Bob Good

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, it should be chilling to Americans as they watch the resistance to efforts to prevent the Federal Government from funding and enforcing a vaccine requirement. My friend on the other side said there is no vaccine requirement. Then why would she not support an amendment that says the Federal Government cannot enforce or require a vaccine mandate on a college campus? For that matter, the Federal Government doesn't require it, so how about we say the Federal Government cannot require it? They cannot require it, not that they don't require it but that they cannot require it. We don't permit the Federal Government to require a vaccine mandate. Why would we even allow that to be an option? Over the last few years, Americans watched their most basic, fundamental freedom trampled on by this Federal Government: their right to worship. There is a reason why the beginning of the Bill of Rights starts with the freedom of religion. That is the first one. The right to assemble was trampled upon, and the right to travel, freedom of movement; the right to earn a living, to operate your business; and the right to make basic medical decisions for yourself or even disclose your own medical information, Mr. Chair. America is done with tyrannical China virus mandates. Our economy is still reeling from how the government crushed it during the COVID virus and the disastrous policies of this administration. I am sure if they could, the other side would reinstate mask mandates right here in this Chamber and vaccine mandates all around the country if given the opportunity. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support freedom and to vote in favor of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, virtually all the universities in this country are subsidized by Federal tax dollars. I encourage my colleagues to join us in ensuring that there will be no vaccine mandate. Mr. Chairman, I ask all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would ensure that no taxpayer dollars are used to implement a vaccine mandate. This amendment applies across the Federal Government as well as to the District of Columbia since the District falls under the oversight of the Congress and uses taxpayer dollars for its operation as the seat of the United States Government. We cannot forget how the COVID lockdowns were exploited by the government to infringe on the personal liberties of Americans. These tyrannical lockdowns and mandates were used to inflict unneeded economic damage on small towns in rural America and on businessowners across the country. The government crushed the economy during COVID with unjustified lockdowns, lockouts, restrictions, mandates, and more. The government harmed and mistreated our children during COVID by closing schools, requiring masks, and enforcing vaccines on those who were never truly at risk from the virus. The government suppressed information and perpetuated lies. The government prevented doctors and healthcare providers from doing what they believed was best for their patients to combat COVID. The government trampled on basic liberties such as the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom of assembly, the freedom to make a living or to operate your business, the freedom of movement and travel, the freedom to educate your children, and much more. The government lied about the risk of the virus. The government lied about the effectiveness of the vaccine. The government lied about the need to wear a mask. The government treated everyone like those who were truly at risk, the elderly and those with extra comorbidity factors. The government forced the termination of frontline medical personnel, first responders, law enforcement, and military personnel for not getting a vaccine, regardless of whether or not they were at serious risk or had already had the virus, and therefore, had natural immunity. The government stripped away the right to privacy, medical freedom, and bodily autonomy. The government didn't follow the science. History will judge the government harshly for the harm done to the American people, especially to our children, during the pandemic. President Biden mercifully, finally declared the COVID-19 public health emergency over just on May 11 of this year. This was long past due. Unfortunately, though, vaccine mandates are still in place in some places across the country. In fact, nearly 100 universities across the country still require a COVID-19 vaccine just to attend school this year, for college students who were never at serious risk for the virus. It is time we protect taxpayers from unwillingly funding more restrictive mandates. More importantly, it is time we protect Americans' most basic fundamental liberties. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I agree with my colleague from the other side that, yes, this amendment would prohibit the requirement of the COVID vaccine in Washington, D.C.--not just the COVID-19 vaccine, though. Can you believe they really still want to require the COVID-19 vaccine now, nearly 4 years later? We are talking about vaccines more generally and more broadly. We need to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. Unfortunately, D.C. has demonstrated they certainly need the congressional oversight that is afforded to this body in the Constitution. Mr. Chairman, COVID-19 restrictions hurt millions of Americans, countless businesses, and many communities in our great Nation. Too many people were forced to make a choice between freedom--basic fundamental freedom--and keeping their job. The virus was going to do what the virus was going to do. We all got it. There was nothing we could do to prevent us from getting it. The Federal Government was the worst offender, imposing draconian measures and mandates to stop the spread. We all remember that. How many employees were fired because they made their own personal medical choices; not to mention our servicemembers who were dishonorably discharged for exercising their freedom not to get the vaccine. Taxpayer dollars should never flow to any entity that forces people to take an experimental shot. We must safeguard personal freedoms. Isn't that the fundamental responsibility of this government and Congress? We need to protect the right for all Americans to make the best medical decisions for themselves. We must say, in no uncertain terms, never again. Never again would we allow government to do what they did to the American people during the COVID pandemic. My amendment simply blocks funding from going toward any authoritarian vaccine mandate. