Ronny Jackson

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, the National Nuclear Security Administration's Pantex plant in Amarillo, Texas, is one of our Nation's most valuable and vital military assets as it is our strategic force's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. The saying within the military's nuclear enterprise is ``all roads lead to Pantex'' because this site in my district is a mandatory stop for every single nuclear weapon within our inventory. This amendment will prohibit the Biden administration from halting construction of the much-needed High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production Facility at Pantex. This major construction project will enhance our nuclear deterrence capability by allowing the NNSA to modernize and scale its high explosive production capabilities to meet pressing and urgent stockpile requirements. Right now, we rely on a single, external vendor for large-scale synthesis, formulation, and blending for high explosive products. There have been repeated issues with this vendor, including lack of prioritization and even late deliveries. This presents a single point of failure in the nuclear enterprise which jeopardizes our nuclear weapons production. Once this new facility is constructed at Pantex, NNSA will be able to meet all long-term high explosive material needs for the weapons stockpile while successfully mitigating nearly all risks associated with production. Given the threat environment we face in the world today, many people might assume that the Federal Government has made adequate investments in Pantex and modernized appropriately. Those assumptions would be dead wrong. Many of the facilities at the Pantex plant were built in the 1940s and the 1950s. Today, in 2023, you are required to wear a hardhat when entering some of the buildings because the ceiling is crumbling down on top of the workers that work there. Since I have been in Congress, I have ensured that adequate funding has been provided each year to maintain the facility's modernization efforts. While I have disagreed with the Biden administration nearly every step of the way on just about every issue, one of the only things they seemed to be doing right was prioritizing modernization of our Nation's nuclear enterprise. Just when I thought this administration grasped how critical it is to ensure the viability of our Nation's nuclear deterrent, I opened the budget request for this year only to see that they had completely zeroed out this project. Now, this administration wants to let our nuclear forces erode while they continue to pump billions of dollars into woke, green, and social initiatives. This cut was rejected by both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as well as by House appropriators, because we can all see what President Biden apparently cannot. The United States must be the unquestioned leader in the ability to project peace through strength. The House has successfully authorized and will soon appropriate the funds for Pantex because we all understand how critical it is to modernize the facilities where our nuclear weapons are made. We must take our Nation's nuclear enterprise out of the crosshairs of the Biden administration. The world is a dangerous place at the moment with global threats from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. We must provide adequate investment in our nuclear deterrence capability to ensure these bad actors never doubt our strategic readiness, and the Pantex plant in Amarillo is a key component of that. I urge all Members to support my amendment to prohibit the administration from halting construction on this critical modernization initiative. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I appreciate having the support of all my colleagues on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there has never been a more important moment in the relationship between the United States and Israel. I call upon this body to take all necessary actions to unequivocally stand with Israel as it fights for its very existence in this unprovoked war launched by Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. I have and always will do everything in my power to stand with Israel. I, like the rest of the civilized world, have been disgusted with the unspeakable and barbaric atrocities imposed on innocent Israeli women and children by these animals that call themselves Hamas. We must enact policies to provide Israel with anything and everything it needs to defend itself, to immediately end all illegal aid payments to the Palestinian terrorists, and to hold Iran accountable. As long as I have a vote in Congress, I will always cast my vote in support of the Jewish state.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 464. Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Perry

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers for his outstanding leadership in crafting the strongest defense bill I have seen during my time in Congress. Year after year, the chairman assures us that we are going to have a strong NDAA that we can be proud of back home, and this year is no different. In July, this body passed the NDAA on a bipartisan basis to provide our warfighters with the resources and the authorities they need to provide for the defense of our Nation. As a former Navy rear admiral, I know the vital role this legislation plays in our national security. Not only does this NDAA ensure that we have the weapons systems and equipment that our servicemembers need, it makes needed course corrections to restore the military's focus on fighting and winning wars. This bill ensures that our military is laser focused on confronting the most pressing national security threats that our Nation faces. However, now, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have chosen to come to the floor and are seeking to inject politics back into our military by overturning the Jackson-Roy amendment that was adopted on a bipartisan basis to end the Department of Defense's illegal and immoral abortion policy. After the Supreme Court's historic decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration