Diana Harshbarger

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Music Tourism Act of 2025. It is bipartisan legislation that I have had the privilege of leading in the House alongside my colleague from California, Congresswoman Barragan, and our partner in the Senate, Senator Blackburn. Whether it is Dolly Parton or Morgan Wallen, they have got a storied history colored by many country music icons. From Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to the birthplace of country music in Bristol, Tennessee, east Tennessee does play a vital role in our Nation's music tourism industry. That story is true in communities across the country, from Nashville to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. This bill simply directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to grow music tourism for domestic and international visitors and to report back to Congress on that progress. It is a commonsense, bipartisan idea, and I note for my colleagues that it will not cost taxpayers one additional dollar to implement. Madam Speaker, the House already passed this bill with overwhelming bipartisan support in April. The Senate now has done the same, and this is about as close to the finish line as legislation gets. I am proud of the work that our two Chambers have done together to get us there. I thank again Congresswoman Barragan and Senator Blackburn for their partnership in helping carry this legislation forward. Madam Speaker, let's finish the job. Let's send this bill to the President's desk and give America's music communities the recognition and support they have earned. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act. It is bipartisan legislation I introduced with my colleague from California, Congressman Mullin. Our energy grid is the backbone of our economy, and every hospital, factory, and family in America depends on it working reliably. Right now, the system connecting new power generation to that grid is badly backlogged. Interconnection studies that should take months are dragging on for years, and that delay is more than just a paperwork problem. It is a drag on the grid performance and on American competitiveness at a moment when energy demand is skyrocketing like never before. This bill takes a commonsense first step toward fixing that. It directs the Secretary of Energy, working with FERC and NERC, to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine how technologies like high- performance computing and artificial intelligence can be used to enhance grid operations, finding efficiency in our existing capacity, speeding up these interconnection studies, and improving reliability with tools like predictive maintenance and digital twins. Understanding how these tools can help our bulk power system run on full power will be critical to ensuring affordable rates for the long term. As part of the study, DOE will also work to understand the technical and cybersecurity barriers for widespread adoption. Madam Speaker, we don't have a clear national picture of where this technology stands, but this bill gets us that picture with a report due to Congress within a year and substantive recommendations so policymakers have the facts on how these technologies can help reliability and performance of our grid and where the challenges lie. My bill is both bipartisan and forward looking. Most importantly, it is about making sure America leads the world as the epicenter for affordable, reliable energy. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, she was a funny lady. She had a lot of quick sayings--and I won't go into that--but we lost an icon, not just to us in Tennessee but to the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House now observe a moment of silence in her memory.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true daughter of Tennessee, Dolly Parton--a woman who needs no introduction. Dolly was a native of my district in East Tennessee, and she was from Locust Ridge in Sevier County. She never forgot where she came from. Her music told the truth about hard work, faith, and family, and that truth is why the whole world fell in love with Dolly. But it was her heart that made her a legend back home. She rebuilt the community after the wildfires in 2016 that tore through Sevier County. She opened doors for children to learn to read through her Imagination Library. She supported healthcare and research for Tennessee families. She protected the mountains that she loved. Most people will know her theme park that is in the district called Dollywood. She was guided by her faith and her East Tennessee upbringing, and Dolly used her success to lift people up around her at every turn. My prayers are with her family and everyone who loved her. The Tennessee delegation is committed to ensuring that her legacy is remembered for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), my colleague.