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Mr. Gooden of Texas, and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, the Biden administration promised us that they would be the most transparent administration in our Nation's history. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, they have not followed through on that promise. In fact, the White House visitor log policy provides the American people the ability to see who is lobbying this administration. However, the Biden administration has made significant efforts to ensure this policy is nearly impossible to take effect as intended. Despite Republicans sending correspondence to the administration requesting the disclosure of this information, the White House has not followed through and remains highly secretive. While they released some portions of visitor logs, the American people deserve full transparency. Here are just a few examples of the Biden administration's secrecy. The White House has deliberately omitted Hunter Biden's visitor logs from the database. They have made it apparent that no records of visitors to the Delaware residence exists. When asked to disclose the details, they denied any intent to publish visitor access logs at the President's Delaware home. Mind you, the President has spent well over 200 days of his Presidency at that location, which was also investigated when confidential classified documents were found. Their failure to disclose all visitor logs between the White House and the President's Delaware property have directly contradicted this administration's claims of being the most transparent administration. These failures prove the administration's commitment to restore integrity, transparency, and trust in government is merely lip service. We have seen this across all levels of the Biden administration, whether it is the press secretary selectively allowing only cherry- picked questions, or the White House hiding the visitor logs to his retreat in Delaware where he was keeping classified documents. This amendment will require the White House to be transparent and prohibit them from failing to disclose visitor logs in a timely and accurate manner in any way. We can no longer allow the Biden administration to use a lack of transparency as a shield to mask their actions from public accountability. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I would help my friend across the aisle with the examples that I just gave. They have deliberately omitted Hunter Biden's visitor logs, and they certainly have omitted visitor logs from the President's residence in Delaware where he spent over 200 days. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 16 million brave men and women alive today who valiantly served this Nation in the United States military. Every year, on November 11, we unite as a nation to celebrate and honor all veterans who selflessly put their lives on the line, fighting for the freedoms that make this the greatest country on Earth. Veterans have made considerable sacrifices serving this Nation. We must honor them and ensure they receive the benefits promised for their noble service. That is why I am introducing the Veterans Education is Timeless Act of 2023, removing arbitrary expiration dates for education benefits for veterans and their families. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and uphold the commitments we have made to the men and women who serve and fought on our behalf. As we approach Veterans Day, I express my profound gratitude to all veterans and especially recognize the 45,000 who live in Virginia's Fifth District. It is an honor to recognize and represent these Americans who sacrificed so much to defend the freedoms we enjoy.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my friend from Utah's resolution that denounces terrorism and anti-Semitism at universities across this country. The world watched in horror on October 7 when Hamas launched their unprovoked and brutal terrorist attack on Israel causing the greatest single-day of loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. I joined the overwhelming majority of Americans in immediately expressing unwavering support for Israel, but, sadly, we have also seen an outbreak of support for the perpetrators of terror, Hamas and Hezbollah, on our college campuses. What are we teaching college students on these campuses, and what kind of professors are doing this teaching? In my own district, the Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Virginia issued a statement that the violence against Israel makes them hopeful for the future of Palestine, implying that Israel was somehow deserving of the atrocities committed against them. Free speech is protected in this country, but it cannot be used to support terrorist actions. To the University of Virginia's credit, the president issued a statement clearly condemning Hamas. Nevertheless many other university administrators were not as definitive in their responses. This resolution challenges college administrators to condemn anti- Semitism and focus on education rather than liberal indoctrination. Madam