.S. Government. Airman Kolfage lost three limbs defending our country in the Iraq war. While serving a second tour of duty in Iraq in 2004, a rocket shell exploded 25 feet from him. Due to his tenacity and determination, he shocked his doctors and left Walter Reed after only 11 months. He earned a Purple Heart and is the most wounded airman ever to have survived a war in the history of our country. Brian Kolfage's service to country did not end with his military valor. Incredibly, he ran a private organization that helped build 3 miles of border wall along the Rio Grande river, a place where construction is difficult due to the great potential for erosion. So how do our corrupt elites treat this hero? They respond like they did to the many peaceful protesters on January 6, to the pro-life protesters facing over 10 years for trying to save the unborn, or to anyone who disagrees with their globalist, America-last agenda. They persecute them; they make their lives a living hell; they ruin them. As our ruling elites were not happy that the illegal hordes could not continue to stream across the border, they activated their deep-state machinery and sent their secret police to arrest Airman Kolfage. Fifteen Federal law enforcement goons dragged him out of his house without a wheelchair, subjecting him to utter humiliation and pain in front of his family. No thought whatsoever was given to his disabled status. And in prison, the VA refused him pain medications, without which he suffers unbearable pain. Mr. Kolfage had worked tirelessly, 12 hours a day, for several years to get this 3-mile section of wall built. He ran and operated the organization that got it done. For taking a salary, the Federal Government arrested him, saying he had no right to get paid anything because his website said any money raised would go to build the wall. In my view, he was part of getting the wall built. There was nothing wrong with him getting a salary and saying the money would be used to build the wall. Without him, it would not have been complete, and no real American would object to a man getting paid to devote himself to a selfless project like this one and succeeding. Airman Kolfage was just intimidated into taking a plea deal by our third-world, kangaroo-court judicial system. This veteran and activist should be celebrated as a hero in so many ways. Instead, he will rot in a Federal prison. A greater injustice is hard to imagine. To his wife, Ashley, and two children, my heart goes out to them. I am praying for them all. Please know that I will continue to fight against the injustice done to her husband.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of our finest. I would like to commemorate Special Operations Supervisor Vincent Dulesky, who passed away on April 1, 2022. Supervisor Dulesky was the head of public affairs at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Yuma Sector Headquarters. Supervisor Dulesky was born on June 15, 1974 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a great boxer and earned a college wrestling scholarship. He attended Arizona Western College and the University of Phoenix. He proudly served this country in the United States Marine Corps. He also worked as a Border Patrol agent in Ajo, Arizona and as a supervisor in Blythe, California. My office staff met with Supervisor Dulesky a number of times and found him to be very informative and professional. He was cheerful, friendly and down-to-earth, a real man of the people. But what struck them most about Supervisor Dulesky was his sense of duty--the feeling that his profession was more than a job--it was a vocation or calling. But Supervisor Dulesky was not just a great athlete and superb law enforcement officer. He had a softer side. He bonded with his family through his fandom of the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a farmer, had pet chickens, and loved to cook. And he was constantly smiling and laughing--but always accompanied with an outstretched hand to help. Especially in these times of crisis on a southern border, the competence and care that Supervisor Dulesky never ceased to exhibit every day will be sorely missed. But nothing can compare to what this loss means for his family. I would like his loved ones, his beloved wife Barbie, and children, Chloe, 25, Jaden, 19, Delilah, 11, and Gigi, 10, to know that they are in my prayers. Even though I know that they do not need me to tell them this, they should be incredibly proud of their husband and father's service to our country.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Dr. Agamyrat Agambayez. This man, still in the prime of his life, was ruthlessly murdered in broad daylight in Tempe, Arizona. The killer took the life of a husband, a father, and an incredible immigrant to this country who was all set to start his new career working at Intel. This young man was loved by many and led an impressive life that will not go unnoticed. Dr. Agamyrat Agambayez was an impressive scholar receiving his second Ph.D at Arizona State University. He had also recently accepted an engineering job at Intel that he worked so diligently to get. But most importantly, Dr. Agamyrat Agambayez was a friend to many, an extraordinary husband and a dedicated father to his two year old son. Dr. Agamyrat's wife, Sumeyra Agambayez states, ``He had a real bright future . . . he was dedicated, smart, and studied tirelessly for years at universities to start giving back to the community here and abroad in Turkmenistan.'' I condemn the crime here, and the loss to humanity. I am appalled at the growing crime and homeless problems in Tempe and Phoenix. Our people need to be assured they can live and work in a community without fear of a murderous car jacker lurking to take one's life and property. I mourn for his young family. His son will be left with little memory of his father. But I hope one day his son will read these words, and the words of others, and know that his father was a bright star in the sky and made the world a better place. He lived and died with honor. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and shall Dr. Agamyrat Agambayez never be forgotten.