made their intention clear that they would work to sidestep the law however possible. The Biden administration has pulled every lever within the Federal Government and encouraged Federal agencies to create rules and adopt policies that not only expand abortion access but also leave American taxpayers on the hook to subsidize abortion services. Not even the Department of Defense was spared from the Biden administration's efforts. In October of last year, the Secretary of Defense released a memo titled: ``Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care.'' This memo outlined the steps to be taken by the Department to use taxpayer dollars to provide servicemembers and their dependents access to abortions and for providers to travel to different States to obtain the licensing required to perform such procedures. In February of this year, the DOD enacted the policies outlined in the memo and became a completely unjustified and inappropriate participant in the war on life. According to its illegal policy, the DOD can now reimburse travel expenses for servicemembers and their dependents who travel to obtain an abortion in another State and can also reimburse any associated fees for healthcare professionals seeking to be licensed in other States for the purpose of performing abortions, all, once again, on the taxpayers' dime. Last year, immediately after the DOD started this unconstitutional process, Congressman Roy and I got to work to address this issue and ensure that we developed a bill to right this wrong. I am so proud to stand on the House floor today and say that our provision mandating the DOD cease this insanity was successfully included in the House-passed version of the bill. At the same time, Senator Tuberville has bravely and steadfastly held the line in the Senate by placing a hold on all DOD senior leader nominations until the DOD complies with Federal law and ceases its abortion policies. The DOD has complained that these holds harm national security, but the DOD has the ability to stop this immediately. All they have to do is rescind this illegal policy. It has become clear to me that the Biden administration has purposely prioritized an illegal and highly political abortion policy over confirming general and flag officers in our military. This Biden-endorsed policy has nothing to do with strengthening our national security. Instead, this is just the latest example of the Biden administration pushing its radical and extreme pro-abortion agenda, ironically in the very agency responsible for defending American lives. Regardless of your political or moral stance on abortion, this policy is in direct violation of Federal law, specifically section 1093 of title 10, U.S. Code, which restricts funds made available to the DOD from being used to perform abortions or for DOD facilities to be used for abortions. No doubt my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will insist that taxpayer dollars are not directly funding these abortions, thereby rendering their policy legally sound. This is absolutely misleading, and they are lying to the American people. While funds may not be going directly to the performance of the procedure, it has always been true that a restriction on funding for abortion is a restriction on funding for any cost used to promote or facilitate the abortion. Funding travel and/or other costs for an abortion is, in fact, funding the abortion. There is no other reason for these travel expenses except to get an abortion. Therefore, providing financial support for the travel expenses relating to an abortion is a clear violation of laws that are already on the books. The NDAA is meant to provide aid, support, and direction to the men and women charged with defending the security of this Nation. When necessary, it is also a mechanism through which we can bring the Department into compliance as needed. Inclusion of the House's prohibition on the DOD's abortion policy in this year's NDAA is vital to bringing the Department into statutory compliance in accordance with our oversight function and refocusing the Department on its core mission of fighting and winning wars. It stops here and it stops now. On this issue, I will never relent. The days of the radical left ignoring the law and driving their social agenda in the military are done. I will absolutely not waver in my defense of the unborn or in my support of the rule of law. I will do everything I can to ensure our military servicemembers can focus on their jobs and their families instead of being used to score political points for the Biden administration. I appreciate the chairman's strong leadership in crafting this year's bill, and I look forward to the conference process where we will do everything in our power to maintain this vital provision.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I am honored to help KPAN Radio celebrate 75 years of broadcasting in the Texas Panhandle. As 1 of the most historic radio stations in Texas, KPAN has touched the lives of countless listeners and is a beacon of reliable local, state, and national news for the Texas Panhandle. KPAN has been a proud family owned and operated station since day 1. Marshall Formby was KPAN's original owner, and his wife, Sharleen, ensured the radio station represented the entire Texas Panhandle. Their nephew, Clint Formby, was KPAN's first voice on the airwaves when KPAN was first broadcasted on August 4, 1948 at 6:15 a.m. Clint eventually became part owner of the station and raised his son, Chip Formby, to be part of the radio business as well. Chip became a manager at KPAN in 1993 and managed the station until his death in July of 2020. Both of Chip's sons took after their father and worked for KPAN during their high school and college years. Chip's son, Lane, returned in January of 2021 to become manager of the station. 