John James

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, an effort to bring a mobile medical unit and/or community-based outpatient clinic to my district, Michigan's 10th Congressional District. There was a recent announcement from the VA that mobile medical units are coming to Arizona and Texas. I believe there is also a very high demand for them in Michigan. Many veterans, particularly those who served in Korea and Vietnam in my district have come to me directly, whether at the VFW Post 6691 in Fraser, Michigan, where I am now a member, or just recently at the Memorial Day parade in Sterling Heights about the need to have greater access to healthcare facilities for those who may be declining in their mobility as they age. Currently, many veterans in Macomb County have to travel too far and too long to get the services they deserve. It is for this reason that we need to bring one closer to home, directly where they are needed most. While the Dingell VA has made some strides to improve healthcare for veterans in the metro Detroit area, there is still a great deal of work to be done. I heard from women veterans, in particular, in my district office about the need to have more choice and better quality of services but also about staff turnover rate that is affecting their quality of care. Community-based outpatient clinics and mobile medical units are a path toward allowing veterans to get more specialized, local-based care in a manner that they have very much earned. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, we honor the brave American soldiers who fought our Nation's wars abroad so we may enjoy the privileges of freedom at home. As someone who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom myself, I believe that their sacrifices should be honored through our work here in Congress. I know firsthand about the transition from military life to civilian life. It is not easy. The least we can do is make VA healthcare more available and accessible to our veterans. My amendment will further these aims through funding for facilities like mobile medical units and community-based outpatient clinics. I implore my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. I thank Mr. Good for yielding, and I appreciate the opportunity to address my colleagues and you, Mr. Speaker. It has been said that government doesn't create jobs, but they sure know how to kill them. I agree with that. Listening to my colleagues here today, I have to restate, Mr. Speaker, that the American Dream is worth fighting for. Franchises create the surest and shortest path for entrepreneurs, working people in my district, and all across the country to achieve the American Dream. The reason we are here again is because we are giving our colleagues the opportunity to tell the American people that they will choose them and their American Dream over the special interests and political selfishness that choosing their own best interests may lead to. The right to collectively bargain was established by this body in 1935, and the right to work was enshrined in Michigan's constitution just last year. However, once again, the Biden administration has gone too far. Franchise businesses are the path out of situations for people in urban America, rural America, and everywhere in between. The Biden-led National Labor Relations Board resurrected a policy that, when imposed during the Obama Administration, saw jobs lost and dreams crushed. The last rule saw 376,000 lost job opportunities in the franchise sector. It was also said what might happen, what could happen, and what should happen, and then I heard fixing a problem. It sounds like people who have never had the chance to live under the rules they are creating are now creating organizations and structures that they won't have to live under. This is exactly the reason we were elected to come here to represent our constituents' interests and not the interests here, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to President Biden's policies, we have inflation and regulation, not success and determination. My colleagues on this side of the aisle are willing to bet on America and are willing to bet on the entrepreneurial spirit while also respecting the right to collectively bargain without burdensome regulations that we know stifle the American Dream. The President's veto is clear. Mr. Speaker, while the President and the Vice President go around the country saying they are friends of small business, their administration is literally putting policies in place that crush it. The only reason our colleagues would not vote to override this veto is because they are in lockstep with the administration, prioritizing politics over people. They have the opportunity to vote along with us, to overturn these harmful policies to allow Americans to self-determine without threat to their right to collectively bargain. This is a clear opportunity to get this right, and I hope my colleagues on the other side will support our endeavor to do the right thing for the people in our districts who, no doubt, shed blood, sweat, and tears to make their dream a reality. As our President seeks to make the case to the American people, he should not assume that small business is the enemy.