Fred Keller

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, today I recognize corrections officer and Local 148 Union President Andy Kline, who is retiring after 25 years of service at USP Lewisburg and FCC Allenwood. In Congress it has been my pleasure to work with Andy on issues related to the Bureau of Prisons. His insight has been vital for our team in creating the Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus and working on legislation to improve staffing shortages, inmate security, and emergency preparedness. In addition to his career with the Bureau of Prisons, Andy served in the Army Reserves for 8 years and is heavily involved in helping others in his community. Andy is a Pennsylvania native and a dedicated servant who always puts others before himself. While his retirement is well deserved, Andy's impact and leadership at the BOP will be missed. Andy, thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep our community safe. Enjoy your retirement with your family and congratulations on an outstanding career of service.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Foxx for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to amendment No. 260 which excludes certain educational institutions from participating in Federal Pell Grant Programs. It is absurd to prevent students from seeking an education, a quality education from the institution of their choice simply because that institution pays taxes. Get that. They pay taxes and people can't go to college there. Meaningful education reform must establish a level playing field and give students more choice in how financial aid is used. A 4-year degree from a public college is not for everyone. The question to closing the skills gap and solving the labor shortage is rewarding institutions that demonstrate success and allow students to determine their own futures. Instead of limiting their choices, my legislation, the CHOICE Act, would allow students in short-term occupational programs to utilize financial aid for workforce readiness programs, which are needed now more than ever. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I urge my colleagues to oppose amendment No. 260.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, since his first day in office, President Biden's decisions to halt construction of the border wall and reverse effective Trump border policies have had disastrous consequences. Every day, we see new videos and reports of humanitarian and national security crises at our southern border. On top of the massive influx of illegal aliens, President Biden's open border policies have also created an equally concerning crisis, the overflow of fentanyl into America. Tragically, every community in our Nation has been impacted. President Biden's failed policies have turned every State into a border State. This is not a rural or urban issue, it is an American issue, and one that requires the full force of the Federal Government to address. Fentanyl seizures increased 134 percent in fiscal year 2021. That is enough fentanyl to kill every American, not once, not twice, but seven times. President Trump's policies were effective. During his administration, Washington Democrats tried to politicize border security. Now that President Biden's policies have created a crisis, they are trying to ignore the issue. These crises will continue to worsen until the Biden administration is forced to re-implement the Trump policies that worked. We will continue pressuring this administration to do exactly that.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for taking the lead on such an important issue. Mr. Speaker, on the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let's reflect on the importance of standing up for every human being's right to realize their full potential from the moment of conception. In fact, Members of Congress have a solemn duty to defend those incapable of defending themselves, the most innocent among us, the unborn. I will share a little bit of a personal story when my family chose life. This was when my son was 3 years old. He was involved in an accident with a head injury, and he was on life support. And many times the doctors told us he wasn't going to survive. In fact, they said it is not an 80 percent chance, not a 95 percent chance, but it was a 100 percent chance that he was going to pass. We did not disconnect life support. We chose life. We prayed. And Freddie started to recover. Today Freddie is fully recovered, and though his accident was decades ago, this is an opportunity to learn about the value of human life. Our creator has a plan for each one of us, and I will continue to support policies that ensure every life has the chance to realize its fullest potential.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, as America marks a year since President Biden's inauguration, Republicans are focused on delivering solutions to the multitude of crises his administration has created. After a year of one-party rule, the reality is American families are seeing empty shelves at the grocery store. Businesses cannot find workers. Inflation just hit the highest rate in 40 years. Meanwhile, the catastrophe at our southern border continues to worsen. In the past 12 months, more than 1.7 million people have been caught trying to enter the United States illegally. Madam Speaker, the Biden administration can ignore these inconvenient truths all they want. Do you know who is noticing? The American people are noticing. These are the same people who are working every day, the people driving our economy forward in spite of President Biden stacking the odds against them. Madam Speaker, be assured when Republicans regain the majority in the House, we will continue tackling these challenges by getting government out of the way, restoring our God-given freedoms, and ensuring Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding. Madam