Nicholas Langworthy

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor the Tuskegee Airmen as we celebrate their 83rd anniversary. As the United States fought to defend freedom with our allies in World War II, exceptional pilots in the fight for air superiority made the difference between victory and defeat. The Tuskegee Airmen stand out in history, as they not only had to carry the immeasurable weight of battle, but also had to fight racial discrimination. Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen's incorporation in 1941, the military was segregated, and the Army Air Forces did not accept African American pilots. In the face of this discrimination, these brave men stood up when their country and the world needed them most. They flew with skill and courage on critical missions, demonstrating that excellence knows no color, and that discrimination had no place in our military. The Tuskegee Airmen were among the most talented and decorated squadrons of World War II, earning 3 Presidential Unit Citations, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 1 Legion of Merit, 1 Silver Star, 2 Soldier Medals, 8 Purple Hearts, 14 bronze stars, 744 air medals, and 1 Red Star of Yugoslavia. Their heroism, bravery, and remarkable achievements contributed directly to the desegregation of the United States Military. On Saturday, May 25, 2024, veterans, officials, airmen, and their decedents gathered at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center to remember these amazing heroes and commemorate their significance nationally and their deep local ties to our community here in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Western New York. Their story will forever serve as a symbol of courage in the face of adversity. On Memorial Day and every day, we thank the men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much so that we may live free. We owe them a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid, both for defending our Nation's freedoms and advancing them for generations to come.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, the chaos at our borders today is caused by President Biden unilaterally ending the effective policies of President Trump. It was his first act in office, and it has cost our Nation dearly. Now, we face a crisis. Our cities and States are overwhelmed by millions of illegal immigrants, who are costing taxpayers billions while American citizens are pushed to the back of the line. Deadly fentanyl is flowing through unchecked, along with violent gang members and terrorists on the FBI's watch list. We witnessed the horrific murder of Laken Riley and the shooting of two NYPD officers. Yet, the President has done nothing. This is how we end the chaos: One, we must restore the remain in Mexico policy. Two, we end catch and release. Three, we enforce the laws on the books. Four, on top of that, the millions who have entered illegally must be deported to restore order and security. President Trump's policies worked, and we must return to them. This is not about politics. It is about the safety and sovereignty of our great Nation.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding the time. Madam Speaker, I strongly support the rule before us today and the underlying legislation that will ensure that our Department of Defense stays laser focused on military readiness, supporting our servicemembers and their families, and keeping our greatest adversaries in check. For years, this administration was allowed to waste hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money to force a woke agenda on the men and women of our military; hobbling their training, their morale, and their long-term success, all while our greatest adversary, China, relentlessly developed its own military, including even pulling ahead of us in the development of hypersonic missile technology. Today, China possesses hypersonic missiles that can hit our shores, but we do not yet have the capabilities to completely deter this particular threat. The legislation under the rule before us today focuses key resources on this technology, part of which is developed right in my own district in New York's southern tier. We cannot delay this any longer, and we cannot effectively secure our Nation and deter our adversaries, including China, without ridding our Nation's military of the radical left Green New Deal agenda that they seem to embed in our defense policy moving forward. This policy of battery-powered vehicles harnessed by resources sourced from a supply chain dependent on Communist China leaves our Nation less secure and more vulnerable than ever before. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle point to the Biden administration's transition to electric noncombat vehicles in our Armed Forces as a win for the environment, but I ask them: Is it really a win for the environment if we source these critical minerals from strip mines in Congo and transport them across the globe to be refined in countries that ignore many of the environmental regulations that we take for granted here in the United States? Are we really protecting the environment when we foist inefficient, unreliable vehicles on our Nation's military while China and India build hundreds of new coal power plants every single year? My colleagues on the other side of the aisle know the answer, but they would rather push their false, fairytale narrative that these policies are going to reduce global emissions to score political points. They ignore the dangerous situations that these policies ultimately put our military servicemembers in. We need commonsense policies that focus on merit, lethality, and readiness to shape our military in the coming years, not the woke dreams of a radical left that would prefer a country to not have a military at all. We certainly know that they don't believe that we should have a border, as the policies of the Biden administration have so thoroughly illustrated to the American people. I urge my colleagues to support the rule before us today and help pass another bold, focused, and crucial NDAA that will support our servicemembers and ensure that the U.S. military remains the strongest fighting force on the face of the Earth.