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my dear good friend, Frank Jonna, as he is honored as the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Businessperson of the Year. Frank's entrepreneurial instincts can be traced back to working with his older brother, Jimmy, after he founded Jonna Construction in 1965. Early on, Jimmy's leadership taught Frank the meaning of hard work, patience, and perseverance firsthand, propelling him to later become CEO of Jonna Construction. With over 40 years of dedication to the Metro Detroit area, Frank has served on the numerous Boards including Henry Ford Health, Catholic Central High School, Angel's Place, and Detroit Public Television. Alongside these accomplishments, his legacy will forever live on in the community Jonna Construction has contributed to and built, including Michigan National Bank Building, the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Training Center, Mother of God Church, St. Thomas Church, Shenandoah Country Club, and the Chaldean Community Foundation Headquarters. Frank is the embodiment of the American Dream. In every step of his career, he has showcased a neverending commitment to the Southeast Michigan community, so on behalf of all of Michigan's 10th Congressional District, congratulations to Frank Jonna.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of Michigan debate team for winning the 2024 National Debate Tournament, the first in their history. As an alumni of the University of Michigan, I am incredibly proud of your accomplishment! On April 8, 2024, the 78th annual National Debate Tournament took place and in a unanimous decision, the University of Michigan's debate team made headlines by bringing home the National Championship. This achievement is the culmination of hours and hours of hard work and preparation and is truly commendable. In the elimination rounds, Michigan bested many other qualified teams before defeating Kansas in the championship round. U-M is proving once again that our great state of Michigan is yielding the next generation of leaders. As a Michigan alum, I'd like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire U-M Debate Team, Coach Aaron Kall, and the University of Michigan. Go Blue.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, votes were pulled ahead without efficient notice on the morning of votes. WHIP FLOOR UPDATE sent today at 7:46 a.m. indicated voting ``approximately 1:00-1:30 p.m''. Voting began at 12:32 p.m. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 143, YEA on Roll Call No. 145, and YEA on Roll Call No. 146.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and say thank you to Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer for serving Southeast Michigan for over 60 years throughout his career in law enforcement. His career spans the Detroit Police Department, the Farmington Hills Police Department, and the Warren Police Department. Day after day and year after year, Commissioner Dwyer consistently went above and beyond the call of duty. He received the Presidential Medal from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Collegian Award from Wayne State University, and the Crime Stoppers of Michigan Police Executive of the Year award in 2010. He served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Oakland County Chief's Association, Southeastern Michigan Chiefs of Police Association, High- Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Federal Anti-Terrorism Task Force, and the Michigan Homeland Security Council, just to name a few. Even while receiving all these awards, he still found time to turn Warren, Michigan into one of the safest cities in the entire state. Commissioner Dwyer is the exact, literal definition of what it means to be a public servant. On behalf of all of Michigan's 10th Congressional District, I thank him for his service.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Chairman, today, I stand before my colleagues with a grave concern that demands our immediate attention. The Great Lakes, the lifeblood of our region, are under siege from a silent yet deadly threat, PFAS chemicals. These persistent, toxic substances pose a significant risk to both human health and our environment. Congress cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this pressing issue. The health and well-being of Michigan and Great Lakes communities depend on it. That is why I have submitted an amendment that would bar any of the provisions in this bill from attempting to impede research into PFAS chemicals. Stopping PFAS research would be a disservice to the public and to millions of Americans who rely on the Great Lakes. Mr. Chairman, we cannot allow political agendas to stand in the way of scientific progress and the health of our people. Our people are too important for that. That is why I am similarly supporting an amendment from my friend, Representative Jack Bergman from Michigan, which would also ban gas and oil drilling in the Great Lakes. This isn't a left versus right issue. This is an issue that impacts all of us and future generations. Congress must do all that it can to protect the Great Lakes, and one step is supporting comprehensive research initiatives to fully understand the extent of PFAS contamination and its potential impacts. We owe it to future generations to safeguard the Great Lakes and ensure they remain a source of clean water and natural beauty for years to come. Let us unite in our commitment to protect our environment and the health of our citizens. Mr. Chairman, I ask all of my colleagues to please support this very important amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Chair, once again, I thank my colleagues for supporting this very important bill. The Great Lakes is important to the entire United States of America and to Michigan especially. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 7298.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, as a proud native Michigander, I am keenly aware of the importance of our Great Lakes. I grew up enjoying the national treasure of the Great Lakes, and I want the same opportunity for my three young boys and for generations and centuries beyond. Michigan was blessed with a bountiful abundance of natural resources, holding the second-most coastline of any State in the Union because of our Great Lakes. Our Great Lakes are too important to neglect. They are too important for our economy, national security, and Michigan's way of life. Mr. Speaker, that is why I joined a bipartisan, bicameral delegation to introduce legislation that would extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. With the Great Lakes contributing over 90 percent of our Nation's fresh surface water and being the world's largest store of freshwater, it is critical that we continue to allocate resources to the GLRI. The Great Lakes generate $62 billion in wages annually, and every dollar invested in the GLRI yields $3.35 of economic activity. It is literally a good investment and good for our environment, too. Mr. Speaker, I implore all of my colleagues to support the GLRI extension to bolster the prosperity of our communities while simultaneously affirming our commitment to preserving the health and vitality of the Great Lakes for generations to come.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Madam Speaker, while we often recognize noteworthy and acclaimed personalities, we have so many other great, unsung heroes and amazing souls who do a ton of heavy lifting with little to no recognition. Yet, if truth be told, they serve as the glue, sturdiness, strength, and all that is good about America. They go about their jobs quietly, without having the expectation of recognition. In fact, they do what they do because it is God's work, it is the right thing to do. I am privileged to be in a position where I can acknowledge one such unsung hero who happens to be the grand matriarch of my family. Born February 14, 1929, to William E. and Lillie Mae Ward, she is my grandmother, Ms. Annie Ruth Nicks. In a few days, we are blessed to celebrate her 95th birthday. I am standing here on the shoulders of giants, her shoulders, four generations removed from slavery, because my grandmother has always covered me in prayer, has always had my back when I needed her the most, and because she didn't kill me as a child when I put a hole in her wall, flung applesauce on her ceiling, and played with matches too close to the house in the Mississippi summertime. I thank my Grandma and wish her a happy birthday.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration just announced a total pause on new export permits for liquid natural gas, all in the name of climate change. I am from Michigan, the Great Lakes State. We all love clean air and clean water. Michigan is the home of the automotive industry, and the longest coastline of any place in America with our Great Lakes, protecting both our table stakes. To those ends, LNG is one of the cleanest energy fuels on the Earth, mined with American labor according to the strictest environmental and safety standards in the world. However, this administration has decided to play politics with not just our energy security but also our national security. Let me be clear. This administration does not hate oil and gas; they hate American oil and gas. Since he has been sworn in, Biden has waged war on American industry. He has crippled the very industry that our prosperity and security rely on and the very reason the U.S. dollar is the currency of global trade, yet he has made us dependent on our adversaries, including Russia, China, and Iran. If we had just done what President Trump asked of our allies in shutting down Nord Stream 2, Putin would not have been able to fund his war against Ukraine in the first place, but I digress. Mr. Speaker, this war on LNG is going to impact my State specifically. Michigan has the most underground natural gas storage in the entire country, with 1.1 trillion cubic feet of underground storage. That is one-eighth of the Nation's natural gas storage capacity. Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration's energy policies are insane. We cannot allow this administration to continue relying on dictators and despots from Tehran to Caracas to keep our supply chain moving and our homes heated. That would be like asking the fox to lock up the chicken coop at night or Secretary Mayorkas to watch the border. By pursuing energy independence using safe, American-made energy, we lower prices, grow jobs, and reshore domestic manufacturing. That is why I voted in favor of H.R. 1 alongside 225 of my Republican and Democratic colleagues. H.R. 1 would unleash American oil and natural gas while securing our critical supply chains. It would ensure that America is energy independent, prepared for threats down the road. This makes certain that America has the resources necessary to defend and protect herself while also assuring that blue-collar families in my district can afford to keep their lights on and their gas tanks full without breaking the bank. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to champion energy that is made in America and hold Biden accountable for the foolish games he is playing with our future. Mr. Speaker, Governor Granholm's policies crushed the State of Michigan. I will not stand idly by while Energy Secretary Granholm's policies crush the United States of America.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution, H.J. Res. 98, to provide for congressional disapproval of the NLRB's recent joint employer rule. I first thank the esteemed Member from North Carolina, Chairwoman Foxx, and her staff for working with me and my staff to get this joint resolution to the floor and, hopefully, through to the Senate. I have been here for about a year, and it is readily apparent to me that too many people in this town are making rules that they will never live by in an area where they have never had to survive in the business world. Additionally, too many of my colleagues seem to be convinced that small business is the enemy and Big Government is here to save them. Plainly put, this joint employer rule is part of the Biden administration's antifreedom, antigrowth, and antibusiness agenda that is gutting the American Dream. Madam Speaker, the American people don't want Washington telling them how to start or manage a business in this country. Don't take it from me. Franchise owners in my district have conveyed to me that they are choosing retirement over dealing with this harmful policy. They want the chance to create a better life for their families and their employees' families and not be controlled by out-of-control bureaucrats at the NLRB. We already have the right to collectively bargain in this country, but this rule goes too far. This is the most glaring evidence yet that capitalism and choice are threats to this administration's socialist America last agenda. When this regulation was enacted under the Obama administration, it cost franchise businesses $33.3 billion per year. According to the International Franchise Association, around 26 percent of franchises are owned by people of color compared with 17 percent of independent businesses generally. Madam Speaker, I fear this harmful rule will lead to job losses, increases in the cost of living, and for Americans already suffering, fewer American Dreams being realized, as well. It burns me up when I hear politicians talk about creating jobs. Politicians can't create jobs, but they sure can kill them. That is what this regulation does. Bureaucrats don't create jobs; businesses create jobs. Republicans aim to make policy that will not only result in more jobs but more job creators. These job creators, these entrepreneurs, these franchisees, and these independent contractors create good-paying jobs and give people opportunities to succeed. Overturning this joint employer rule is just the first step in the right direction. I am the walking result of the American Dream. My father started our family business with one truck, one trailer, and no excuses. He worked 25 hours a day and 8 days a week with my mother by his side. When he handed that business down, my brother and I, with a wonderful team and the grace of God, were helped to grow it to higher heights. We put more effort into it, and that is the story of how this Nation grows and becomes more successful. Nonetheless, we can't allow this story to end. Madam Speaker, I implore my colleagues to remember that small business on Main Street in their districts when they cast their vote today because the small business on Main Street will certainly remember them in November. For these reasons and more, Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.J. Res. 98.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, this is not political theater, far from it. This is accountability to the American people. I rise today in support of this amendment to reduce the salary of Secretary Granholm to $1 because I cannot make her pay us back. The job of the Secretary of Energy is to secure American energy independence, but she is not securing American energy independence. She is depleting it, and she should be held accountable to the people for failing to deliver on her job. You see, Madam Speaker, before Ms. Granholm was Energy Secretary, she promoted the same failed policies while serving as Governor of Michigan and presided over what is now known as Michigan's Lost Decade, a legacy that we are still paying for at home. She presided over the mass exodus of our jobs and our children from our State. She presided over the crippling of our economy, foreclosures of so many of our homes, and the closing of our businesses. She embarrassed us with the RASCO fiasco when she offered $9 million in tax credits to promote a job program that actually went to a convicted embezzler who lived out of a trailer. You know what she did when she was done gutting and embarrassing our State, Madam Speaker? She left. She got on a plane and headed for California where she took a faculty position at Berkeley while leaving Michiganders at home struggling in the snow. Madam Chair, while this amendment today is not about her time in Michigan, past behavior is the best indicator of future performance. We should be appalled but not surprised by the same malpractice, malfeasance, and mistreatment of the office that she assumes currently, and she has inflicted serious pain on the American people and jeopardizes our American independence moving forward. Since this administration took office, Madam Chair, we have gone from energy independence to