Speaker, we stand on the doorstep of delivering pro-life protections for unborn babies. Today the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The case will decide the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that supports life by banning abortion that takes place more than 15 weeks after conception. It is my hope that the Supreme Court will uphold the constitutionality of this law, which will set the stage for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, ushering in a new era where life is valued and protected. Nothing is more important than life. If we are not going to stand and protect life, we will stand and protect nothing. If my time in Congress is remembered for one thing, let it be that I fought to defend the sanctity of life. That is why I wear these precious feet on my collar-- the exact size and shape of a baby's feet 10 weeks after conception. Madam Speaker, I will always support life.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, as Americans, we should always honor and support our veterans and Active Duty military personnel. This week, Penn State University kicked off its 10th annual Military Appreciation Week, holding a series of events and ceremonies on behalf of the brave men and women who have served and fought for and continue to fight for our country. Military Appreciation Week at Penn State culminates this Saturday with the annual military appreciation tailgate and football game at Beaver Stadium. Penn State's Seats for Servicemembers program will give 7,000 complimentary tickets to veterans and servicemembers to enjoy the game. Moreover, Penn State is now home to the largest stadium in the United States, honoring POW/MIA servicemembers with a chair of honor that will forever remain empty honoring those brave Americans who never returned home. To Penn State University and the community members who have made this week possible, thank you for your work. We are Penn State.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each Member have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I have said it before and I will say it again: The greatest threat that this pandemic has imposed on the American people is growing government control over their lives. A stalled supply chain, exploding inflation, and a crisis at our southern border are all issues that require immediate attention. Yet, the Biden administration is not addressing any of these issues. Instead, President Biden thinks it is a good idea to ignore the crisis he created and impose a crushing Federal vaccine mandate on businesses that will affect more than 80 million Americans and decimate our workforce. My colleagues and I have had enough with President Biden's tone-deaf mandates. Today, I was joined by all 50 Republican Senators and 107 Members in the House in introducing a Congressional Review Act to nullify President Biden's vaccine mandate on America's workers and businesses. This mandate is illegal, and we are fighting to stop it. I am joined by my colleagues this evening to explain why we need to stop this. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Hern).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Carl).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), a great mentor, an outstanding person, my good friend.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), my friend and colleague.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I yield to gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for those remarks. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those comments. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the good gentleman from Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), my good friend and fellow Pennsylvanian.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), my good friend.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the remarks from the gentleman of California and all the Members who stood here today. I thank my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for standing with the American people in opposition to this blatant overreach by President Biden. Our Congressional Review Act resolution puts every Member of Congress on record. You are either for this blatant government overreach and control, or you are against it. You are either with this kind of control, or you are with the American people. Well, I will tell you right now, my colleagues who spoke here today, the people who are helping with this Congressional Review Act, my colleagues in the Senate, we are with the people for whom we work. We are with the American people, saying they know best. It is not government that runs things here in America. It is we the people. We stand with the people in opposing this overreach by the Biden administration. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I have talked with job creators and the hardworking Pennsylvanians who go to work every day. Do you know what they are saying? They are saying: I don't need government telling me what is best for me and my family. But just yesterday, President Biden released details for his vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees. President Biden's go-it-alone approach of running America has left him tone-deaf. Vaccine mandates are un-American, period. That is why I partnered with Senator Braun to introduce a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to strike down this unconstitutional overreach of government. Every member of the Education and Labor Committee is on board with this bill, and we have growing interest throughout the Republican Conference. Right before the holidays, America is facing a supply chain crisis, rising costs on everything from gas to groceries, and President Biden isn't listening to the people for whom he works. Our resolution sends a message to President Biden loudly and clearly: Americans are fed up with mandates and government control.