Clay Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Officer David Lyons and Corporal Dempsey Lavergne of the Vinton Police Department (VPD) for their life-saving actions in response to a dire situation. Their actions illustrate an optimal delivery of a vital public service: timely heroics by law enforcement officers. In July of 2022, a resident of Vinton, Louisiana was driving home with her four-year-old granddaughter via Interstate-10. As they neared their exit, the driver maneuvered her vehicle to avoid a collision, veering off the road and into the middle of a canal. As a result of the crash, the vehicle's windows and doors would not open. As the vehicle began to sink in the 10-foot-deep canal, the occupants trapped within were at risk of losing their lives. The driver's daughter and mother of the four-year-old child was alerted to this incident via a family safety app on her phone. When her mother failed to answer a phone call, she reported the vehicle's location to an emergency operator. Officer Lyons and then-Sergeant Lavergne were immediately dispatched to the scene. Arriving at the vehicle's location, the officers identified the weight of the situation and rushed into the canal's waters toward the sinking vehicle. Unable to budge the vehicle's locked doors, the officers smashed its rear window, through which the driver passed them her granddaughter. While the four-year-old had reached safety, the driver remained trapped in the nearly submerged car. With admirable resolve, Officer Lyons and Corporal Lavergne clung to her, ignoring the water rising around them. Finally, moments after the car had fully submerged, the officers were able to pull her from the vehicle. This harrowing rescue, and the incident's overwhelmingly positive outcome were described by witnesses as a miracle. Details in the incident's aftermath leave no doubt that Officer Lyons and Corporal Lavergne are the instruments through which this miracle came. These officers' courageous actions are a testament to their character. Dismissing the obstacles, danger, and odds, these officers instinctually abided by their oath of office, exemplifying the very best of the Thin Blue Line. Officer Lyons' only statement regarding this incident presents an ethos worthy of aspiration: ``We don't do it for the glory, we simply do what God put us on the planet to do.'' May the Lord continue to bless and protect Officer Lyons and Corporal Lavergne in their service and protection of our community.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Louisiana State Representative Kimberly Coates for her efforts to pass HB 467, a bill expanding access to Fresh Natural Milk. Louisiana's unfounded prohibition on natural milk was primarily a consequence of Federal interference. Despite fresh natural milk's benefits, the FDA holds that only pasteurized dairy should be consumed. Requiring the dairy industry to abide by this standard ensures the destruction of natural milk's holistic composition. HB 467 legalizes the sale of natural milk and dairy products, reinstating freedom of choice to Louisiana consumers, and providing millions of Americans with access to an uncorrupted source of nutrients and health. In its natural state, fresh milk is a nearly perfect food. Hundreds of studies have confirmed a connection between pasteurization and lactose intolerance, concluding that pasteurized milk's molecular decomposition allows it to seep through the gut, resulting in various health afflictions. Fresh, natural milk that has forgone pasteurization retains self-contained enzymes, facilitating its digestion and conferment of health. Accordingly, Representative Coates' ``Fresh Natural Milk Bill'' will provide millions of Louisianans with a previously unrealized ability to consume dairy. Representative Coates work, guiding HB 467 through both chambers of the Louisiana State Legislature, is to be commended. Her bill passed the Louisiana House of Representatives in a 96-1 vote and through the Louisiana State Senate in a 32-3 vote. These wide margins of support reflect Representative Coates' determination and skill as a legislator. Representative Coates' legislation will benefit many Louisiana citizens, including our farmers, dairy producers, and consumers. I commend Representative Coates and congratulate her on HB 467's signing into Louisiana law.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the work that has been done on the underlying bill. I rise on behalf of my amendment No. 60 to H.R. 8774, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for 2025. My amendment specifies that the United States Navy shall use $19.44 million to procure 40-foot patrol boats. The Navy has a stated need for these new boats to replace the aging feet, the old 38-foot boats. In today's battle environment, it is essential that we have the most advanced technology and capabilities. It is well understood the 40-foot patrol boats are essential to the Navy's mission, and the Navy requires the shipyards by contract to be capable of producing one boat every 45 days in order to sustain maximum efficiency. Yet, the Navy does not fully fund the program through the President's budget request year after year to ensure this objective is accomplished. My amendment does not increase the actual cost of the 40-foot patrol boat program. Instead, the amendment simply specifies within