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on his resounding reelection. The people of Hungary, in a super majority, not only supported him, but his party. In my view, the recipe to his success in Hungary is simple: put Hungary first, always. By focusing on what is good for Hungarians, Mr. Orban rejected internationalism, socialism, and subservience to non-sensical European Union mandates. It is a model, quite frankly, we should follow in the United States, where we seal our borders to protect our citizens and our economy, where we focus on rebuilding families, where we focus on the spirit of our people through God, not just material pursuits, and where we make economic policies that protect our own people and do not subsidize others. I am also including in the Record the following statement from Judicial Watch and Mr. Tom Fitton, its President. They sent a team of election observers to Hungary and found it was a well run, orderly, and fair election, with no corruption. The same cannot be said about our own elections. Congratulations to Mr. Orban, and Mr. Fitton, for the good work they are doing. Judicial Watch Team Observes Hungary Elections--Praises Election Day Processes Washington, DC.--Judicial Watch announced today that it sent a six-member team to observe Election Day procedures during the April 3, 2022, Hungarian parliamentary and referendum national elections. A Judicial Watch report on the Hungarian election concluded that the administration of the vote on Election Day was efficient, orderly, and unremarkable. The team was led by attorneys who previously worked for the Department of Justice's Voting Section monitoring state and federal elections in the United States. The team also included lawyers who had monitored elections for Judicial Watch. Judicial Watch's representatives observed voting in 52 precincts at 27 locations in and around Budapest. The Judicial Watch team did not observe any meaningful problems throughout the day. Despite a high national turnout rate approaching 70%, lines were usually brief and only rarely exceeded 15 minutes. The Hungarian electoral practice of including representatives of every party of any size at each voter registration desk appears to have contributed to a low- controversy environment. In some ways, according to the report, the administration of the vote was more effective, and less chaotic, than what team members had observed in previous elections in parts of the United States. Judicial Watch's monitoring methodology emphasizes ballot access, meaning the ability of citizens to easily register and cast an equal vote in an election. It particularly focuses on recording specific Election Day problems concerning unlawful electioneering, arbitrary variations in the rules for voting, aggressive voting assistance, unusual ballot handling, voter intimidation or confrontations, and voter ``turn aways.'' Judicial Watch noted that its methodology contrasted with the approach adopted by other international observers, who often criticized the Hungarian elections based on value judgments about matters like media bias, negative campaigning, campaign finance policy, and the prevalence of women candidates. The report stated that these ``are matters more appropriately addressed by editorial boards, not election monitoring teams.'' ``The transnational Left swarmed Hungary in order to try to create controversy about the election of their ideological opponent, Viktor Orban. By contrast, Judicial Watch's expert election observer team found virtually no issues in the conduct of the elections in Hungary,'' stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I oppose the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Our right to meaningful self-defense, and the concomitant right to bear arms, was so important to the Founders that it preceded the right to due process, a speedy trial, and reasonable bail. That is how dangerous the Founders knew a tyrannical government could become. In order to protect those constitutional rights and those in the First Amendment--the right to speech, press, and assembly--citizens must have the means to do so. And this right is not protected by the Constitution alone. It--and the very closely related right of self-defense--is a civil right as well--or a right that serves to guarantee America's foundational tenet of equality under the law. All of President Biden's recent actions point to a very simple goal-- he wants our guns. By taking our guns, he takes our right to self- defense. Coming at a time when crime is at record levels in most democrat-run cities, self-defense is not a theoretical discussion. The news is filled daily with citizens being attacked, raped, assaulted, maimed or otherwise hurt by assailants. Good people have the right and duty to defend themselves and their family. And, we have seen government overreach as well--tyrannical tendencies by the Biden Regime to imprison its political opponents and political dissidents. Currently almost 800 Americans have been arrested, many denied bail, for trespassing and other minor violations relating to January 6th, even though the favored criminals of the regime who looted, burned and murdered in the name of racial justice in 2020 walked away Scot free. In a country that has enshrined the right to self-defense, the mere existence of the ATF is anathema to the Constitution. We have no government agency running roughshod over newspapers and radio stations seeking to ``constrain'' and ``limit'' the First Amendment. We have no government agency cracking down on the unbridled expectation and right to be secure in one's possessions. But we do have the ATF, whose mission is to violate a constitutional right. The ATF recently and cleverly changed the definition of machine gun so that more guns would be considered illegal. ATF was caught red- handed recently compiling a registry of gun owners--an action explicitly contrary to federal law. And the DOJ just decided to serialize thousands and thousands more firearms and expand the registry already approaching one billion records. The Biden administration wants there to be as big a paper trail as possible against those wishing to exercise their