Speaker, I am proud to sponsor this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, like so many others, I deeply regret that we are here in what was a totally avoidable situation. I must take you back to January, however, which for many of us was about not repeating the failures of the past and letting Republican voters across the country down once again, when in the past for many years, when Republicans have had majorities in this Chamber, we have passed our major spending bills predominantly with Democratic votes; something the other side of the House has never and would never do with majority control. Back in January, I expressed my concern that the previous 2 years during my first term here in this House, we had not used every tool at our disposal to fight against the harmful, radical Democrat agenda that is destroying the country, bankrupting the country, and under which the American people are suffering. Most in here wouldn't know that I helped persuade my five colleagues who comprised the remaining resistance in the wee morning hours of January 7 to switch our votes to ``present'' to let Mr. McCarthy become Speaker. I went to him on this very floor to tell him that he was finally going to become Speaker on the next vote. In that moment, it was clear to me that I or we could have asked for anything in exchange for switching our votes to ``present,'' but I and we asked for nothing. The very next week, I requested and had a meeting with Speaker McCarthy to tell him he had my full support and that I wanted him to be successful because the country needed him to be successful. In the ensuing months, I helped him narrowly pass the Parents Bill of Rights and the Limit, Save, Grow bill--I think both of those by just one or two votes--helping persuade some of my most conservative colleagues to come along despite some of the concerns they had with those bills. We remained united as a Conference through the Limit, Save, Grow vote as we passed a bill that was cutting spending to pre-COVID levels for nondefense discretionary spending or just over $100 billion, historic spending cuts, as the Speaker had committed to do in January. It also included a host of other conservative fiscal reforms. Unfortunately, however, that unity and that commitment to significant year-one cuts and spending reforms were discarded in the failed responsibility act, as I call it, which passed overwhelmingly, once again, with a majority of Democrat votes, validating the concern many of us had in January. Many of us had begged the Speaker, pleaded with the Speaker repeatedly, to utilize the debt ceiling to leverage spending cuts and reforms. Instead, he negotiated an unlimited increase to the debt ceiling through January of `25, as much as we can come together and gleefully spend through January of `25, with no significant wins for the American people in that FRA or failed responsibility act. The Speaker then said that we would use appropriations to bring the fight and finally reduce our spending. He said the levels of the FRA were the ceiling and not the floor, and recommitted multiple times to go back to the $1.471 trillion that was the Limit, Save, Grow levels, radically, historically saving $100 billion and lowering the deficit this year under Republican majority from $2.2 trillion to $2.1 trillion. That is what we were asking the Republican House to do, to go to $2.1 trillion. Meanwhile, the Speaker had committed to bring a balanced budget vote to this floor, something that still has not happened despite the work that has been done in our Budget Committee to mark it up and have it ready to come to the floor. He also promised that we would bring all 12 appropriations bills well before the September 30 fiscal deadline. We did not. We simply, as Republicans, needed the Speaker to cast the vision, request the support of the entire Conference, all of whom voted for the Limit, Save, Grow levels, except for four who wanted to go even further, to lead us in joining him, sticking with him, supporting him, and sending the most conservative spending bills with the most conservative cuts possible to the Senate as the best starting position for negotiations with the Senate. Many of us begged and pleaded with the Speaker to do that over the past 5 months. When the Speaker failed to lead us to pass our spending bills, bringing only 1 of 12 to the floor before the August district work period, Members began to negotiate amongst themselves without the Speaker to find compromise. I was among those who reluctantly agreed last month to split the difference between failed responsibilities, $1.526, and the Limit, Save, Grow, $1.471. I reluctantly agreed to do that, to go to $1.526, in order to pass our bills on to the Senate. We then essentially forced the Speaker with the pressure of the shutdown threat of the calendar to bring those four bills to the floor last week, all of which I voted for, despite some of them not cutting to the levels we agreed to and other concerns I had with the bills. I reluctantly voted for a 30-day conditional CR, continuing resolution, because it cut an additional $10 billion in the month of October, going back to the pre-COVID $1.471 levels for defense, nondefense discretionary, 30 percent, and it had border security. I voted for that. However, when that vote failed, the Speaker, this past Friday in the Republican Conference meeting, made it abundantly clear that he was willing to do anything to avoid the temporary discomfort and the pressure of a pause in the 15 percent of the nonessential Federal Government operations, which would guarantee that we would lose to the Senate Democrats and the White House. If you are not willing to say no, then you are guaranteed to lose. That was confirmed with the passage of the unconditional 45-day CR this past Saturday, once again with 209 Democrat votes. The Republican bill, 209-1 Democrats; 