John Joyce

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, at a time when the Chinese Communist Party is continuing to expand its reach, we in Congress must act quickly to protect American user data. Preventing data brokers from selling this information to those who wish to harm Americans is a vital step toward protecting our interests and securing sensitive and vulnerable information from falling into the hands of our adversaries. This legislation would ensure that nations like China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia would no longer be able to purchase geolocation or biomedical data on our servicemembers. Personal information of our Active-Duty military must be safeguarded. Above all, we must ensure that all Americans have confidence that their data is being protected and that their information is secure. This legislation is a commonsense step to help keep all Americans safe. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 7520.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Blair County Deputy Sheriffs Christopher Hanna and Brandon Lasure. It is because of their quick thinking and rush to action to stop the effects of an overdose that a Blair County woman is still alive today. Deputy Hanna and Deputy Lasure followed their training to the letter, being aware of the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose these sheriff's deputies did not hesitate to step up and helped to save a human being. Upon recognizing that the woman had become unresponsive, the deputies immediately called for an ambulance and delivered the appropriate doses of naloxone, a lifesaving drug designed to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. On behalf of the people of Blair County and Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I am grateful for these sheriff's deputies and their tireless work to serve our community.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, during President Biden's State of the Union Address, we saw a desperate attempt to jump-start a failing Presidency. After 3 years of weak and ineffective leadership, the American people continue to suffer under soaring inflation, increased crime, and a wide-open southern border. Now is not the time for more empty promises from a President who is unable to deliver. It is time to address these challenges head-on by cutting back on spending, giving law enforcement the tools they need, and returning to border policies that keep our Nation safe. Pennsylvanians cannot afford a President who cannot rise to meet these challenges, and Americans cannot afford a President who continues to rely on the far-left policies of his radical base. Consistent Inflation

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, just this morning, it was reported that consumer prices rose by more than 3.2 percent in the month of February alone. This consistent inflation is continuing to force American families to make difficult decisions about what they can afford and what they cannot afford. Right now, a gallon of gas in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, costs $3.66. Instead of addressing these rising prices, President Biden has continued to attack American energy producers, stifling new development and making it more difficult to open new refineries. Energy prices now cost Americans over $3,000 more each year than when Joe Biden first took office. It is clear that the President's failed policies are to blame for the skyrocketing cost of gas, oil, and electricity. It is time to rein in these runaway prices by returning to the energy that is underneath the feet of my constituents.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in 2022, more than 100,000 Americans lost their lives due to an overdose. Sadly, nearly 70 percent of those deaths involved some form of illicit fentanyl. These drugs, which are created in China and then manufactured, compounded in Mexico and then trafficked across our open southern border, took the lives of enough Americans to fill Beaver Stadium at Penn State University. These deaths are the result of a southern border that has been thrown open to cartels and their operations by a President who refuses to enforce our laws. By inviting mass illegal immigration, President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas has stretched our border resources too thin and allowed the cartels to move their deadly drugs with impunity. It is time to pass a border bill that will fully fund the resources that our Border Patrol agents so desperately need. It is time to return to the remain in Mexico policy, and it is time to put a stop to the fentanyl poisonings that have taken far too many American lives. Runaway Spending

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week during the State of the Union Address, the American people saw a campaign speech, not a plan to fix the economy that President Biden's failed policies has left in shambles. In the first 2 years of his disastrous administration, President Biden passed reckless spending bills that sent inflation soaring by 17 percent. Today, a mother visiting the grocery store will find that the price of juice is up 30 percent, the cost of beef is up 10 percent, vegetables are up 5 percent, and the price of bread is up 3 percent. Ultimately, these costs add up. Over the course of a year, the average American family is paying an additional $11,000 just to afford the basics that they need. Pennsylvanians cannot afford the government red tape in spending that has caused this runaway inflation. Pennsylvanians and all Americans certainly cannot afford the budget that President Biden is proposing, which would only amount to yet another year of runaway spending. Surging Violent Crime