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Boy Scouts of America Troop 513 upon their Centennial Celebration. One hundred years ago, First Presbyterian Church in East Aurora offered to sponsor the new troop, known then as Troop 13. Generations of young men from East Aurora and the surrounding area have been well served by the lifelong skills learned during their time with Troop 513. Notably, this troop has produced over one hundred and seventy Eagle Scouts during their long history. I am incredibly proud of this culture of service that has been longstanding in our community. On Saturday, May 25, 2024, Troop 513 will be hosting a celebration of this historic anniversary at American Legion Post 362 in East Aurora, where they will recall one-hundred years of scouting within the Town of Aurora and Western New York. On behalf of the United States Congress and the constituents of New York's 23rd Congressional District, I congratulate the current and former members of Troop 513, both present at this celebration and leading their communities throughout the country.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for yielding time. It is great to finally get to make a speech here. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of the legislation being considered under the rule before us today, including the Central Bank Digital Currency Anti-Surveillance State Act, which will prohibit the Federal Reserve from pursuing a path that could jeopardize the financial freedoms and privacy of the American people. Around the world, we are seeing authoritarian regimes embrace digital currencies, and why? It is because it is a means to more effectively and tightly control their people. That is why the Chinese Communist Party is actively developing a digital currency that will allow them to throttle the Chinese people's access to bank accounts and subject them to Orwellian social credit systems, among other forms of oppressive state control. Yet, we have also seen freer democratic governments, not too different from our own, pursue policies in recent years to try and control their citizens' access to basic financial services, destroying their livelihoods in the process. In fact, it was our neighbors in Canada who recently shut down access to personal bank accounts of protesters who had the audacity to exercise their right to demonstrate in opposition to their government's draconian lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Mr. Speaker, before coming to Congress, I joined our healthcare workers and others in the State of New York to protest against Governor Cuomo's oppressive COVID vaccine mandates that led to thousands of New Yorkers, including many frontline healthcare workers, losing their jobs. With tools like digital currency at their disposal, it creates a new pathway for the government to retaliate against those who speak up and voice a difference in opinion. If they had that power back then, would they have used it? Based on our experience with the Biden administration over the past 4 years and the weaponization of government agencies, I am not surprised that the American people can clearly see the danger here. This administration with regulation after regulation and policy after policy has chipped away at the freedoms of the American people. Under President Biden, everyday Americans are left wondering if they will be able to purchase a gas stove, drive an affordable car, do what they like with their private land, or even whether they can safely voice a conservative viewpoint without some form of reprisal from their government. We cannot take for granted our rights as Americans, especially when we have an administration, captured and intimidated by the radical left, that has weaponized our Federal agencies against the freedoms of individuals as the Biden administration has done over the past 4 years. The American people are sick and tired of giving up their freedoms and being spied on by our Federal Government. First, it was warrantless surveillance through FISA. Today, it is a government-controlled digital currency. If we allow this dangerous trend to continue, what is next? Mr. Speaker, we need to pass the underlying legislation to prevent any further pursuit of authoritarian policies like the creation of a centralized and controllable digital currency. Let's pass this rule and protect the financial privacy and the freedoms of the American people.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Barbara Demerest for her many years of community engagement and civic duty as a tireless conservative advocate in the Town of Amherst and across Western New York. Barbara graduated with a master's degree and Advanced Certificate in Trauma Counseling from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, and a Certificate in Supervisory Studies from the Cornell School of Industrial Relations. She went on to work in the healthcare sector, serving the region as both a clinician and administrator. As she advocated for stronger measures to combat family violence, Barbara connected with longtime State Senator Mary Lou Rath. Barbara Demerest's voice on community issues was appreciated, and Senator Rath later brought her on as the Director of Community Services, where she continued to have a large impact on policy, advising the Senator and working with the community on a wide range of issues, with a special emphasis on her background in healthcare. Even in retirement, Barbara Demerest continues to be a trusted advisor to candidates and elected officials as a leader in the Town of Amherst Republican Committee and respected advocate in the community. On behalf of the United States Congress and the constituents of New York's 23rd Congressional District, I thank Barbara Demerest for her tireless efforts to improve Western New York through her community engagement and activism.