Erin Houchin

Mrs. HOUCHIN

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Trinity Lutheran Cougars on defending their IHSAA Class 1A state volleyball championship. After graduating five of six starters last season, these young women came back with heart and grit to win again. They defeated Faith Christian Eagles in four sets to secure their second straight title. This win isn't just about a trophy. It is about resilience. It is about proving that dedication and belief can keep a championship legacy alive. Their work ethic, team spirit, and poise under pressure deserve recognition. Mr. Speaker, I thank every Cougar on that court for showing us what it means to fight and to win together. Congratulations to Trinity Lutheran. Indiana Hoosiers are Big Ten Champions

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with tremendous pride to celebrate a historic achievement for my alma mater, Indiana University. For the first time in program history, the Indiana Hoosiers are Big Ten Champions. This victory reflects more than a great season. It represents the discipline and heart of a team that refused to be counted out. Week after week, these young men demonstrated what it means to compete with character, to fight through adversity, and to rise to the moment when it mattered the most. Hoosier Nation is built on tradition and excellence. This championship is a testament to the leadership of the coaching staff, the commitment of every student athlete, and the passion of fans across Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate of Indiana University, I could not be more honored to recognize this extraordinary milestone. I congratulate the players, coaches, and the entire IU community. They have made history and have made Indiana proud.

Mrs. HOUCHIN

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 722 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, last night, the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, House Resolution 722, providing for the House's consideration of two pieces of legislation. First, the rule provides for H. Res. 719, Honoring the life and legacy of Charles ``Charlie'' James Kirk, to be considered under a closed rule. It provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Second, the rule provides for H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. H.R. 5371 would be considered under a closed rule, and it also provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule tolls the day counts until January 31, 2026, regarding joint resolutions terminating the national emergencies declared by the President on February 1, 2025; April 2, 2025; and July 30, 2025. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation, beginning with H. Res. 719, honoring Charlie Kirk. It is really quite unbelievable that we are here today honoring the life of Charlie Kirk, taken from us far too soon. This is the kind of tribute you would give after a lifetime of service, not usually at the young age of just 31, but Charlie Kirk made a lifetime's worth of impact in his short 31 years on this Earth, and we are grateful for it. Charlie Kirk was a generational leader and a cultural icon. He was dedicated to engaging young people, defending our constitutional freedoms, and calling on Americans to live with courage and conviction. Whether you agreed with him or not, he showed up, he listened, and he engaged in respectful dialogue. He never backed down from the belief that ideas should be debated in the open. Charlie Kirk believed that freedom is worth defending, that faith has a rightful place in the public square, and the next generation deserves leaders who tell the truth and invite honest debate. He believed that every human life had value, even those who vehemently disagreed with him. What happened last week was evil, but we can't fear it because if we do, then evil wins. Therefore, we will not back down, and we will not allow hatred to intimidate us or to silence our speech. He leaves behind a loving wife and two children. He was a child of God, a son, a husband, a father, and a conservative leader who, even in death, still inspires millions around the world. I hope the whole House will join me in praying for Erika and his precious children and the family and friends he leaves behind. May God surround them with love, comfort them with His presence, and provide a peace that surpasses our understanding. We will never forget Charlie Kirk. Let us carry on his legacy and always defend the ideals he lived out. I was proud last night to be a member of the Rules Committee, and I thank Ranking Member McGovern and the other Democratic members of the committee for recognizing that many of us on this side of the aisle knew Charlie personally. I also thank Representatives Debbie Dingell, Tom Suozzi, Don Davis, John Larson, Jimmy Panetta, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and Chris Pappas, who joined our prayer vigil for Charlie earlier this week. I was and am glad that we condemned political violence together and were able to share compassion for one another. Moving on to H.R. 5371, this rule also provides for consideration of the continuing resolution. Passing a continuing resolution is never our first choice, but as Chairman Cole said last night, real progress is being made, and he is encouraged by this year's appropriations process. The House has already approved 60 percent of government spending, and the Appropriations Committee has finished its work at the committee level. Chairman Cole and every member of the Appropriations Committee deserve credit for the long hours of work that have already been done and the progress that has been made. Following this good example, under the leadership of Leader Thune and our Senate Republican colleagues, they have also advanced appropriations measures on the Senate floor, something Senate Democrats failed to do in the last appropriations cycle when they controlled the Chamber. Though a CR, a continuing resolution, is not ideal, this year we are further ahead than we have been in a long time. We cannot allow a government shutdown to derail the important work of the Trump administration. As Chairwoman Foxx said last night, this short-term CR gives our Appropriations colleagues the time they need to keep negotiating and work toward bipartisan funding bills that fulfill our priorities to the American people. There has been plenty of debate about what is and isn't in the CR, but our priority must be keeping this process moving forward and avoiding the chaos that a government shutdown would create. If our colleagues on the other side of the aisle really care about our military, about law enforcement, about our Federal workers, they will join us in keeping the government open. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the consideration of these important pieces of legislation, and I urge the passage of this rule. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz).