51-0 on the Senate side. The Speaker fought through 15 votes in January to become Speaker but was only willing to fight through one failed CR before surrendering to the Democrats on Saturday. We need a Speaker who will fight for something, anything, besides just staying or becoming Speaker. If there was ever a time to fight with $33 trillion in national debt, a $2 trillion deficit this year, 40-year high inflation, 20-year high interest rates, a downgraded credit rating, and for the first time in modern history and despite all the help of the media blaming Republicans in the House, the polls showing that the public was blaming Biden and the Democrats for an imminent shutdown. If not fight now, when would we fight? Now is and was the time. With the Democrats driving the fiscal bus off the cliff at 100 miles an hour, we cannot simply be content to be the party that slows it down to 95 just so we can sit in the front seat and wear the captain's hat. Our current debt and our spending trajectory is unsustainable. We need a Speaker, ideally somebody who doesn't want to be Speaker and hasn't pursued that at all costs for his entire adult life, who will meet the moment and do everything possible to fight for the country. A red line was crossed for me, I regret, on Saturday, and so it is with regret that I must vote against the motion to table, as I did, and vote to vacate the Chair.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Danville Police Department officers who recently received the 2023 Valor Award. Each year, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes law enforcement officers who perform an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged with an adversary at imminent personal risk in the line of duty; presenting them the Valor Award, the highest award offered by the association. Corporal Todd J. Hawkins, Officer Lance I. Neighbors, Detective Lieutenant John D. Dixon, Detective Sergeant Richard Wright, and Detective Jordan T. Land were recognized with this reward. These officers were responding to a robbery when the suspect began firing at them. One officer returned fire, and the detectives chased the suspect by car until he crashed and fled the scene on foot. After finding the criminal as he was attempting to break into an occupied residence, the detectives de-escalated the situation and convinced the individual to surrender. Displaying the utmost valor and courage, these members of the Danville Police Department were rightfully selected to receive this reward. They deserve our deepest gratitude for keeping our communities safe. I am honored to represent such an outstanding group of officers, and I thank them for their continued service and sacrifice.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. I have an amendment at the desk, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, here we are trying to fund our government for the year at a time when we have $33 trillion in national debt and we are on track for a $2 trillion deficit this year, and so we are literally borrowing some $2 trillion to fund the government this year. It is incumbent upon us to be careful with how we spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Mr. Speaker, within that context, the Biden administration continues to weaponize every level of the Federal Government, abusing their power to push their harmful leftist agenda on Federal employees and the American people. Exhibit A would be the Department of Defense abortion travel policy which violates current law, but this harm that is being done to the American people by this administration manifests itself in other ways, as well. The Biden administration continues pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies through all Federal agencies largely enforced by the Office of Civil Rights. My amendment would reduce funding for the Office of Civil Rights within the USDA by 50 percent, permitting necessary functions to continue but sending a much-needed message on behalf of the American people that they cannot use their taxpayer dollars to implement their radical leftist agenda. DEI initiatives promote hiring quotas rather than merit-based policies for selection and promotion. The Federal Government should be hiring and firing--now there is a concept for the Federal Government. The Federal Government should be hiring and firing employees based on the quality of their performance or lack thereof, not based on the color of their skin or the gender they claim to be identifying as on whatever particular day. My amendment cuts a little over $8 million. When we have $33 trillion in national debt and we are on track for a $2 trillion deficit, my amendment would cut a little over $8 million from the Department so that taxpayer dollars can be appropriately used rather than promoting the leftist radical agenda of the Biden administration. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, the justification of the gentleman from Georgia just enumerated there is already protected by law. It is already illegal to discriminate on the basis that he is talking about there. Thanks to the Supreme Court, we are moving to a post- discrimination society. We are going to no longer discriminate based on race. The Supreme Court is moving us that way in education. We ought to be doing it with the Office of Civil Rights in the USDA, as well. We should be using taxpayer dollars for those farmers and programs that actually benefit the American people and have the highest return or at least a return and one that is not harmful for the American people. If the Office of Civil Rights were simply ensuring that people were protected as required by law, again, there wouldn't be a problem, but the Biden administration has subverted these types of offices to promote their divisive radical leftist agenda. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, the Biden administration has completely lost touch with the idea of hiring and firing people according to their performance and the work that they do, and instead wants to base those decisions on a person's immutable characteristics and achieving quotas in the name of equity. My amendment will hold these individuals accountable to simply do their jobs instead of promoting a radical agenda and wasting taxpayer dollars--again, dollars that are borrowed from our kids and grandkids. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to reduce to $1 the salary of the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research within the FDA. As part of the Republican House majority, conservatives were able to secure important reforms to the House rules, including reinstating the Holman rule. The Holman rule dates back to the 1800s and was created to reduce spending, but it has also been used as a measure of accountability to exercise oversight over unelected bureaucrats by reducing the salaries of Federal employees. I have concerns that the position of director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has been politicized because of decisions it has been involved in related to abortion. In January, the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for the main chemical abortion drug, mifepristone, was updated. A multidisciplinary team within the FDA approved changes that eliminated the in-person distribution requirement of mifepristone and allowed for retail pharmacies to dispense the abortifacient. A Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, is required by the FDA for certain drugs with ``serious safety concerns to help ensure the benefits outweigh its risks.'' It is baffling to me that these bureaucrats would acknowledge that mifepristone is inherently dangerous yet advance policies that discourage a woman from even having to show up at a doctor's office. This office was complicit in these dangerous updates that impact women's health. My amendment provides needed scrutiny over the bureaucrats who issue documents, not laws, that literally carry the power of life or death. Whatever value these offices provide to drug safety has been clouded by political judgment. Congress should take a serious look at these offices, and we can start by holding pro-abortion officials accountable for such a destructive decision. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to stand for life and support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, FDA administrators who originally approved mifepristone knew it had risks attached to it. In the following years, those risks have been confirmed and proven time and again to the mother and, obviously, ultimately to the child. Between 2002 and 2015, the rate of chemical abortion-related emergency room visits increased by more than 500 percent. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, at least seven offices within the FDA are responsible for administering the decision that made the chemical abortion drug easier to access. My amendment reduces to $1 the salary of the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Congress has a responsibility to not just appropriate money but to also conduct oversight for the use of taxpayer dollars. My amendment does both. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to stand up for life and support my amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOOD of Virginia

Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to protect our students' access to hunting, archery, and similar programs across the country. Virginians are passionate about these outdoor sports, and school programs are a wonderful way to cultivate that passion while teaching aspiring outdoorsmen how to safely exercise their Second Amendment rights. That our action is necessary today to fight back against the radical, activist Department of Education is a testament to how much the Biden administration hates our constitutional rights and wants to use every means possible to restrict those rights and impose gun control on law- abiding citizens. Currently, the leftist Department of Education interprets the law to restrict funding for hunting and archery programs in the schools. Congress never intended this, and we shouldn't even have to clarify it to the agenda-driven, unaccountable bureaucrats in the Biden administration. Nevertheless, today's bill provides that clarification and ensures that Federal dollars can continue to go to schools with hunting and archery programs. The genesis of this problem comes from a law that I opposed last Congress, the so-called Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was actually a gun-grabbing effort by the left that prevents States and districts from hardening schools to protect their students, teachers, and staff. We should do more to repeal and reverse the harmful impacts this legislation has had on our schools. If we permit teachers to be armed and trained, it will discourage the threat and reduce the potential impact of bad guys with guns attacking our schools. Instead of blocking funding for defensive training, we should support training teachers and staff to use the Second Amendment to protect our children. I believe our schools will be safer if we prosecute criminals, support our law enforcement, including SROs, and support teachers and staff who want to be trained and permitted to concealed carry in schools. Federal investment and resources can play a key role, but Congress must also reduce and eliminate Federal legal barriers so that States and communities can protect their own students in the most effective way possible. Mr. Speaker, I support the legislation today because it is a step in the right direction, but we should go further and also permit teachers to be trained to defend their students in schools. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5110.