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Jacquie Walker on her remarkable career after 40 years of service as an anchor and reporter for WIVB Channel 4 News in Buffalo. Today, Jacquie steps away from the anchor desk for the last time. For decades, Jacquie Walker has been a trusted and beloved journalist tasked with delivering the very best news with joy and the very worst news with grace. There is a reason she has been awarded an Emmy as well as the prestigious Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Jacquie has also been inducted in the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame. These are a few of her awards and achievements. If I were to read the entire list, I would be here all day. As she signs off today, western New York is losing a universally trusted voice delivering the news of the day to the Buffalo-Niagara region. Jacquie is an immense talent who has helped to shape so many historical moments for our community. In fact, Jacquie is the longest tenured news anchor at one station in the history of the Buffalo media market. She leaves huge shoes to fill behind Channel 4's anchor desk tonight. She will be sorely missed. Mr. Speaker, Jacquie's integrity, her commitment to excellence, and her dedication to her craft set a standard for journalism that will continue to inspire future generations of reporters and anchors. As Jacquie Walker embarks on the new chapter of her life, I thank her for her immense contributions to our community. Honoring John Murphy

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the career of John Murphy, the voice of the Buffalo Bills, who announced his retirement just a short time ago. When you are from western New York, the Buffalo Bills are part of your DNA, and John Murphy was a fixture of the Bills' announce team for over 30 years. John Murphy served side by side with the legendary Van Miller, and they embodied the spirit and passion of the Bills Mafia. As he steps away from his role as the voice of the Bills, we not only reflect on his career with immense gratitude but also celebrate the legacy he has left behind. John's journey with the Bills began as a color analyst, but it was his last 19 years as the voice narrating every play that made him a household name. His voice became synonymous with Bills football, and the excitement and the authenticity John brought to the booth made it feel like you were right there on the sidelines with him. We all have fond memories of listening to John. Whether it was describing a game-winning drive or a critical defensive stop, John captured every second of the drama, joy, and sometimes heartbreak that is Bills football. I thank John Murphy on behalf of the Bills Mafia for his years of service. He is truly one of the greats, and we will miss hearing him each and every game day. Go Bills.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from South Carolina for the time. I rise today in support of the Modernizing Government Technology Reform Act. It is no secret that America's cyber infrastructure is under constant attack by our adversaries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently warned Americans of the cyber threat that China poses, declaring that China's hackers are preparing to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities. Yet, despite warning after warning of the rising threats to our Nation's cyber infrastructure, our Federal agencies remain dangerously vulnerable to future, potentially devastating cyberattacks. Every year, the Federal Government spends over $100 billion on IT and cybersecurity. Nonetheless, 80 percent of this spending goes to operating and maintaining outdated, obsolete legacy systems. These aging systems not only waste taxpayer money but also leave us exposed to our enemies. These IT systems also require specific technical knowledge to operate and update, which creates enormous procurement and hiring challenges, leaving agencies scrambling to find vendors and employees with the necessary skills. In addition to the upfront costs associated with updating legacy IT, many of these systems continue to run with known security vulnerabilities and unsupported hardware or software. This is a ticking time bomb. In an effort to bring the Federal Government up to speed with the challenges of modern-day cyber threats, Congress established the technology modernization fund to help eliminate these vulnerabilities and provide funding to improve, retire, or replace antiquated Federal IT systems and strengthen our agencies' cyber defenses, all without additional expense to the American taxpayer. That is why reauthorizing and reforming the technology modernization fund is essential to our future success. Under this legislation, Federal agencies can continue the modernization process and adopt newer, safer technology in a rapidly advancing and increasingly dangerous world, all with greater congressional oversight to keep these efforts on track. As my colleagues have already mentioned, this bill also establishes a Federal legacy IT inventory, a new oversight tool that will enable Congress to evaluate agency and government-wide efforts to modernize legacy IT technology and ensure that such critical modernization efforts are being done the right way. Madam Speaker, our national security is at stake. We can't afford to become complacent while our adversaries plot against us. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to take our cybersecurity seriously and support H.R. 5527.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of our brave men and women for Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2024. Armed Forces Day is a seventy-four-year tradition to thank all of those who are currently serving, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend our freedom. It is because of their duty, honor, and courage that the United States of America remains free today. This Saturday, the Western New York Armed Forces Committee will honor twelve service men and women at its 61st Military Ball, and it is my honor to include in the Record their names as a tribute to their service, and the service of their brothers and sisters in arms: Staff Sergeant Martin Gutierrez--U.S. ARMY Staff Sergeant Richard Hy--U.S. ARMY RESERVE Technical Sergeant Andrew D. Lindaman--U.S. AIR FORCE Technical Sergeant Brian P. Nosbisch--U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE Sergeant Ruby D. Wingo--NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD Master Sergeant Seth D. Sampson--NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD Specialist Jazon Krauze--NEW YORK GUARD Sergeant Tiffany Nowicki--U.S. MARINE CORPS Staff Sergeant Landon Suber--U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE Petty Officer First Class Pierce Schrecengast--U.S. COAST GUARD Petty Officer First Class Nolan M. Kinne--U.S. COAST GUARD RESERVES Lance Corporal James J. Ward--NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA Western New York and the Southern Tier are home to many proud service members and veterans, and our community has a long and proud tradition of military service. It is my honor to recognize their bravery. On behalf of the United States Congress and the constituents of New York's 23rd Congressional District, I thank these men and women for their service and all those who continue to serve with them.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1227 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. House Resolution 1227 provides for consideration of eight measures: H.R. 8369, H.R. 7530, H.R. 7343, H.R. 8146, H.R. 7581, H.R. 354, H. Res. 1213, and H. Res. 1210. The rule provides for H.R. 7343 and H.R. 8146 to be considered under structured rules with 1 hour of debate each, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of two measures, H.R. 354 and H.R. 7581, under closed rules with 1 hour of debate each, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of H. Res. 1210 and H. Res. 1213 under closed rules, with 1 hour of debate each, equally divided and controlled by the Chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their designees. The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 7530 under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8369 under a closed rule with 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or their designee and provides for one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. The rule before us provides for consideration of three measures to support our Nation's law enforcement in the face of the Biden administration's disastrous immigration policies. H.R. 7343, the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, would bring real consequences on the heads of those in our country illegally. This legislation would require the immediate detention and deportation of any illegal alien who chooses to assault the men and women who keep our communities safe. Additionally, H.R. 8146 would require that the Attorney General provide a full accounting of how this historic and dangerous border crisis has truly impacted the health and the safety of our Nation's law enforcement. Finally, H. Res. 1210 condemns the Biden administration's failed border policies that have resulted in 9.3 million illegal alien encounters along our borders in less than 4 years--and that doesn't include those that have evaded Border Patrol. America's law enforcement officers are on the front lines of the Biden border crisis, bearing the brunt of this President's open-borders policies that are threatening the security of our Nation and laying waste to our communities. We have yet to fully know the true damage done to our national security by 4 years of flinging the doors open for those breaking our laws. One thing is certain, it is falling on our Nation's law enforcement officers--our police officers in big cities and small towns across America--to contend with the consequences of this administration's open-borders policies. The Biden border crisis is only one challenge facing our Nation's law enforcement officers. As we witness an alarming surge in criminal activity thanks to the left's antipolice, soft-on-crime policies, it is imperative that we confront a harsh reality. Our law enforcement officers are under attack both physically and politically. They are being targeted by the radical left simply for doing their jobs, for upholding the rule of law, and for protecting our communities. To that end, the rule today before us provides for consideration of several measures that stand with our law enforcement officers in the face of these asinine policies that seek to vilify them and prevent them from doing their jobs, including H.R. 7581, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act; H.R. 354, the LEOSA Reform Act; and H. Res. 1213, a resolution condemning violence against our law enforcement officers. H.R. 7581 would require the Department of Justice to report to Congress about violent attacks on law enforcement officers and the response of Federal, State, and local governments to these attacks. Additionally, H.R. 354 would fix a discrepancy under current law to ensure that qualified active or retired law enforcement officers are not prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm in public settings. There is no good reason why the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day should have their Second Amendment rights curtailed as they are under the current law. Finally, H. Res. 1213 expresses a sentiment that I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can fully embrace and get behind: full, unequivocal support for our law enforcement officers and strong opposition to any movement that seeks to defund the police. Mr. Speaker, this is not a matter of statistics or headlines. The soft-on-crime policies that the radical left have championed have only left American families in more danger. Years of Democrat-elected officials, including some right here in Congress, calling to defund the police have vilified our law enforcement officers, preventing them from doing their jobs, leaving the people that they serve less safe. Nowhere is this displayed more vividly than right here in our Nation's Capital, and the rule before us today also provides for consideration of a bill to combat the District of Columbia's anti-law enforcement, pro-criminal policies: H.R. 7530, the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act. D.C. law enforcement remains understaffed and overwhelmed by soaring rates of violent crime. In 2023 alone, homicides increased 29 percent from 2022, violent crime increased 37 percent, and robberies increased 65 percent. What has the D.C. Council done? Well, in 2022, it passed the Revised Criminal Code Act, which reduced penalties for violent offenders, and in that same year the Council passed the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act, which targeted D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers and their ability to combat rising crime. If the D.C. Council will not heed the concerns of the District's residents, police officers, and visitors from this country and around the world, then it is Congress' job to step in. This mess only encourages lawlessness and puts lives at risk. We have had one of our own colleagues, a Member of Congress, carjacked and a staffer stabbed, among many other horrifying and violent crimes. If we can't get a handle on crime in our Nation's beautiful Capital, how does that fare for the rest of the country? H.R. 7530 changes the maximum age limit for youth offender status from 24 years old to 18 years old. It requires the District's attorney general to establish and update a public website containing juvenile crime statistics in the District and prohibits the D.C. Council from enacting any changes to criminal sentences. Youth criminal activity has skyrocketed along with every other manner of violent crime in our Nation's Capital. A soft-on-crime approach is simply just not working, putting the lives of innocent residents and visitors in danger, and hamstringing the ability of our cops to do their jobs. Residents of D.C. have the same rights as other Americans to be secure in their homes and to be protected against crimes committed against their lives and their property. It is heartbreaking to see the crimes committed by children and young people in D.C., and we need real solutions to address them. Children in our Nation's Capital deserve better than antipolice policies that lead them to a life of crime. It is our duty as Members of Congress, as laid out in the D.C. Home Rule Act, to step in when the District's own policies so clearly threaten the safety of the residents of our Nation's Capital as they do today. Finally, the rule before us provides for consideration of H.R. 8369, the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. Mr. Speaker, it is frankly shocking and disgusting to hear that President Biden is purposely withholding our Nation's arms shipments to Israel as they are fighting to defend their right to exist. At a time when Israel is under assault, facing attacks from Hamas and Iran, the decision to withhold these critical munitions is not just a failure; it is a betrayal of our greatest ally in the Middle East, and it goes directly against the will of this Congress and the will of the people. We cannot let political games endanger lives. H.R. 8369 would ensure that America stands with Israel in its darkest hour, despite this administration's disgraceful actions to block such vital support. The legislation will ensure that any defense articles and defense services for Israel are delivered expeditiously, without obstruction from an administration that is willing to play games, unfortunately, with such necessary shipments, and we will prevent them subverting the will of Congress. Mr. Speaker, America must stand with Israel and send a message to the world that we will not falter. I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, my colleague on the other side of the aisle likes to talk about the fact that these bills today that we are going to consider this week, these pro-police measures, don't have a future in the Senate or getting to the desk of the President. Yes, that is because his party controls those two branches. The Senate leadership will do nothing with this because they don't support the underlying legislation. They don't support law enforcement. I would like to point out that it was Democrats who have for years pushed the defund the police rhetoric in cities, States, and right here in Washington, not House Republicans. In fact, it was Democrats who took the defund the police rhetoric and made it viral. They turned it into concrete policy that demonizes our men and women in blue while letting violent criminals back out on the street. Madam Speaker, do you think the American people are really going to buy that Democrats weren't the ones who wanted to defund the police? Madam Speaker, we could rewind the tape back to 2020 if you want to. We can show you the footage of our cities burning while they were chanting to