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as crimes continue to surge in cities across the U.S., it has become clear that calls to defund the police and attempts to interfere with law enforcement have put our communities and our families in danger. Across 32 major cities, car thefts have increased by 33 percent, and here in Washington, D.C., carjackings are up nearly 100 percent. Sadly, President Biden has ignored this crime wave and has refused to address the victims who now worry about living in their own homes. Surging violent crimes in our cities makes all Americans more vulnerable, and it is time for radical Members of this body to finally show their support of police officers. It is time for us to send a clear message that we will always stand with the men and women in blue.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as President Biden has allowed Federal workers to stay home, millions of tax dollars have been wasted on office space that is no longer in use. While Pennsylvania families are struggling under the weight of inflation, President Biden is spending their hard-earned dollars on empty office space. Included in one GAO report was an example of an agency using just 9 percent of their office space. This waste is unacceptable, and it is time for the American taxpayers to stop footing the bill for D.C. offices that aren't being used. As our deficit continues to skyrocket past $34.5 trillion, it is time to rein in runaway spending. It is time to pass the USE IT Act and help put a stop to President Biden's wasteful and reckless use of American taxpayer dollars.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, a British container ship was sunk by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden. This attack is yet another example of how, under President Biden's weak and ineffective leadership, our adversaries have been emboldened and our allies left vulnerable. Last year, President Biden agreed to release more than $6 billion to Iran, effectively providing more funds and resources to the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. This is unacceptable. It shows that, yet again, President Biden is unwilling and unable to provide the leadership that Americans want and that Americans need. When U.S. ships were threatened with sustained rocket attacks, the Biden administration waited weeks to respond, only further emboldening these terrorist groups to continue their aggression. It is time to return to leadership that embodies President Ronald Reagan's call of peace through strength. The American people simply cannot afford a President that fails to keep America safe. Confronting a Growing Border Threat

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in his State of the Union speech tomorrow night, President Biden will be forced to confront the growing threat posed by an open and porous southern border. In the month of January, more than 176,000 illegal immigrants attempted to enter the United States. That was on the heels of the month of December when more than 300,000 illegal immigrants again crossed the southern border. Because of the open border policies championed by President Biden and enacted by Secretary Mayorkas, these illegal immigrants were bused to our major cities. The consequences of this decision have been felt in nearly every community in the United States. Schools have been converted into shelters for illegal immigrants. In places like New York City and Denver, government services have been scaled back, and city employees, like librarians, have seen their hours cut in order to provide handouts to people who are in the United States illegally. At a time when more than 300 suspected terrorists have attempted to enter the U.S., President Biden has thrown open our gates and encouraged this crisis to continue. Ending catch and release, giving our Border Patrol agents the tools and resources that they need, and resuming construction of the border wall are vital to keeping our Nation safe. It is time for President Biden to reverse his disastrous border policies and put a stop to this crisis.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for holding this Special Order this evening. Mr. Speaker, as I travel across central and southwestern Pennsylvania, I hear from families who are struggling to afford basic necessities, like gasoline and groceries. President Biden's crushing inflation has affected too many families in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, has affected too many families in Pennsylvania, has affected too many American families throughout this great land. Instead of saving for retirement or for their children's education, parents are forced to make difficult choices about what they can afford to buy. Recently, I spoke with a mom who told me she was often forced to choose between filling her gasoline tank or packing lunch for her son. Stories like this have become all too common thanks to the rising Biden inflation. Under President Biden, prices have risen by 17 percent in the past 3 years, and real wages are down 2 percent. This is unsustainable for American families who are left to pay the price for the reckless spending sprees of the last 3 years. In tomorrow's state of the Union Address, President Biden should outline deliberate ways to cut our national debt, a deliberate responsibility to be a responsible steward of the taxpayer dollar. Inflation is a tax on each and every American, and it is time to return to fiscal responsibility. It is time to have cuts in spending in order to address our ballooning national debt. I thank the gentleman for once again holding this Special Order this evening.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, last week, President Biden announced a plan to cancel $1.2 billion in Federal student loans for 150,000 borrowers. As Americans, we have always followed a simple rule: If you take out a loan, you pay back the loan. It is time to call a spade a spade. This student loan scam isn't forgiveness; it is an election-year handout to President Biden's far-left voters to transfer debt to the American taxpayer. This gimmick transfers the burden of the loans from the students who took the loans onto every American taxpayer. Repaying these loans certainly has no personal benefit to 87 percent of taxpayers who don't have student loans and to the 100 million Americans who never attended college. This program takes advantage of Americans who are already struggling to support their families under the weight of President Biden's inflation. It is time to send a message to President Biden and his administration that we cannot allow hardworking Americans, who have kept their word and repaid their personal loans, to be ripped off by yet another pandering scheme to the far left. Rare Disease Week