75 years since that first broadcast, the Formby family is still broadcasting KPAN in Hereford, Texas in the heart of my district. Hereford residents tune into KPAN for the news, latest weather reports, commodity reports, funeral listings, school and senior lunch menus, Dallas Cowboys football games, Texas Tech Red Raider sporting events, and so much more. KPAN continues to demonstrate the value and spirit of the Texas Panhandle as is evident by KPAN's numerous accolades and ``firsts.'' KPAN was the first Texas radio station to conceive ``Distributive Education Day'' which offers special training and financial resources for high school students who are dedicated to pursuing their dreams in broadcasting. The station was also one of the first West Texas stations to incorporate daily Spanish programming and music and one of the first area stations to build a companion FM station. KPAN has been featured on the cover of Texas Highways, in the Dallas Morning news, AP releases, and several other area and national publications. In addition, KPAN has twice been named Texas' Outstanding Radio Station by The Texas Association of Broadcasters and named the State's Outstanding Radio Station in support of Education. There is no doubt that KPAN's dedication to broadcasting and education has inspired listeners and students across the State. KPAN is committed to serving the community and dedicated to providing information and entertainment to their listeners. Again, I want to congratulate KPAN Radio and the Formby family on 75 fruitful years of broadcasting and service to the Texas Panhandle, and I look forward to 75 more.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support S.J. Res. 9, which disapproves of the disastrous rule submitted by the Biden administration to re-list the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. This is another example of the Biden administration's blatant disregard for rural America in order to push Green New Deal initiatives and appease the radical environmentalists. For nearly a decade, the lesser prairie-chicken population has been on the rebound due to voluntary conservation efforts of farmers and ranchers in the Texas panhandle. This new rule disregards these efforts and empowers bureaucrats, who have no local knowledge of farming or ranching, to micromanage the grazing plans of responsible landowners in my district. This listing is a shortsighted effort that will have little benefit in increasing the lesser prairie-chicken population but will have a devastating effect on my district, our Nation's energy production, and the agricultural industry as a whole. Make no mistake, this effort by the Biden administration is about destroying the agriculture industry and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. It is time we stopped this destructive overreach by the Federal Government and protect our farmers and ranchers.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, my amendment will help to safeguard the privacy of America's farmers and ranchers that work day and night to produce the food the world relies on. This amendment would give our agricultural producers and food processors the opportunity to impose unmanned aircraft restrictions around their operations upon a formal request to prevent drones unauthorized access to their land. In 2016, Congress created a process by which critical infrastructure facilities can impose restrictions on drone flights around their operations. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency designates the food and agriculture sector as a critical infrastructure sector, which is so vital to the United States that its success is imperative to our national security and our economic security. In the event of an emergency situation or disaster, protection of our agricultural land across the country is going to be vital. Intelligence officials have even gone so far to warn that America's agriculture industry has been targeted by suspicious drone activity, potentially by domestic terrorists or other bad actors. Food security is national security, plain and simple. This amendment would ensure that we give our farmers, ranchers, and food producers the same ability to restrict the use of drones around these facilities that we give to amusement parks, outdoor facilities, and a variety of other interests that do not have similar national security implications. Mr. Chair, I urge every Member in this body to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I will point out that this amendment is structured and written in such a way that this does not apply to all agricultural and food production facilities. It only applies to the very few largest operations in the United States, the ones that, in fact, supply 80 percent of the food production in this country. There is a national security risk here. We talk at length in this Chamber all the time about how agriculture is becoming a national security issue. Mr. Chair, I encourage all of the Members in the House to vote for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I will start by saying that despite the objections of many of the folks on the other side of the aisle regarding this National Defense Authorization Act, which I consider to be an outstanding bill that I am aggressively and enthusiastically supporting, and despite the objections on the other side of the aisle, most of the controversial amendments in this amendment do nothing but return us to the initial and the long-time combat readiness attitude that the military has always had and focuses all of our efforts on that particular goal. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment. This en bloc includes an amendment of mine which will prohibit cadets or midshipmen from being punished for not receiving the COVID vaccine. An adverse action documented in a member's service record can have a devastating impact, potentially ending a rising military career before it even has an opportunity to begin. Last year, here on the floor of the House, Ranking Member Smith told us that another vaccine mandate could be implemented in the future if the Biden administration decided to do so. I refuse to sit on the sidelines and let the Biden administration's politically motivated efforts to appease the radical left cost young men and women their futures. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge support of the overall NDAA.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers).

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, on behalf of myself, my fellow Texan Chip Roy, and over 70 cosponsors, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in strong support of my amendment to repeal the Department of Defense's illegal and immoral abortion policy. In the wake of the Supreme Court's historic Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration immediately set out to sidestep the Court's ruling and circumvent the law wherever possible. The Biden administration has encouraged every Federal agency to create rules and adopt policies that not only expand abortion access but also leave American taxpayers on the hook to subsidize abortion services. As evidence of this, in October of last year, the Secretary of Defense released a memo titled: ``Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care.'' This memo outlined the steps taken by the Department in order to use taxpayer dollars to provide servicemembers and their dependents access to abortions and allows for taxpayer dollars to be used so that healthcare providers can obtain the licensing required to perform such procedures. According to its illegal policy, which is now in place, DOD can and will reimburse travel expenses for servicemembers and their dependents who travel specifically to obtain an abortion in another State. The Department of Defense will also reimburse any associated fees for healthcare professionals seeking to be licensed in another State for the purpose of performing abortions--all on the taxpayers' dime. Last year, immediately after DOD started this unconstitutional and illegal process, Congressman Roy and I got to work on addressing this issue and developed a bill to right this wrong. This illegal Biden-endorsed policy has no place in our military. Taxpayer money provided to DOD is intended to provide for our national defense and our national security, not to promote and support the Biden administration's radical and immoral pro-abortion agenda. As mentioned, regardless of your political or personal stance on abortion, this policy is in direct violation of Federal law, specifically 10 U.S.C. 1093, which restricts funds made available to the DOD from being used for abortions. No doubt, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will insist that taxpayer dollars are not directly funding abortions, thereby rendering the current policy legally sound. This is an absolutely misleading claim. This taxpayer money is going directly to support abortions, and anyone in this Chamber who says differently is blatantly lying to the American people. Taxpayer funding of travel for abortion is, in fact, taxpayer-funded abortion. Abortion is the sole reason for these travel expenses, and this is in clear violation of existing law. My Democratic colleagues want to blame me, Senator Tuberville, and my colleagues like Congressman Roy for jeopardizing readiness. However, it is the Biden administration that has sidestepped existing law and given the Department permission to take this illegal action. This has left us with no choice but to take corrective measures and pass additional legislation. The days of the radical left ignoring the law and pushing their destructive social agenda in the military are done. I absolutely will not waver in my defense of the rule of law, therefore ensuring that taxpayer money is not used to kill innocent babies and, in doing so, also ensuring that our military servicemembers can focus on their jobs that they have in front of them and their families instead of being used for the political gain of the Biden administration. This amendment has over 70 cosponsors because we all recognize that the DOD is carrying out an illegal policy that is divisive, immoral, and does nothing to provide for our national defense or promote our national security. Madam Chair, I thank my friend, Congressman Chip Roy, for co-leading this amendment with me, for being a relentless defender of the law, and for being a true warrior in protecting the life of the unborn. I also thank the Military Personnel Subcommittee chairman, Jim Banks, for his support of my amendment and his work on readying our servicemembers for the real threats that they face. Lastly, I thank Chairman Rogers for creating the strongest defense bill I have seen here in my time in Congress. Madam Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment to repeal this outrageous and illegal policy and prevent any similar policy in the future. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time remains.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Luna).