defund the police and watching weak mayors of cities down on one knee begging for forgiveness for standing for law and order. We could go back and rewind the tape and get a little instant replay if you like. The footage is there. It is in black and white. It is a matter of historical fact that my friend's party supported the defund the police movement. What I just heard from the other side of the aisle couldn't be any more laughable. Democrats in New York City, certainly not Republicans, cut the NYPD's budget by $1 billion with more cuts to come. We have some of those brave NYPD officers here with us this week for Police Week. Democrats in Los Angeles, not Republicans, cut the LAPD's budget by hundreds of millions of dollars with more cuts to come. Democrats in Chicago, not Republicans, cut the Chicago PD's budget by $1 billion only to embarrassingly and quietly reverse further plans for cuts in recent years after crime spiraled out of control. Right here in our Nation's Capital it was Democrats, not Republicans, who passed legislation to make it more difficult than ever for cops to do their jobs and keep D.C.'s communities and residents safe. Let's not forget that at the height of the defund the police movement, it was House Democrats, not House Republicans, who attempted to completely defund the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a nationwide initiative that empowers law enforcement to work with community leaders and stakeholders to directly identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community. I am talking rapes, armed robberies, gang violence, and much, much more. Nonetheless, that didn't stop House Democrats from defunding this program to appease a radical base. The radical left has bought hook, line, and sinker into the defund the police movement, and Americans in New York, in Washington, in Chicago, in L.A., and everywhere else where Democrat leaders hold sway are reaping the consequences of these dangerous policies. Madam Speaker, the family of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller told New York Governor Kathy Hochul that she had blood on her hands. They see, as Americans across the country see, that it is the Democrats and not the Republicans who have abandoned law enforcement. They have vilified them, and they have made it harder than ever for them to do their job and keep their people safe. The legislation under this rule today is a step in the direction of supporting our law enforcement officers and empowering them with the tools to keep our communities safe in spite of the defund the police movement and in spite of the Biden border crisis. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), who is the chairman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is great to see that my colleague, the ranking member, has looked into Jamestown, New York, and read some of our headlines. Yes, we have Republican leadership right now, a brand-new elected Republican mayor. There was a Democratic mayor up until this last election, but I don't blame the outgoing Democratic mayor. I do blame the State of New York's leadership for destroying the criminal justice system in the State of New York, eliminating cash bail, and creating discovery reform. Creating a revolving-door criminal justice system in the State of New York is the reason that the police officers, many of which are at our Capitol this very week to celebrate Police Week, can't do their jobs. They have been put in handcuffs while the criminals walk free with an appearance ticket for many of the same crimes that the gentleman just rattled off from the Jamestown Post-Journal. That is fact. That is fact in the State of New York because Democrat-run policies, a Democratic Governor, a supermajority in the State senate, and a supermajority in the State assembly have destroyed my State's criminal justice system. They have blood on their hands and have destroyed towns, villages, and cities across the once-great Empire State. The gentleman has found a few headlines, and we hope to get some restoration of common sense back to the Empire State once again, but it has to start right here in our Nation's Capital. It starts with the legislation under this rule. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley), my friend.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, my friends across the aisle are making some wild claims that somehow crime has gone down. It is like President Biden taking a bow for gas prices going from five bucks a gallon to four bucks a gallon when they were far less than that just before he was sworn in. My colleague's claims rest on cherry-picked data that does not present a full picture of the crime problem in our major cities, so let's revisit some of the facts. Violent crime has skyrocketed with year over year increases in violent crime in the millions. Carjackings have spiked by as much as 93 percent in many major cities and 18 percent more homicides were committed in 2023 than in 2019. It is no coincidence that many of these major cities that have been the epicenter of the wave in violent crime also happen to be run by Democratic politicians with leftwing DAs that have made it their mission not to prosecute perpetrators but to put dangerous criminals back on the streets and to facilitate a revolving door criminal justice system. My colleagues need only to venture beyond Capitol Hill to see what these policies have done to our Nation's Capital. To recap here, according to the Metro Police Department's own data, crime in D.C. increased 30 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. In 2023 alone, homicides increased 29 percent compared to 2022. In fact, since 2012, the rate of homicides in D.C. has doubled. Violent crime has increased 37 percent and robberies increased 65 percent from 2022 to 2023. Motor vehicle thefts increased 107 percent between 2022 and 2023. This surge of criminal activity is a direct result of the D.C. Council's soft-on-crime sentencing policy and refusal to back up its law enforcement officers with real support, resulting in resignations of police officers. We have heard it directly in the Oversight Committee from the union officials. Madam Speaker, despite my colleague's refusal to wake up to the reality, the fact remains that we are at this point today with crime soaring in many of our major cities and Americans are feeling less safe because of the disastrous policies the Democratic leaders, at the behest of the radical left that governs their party have imposed on residents of our communities. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think it is important that we don't forget all the other legislation in this bill, as we have had a spirited debate today about law enforcement. It is really important to remind my colleagues today about the situation in Israel and the Israel legislation that is being considered this week. We need to talk about how this conflict began. On October 7, it was Hamas and not Israel that launched a horrifying terror attack that took thousands of lives and innocent people hostage. It was Hamas terrorists who murdered approximately 1,200 people, including Holocaust survivors, the elderly, babies, and beautiful young people attending a music festival. It is Hamas who, to this day, has over 100 innocent people held hostage, including American citizens who we cannot forget are being held hostage. Americans are currently being held hostage in Gaza. Hamas is responsible for this war. Hamas, a terrorist organization, has for decades now used civilian structures and innocent people to shield their terrorist operations. However, Madam Speaker, none of that stopped anti-Israel protesters from taking to the streets just a day after the horrific attacks and the butchery of Israeli civilians to chant ``from the river to the sea.'' There are some people that serve in this building that take their time and like to chant ``from the river to the sea,'' and they need to be held accountable for that, which we know is synonymous language for the extermination of the Jewish people in Israel. Madam Speaker, by holding these arms shipments, President Biden is just not flouting the will of Congress and the American people, but he is also kowtowing to the radical left that, frankly, has embraced the anti-Israel movement wholeheartedly. It has become practically a platform plank over there. We are learning more and more about the leftwing groups and donors that are bankrolling the anti-Israel/anti-Semitic protests that have erupted across the country. We noted that it is the far left, including Members of the House, that have fully endorsed this message to turn against our ally Israel in their hour of need and to isolate them and to ultimately support their destruction. Madam Speaker, I am done hearing the false equivalencies of a morally bankrupt movement. Anyone who remembers the true reason why Israel is defending itself today should support the legislation under this rule. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I wish my colleague from Massachusetts well with his Trump derangement syndrome. Madam Speaker, the rule before us today is about standing up for the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods, our families, and our way of life. It is about standing up for what is right and defending those who risk their lives every single day to keep our communities safe. In my own district in the southern tier of New York, a Chemung County Sheriff's investigator, Michael Theetge, was critically injured when he was hit by a shoplifter's getaway car and has since been fighting to recover. Our prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery are with him and our whole community. Sadly, Investigator Theetge's case is not an isolated incident. It is emblematic of the dangers to law enforcement officers and what they face every time they put on their uniforms. In my own State of New York, we have lost some of our very finest recently. We have recently laid to rest Lieutenant Michael Hoosock of the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, and NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller. We don't want other families to have to go through what their families are facing right now and to be able to expect that their loved ones will come home at the end of their shifts safe and sound. What is happening in America's major cities in too many States and right here in our Nation's Capital is simply unacceptable, and it needs to be addressed now and is with this legislation before us. This rule, Madam Speaker, is also about standing up for our closest friends and allies. Since October 7, Israel has been in a struggle for self-defense against a terrorist organization that seeks nothing but violence, destruction, and extermination of the Jewish people. Israel needs the tools to defend itself and defeat Hamas. We need to send a message to the world that America will not falter in our commitment to our allies. We need to send these munitions to Israel now. Our future and their future depend on it.