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy).

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, what is more hurtful to working families is unfair trade practices that have undermined the American worker for decades. The tariffs imparted by President Trump are proving necessary to ensure fair trade, protect American workers, and reduce trade deficits by bringing other nations to the negotiating table. Access to the American economy is a privilege. President Trump is taking decisive action to comprehensively renegotiate the tariff posture of the United States and the rest of the world for the first time since World War II. His efforts are focused on achieving global free trade, decoupling developing countries from competitive nations like China, and for national security purposes. From what we have seen, President Trump is winning. According to an article from NPR on August 11, tariffs are adding tens of billions of new dollars to Federal revenue, with Treasury bringing in more than $29 billion in customs and excise taxes, a category that is overwhelmingly tariff revenue. Countries like India, China, and South Korea are among the newest nations across the world flocking to the negotiating table. This comes on the heels of a successfully negotiated trade deal with President Trump like with the EU, Japan, the U.K., Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. President Trump is utilizing all available tools in his pressure campaign to make good on his promises to secure the border, protect our communities, and level the global playing field to ensure fair trade for American producers and the American worker. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is a little bit disingenuous to criticize the President on tariffs when every single Democrat voted for the largest tax increase in American history just recently. In the Working Families Tax Cuts Act under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the typical family now, because of House Republicans, is going to get up to $10,900 in additional take-home pay. Workers will see increased wages up to $7,200. Households earning less than $100,000 a year will get a 12 percent tax cut compared to today. Up to 7.2 million jobs have been protected and created, and 1 million new jobs annually will be created by small businesses. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, car loan interest relief, and tax relief for seniors will put more money annually into Americans' pockets. Mr. Speaker, that is $1,300 per tipped worker specifically, and $1,400 for hourly workers. We lock in and further boost the double child tax credit to $2,200 for more than 40 million American families. To put it quite simply, we are starting to build the financial future for this country after years of Democrat mismanagement. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. What the American people know, what I hope they know, is that this is a lot of political theater going on today, and I am sorry about it. I really am. Premiums are high because of ObamaCare. The un-affordable care act did nothing to lower healthcare costs and instead raised costs. Subsidizing the failed policies of the Democratic Party is not a solution. It is a Band-Aid at best, and it perpetuates the problem. Republicans are focused on fixing healthcare, on reducing costs, on raising reimbursement rates, and reforming the system which Democrats broke in the first place. They are fighting for their constituents against a problem that they created. This is a crisis created by the ObamaCare plan in the first place, and we can't just keep throwing money at the problem. That can't be the only answer. We need to have conversations about how to make these programs work for the American people, and it is House Republicans that are leading that charge. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, this rule is pretty straightforward. With respect to the continuing resolution, it is simple. It is a clean, short-term continuing resolution to prevent disruptions to national security and programs that our constituents depend on. It is a bill that extends government funding until November 21. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to argue and insist that a healthcare discussion is inserted into this, but that is not a debate for a September funding matter. They are really trying to insert unrelated matters into the middle of a clean government extension. I don't think that is going to work because if the government shuts down because they are making this last stand, which is something that we will be addressing in the future, it will solely be blamed on Democrats if the government shuts down because we are not playing politics with this at all. We are just trying to keep the lights on. What they are trying to do is insert a last-ditch effort to regain their footing because their party is reeling right now. Mr. Speaker, this clean extension of government funding will ensure that the government remains open and working for the Nation. It shouldn't be partisan. If Democrats force a shutdown, it could cost the American taxpayer billions due to back-paid furloughed workers, increased costs from delayed starts, and constrained economic growth. No matter how hard the Democrats try to characterize this CR as a partisan maneuver, always claiming that we are hurting every special interest group, it doesn't make it true. Remember, virtually every single House Democrat for the last 4 years under the Biden administration voted ``yes'' on every continuing resolution. In fact, over the last several years, many Democrats, including Democratic leaders, have made comments about the harm a government shutdown would cause. The minority leader says it is about the harm. Families will be hurt. Farmers will be hurt if the government shuts down. Others have said: Let's take a moment to see what is truly at the center of this story. It is about the servicemembers who will work without a paycheck. Some House Democrats accused House Republicans of leading the country toward a reckless government shutdown that will take food off the table for mothers and children and force servicemembers to work without pay. Make no mistake, if Democrats vote against this simple government funding bill that will extend funding to November 21, they are the very people who are hurting those whom they have claimed that Republicans have perpetually tried to hurt, unfairly and untruly. Mr. Speaker, again, this rule is straightforward. First and foremost, we are here to honor the life of a husband, father, and friend. Charlie Kirk was a proud American and a happy warrior for his faith and this country that he loved. Charlie was the kind of person who inspired millions to engage in our democracy. It is right that we take the time as a body to honor him and condemn political violence in all forms. Finally and secondly, we must keep the government open and allow the appropriations process to continue. While CRs, continuing resolutions, are never ideal and, by definition, are not all-encompassing, if we are truly to address the many issues before this body as a country, we cannot do that under a government shutdown. We must let the appropriations process continue. I look forward to moving these bills out of the House this week, and I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