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the committee for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, the NDAA is one of the most important bills that comes before Congress. Not only does this NDAA ensure that we have the weapons systems and equipment our servicemembers need, it makes a needed course correction to restore the military's focus to fighting and winning wars. Provisions I authored scale back the administration's woke agenda, prohibit funds for ESG, and restore the apolitical nature of the Attending Physician to Congress. This year's NDAA also keeps Texas' 13th Congressional District at the heart of supporting our military. The NDAA revitalizes the pilot training mission at Sheppard Air Force Base and accelerates the T-7 Red Hawk program. It provides funding for massive infrastructure improvements in the Pantex Plant in Amarillo and supports Bell Helicopter's development of the new V-280 aircraft. Last, I give a special thanks to my defense fellow, Nate Langley, for his outstanding work in my office throughout this year. Nate is a rising star in the Air Force and has an extremely bright future in the military. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this NDAA.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, multiple disasters have struck Texas-13 over the last month, from devastating floods in May to a series of deadly tornadoes in the last week, first in Perryton and later in Matador and Afton. While we continue to assess the most recent damage, we already know that hundreds of homes, businesses, and properties were destroyed. Many of my constituents were injured, and tragically, lives were lost. Despite the wreckage, my constituents, assisted by their community, local officials, and volunteers from across the State, came together to provide water, food, fuel, and so much more to their neighbors in need. The Federal Government must act to do everything it can to bring the needed aid to the Texas Panhandle and help expedite the recovery and cleanup efforts. For too long, the Federal Government has forgotten about rural America. We cannot let this happen here. It may take months to rebuild, but I know we will do it thanks to the steadfast spirit of the Texans I represent. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the brave people of the Texas Panhandle, and I ask that you please join me in praying for them at this time.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Madam Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``AYE'' on rollcall No. 258. Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Green of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong).

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self).

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I have proposed to the Lower Energy Costs Act will help Congress identify harmful regulations that have shut down American energy and increased costs on all Americans. This amendment instructs the EPA to identify and access existing regulations that have negatively impacted the United States' energy independence and energy security. This amendment will provide transparency about the actions taken by the Biden administration to increase regulatory burdens for energy producers, diminish energy output for the United States, and raise the cost of energy for all Americans. I grew up working in the west Texas oil fields, so I know firsthand that the best thing we can do for energy producers in our country is to get the Federal Government out of the way and reduce the number of burdensome regulations. Unfortunately, from day one, President Biden has waged war on American energy and done everything in his power to undo all the incredible work of the Trump administration to make our country energy independent. Since January 2021, the EPA has recklessly issued new rules and regulations with no regard for their adverse effects on Americans and our energy security. They have continued to diminish America's energy independence and take aim at America's interests and citizens without meaningful consultation with industry leaders or a logical plan to move forward. It is time we identify the EPA regulations that have played a direct role in shutting down our energy production and added additional expenses to the already burdensome day-to-day cost of living for Americans. As many of my Republican colleagues have mentioned, H.R. 1 is just the beginning of our work on critical energy solutions that will lift the red tape and expand the production of affordable and reliable energy rather than hamstring our domestic producers. The underlying bill is a strong piece of legislation that will reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign energy sources and get us back on track to putting America first. My amendment strengthens an already good bill and will allow Congress to pinpoint EPA regulations that negatively impact American families, small businesses, the agriculture industry, and our national security. We must show Americans that we will not stand by while the EPA puts the needs of the environmental special interest groups ahead of the needs of the American people. While some may wrongfully speak out against H.R. 1, this is an incredibly strong bill, and it is only the beginning of what the House majority is going to accomplish to unleash American energy. My amendment is a commonsense addition to the bill, and it instructs the EPA to conduct an after-action review to make sure we are doing what is in the best interests of our country. I urge every Member in this body to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.