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Utah for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of one of the most consequential decisions in the history of our Supreme Court, and that is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court corrected a 50-year wrong and returned the question of life back to where it has always belonged, and that is to the American people and to their elected representatives. This was a historic victory for life and the rule of law. But today is not just a day to celebrate a court decision. It is a day to recommit ourselves to the work that remains, and there is still a lot of work to do. As a mother, a grandmother, and a lifelong advocate for life, I have always believed that the pro-life movement is fundamentally a movement of deep affection and love: love for mothers facing impossible choices, love for families navigating the unexpected, and love for the most vulnerable among us--the unborn, who have no voice. That love is showing up in communities across the country. In 2024 alone, pregnancy centers provided over 1 million women with services valued at more than $452 million. That is free ultrasounds, free natal care, diapers, car seats, and so much more. And for every Planned Parenthood, there are 15 pregnancy resource centers ready to serve women with real support and real choices. That is the true face of the pro-life movement. Here in Congress we have continued to act. Earlier this year, the House passed the Supporting Pregnancy and Parenting Women and Families Act and Pregnant Students' Rights Act because we know that protecting life means supporting mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. President Trump's HHS stood up for moms.gov, and that was inspired by my Pregnancy.Gov Act to connect expecting mothers with the resources they truly need. These are the kinds of life-affirming policies we should be building on. But I want to be direct about where we still fall short. Since Dobbs, abortions in this country have actually increased by nearly 400,000 a year. Why is that? It is because the Biden-Harris administration spent 4 years dismantling every commonsense safeguard around chemical abortion drugs. They allowed mifepristone to be ordered online, shipped through the mail, and dispensed without a doctor ever seeing the patient. As a pharmacist for almost 40 years, that is not patient care. That is recklessness. Democrats have made their agenda very clear. Nearly every House Democrat has signed on to legislation that would impose abortion on demand until birth wiping out every pro-life protection at the State and Federal level, and we cannot let that stand. Dobbs gave us the tools. Now it is our job to use them. I will not stop fighting for life in every form at every stage.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in recognizing this year's national jubilee of prayer and praise and thanksgiving. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on something that is near and dear to my heart. I come from east Tennessee. It is a place where faith isn't just something you practice on Sunday morning. It is woven into the fabric of who we are. It shapes how we raise our children, how we care for our neighbors, and, yes, how we govern. If you look at the history of this great Nation, that is exactly how our Founders intended it to be. From the very beginning, America's leaders understood something that too many in Washington have forgotten: that we are not self-sufficient, that the blessings of liberty--the prosperity, the freedom, the strength of this Nation--do not come from us. They come from God. When English settlers first landed at Cape Henry in 1607, they planted a cross and offered prayers, dedicating their endeavor to God. That spirit of faith was part of America's foundation. When the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in 1774--facing a crisis, facing uncertainty, facing the very real possibility of war--one of the very first things those delegates did was bow their heads in prayer. By all accounts, that prayer changed the room, and it brought divided men together. It gave them clarity, and it gave them courage. When our Constitution was hanging by a thread at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when tempers had flared, and delegates were walking out, Benjamin Franklin urged the delegates to seek divine guidance with humility and prayer before continuing their work on what would become the greatest governing document in the history of the world. I am proud to say that Tennessee has been part of this tradition. Three of this Nation's Presidents called Tennessee home, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Each one of them understood the weight of the Presidency and that it demands more than human wisdom alone. Andrew Jackson, in his inaugural address, called it the most fervent prayer that almighty God, the same God who had kept this Republic from its infancy, would overrule his intentions and actions for the good of the American people. James K. Polk, in his own inaugural address in 1845, fervently invoked the aid of the almighty ruler of the universe to guard this Heaven-favored land against the mischiefs that arise from unwise policy. Andrew Johnson, who assumed the Presidency under some of the most painful circumstances in American history following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, called the Nation to a special day of humiliation and prayer and later issued a Thanksgiving proclamation, calling Americans to give thanks to God for the perseverance of the United States. Three Tennesseans, three Presidents. All of them, in their highest moments of responsibility, all turned to prayer. George Washington, in his Circular Letter to the States, asked God to ``incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another.'' Abraham Lincoln, in the darkest days of the Civil War, called on the Nation to humble itself before God, not out of weakness, but out of wisdom. He recognized that we had forgotten God. On June 6, 1944, as Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt didn't give a victory speech. He led the Nation in prayer. Mr. Speaker, the evidence is overwhelming. This Nation was built on prayer. It has been sustained by prayer. If we want to see it restored, it will be through prayer. I know it is not a popular thing to say in some circles in Washington these days, but faith has been pushed out of