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, right now, our Nation is grappling with a border crisis that has been manufactured by Democratic policies that brazenly reward those who break our laws to enter our country illegally. My home State of New York is drowning due to policies that transformed our State into a sanctuary for illegal immigration. Democratic leaders in New York City, Albany, here in Congress, and the White House have turned their backs on lawful Americans, choosing instead to roll out the red carpet for illegal immigrants with housing, clothing, and financial incentives all paid for by the American taxpayers. The gravy train is alive and well. Throughout this process, we are learning that it is a calculated effort to boost their own political power by inflating their population counts and skewing congressional representation. We are talking millions of people who are not American citizens having a major say in American elections. They are not even hiding it anymore. One of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who happens to represent New York City in this body, openly called for more illegal immigration to her district because she said she ``needs more people in her district for redistricting purposes.'' This absurd notion, pushed by my colleagues across the aisle, that these noncitizens should shape the future of our Nation is completely unconstitutional. They are corroding the essence of American citizenship, turning it into a political commodity. The Equal Representation Act is our line in the sand. It is time to end the charade of rewarding States like New York and California for their reckless sanctuary antics that undermine our laws. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to rise above partisan manipulation, protect the sanctity of our democracy, and support the Equal Representation Act. Let's send a clear message that the value of American citizenship is absolute and our elections are not for sale.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana for yielding the time. With the ongoing migrant crisis in New York State, my district has sadly been on the front lines of Democratic policies that reward those who have broken our laws to come into this country illegally. With thousands of illegal immigrants now residing in hotels, shelters, and public facilities across my State, my constituents and other New Yorkers have seen what happens when their hard-earned tax dollars are spent on programs that enable a completely avoidable crisis. It is as if Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams put up a neon sign saying: Come on in. New York is open for business. Illegal immigrants know if they cross the border and ask to be sent to New York, they will be fed, clothed, housed, and even given a debit card. We are looking at half a million illegals in New York alone and nearly 10 million who have crossed our southern border to be released into the interior of the United States. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want these noncitizens to be represented here in Congress. It is unconstitutional and completely ridiculous. It is a threat to the very sovereignty of the United States of America. Democrats want to make citizenship mean nothing. A nation without borders is not a nation, especially when you allow anyone from any country to vote in our elections and be represented in our government. Now, thankfully, our courts have stopped reckless attempts to allow noncitizens to vote, but we need to ensure that Congress is representative of our citizens and our citizens alone. That is what our Nation's Founders intended, and it is the only way to uphold the principles of our democracy. Allowing representation for noncitizens is also a slap in the face to every immigrant who went through the proper channels and came here legally, the right way, to search for the American Dream. They respect our laws, have sworn allegiance to the United States of America, and deserve to be represented fairly here in Washington. I am a proud cosponsor of the Equal Representation Act before us today because it is time that we stop rewarding States like my home State of New York and California for their destructive sanctuary policies. With the absence of a citizenship requirement for apportionment in congressional districts, we have allowed a perverse incentive to take hold where Democrat-run sanctuary States are rewarded with greater representation in the Halls of Congress and greater sway in the electoral college simply by counting millions of illegal aliens who have broken our laws and taken advantage of these States' destructive policies. It sends the wrong message to the world about the value of citizenship and our respect for our own laws and own government. Mr. Speaker, we are effectively allowing those who are not U.S. citizens to have a significant say in the future of U.S. elections. This is a wrong that, for the sake of the American people and our own sovereignty as a nation, must be corrected. It is simple. Allowing noncitizens to vote and be represented in Congress dilutes the voice of the American citizen and opens the door to manipulation and exploitation of our electoral system. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Equal Representation Act and look forward to its consideration on the floor.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, due to a family illness, I was unable to be present for votes on Monday, April 29, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 153 and YEA on Roll Call No. 154.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, due to a family illness, I was unable to be present for votes on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 155; YEA on Roll Call No. 156; YEA on Roll Call No. 157; YEA on Roll Call No. 158; YEA on Roll Call No. 159; YEA on Roll Call No. 160; YEA on Roll Call No. 161; YEA on Roll Call No. 162; YEA on Roll Call No. 163; NAY on Roll Call No. 164; YEA on Roll Call No. 165; NAY on Roll Call No. 166; YEA on Roll Call No. 167; NAY on Roll Call No. 168; YEA on Roll Call No. 169; NAY on Roll Call No. 170; and YEA on Roll Call No. 171.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, due to a family illness, I was unable to be present for votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 172, NAY on Roll Call No. 173, YEA on Roll Call No. 174, NAY on Roll Call No. 175, and YEA on Roll Call No. 176.