appropriations the funds needed for the efficiency of the Navy and the shipyards working together to build these vessels. Overall efficiency requires that the rate of funding match the rate of vessel production, and any pause in the delivery of funding leads to a loss of the existing workforce, the supply chain, the vendors, the materials, et cetera. Coordinating funding with production is essential, and we should support this commonsense funding delivery adjustment which is essentially what my amendment calls for. It is critical that we ensure our Armed Forces have the vessels and technology required to secure America. I will always advocate for a strong maritime industry that bolsters our national security and supports thousands of American jobs. I am grateful for this opportunity to speak on behalf of my amendment, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Daniel Flavin, a uniquely integral Southwest Louisiana community leader. Dan's career spanned business, politics, and philanthropy. No matter what his means were, he always worked to benefit those around him, his family, and God. Dan's family moved to Lake Charles in 1972, where he attended and graduated from A.M. Barbe High School. Mr. Bill Flavin, Dan's Father, was a Veteran of the Korean War and an industrious, self-made man. Despite generous offers that would force his family to leave the Southwest Louisiana community they had come to love, he resigned from his job and founded what is now the renowned Flavin Realty Inc. Dan once recalled that even at 86, his father still came to work every day. Mr. Bill Flavin clearly endowed Dan with this impulse for hard work and integrity. The Flavins' principles are emblematic of Southwest Louisiana's grit and ingenuity. Dan bought Flavin Realty from his father after graduating from McNeese State University, inheriting it just as he had his fundamental values. Under Dan's management, Flavin Realty steadily grew into the organization we know today: Southwestern Louisiana's eminent real estate firm. In recognition of his personal ability, Dan was twice awarded the Calcasieu Parish Realtor of the Year Award and was selected for leadership positions in Louisiana's top real estate associations. Dan always showed great humility in his achievements, always giving credit to family and God above all. Throughout his life, Dan's personal integrity and dedication reached beyond his own interests, overflowing into the community. He gave generously to charity and local causes. In 1996, Dan brought his talents to the state legislature, where he served his beloved SWLA community. His decade-long tenure in the Louisiana House of Representatives was noted by constituents as an era of major victories and development. Representative Flavin's greatest legislative work came amid efforts to bolster the Port of Lake Charles. His concerted legislation and advocacy made the Port of Lake Charles our Nation's 10th largest, cementing an irreplaceable source of SWLA economic prosperity for years to come. This unwavering dedication to community was surpassed only by Dan's intertwined love of family and God. After retiring from the state legislature in 2005, Dan spent the joyful final years of his life caring for the family business, surrounded by his wife Lisa and their six children, 20 grandchildren, and a community of friends. Dan's love of God, family, and community made him an exemplary Louisianan by any definition. His work was always conducted according to our state's unique intersection of government, business, and family values. Dan is survived by a big, beautiful Louisiana family and a forever grateful community. On behalf of Louisiana's 3rd District, I thank Mr. Dan Flavin for his generous charity and lifelong service to Louisiana. As we continue to benefit from Dan Flavin's legacy, I pray the Lord blesses his family and grants his reward in Heaven.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Richard Zuschlag, a cofounder of Acadian Ambulance, national leader, and the very embodiment of Christian virtue. Following a valiant battle with cancer, marking the end of a full and accomplished life, Richard has gone home to the Lord. For all who knew him and felt his compassion, Richard's 76 years are now the object of fond reflection and reverent admiration. His legacy will stand in perpetuity, sustained in the countless lives he touched. `Richard Zuschlag' is a household name in Louisiana that is synonymous with charity, health care, and Louisiana business talent. Born in Pennsylvania, he first came to Louisiana as a young professional on work assignment. During this introduction, he came to love South Louisiana's community, people, and way of life. Ultimately, he chose to stay. Ever community-minded, he recognized shortcomings in local EMS services. To fill this critical gap in medical service, Richard established Acadian Ambulance in 1971, as a provider of accessible, quality EMS care. He co-founded his Lafayette-based company with a revolutionary financing strategy, allowing clients to pay a very affordable yearly rate in exchange for full service. This winning formula opened private EMS service to Americans of all economic backgrounds. Richard's vision continued to shape Acadian Ambulance in this way, carrying it on a sure trajectory to success. More than half a century after its humble start, Lafayette-based Acadian Ambulance is a nationally respected provider of quality EMS services--the culmination of Richard's career. All of Richard's work functioned according to his personal philosophy, endowed by his Christian faith. This approach, aptly characterized as `putting people over profit,' fused his business acumen and humanitarian impulse. Driven by these virtues, Richard was clearly destined to revolutionize the EMS industry, uplifting millions. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, he deployed Acadian Ambulance's services to ease the suffering of fellow Louisianans in New Orleans. Richard directed this operation out of pocket, in lieu of a government contract or any guarantee of compensation. This occasion was one of many on which he courageously justified his charity with morality alone. He always gave with disregard to any notion of self-preservation, even when his business could not afford to. Richard's Christian conduct of reckless selflessness foremost constitutes his life and legacy. Millions of Americans now live reassured in the promise of Richard's work--EMS responders will come to their aid in moments of dire need. Richard's dedication has already culminated in countless saved lives and grateful families. Take heart that every life saved by Acadian Ambulance, now and forever, will be graced with the professional compassion of Richard Zuschlag. As I contemplate the life of Richard Zuschlag, now in its entirety, Matthew 25 echoes in my mind: ``His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'' Lord Jesus, thank you for Richard, and please hold him close in Your Kingdom.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, in a hearing earlier this year before the Oversight Committee, we had a young American, a squared-away young man, a former Army Ranger, who spoke on what it truly means to become a soldier. He told us: ``Training in the United States Army is meant to melt away the effects of civilian life and to forge Americans into soldiers.'' I concur with that young man, Mr. Chair. Our military was never intended to be and should not be a platform to advance social agendas. Our Nation's military prowess not only keeps our homeland safe but a strong American military projects strength worldwide, deterring conflicts and pushing back against human suffering across the world. While we remain the strongest fighting force in the world--this is true--we are waning, and the distractions that we experience within our own ranks must be addressed. My amendment would eliminate the position of chief diversity officer of the Department of Defense or any substantially similar position. I appreciate that my colleagues, Jeff Duncan, Claudia Tenney, and Jim Baird, are cosponsoring my amendment. The adoption of this provision will be a strong step in advancing a military that focuses on lethality and elevates excellence and performance, the values that made our Armed Forces great and indomitable worldwide. This strength in that position worldwide, Mr. Chair, is indeed threatened by this cultural agenda, perhaps driven by good intentions, let me say, reflective of our journey as a nation as we have learned and evolved and grown into a better, stronger nation with regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion. No doubt, my colleagues' intentions to force that agenda within the parameters of our Department of Defense were well-intentioned, but it is injuring our military. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, in 1988, I joined the Army. I went through boot camp and AIT in 1989 as Private Higgins, an enlisted man. Going through the military police academy in 1989 was quite grueling, and we lost a lot of people. We excluded many young soldiers, men and women. We excluded them because they couldn't perform. The United States military requires exclusion based on performance. That is all we ever cared about. We never had problems with recruiting in the United States Army. We missed by 40 percent last year. Do you know why, Mr. Chair? It is because families like mine that historically have served are not advising our young men and women to join the military now because of this insanity they have to go through and because it is weakness that has become embedded and woven within our DOD and forced upon our young soldiers. You are injuring and you are setting your sons and daughters up for slaughter because war is brutal, and nobody in uniform cares about the gender or the sexual orientation or the skin color of the soldier next to them. All we care about is that they can perform. This is the brotherhood that we forge. It requires discrimination. We discriminate against those young Americans who cannot make it. If they can't make the cut to earn a slot in our unit, then we exclude them from our unit. They go do something else in life. That is fine, but they can't be in the military. So, good Lord, please support my amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 192, an act to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia, our Nation's Capital. In reporting out H.R. 192, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability holds that Congress must act to exert its constitutional responsibility to oversee the District of Columbia and make certain necessary amendments to the District's law. Since the voters entrusted Republicans with control of the House in the 118th Congress, the Oversight Committee has conducted long overdue oversight of our Nation's Capital City, including holding hearings on the District of Columbia. Specifically, to the topic we are discussing today, the Oversight Committee held a joint hearing with the Committee on House Administration on election integrity in the District. At that hearing, the committees examined the District government's Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, which allowed noncitizen residents to vote in D.C. local elections. This act includes illegal immigrants and even foreign diplomats, whose interests may be opposed to the interests of Americans. This radical change to our election laws upset lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Madam Speaker. D.C. Mayor Bowser withheld her signature on the Act, something she had done only a handful of times in her tenure. On February 9, 2023, 260 Members of this House voted to overturn the D.C. act through a resolution of disapproval. In that vote, 42 House Democrats voted to block the D.C. law. However, the bipartisan resolution of disapproval was not considered in the Democratic-controlled Senate, so D.C.'s noncitizen voting law went into effect. This, in my opinion, and the opinion of many Americans across the country, is unacceptable. The primary factor that differentiates American citizens from noncitizens is the right to vote. D.C. residents should be confident that their local government vote is not being diluted by noncitizen residents or illegal immigrants casting votes. Article I of the Constitution grants Congress exclusive jurisdiction over the Nation's Capital, and the rules of the U.S. House charge the Committee on Oversight and Accountability with a duty to oversee the municipal affairs of the District of Columbia. I urge my colleagues to support Representative Pfluger's commonsense bill to ensure that only United States citizens have the right to vote in local D.C. elections and to support the repeal of D.C.'s radical law. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, my friend and colleague has mentioned in his opening statement that 500 noncitizens are registered to vote in D.C. My colleague is clever to point this out, but I am quite sure he is also aware that it has been estimated that 50,000 noncitizens are eligible to vote. As the election cycles move forward, they will no doubt consider registering and casting their vote should we not turn this law. My colleague also mentioned the topic of representation in our Nation's Capital. As a constitutional scholar and professor, he is well aware that our Founders envisioned our Nation's Capital would necessarily develop a robust citizenry and that those residents would enjoy unique access to the Republic's elected and appointed highest officials, equaling a form of representation that no other citizenry in any other city of sovereign States would enjoy. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), the author of this bill that we are considering today.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I have not heard my Democratic colleagues address the fact that even one noncitizen's vote will, in fact, dilute the votes of American citizens. The gentlewoman mentioned Republicans' efforts to disrupt D.C. elections. Quite to the contrary, Madam Speaker. We seek to restore the integrity of D.C. elections. We stood in support of an American's right to have their vote fully counted, including, most certainly, in our Nation's Capital. When there are 50,000 potential noncitizen voters in the Nation's Capital poised to cast a vote, that is the disruption of the D.C. voting process for the American citizens of D.C., whom we do indeed care for, love, and hope to represent. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) to speak on this bill.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew), my colleague.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, H.R. 192, quite simply, prohibits noncitizens from voting in D.C. local elections and repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act. This is common sense. Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee our Nation's Capital and H.R. 192 represents the exact role Congress should take in regard to the matters of the District's governance. Under the United States Constitution, Congress is granted exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever regarding our Nation's Capital. We recognize, as my colleagues have stated, the jurisdictional authority within the municipality and the local elected officials of our Nation's Capital, but when those local elected officials take actions which are injurious to the operations of our Nation's Capital, then we have constitutional authority and, indeed, duty to respond. Hence, why in February of last year, 260 Members of this House voted to overturn the D.C. act in question as being repealed through this bill and in that vote, 42 House Democrats did, indeed, vote to overturn that D.C. law. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, my distinguished colleague has mentioned that it is already against the law for an illegal to cast a vote. We understand this, but surely the gentleman knows that corruption is borne in the heart of man, not the mechanisms of man. We have a duty and a responsibility as Members of this Congress to oversee the actions of the Nation's Capital City and it is our duty to mitigate against the violation of law. We recognize that it is against the law for an illegal to cast a vote in a Federal election. We know this, but we also know that burglary is against the law, yet we have fences and gates and doors and locks. We mitigate against the actions of man, though, we know that some of those actions may be, indeed, against the law. The existence of the statute itself does not overcome the corruption born in the heart of man. We have an obligation as a body to exercise our constitutional jurisdictional authority in the one municipality in the entire country that falls under that constitutional jurisdictional authority; that is, our Nation's Capital as the city whose laws we address today. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), my friend and colleague.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), the author of the bill.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I express my sincere gratitude to my friend and colleague, Representative Raskin, for conducting this debate in a vigorous yet respectful manner. I am certain that he will agree that this is the manner in which our Founders envisioned we may debate. The subject of congressional interaction, exercising constitutional authority within the parameters of our Nation's Capital municipality, is a legitimate discussion. It is part of our Nation's narrative and broad debate, and this is the body, Madam Speaker, wherein such debate should take place. I am hopeful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle may engage in this as we move forward in the spirit with which we have discussed and debated today. Madam Speaker, D.C.'s noncitizen voting law does, indeed, disenfranchise American citizens. It is a dangerous policy that undermines the ability of the citizens of D.C. to have a free and fair election. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to prohibit those who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this necessary bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, due to flight delays caused by storms in my home state of Louisiana, I was unable to be present for votes on May 14, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 196, and YEA Roll Call No. 197.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, do you know why our Democratic colleagues oppose this report? Do you know why, Madam Speaker? They don't want clear, fresh, precise data provided to the American people on how many attacks uniformed law officers suffer every year. They don't want America to know, Madam Speaker, because America would be shocked. It is vastly underreported by rank-and-file officers like me and my brothers and sisters from sea to shining sea, men who know what it is not just to wear a little pin like here and walk around D.C. with your head held high, but to wear a shield, to wear a badge, to earn that certification every year. We know what it is to be constantly under threat of attack and physical attack, but we carry on. We rarely report what we don't absolutely have to because of the agenda-driven persecution that officers are currently facing. Where? In Republican-run cities with Republican district attorneys that actually prosecute criminals? No, Madam Speaker. In liberal cities. Look at the maps. It is in cities run by Democratic policies and the agendas of the Democratic mayors and Democratic DAs. Those are the cities that are eaten alive by crime in America. This is why you cannot fill the ranks of law enforcement officers across the country. When I was a cop, we had about 800,000 uniformed officers. We were on our way to a million. We are down to about 600,000 now. Your officers are leaving service not because of the threats that we have historically faced but because of the threats that we continue to face for physical danger on the streets and the very significant possibility, even probability in some municipalities, that the actions of that law enforcement officer are going to be treated more harshly than the criminal and violent attacks that the officer both faces and protects his community from. To think that my colleagues across the aisle would oppose a bill that mandates the Department of Justice provide accurate data to the American people about how many violent attacks uniformed officers face across the country, my God, you can barely get your head wrapped around that. Of course, this body that is supposed to represent we the people should endeavor to provide the American people with accurate, contemporary data regarding such things. Madam Speaker, I am honored to support my colleague's bill, and I encourage Representatives on both sides of the aisle to join us in support of this legislation.