energy reliance on dictators and despots around the world. Secretary Granholm sold off our Strategic Petroleum Reserve and sold out Americans and our national security. All the worse, she went on television and laughed in our faces just before gas prices hit their peak. The American people's pain is their plan, Madam Chair. They are making gas unaffordable and are trading away our national resources to China, our number one adversary, all so they can implement their pipe dream of forced EV transition. I won't call it treason, but many in my district have. The policies she is seeking to impose, the billions of dollars in penalties for our autos through her EV mandates would crater the number one industry in Michigan. We do not fear the future, but we demand to be a part of it. Madam Chair, the consequence of her failures is the reason folks in my district are standing on a picket line right now. The unrealistic, untimely, and unjust forced EV mandates she supports is building the Chinese middle class on the backs of middle-class families in Michigan and around America. It is time for her to pay, and Congress is holding her accountable. This is the essence of what the Article I branch of government should be doing. It is holding an out-of-control administration accountable to the people. She failed in Michigan, and we will not let her fail America. This is a warning to the American people that policies that hurt them will stop with the 118th Congress. These policies have not worked anywhere. They have tried and they have failed. In the real world, failure means your employer takes your pay. This town needs to start operating a little bit more like the real world. Madam Chair, that is why I support this resolution, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. JAMES. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to say something that possibly no one in this Chamber's storied history has ever said: The Detroit Lions are the best team in football--you heard me--at least after week one. The Detroit Lions went into Arrowhead Stadium last week, faced the 2023 Super Bowl champions, and walked away with a W. Now, it used to be considered child abuse to turn your children into Lions fans. I have three little boys: John, 9, Hudson, 8, and Christian, 4. We all love the Lions. Detroit football is back. When was the last time the Detroit Lions were the first team to score in the NFL season? When was the last time that on third and short, we actually ran the ball and made a first down? When was the last time there was a team on fourth and 25, deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter, and it not be the Detroit Lions? This is an indication that we have turned a new leaf, and the good days are ahead. I am 42, and this might be the best year in my football life after the Michigan Wolverines have beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes 2 years in a row and the Detroit Lions have only lost two games since last October. Now, of course, we need to keep winning under our boy Dan Campbell's outstanding leadership and his staff, but I know our boys in southeast Michigan have what it takes to win. The Detroit Lions' very first game at Ford Field is this Sunday, and Lions fans, I need you to make this the loudest game in Ford Field history, even louder than we were when we played the Bears in 2011 on Monday Night Football. Let's show up and show out. Lions, I love you. Keep grinding. Let's restore the roar. Let's go 17-0 and not just win the NFC North title but the whole doggone thing. Let's win the Super Bowl. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for wearing Honolulu blue. Oh, shoot. He is gone. Well, I appreciate you wearing blue today for the Lions, Mr. Yakym. Go Lions.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3399) to study the security of the Soo Locks and effects on the supply chain resulting from a malfunction or failure of the Soo Locks, and for other purposes.

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. JAMES

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3395) to direct the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest United States container ports, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 3395, as amended.

Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3395, as amended, requires a study on the implication of foreign ownership of marine terminals at United States container ports. Not only will the study examine the nationality of the firms owning marine terminals at 15 of the largest United States ports, but it will also specifically focus on whether ownership is held by entities or nationals of countries adversarial to our Nation, including affiliations with China or Russia. Further, the study will assess whether Port Infrastructure Development Grant and Port Security Grant funds have been awarded to ports that are wholly or partially foreign-owned. These findings will help the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hold the administration accountable for how Federal funds are allocated and inform the committee's work on the efficient movement of goods through the supply chain. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss) for introducing this bill. As a supply chain logistics professional in my prior life, I understand how critical this is to our Nation's infrastructure and to our economic prosperity moving forward in the future. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.