constitutional right. And we know the ATF is making lists of gun owners who made legal purchases--and just announced plans to expand that list. Why would they need all this information? Because with more information, the easier it is to confiscate. The easier it is to blacklist. Citizens who oppose the regime have been added to secret lists in the hopes of prohibiting gun ownership. Without charges. Without a trial. And usually without notice. All of these ATF abuses are unconstitutional. If Biden were serious about violent crime, he would be funding our police officers and rebuking Soros district attorneys for aiding and abetting violent criminals. Over 33 percent of first-time gun buyers in 2021 were women. Guns allow women to stand up to criminals who would otherwise overpower them. The cure to rampant violent crime is well known by criminologists. Enforce the law. Every time. Throw violent thugs in jail for decades. Throw drug dealers in jail. For decades. Federal laws that did this in the 1990's worked wonders in reducing crime. The problem of violence is not an inanimate object. It is not a gun, a knife or a car that is to blame. It is always, always, in every instance, the operator of the gun, the knife or the car. Inanimate objects have no free will or ability to commit crimes. It is long past time we stop pretending they do. People are responsible for their own violent actions. The millions of law-abiding gun owners shall not be punished for the transgressions of the violent minority. I am pursuing legislation in many areas to protect our right to defend ourselves from government. As the purpose of ATF's existence is to harass and criminalize gun ownership, it must be eliminated. I also support bills that codify a federal right to self-defense, prohibit the administration from criminalizing many legal guns owned by Americans for decades through crafty and illegal regulatory maneuvers, defund federal attempts to prop up state registries of gun ownership, and nullify all ATF regulations approved by this gun-grabbing administration. The ATF nominee Dettelbach is of the apparent opinion that guns have free will and he blames the guns for violence. He is thus in favor of disarming as many people as possible. I have no confidence he will oppose Biden's radical agenda to destroy our Second Amendment, which is not only unconstitutional but immoral and a threat to democracy. I oppose his nomination and I urge all senators to oppose this radical and his usurpation of Constitutional rights.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Dr. Agamyrat Agambayev. This man, still in the prime of his life, was ruthlessly murdered in broad daylight in Tempe, Arizona. The killer took the life of a husband, a father, and an incredible immigrant to this country who was all set to start his new career working at Intel. This young man was loved by many and led an impressive life that will not go unnoticed. Dr. Agamyrat Agambayev was an impressive scholar receiving his second Ph.D. at Arizona State University. He had also recently accepted an engineering job at Intel that he worked so diligently to get. But most importantly, Dr. Agamyrat Agambayev was a friend to many, an extraordinary husband and a dedicated father to his two year old son. Dr. Agamyrat's wife, Sumeyra Agambayev states, ``He had a real bright future . . . he was dedicated, smart, and studied tirelessly for years at universities to start giving back to the community here and abroad in Turkmenistan.'' I condemn the crime here, and the loss to humanity. I am appalled at the growing crime and homeless problems in Tempe and Phoenix. Our people need to be assured they can live and work in a community without fear of a murderous car jacker lurking to take one's life and property. I mourn for his young family. His son will be left with little memory of his father. But I hope one day his son will read these words, and the words of others, and know that his father was a bright star in the sky and made the world a better place. He lived and died with honor. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and shall Dr. Agamyrat Agambayev never be forgotten.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the efforts to unfairly attack one of the best Supreme Court Justices in our history--Justice Clarence Thomas. Democrats in Congress have engaged in a smear campaign against this most distinguished jurist. And why? Because they are upset that his wife texted the President's Chief of Staff. The attack on this great Justice is not based on any decision he made. It is not based on anything he said or did. Rather, he is being held to account for his wife's expression of free speech. Let me be clear, Ginni Thomas, the Justice's wife, has every right to share her political views and express her views. Merely because her husband is a judicial officer does not mean she loses all of her constitutional rights. The real reason radical Democrats want Justice Thomas to be impeached, or to ``resign'' or to recuse himself from cases unnecessarily, is because they don't like his close adherence to the Constitution. Justice Thomas' legal decisions read like poetry. He clearly and easily eviscerates strange constitutional interpretations by the Leftists on the Court. He forcefully and unabashedly explains true Constitutional law and sticks to the document as it was intended. This makes him a threat to the Left. The Democrats in Congress belittle and besmirch the impeachment process. It is now invoked against their political enemies with as much thought as what they want for lunch. They cry ``impeachment'' in unison against all of their political enemies, like a socialist collective. The hive mind of the Left seeks destruction of the Constitution and it hates, with prejudice aforethought, those who believe in the Constitution as a fixed star in the constellation guiding our nation instead of the loopy ``it's a living document so it means whatever I say it means.'' I stand with Justice Thomas and his wife. Stay strong for the sake of America. America needs his voice on the Court, and he should not let the vitriolic, shrill, and hysterical Left wing mob in Congress deter him from his right to free speech for Ginni and his duty to our Constitution.