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution that I have authored and introduced and will be considered on the House floor. I am going to calmly suggest my colleagues across the aisle reassess their position on this resolution because they are speaking of Republican majorities walking away from what they allege is a strong immigration reform and border security bill. That bill was not the border security bill that we passed through this House, H.R. 2, which was the strongest legislative measure in the history of Congress. It has been walked away from by the Democrat-controlled Senate. H.R. 2 is condemned by your President, President Biden. You know who also did not universally like H.R. 2, Madam Speaker? The cartels. My colleagues across the aisle may want to wonder, how do you find yourselves aligned with the cartels? Oh, let us review. Since day one of this administration, since January of 2021, the policies of our executive branch were flipped to be more receptive to illegal immigration, and in doing so, more aligned with the cartels' operations of trafficking human beings and drugs into our country. Anyone with two brain cells that may occasionally bump into each other would realize that if you soften your existing law enforcement on illegal immigration when on the other side of the border the territory is 100 percent controlled by criminal cartels who are trafficking two things, human beings and drugs, what do you think might happen? Of course, you are going to have a drastic increase in trafficked human beings and drugs, which is exactly where we are. Republicans took action in the first few months that we had majority control. We went through exhaustive legislative measures to battle through the language of H.R. 2. We went through an 18-hour markup in the Homeland Security Committee, my committee. We brought H.R. 2 to the floor, and it was passed with all Republicans supporting that bill. It went to the Senate, and there it remains gathering dust, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we had countless efforts to communicate with our colleagues in the Senate, encouraging them: Take up the bill. If you disagree with H.R. 2, then, by all means, debate and change, amend and pass your version, and send it back to the House. When we go to conference, that is the way things work, but that is not the way it happened in the Senate. The Democrat-controlled Senate killed H.R. 2 which was a legitimate and strong response to the invasion that we have faced at our southern border. My resolution simply acknowledges and condemns the loss of our sovereign control at the southern border and the impact that this wave upon human wave of misery, drugs, and human trafficking has brought upon our country and the impact upon local and State law enforcement who has had to bear the full brunt of the Biden administration policies, Madam Speaker. These are policies that can be flipped very quickly. You put me in charge of our border policy, and you will find out what happens with cartel operations. They are going to have to take some of those trillions of dollars they stole from us trafficking in the misery of human beings who have been caught up in their pipeline and sold their horrible tale of coming to America and prospering. They were sold a story by the cartels, and they were caught up in that trafficking. How is that trafficking allowed? It is because the doors were opened, and the borders were opened. By what? By lack of money? No. It was by change in policy from the executive branch. Local and State law enforcement, Madam Speaker, has had to deal with that. Those men and women have suffered. Those departments have suffered. They have been forced into crisis not by their own communities where they live and serve, but by executive policies of this Federal Government. My resolution is not meaningless, I say to my colleague across the aisle. It is quite the opposite. It acknowledges the service and sacrifice of the men and women who wear a badge at the local and State levels across our country who have been horribly impacted by the Biden administration policies at our southern border which have brought generational trauma upon our country and an era of misery we may never forget. I thank the gentleman for allowing me to speak for this amount of time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Brenntag for 150 years of service as a market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution. Founded in 1874, Brenntag offers a comprehensive portfolio of chemicals and ingredients, market solutions, applications, and regulatory know-how for a wide range of industries. The company has a global footprint, operating in over 70 countries with more than 17,500 employees. This includes sites in the South Louisiana communities of Abbeville, Broussard, and Maurice. Last year, I toured Brenntag's new cutting-edge facility in Maurice, Louisiana, and participated in a town hall meeting with employees. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with the men and women of Brenntag and see firsthand the important work being carried out at facilities in South Louisiana. The chemicals industry is essential to modern society. The industry's contributions can be found in every aspect of our lives--our clothing, our electronics, household goods, and many other daily products. While many Americans take this for granted, we should not forget the men and women who keep our supply chains running and make everyday life possible. Brenntag's employees, like those I met in Maurice, are responsible for the company's status as an industry leader in quality, safety, and innovation. Their hard work is critical to America's continued success and economic prosperity. On behalf of Louisiana's 3rd District, I commend Brenntag on its 150th anniversary. I offer my gratitude to Brenntag's employees, and I thank them for the vital part they play in America's economy.