the public square. Prayer has been treated like something to be embarrassed about or hidden away. We are told to keep our beliefs private. I refuse to accept that. As a matter of fact, I rebuke that. I don't think the American public accepts it either. I have been a pharmacist for almost 40 years, and I have stood behind the counter when people were at the lowest points in their lives, when they were diagnosed with cancer or certain other ailments. The ones who leaned on their faith and the ones who prayed, they had something to hold onto--something that no government program, no prescription, no piece of legislation could ever replace. That is why I believe deeply that this National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving isn't just about a nice tradition. It is a necessity. As we celebrate 250 years of American freedom this year, we have an extraordinary opportunity to do what our Founders did--to stop, to humble ourselves, to give thanks, and to ask for guidance, not because we are weak, but because we are wise enough to know that the blessings we enjoy are not of our own making. Psalm 33:12 reminds us--and I think Mark said it a minute ago-- ``Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.'' May that always be true of America.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1020, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1020, led by Senator Daines and, in the House of Representatives, by Representative Newhouse. Hydropower is a critical part of our Nation's energy mix, supplying baseload power to approximately 30 million homes and businesses and accounting for 40 percent of our black start capacity. S. 1020 authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, to extend construction deadlines for critical hydropower projects licensed before March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and halted many projects. Current law requires hydropower projects to commence construction within 10 years of receiving a license. This legislation allows FERC to authorize an additional 6 years for certain projects to ensure fully licensed infrastructure is not permanently halted, depriving Americans of reliable energy. There are currently 37 projects, across 15 States, that are at risk of losing licenses without the passage of this bill providing additional construction time. These projects in limbo would provide energy that is imperative to power our communities, win the artificial intelligence race, and lower electricity prices for consumers. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1020, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to insert extraneous material on S. 1020.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1020) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3419, which would reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource grant programs, led by my colleague Congressman Valadao. Telehealth has been an extremely useful tool that helps patients overcome various physical barriers to care and expands access to a wide array of services provided by high-quality healthcare professionals. It is both an effective and efficient way to deliver healthcare services to patients living in rural and medically underserved areas across the United States. As we continue working to build a healthier America, telehealth is an incredible tool to help break down barriers and promote patient access. H.R. 3419 reauthorizes key grant programs, namely the Telehealth Network Grant Program and telehealth resource centers. Under the Telehealth Network Grant Program, awardees can receive funding to provide services through a telehealth network for patients in rural and medically underserved areas. Additionally, the telehealth resource centers provide telehealth technical assistance for regional and national entities that support providers to best utilize this technology to care for their patients. Ultimately, this bill continues critical support and strengthens the telehealth infrastructure that Americans rely on. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I thank the sponsors for their work on this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Ms. HARSHBARGER

Ms. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3419) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2493, the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, led by my friend from Georgia, Congressman Carter. Too often where a patient lives determines whether they are able to access adequate healthcare services, and patients who live in rural areas, in particular, often face barriers like a shortage of local providers and transportation challenges of traveling longer distances to reach points of care. To overcome these challenges and build toward a healthier future, we must continue leveraging tools like telehealth to ensure that rural and underserved communities have access to quality healthcare. H.R. 2493 reauthorizes grant programs that utilize integrated healthcare networks to help connect patients to high quality care. More specifically, the programs we are reauthorizing will help address critical healthcare gaps in rural communities such as access to preventive screenings and chronic disease management while improving services in primary care settings. We must continue to invest in these community-driven policies to promote better health outcomes for rural and underserved populations. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank the sponsors, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2493) to reauthorize certain programs regarding rural health care.

Mrs. HARSHBARGER

Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.