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the massive U.S. failure under the Biden Administration in allowing the Solomon Islands to align with China. The Solomon Islands' shift towards Beijing was not out of the blue as it is the product of a several year effort. Further, the Solomon Islands contains the blood of over 10,000 U.S. Marines who died retaking it from the Japanese, including the infamous battle at Guadalcanal. Thousands of others were maimed and wounded. What our grandfathers paid for in blood, the Chinese have bought with money. This is a national disgrace and we were entirely unprepared for such a significant development in the Pacific Ocean. This strategic shift truly began in September of 2019 when Prime Minister Sogavare announced the Solomon Islands was switching its 36 year diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. With no embassy in the country, the U.S. response was limited however the then Trump Administration offered an aid package to the island of Malaita, the nation's largest province, which is openly out spoken against the diplomatic change. Shortly after the cessation of the failed Afghanistan withdrawal, China increased its meddling in the Solomon Islands. When the people of Malaita were refused an audience before Prime Minister Sogavare violent riots broke out across the capital. While U.S. allies responded at first, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) soon filled the gap with their own police and police gear. To any international observer the CCP strategy is clear. Shift allegiances, make the Solomon Islands politically and economically dependent on Beijing through Belt and Road Initiative investment and projects, and make the Solomon Islands' government security based on CCP personnel and equipment. Yet there is no action from the Biden Administration. Finally, in February 2020, three years after the Solomon Island's shift from Taiwan, the Biden Administration announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy and Secretary Blinken states that the U.S. will reopen an embassy. This is much too late. Just last week, Solomon Island officials confirm that a police deal has been signed with China and that a larger security deal is in the finalization phase. The deal grants Chinese police and security the right to assist the security of the island and to protect Chinese personnel and projects there. It would, most concerningly, allow People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships to carry out logistical stops at the island, which likely opens the door to a PLA naval base on the Solomon Island, 1,400 miles from our ally Australia and extending the CCP's military reach and influence towards the U.S. and its allies. We are watching the CCP's soft and hard power operate in real time, blending its growing economic, political, and military might to slowly take control of a country, creeping closer to becoming a regional hegemon in an ocean the U.S. shares a border with and did $1.75 trillion in two way trade and whose economy accounts for 60 percent of the global GDP. The reality is that Biden Administration has been wrong or too slow on every major foreign policy issue since taking office. The failure of this Administration with the Solomon Islands proves it cannot walk and chew gum at the same time, distracted by its failed withdrawal operation in Afghanistan, paralyzed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, distracted with re-entering into a diplomatic deal which makes concessions with the world's state sponsor of terrorism, or too focused on entering into abstract climate and tax deals with foreign nations and international organizations. For decades, the American people were told by our governing and economic elites that the People's Republic of China under the CCP was not a threat. That it would develop and align with the West. Yet, we have watched China pursue hegemonic dominance in the Indo-Pacific, using this regional security to project power globally in a manner which threatens American economic, political, and national security. But all we get from the Biden Administration is strategy documents and diplomatic action which is far too late as Beijing eyes 2049 and the end of its 100 year marathon. Madam Speaker, I recount this series of concerning events not to advocate for U.S. intervention. I highlight these developments to show how the Biden Administration has been completely unable or unwilling to use the wide range of America's tools of statecraft to address a real security threat, growing Chinese power and influence. Instead it is off pursuing highly political and abstract foreign policy goals which do much less for the security of the American people, homeland, and way of life. The ease at which the CCP has obtained complete influence over another nation in a strategically important region of the world highlights its growing power and how this Congress and Administration needs to get serious about its foreign policy responsibilities.

Mr. GOSAR

Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the upcoming Independence and National Day of Bangladesh and the 50th Anniversary of U.S.-Bangladesh bilateral relations. Bangladesh is a beacon in a region which has historically and even currently today been marred with conflict. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has held firm as a democracy which is why our countries cooperate so closely on a range of issues, including economic development, security, and governance. As our countries progress and meet new challenges, our bond remains strong as evidenced by our collaboration as the world confronts the challenges of COVID-19, counter-terrorism, and more. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this remarkable milestone between our two countries and the independence and achievements of Bangladesh. Our nations have accomplished a great deal together for the advancement of freedom, and as our relationship proves its strength as we confront new challenges in the 21st century, I am excited for what the future holds for our two great nations.