Mike Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON 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 subject of my Special Order.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Georgia. You are right, the American people are still waiting, and it appears that they will have to wait much longer if we are relying upon this White House. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman so much for her expertise, especially in pharmacology. This is something that everyone needs to recognize. This fentanyl problem is a problem that is avoidable. I said in the opening that it is a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. We could stop this. This is a policy choice that is perpetuating this crisis, and it is absolutely outrageous that the White House and the Democrat leadership in this House will not address this issue. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, those statistics are shocking indeed, and the fact that we had over 101,000 overdoses in a 12-month period and we hear nothing from the White House about this is just unforgivable. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for keeping me humble. Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who is the Republican leader on the House Agriculture Committee.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that insight. He has been in Congress a while, and he has seen a lot of leadership come and go. But I will tell you, Madam Speaker, what we are having right now is causing these crises. Once again, these crises are created and perpetuated by bad policy choices, and it is hurting the American people. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McKinley), who is a gentleman with a lot of seniority in Congress.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, that is so well-said and such a tragic story. Our prayers go out to that family. What a loss, and losses like that are all over the country. Fentanyl is weapons- grade, as Mrs. McMorris Rodgers said. It is a weapon of mass destruction. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who has a deep background in pharmacology.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend so much for highlighting that. As Mr. Rose said, there is $10.3 billion in this bill for climate funding over the next 2 fiscal years. But there is also $2 billion in there for a climate program, and it is authorized every fiscal year with no sunsets--no sunsets. I know that upsets my good friend, Mr. Grothman. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, what great points. I thank my friend for highlighting the problem. These energy policies from this White House are not only making fuel more expensive, more expensive for every American to put gasoline in their vehicle; it is also harming the environment, harming American interests, and benefitting China and India. What an incredible thing. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for those comments. He is exactly right. If the Democrats are serious about countering China, they would have worked across the aisle. They would have worked in a bipartisan fashion. They would have sent some of our bipartisan legislation to a committee to work out real solutions. But instead, they are trying to jam together this massive package full of partisan wish list items that they know the American people don't want, and we don't need, and we are not going to have any part of it. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield next to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for highlighting that critical issue. That is a big part of the border crisis that all these illegals are being brought to cities near you. My hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, has had dozens of busloads of people dropped off over the last year. They send me a notice from ICE because I demanded it. But this legislation is so important because everyone needs to know what is happening right under our noses. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman so much for highlighting that critically important issue. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, Pennsylvania has so much wisdom. We are going to bring you a one-two punch. Madam Speaker, I am delighted next to yield to another gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Joyce for his comments. His insight and expertise are so valued and appreciated here. This is a crisis just of unspeakable proportions. I mean, over 100,000 people lost their lives to overdoses just in a 12-month period. The White House is doing nothing about it. They seemingly are unconcerned about this, so we have to draw attention to it. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Cawthorn), the youngest Member of Congress maybe ever.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Cawthorn and appreciate his insights. Madam Speaker, what we have heard here tonight are Members from across the country, across the Republican Conference, who represent Americans all across this great land. They have expressed the people's deep concerns about the multiple crises that we face. We have pointed out here and made the case and presented the evidence that these crises are the direct result of policy choices by the White House and the Democrat leaders in Congress. It is unconscionable. From the fentanyl crisis to the border crisis to the energy crisis to this mockery of a bill that they are trying to jam through Congress this week, the American people recognize this for what it is. Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I would just make a couple of reminders about what we call the America concedes to China act. This is a 2,900-page bill patched together in a back room somewhere with no regular order, no debate, no amendment process, no committee hearings, no input from the other side of the aisle at all. The Democrats went to the back room, put together a 2,900-page bill. It has a price tag of $325 billion. It is filled with unvetted policies, partisan poison pills, and provisions totally unrelated to China. It doesn't do anything to address the threat from the Chinese Communist Party as advertised, and it does more harm than good. Madam Speaker, we could be here all night. We could be here for multiple hours, highlighting all the crises. We don't have to because the American people can see this for themselves. They see China as the greatest threat to our national security and sovereignty and everything else of our lifetime. They see the border. They see the energy. They see the COVID crisis. Everything this White House touches has been a disaster. Madam Speaker, it is time for a change. I think the American people will let their voices be heard in the next election cycle this fall. I am delighted that will happen. I would say, as I conclude here, it cannot happen soon enough. Madam Speaker, I yield back.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his principal leadership on this issue for so many years. He is a great model to us all. Mr. Speaker, we in the Pro-Life Caucus are happy to join the March for Life tomorrow here in the Nation's capital, but we are here today to acknowledge the tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade. As has been said, more than 63 million unborn children have been denied their right to life in the past 49 years since that tragic decision was handed down. As we fight to protect the liberties of all Americans here in Congress, we have to remember to fight first for the most defenseless, and that is the child in the womb, who from the moment of conception is a unique human being with unique DNA. In the coming months you are going to hear a lot of vague and euphemistic language from defenders of abortion. Do not be swayed. The truth is very simple, and it has never changed. Abortion takes a baby's life, a person made in God's image. We hope, we pray, we believe that 2022 is the year the Supreme Court will finally recognize this truth once again.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON 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 subject of my Special Order.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, we may be starting a new year, but so far the problems remain the same. This week marks the 1- year anniversary of Joe Biden being sworn in as President of the United States, and, of course, also the 1-year anniversary of one-party, far- left Democrat rule in Washington. This past year was one of unprecedented crises as a direct result. The American people face an economic crisis, an energy crisis, a border crisis, an education crisis, a crime crisis, a COVID-19 crisis, and a national security crisis as a direct result of Joe Biden and congressional Democrats' failed leadership and their far-left socialist agenda. In this hour, a cross-section of my Republican colleagues will address and highlight these issues as we stand for the opposite policies, and we are very anxious to be returned to the majority so that we can solve these ongoing dilemmas. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, the gentlewoman is right, the sanctity of human life is one of the central principles that this country is founded upon, and it does get darkest before the dawn. There is hope on the horizon. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, there are so many crises it is hard for us to keep count. I yield to my dear friend from the State of Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Those are not just Republican talking points. Politico had a story this morning. They asked Americans in a nationwide poll to give the President a letter grade, and 37 percent of Americans gave him an F--85 percent or more of Republicans, but also, they say, an alarming number of Democrats gave a D or an F grade. So the gentleman is exactly right. It is a failure. An F-minus, says Mr. Van Drew. Madam Speaker, I yield to my good friend from the State of Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for keeping me humble. Madam Speaker, we have just come straight to the floor from a Members and media roundtable on the border and crime crises, and he led that so ably. I am delighted to hear what he has to say in his 2 minutes. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for that keen insight that he gained faithfully serving our country in the military. I thank him for his service. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), another gentleman who has served us so well on the front lines of law enforcement before he got to Congress.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens).