Mike Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, we have to be clear about what is happening here. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to overcome shameful State resistance and barriers that prevented minorities from exercising their right. But in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that continuing to require States to preclear election law changes based upon conduct from a half century ago was an unconstitutional invasion of State sovereignty. The truth is, as Jim said a moment ago, it is easier today for Americans to vote than it has ever been before in our Nation's history. The VRA worked. Thank the Lord that it did. We overcame those problems. In fact, voter registration disparities between minority and nonminority voters in States like Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, and my home State of Louisiana, all previously covered under the old VRA provisions, are now below the national average and, get this, they are lower than Democrat-run States like New York, California, and President Biden's home State of Delaware. H.R. 4 is a radical, unprecedented Federal power grab by unaccountable bureaucrats in Washington that every conscientious American ought to oppose. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Buck).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Rodney Davis).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The American people can see clearly what is happening here. Democrats in the Congress are more focused on taking Federal control over the election processes in Republican-led States than addressing the ongoing catastrophe that the Biden administration has created in Afghanistan, at our southern border, with inflation, and the ongoing pandemic. There are so many things that should be occupying our time and, yet, they are using it for this. The cry of voter suppression is not only untrue, but as Mr. Arrington said so well here just a few moments ago, it is also divisive and dangerous. We need to speak truth, as Mr. Hoyer said a little while ago, and we are. We had six hearings in the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee since January on this. I am the ranking Republican there. Not a scintilla of evidence was presented that said that voters are being suppressed, that the election integrity laws that are being passed by the States, pursuant to their constitutional authority, are in any way inappropriate. To the contrary, they are expanding access to the ballot. As we have said so many times, as I close, it has never been easier in America to vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the pro-life Hyde amendment. Typically, during appropriation season, of course, Democrats and Republicans debate our differences, but we have always historically rallied together in opposition to taxpayer-funded abortions, and we have adopted the bipartisan Hyde amendment. However, for some inexplicable reason, this year is different. In 1994, then-Senator Joe Biden famously stated: ``Those of us who are opposed to abortion should not be compelled to pay for them.'' Of course, he was right. But the President's position has changed now, giving fuel to the fire of Democrat leadership here in this House to follow suit in their own funding bills. It is time to make these Hyde amendment protections permanent. It is true: Hyde saves lives. And today I am asking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize the inherent dignity of every single human life, rejecting this blatant attack on pro-life amendments like the Hyde amendment. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in this House.

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana

Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for those remarks, and I thank him for his service. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.