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

Mrs. HOUCHIN

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding, and I congratulate him for managing his first rule on the House floor. His constituents are lucky to have him representing them in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. This is an important week in the House as we take up legislation to fund our military and advance several key financial services bills, including efforts to establish a clear market structure for cryptocurrency and protect Americans' financial privacy by blocking a surveillance-style central bank digital currency. Let me begin with the Defense appropriations bill. Chairman Calvert and his team have, once again, delivered a strong, thoughtful proposal that makes strategic investments in American military superiority, strengthens our southern border, and, most importantly, takes care of our troops and their families. I am especially proud that the rule makes in order several of my amendments, including those that highlight the importance of continued support for the advanced combat engine and innovative semiconductor production, two areas critical to our national security and future readiness. On the financial services front, as a former member of the Financial Services Committee, I am encouraged to see Chairman Hill and Chairman Thompson leading the charge to ensure America remains a global leader in the fintech sector. This package brings regulatory clarity to the digital asset ecosystem, promotes market innovation, and protects Americans' financial freedom and privacy by prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC without congressional approval. These bills are the product of years of thoughtful, collaborative work, some of which I was proud to contribute to. These bills ensure that we remain a leader in the digital asset ecosystem and will strengthen the U.S. dollar as a global currency. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this rule and all of these bills. Finally, to our friends on the other side of the aisle regarding the amendment that was offered in our Rules Committee last night that several Republicans voted against, it is a stretch on germaneness, although it was ruled germane. I do find it incredibly interesting that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle suddenly want to force this issue because it is politically expedient, even though they did not release any of it when they were in charge.

Mrs. HOUCHIN

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 489 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. Last night, the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, House Resolution 489, providing for the House's consideration of several pieces of legislation. House Resolution 489 provides for closed rules for S. 331, H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided by the chair and ranking member for the Committee on Energy and Commerce, or their respective designees, for consideration of S. 331. Additionally, the rule provides for 1 hour of debate each for H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform or their respective designees. Mr. Speaker, starting with S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act, important legislation that the House considered back in February when 98 Democrats supported it, this bill would permanently classify all fentanyl-related substances as illegal and give our law enforcement officers more tools to combat the crisis. The bill also ensures that medical professionals can research fentanyl-related substances so that we can better understand their effects on human health. In 2023, more than 100,000 people nationwide, including 2,190 from my home State of Indiana, died from a drug overdose. National numbers from the same year indicate that approximately 75,000 people died an overdose death related to synthetic opioids. Fentanyl deaths account for as much as 77 percent of adolescent overdose deaths, and it is the leading cause of death in the 18- to 49-year-old age bracket. We cannot stand by and do nothing while this scourge exists. The bottom line is that this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill is necessary to assist our law enforcement officers in combating fentanyl. Mr. Speaker, I will transition to the issue of free and fair elections and H.R. 884. In 2022, Washington, D.C., enacted a dangerous law: the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act, D.C. Act 24-640, which allows noncitizens, including illegal immigrants, foreign agents, and diplomats, to vote in local elections. We should not allow foreign entities who are hostile to the United States to vote in our elections, period. We should not allow illegal immigrants to vote in our elections. This is a direct assault on the value of American citizenship, and it undermines the voices of lawful voters. Worse, it is part of a broader effort by the left to chip away at Congress' constitutional authority over our Nation's Capital. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the power to legislate in all cases whatsoever concerning Washington, D.C. Under the Home Rule Act, we have the duty to review and reject laws that threaten the integrity of our elections and our constitutional system. Even Mayor Bowser withheld her signature from those actions, and I thank her for that. Of all places, we must not let the Nation's Capital become a model for illegal voting. Additionally, this rule provides for H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act. In 2023, the D.C. Council passed the so-called Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act, a bill that singles out the Metropolitan Police Department, making it the only union in the District stripped of its ability to collectively bargain on disciplinary matters. H.R. 2096 puts an end to this antipolice policy and restores fairness to the bargaining process for D.C.'s law enforcement officers. Finally, this rule includes H.R. 2056, the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act, which simply ensures that D.C. follows Federal immigration law. That is because no city, especially not our Capital, should get a free pass to ignore the laws of the land. In 2019, D.C. Mayor Bowser approved the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act of 2019, which, according to the Mayor's Office, ``limits the District's cooperation with Federal immigration agencies, including by complying with detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (``ICE'') absent a judicial warrant or order issued by a Federal judge or by providing to Federal immigration agencies information about when or where someone will be released.'' This is ludicrous. In other words, D.C. will make it harder for ICE to detain dangerous criminals and otherwise impede their ability to do their jobs. Mr. Speaker, you can't make this stuff up. While my colleagues continue to double down on their America-last policies, House Republicans are charging forward and standing up for hardworking families and vulnerable Americans. The legislation before us is common sense, pro-law enforcement, and necessary. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the consideration of these important pieces of legislation. I urge the passage of this rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have said this again and again. The rhetoric from our Democratic colleagues on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is just not true. In fact, we are preserving benefits for those who need it most by preventing people who are illegal and ineligible from accessing Medicaid. We are also ensuring that able-bodied adults have a mandatory work requirement of just less than 20 hours per week. It includes the ability for participating in education, job search, and community engagement to all count toward that work requirement. What we were trying to do in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is ensure that limited resources are protected for pregnant women, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. That is the truth. With reference to the CBO, the CBO has been wrong again and again. It is on record as being wrong by more than $1 trillion. We cannot count on the CBO's score alone as a measure of how well or what savings this bill will have or not have. In fact, the Democratic-led CBO has overestimated the cost of Trump's tax cuts, underestimated the cost of the Affordable Care Act, and overestimated the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. I will note something about this being political misdirection, as my colleague noted. He said that this is not an urgent crisis. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues may want to take a look at the lawlessness that is happening in California. That is not a crisis? I think it is, and it is certainly something that we don't want to see in our Nation's Capital, in Washington, D.C., which is exactly the type of thing that we are trying to prevent by passing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that my colleague mentioned was the people who are food insecure. I note something that we should be ashamed of is the inflationary policies of the Biden administration that drove up food costs leading to more people being food insecure. I am glad to hear that my colleague on the other side of the aisle is interested in preserving healthcare for those who need it most. I hope that means he will vote for H.R. 1. One of the things we heard just in the last few minutes is that children with cancer and the mother of a child with cancer will not be covered. That is just not true. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act protects benefits for those children. Democrats are fighting to protect healthcare for 1.4 million illegal immigrants. They are fighting to protect billions of dollars in fraud, waste, and abuse. The number that they keep referencing just keeps going up. It has been 13.7 million, 14 million, and now it is 16 million. That is just not true. Even The New York Times said that the numbers that the Democrats have been saying about people who will ``lose their healthcare'' is not true. If you are illegal, if you are ineligible, if you are able-bodied and could work, those are the people that this bill will target. Finally, I will say that, once again, taking it back to the issues at hand, we are here to do the important work of safeguarding our elections in the United States, supporting the police, and ensuring that local jurisdictions aren't obstructing immigration enforcement. Similar bills on these topics have gained support from some Democrats. Instead of trying to belittle these issues or endlessly debate H.R. 1 at every possible turn, they can stop and reflect about their opposition to these commonsense bills, bills supported by the agenda that voters backed months ago. Democrats just can't seem to help themselves. President Trump's multifaceted approach to immigration enforcement is working. Illegal border crossings are down 95 percent. Daily border encounters are down by 93 percent. Got-aways are down by 99 percent. Fentanyl flows are down 54 percent. Mr. Speaker, there were 2,000 ICE arrests every day recently. ICE is finally cleaning up the open-border policy of the Biden administration. Yes, they were open-border policies. Mr. Speaker, I hope that our colleagues will support the underlying rule and the bills that we have considered before us today because we need to secure our elections and stand up for our police and the rule of law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, fear-mongering is not a solution to the problems that we face today. If we are not going to find savings across all agencies by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, we are not going to safeguard these programs for the future. Unfortunately, my colleagues are against rooting out even waste, fraud, and abuse. By doing so, they are not protecting the very programs they claim that they are fighting to protect. Again, with the CBO, according to the White House press secretary, there hasn't been a single staffer in the entire Congressional Budget Office that has contributed to a Republican since the year 2000, but guess what? Many of the staffers within the CBO have contributed to Democratic candidates and politicians in every single cycle since. Unfortunately, it is not an institution in our country that is bipartisan. It has become partisan and political, which is why conservatives and Republicans on our side are skeptical of the CBO and what they report. My colleague referred to closed measures, so I just want to note that it is true, there have been 53 closed measures, but the number needs context. Twelve were in the rules package, which passed 2 weeks before the 119th Rules Committee even organized to begin meeting. An additional 21 measures were either CRAs or received no amendments, making them closed by definition, so only 17 measures have been closed by discretion of the committee. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to make the emphasis what it should be today, which is on safeguarding our elections, supporting local law enforcement, and trying to eliminate the deadly scourge of fentanyl across the United States. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, many of the entities that my colleague on the other side of the aisle mentioned do not account for growth. The growth measure is significant in reducing the deficit, and I believe that under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we will have record amounts of growth. Our version of the bill only accounts for about 2.6 percent of growth. Some of these agencies are accounting for only 1.8 percent growth counting toward the calculations in this bill. If we are not accounting for robust growth, which I think we will get, then we will have an unclear picture, which is why I am leaning into OMB Director Russ Vought's assessment of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.