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Rare Disease Week. Right now, more than 25 million Americans and their loved ones are impacted by over 7,000 conditions which are classified as rare diseases. Since the Orphan Drug Act was enacted in 1983, more than 600 drugs have been developed to combat these illnesses and ultimately save lives. Now, because of President Biden's so-called Inflation Reduction Act, the environment that has allowed these treatments to develop is being threatened. This week, I am proud to be working alongside my colleagues to advance bipartisan legislation, the ORPHAN Cures Act, which would expand the orphan drug exemption for medicines with multiple indications involving rare diseases and cancers. It is critical that Congress acts to support research and development into treatments and therapies that address rare diseases and further work to ensure that patients have access to the care and treatment that they need. As we recognize Rare Disease Week, let's commit to standing with patients who are living with rare diseases, including pediatric cancers and diseases like cystic fibrosis, classified as rare, but they are not rare to the families and the patients who are suffering with them. Let's commit to working together to ensure that every patient, regardless of the rarity of the condition, receives the support, the care, and the treatment that they need.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy for yielding. Madam Speaker, Pennsylvania has a long and proud history of developing energy innovation. From the first oil well in 1859 to leading the way on natural gas development to Westinghouse's work developing nuclear energy in the 1950s, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been a leader in producing the power that Americans, and the entire world, rely on to keep their homes warm and their refrigerators cold. For decades, the United States has been a leader in the development of new technologies and innovation with regard to nuclear energy. As demands on our Nation's electric grid continue to grow, small modular and microreactors are poised to be the next generation of clean, safe, and reliable nuclear technology. It is vital that these reactors are permitted efficiently in order to allow American consumers to utilize the energy they rely on each and every day. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 1634, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson of Ohio, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is deeply troubling to see the Biden administration put party ahead of the country, to put radical views ahead of the common good, to put leftwing fear-mongering ahead of the American people. Sadly, that is exactly what happened when President Biden halted the permitting of additional liquefied natural gas export facilities. Let's be clear. This is not a pause. It is the first step of a process to ban outright any future export of LNG--LNG--a form of energy that is under the feet of my constituents. This was a political decision to pander to the far left that will lead to increased energy prices for American households. It will abandon our allies in their time of need. It will harm family sustaining jobs and relinquish American global energy leadership. It is time to put a stop to the Biden administration's policies that increase prices for the sake of pandering to the President's political base. It is critical that we pass the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act and ensure that liquefied natural gas can continue to support American energy dominance. Why are we turning our back on American energy? How can we turn away from American family sustaining jobs? For what reasons are we turning our allies into the hands of Putin? Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, Special Counsel Robert Hur released a scathing report as part of a Department of Justice investigation into President Biden's mishandling of classified documents. Despite evidence of President Biden's willful retention and disclosure of classified documents to his biographer, Special Counsel Hur's report recommended that no criminal charges be brought forward against President Biden. This was in part because the special counsel determined that President Biden's memory had such ``significant limitations'' that it would not be possible to convince a jury that President Biden held a ``mental state of willfulness'' that a serious felony requires. It is time for the White House to release the full recordings of President Biden's interview with the special counsel and for the American people to hear what was said in these meetings where the President was determined to be too incompetent to stand trial.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas followed a yearlong investigation into his failure to enforce the law and keep Americans safe. Even as the border crisis has grown worse each month, with more than 300,000 illegal immigrants entering our Nation in December alone, Secretary Mayorkas has done nothing to secure our points of entry. These crossings represent a failure of President Biden's catch and release program that has allowed illegal immigrants to live in the United States for up to a year before even receiving an immigration hearing. Instead of utilizing the remain in Mexico policies that have proven effective, the Biden administration has opened our doors and opened our border, effectively making every State a border State and every city a border city. We cannot afford to wait any longer. It is time to resume construction of a border wall. It is time to give Border Patrol agents the tools they need. It is time to, once again, secure our southern border. This impeachment was a vote for law and order in our communities and a vote to restore the rule of law at our southern border. This vote was the constitutional duty of every Member of Congress to impeach a member of the cabinet who has failed to uphold his constitutional obligation. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for holding this Special Order tonight.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the remarkable achievements and years of dedicated service of Dr. Bruce Brod, MD, MCHI, FAAD to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Dr. Brod's unwavering commitment to excellence and leadership within the AADA has made a lasting impact on both organization and the dermatological community at large. For four years, Dr. Brod has served as the chair of the American Academy of Dermatology Association's Council on Government Affairs and Health Policy. In this pivotal role, he has demonstrated unparalleled dedication and expertise, ensuring that dermatologists and their patients are well-represented in matters concerning federal and state government affairs, health care policy, and practice-related activities. His visionary leadership has been instrumental in cultivating member engagement and promoting a culture of professional responsibility within our organization. Prior to his tenure as Council chair, Dr. Brod served as Chair of the Academy's Congressional Policy Committee, where he played a vital role in shaping and implementing the Academy's federal legislative agenda. His tireless advocacy efforts have had a profound impact on the advancement of dermatological care and access to treatment for patients across the country. Dr. Brod's contributions extend far beyond his leadership roles within the American Academy of Dermatology Association. He has held prestigious positions including as president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Philadelphia Dermatological Society, and the American Contact Dermatitis Society, showcasing his exemplary leadership and dedication to the field. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Dr. Brod has received numerous awards and accolades, including a Presidential Citation and Advocate of the Year Award, Dermatologist of the Year Award, Practitioner of the Year Award, Physician Safety Patient Hero Award, and Presidential Citation, among others. These accolades are a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence and his profound impact on the dermatological community. Currently serving on the American Academy of Dermatology Association's Board of Directors, Dr. Brod continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of dermatological care and advancing the mission of our organization. On behalf of the entire dermatological community, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Bruce Brod for his years of exemplary service, leadership, and dedication to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. I thank Dr. Brod for his unwavering commitment to excellence and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as we speak, the Chinese Communist Party continues to imprison and detain more than 1 million Uyghurs in western China with as many as 100,000 subjected to forced labor. That is slavery. This is a clear violation of human rights by the Chinese Communist Party who have continued to jail those who speak out against their oppression, and that includes Christian ministers. It is time for the United States to send a clear message that no products made with slave labor should be bought and sold in these United States. It is time to pass the No Dollars to Uyghurs Forced Labor Act and prevent the State Department or U.S. agencies from purchasing any goods made by forced labor under the Chinese Communist Party. We cannot stand by as clothes, as sneakers, as batteries, and solar panels are manufactured under these conditions. It is time to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party and put a stop to this human rights abuse. Let's Stop Liberal Spending Priorities Ahead of Fiscal Security

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, last week a report from the Congressional Budget Office delivered the news that President Biden's so-called Inflation Reduction Act would ultimately cost an additional $428 billion over the next 10 years. This runaway spending from Biden is yet another example of putting liberal spending priorities ahead of fiscal responsibility. Instead of using natural gas, coal, and Marcellus shale that is underneath the feet of my constituents in Pennsylvania, the Biden administration is using taxpayer dollars to incentivize Americans to buy electric vehicles that rely on batteries and parts manufactured under the Chinese Communist Party. Let's be clear: A car made with a battery from China is a Chinese car. It is time to put a stop to failed EV subsidies that continue to push our Nation deeper into debt. As I travel throughout central and southwestern Pennsylvania, I hear from constituents about electric vehicles that are ineffective during our harsh winters, and I hear from car dealers who tell me that these overpriced vehicles sit on their lots unable to be sold. President Biden shouldn't be telling Americans what type of vehicles they can drive and what type of vehicles they cannot drive. It is time to unleash American energy dominance right here at home and put an end to the Green New Deal initiatives, the initiatives that are causing spending out of control.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I specifically thank Chair McMorris Rodgers for her incredible work on this vital legislation. As America continues to lead the way in research, development, and innovation of new therapies and medical devices, it is vital that these cures are available to the Americans who need them the most. That is why today we are taking action to expand healthcare options to more patients than ever before by banning the use of quality- adjusted life years in all Federal programs. More than 55,000 veterans live in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, many of whom were injured or disabled while serving in uniform for our country. For years, I cared for patients at the Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Blair County. This legislation will provide more protection for disabled veterans. By passing the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, we can ensure that institutions like the VA will never again use QALY formulas to determine if a disabled veteran should receive the treatment that they need, should receive the treatment that they deserve. It is time to ensure that patients are protected and receiving the best quality care. All Americans, all patients, deserve that. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for holding this Special Order today. Mr. Speaker, it was here in the U.S. Capitol, just a few hundred feet from where we are standing, that President Abraham Lincoln called on all of us ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle.'' Today, the House voted on legislation which will help us to carry on President Lincoln's promise. By passing the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, the House voted to ensure that any patient using a Federal health program can never be turned away on the basis of using the quality-adjusted life years formulas. Known as QALYs, these formulas have been used to determine if patients should receive certain medical treatments. In essence, this is rationing of medical care. As a doctor, I treated patients at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Eliminating the use of these formulas for all Federal programs will ensure that our veterans will be able to receive the care and the treatment that they need and that they deserve, continuing the promise of Abraham Lincoln. Further, this legislation will help to protect Americans with disabilities and those with chronic diseases as well as children who receive their healthcare through Federal programs like CHIP. Today, I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation that protects patients' access to the latest medical technologies and to the latest innovations. Proudly, I can say that this legislation passed the House, and proudly I can say that we have voted to protect American patients.

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his passionate presentation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his comments. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee.