Nicholas Langworthy

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), 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 may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, last night, the Rules Committee met and reported out a rule providing for consideration of three measures. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3617, the Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act, under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 261, the Undersea Cable Protection Act, 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 Natural Resources, or their designees, and provides for one motion to recommit. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 2189, the Law- Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided among and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their designees, and the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their designees, 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 once again exposes a fundamental divide in the House. Republicans are focused on protecting American lives, American infrastructure, and American national security. Democrats are focused on protecting bureaucracies, activist pressure campaigns, and the broken systems they created. For years, Democrats have governed by slogan instead of substance. They talk about safety, but undermine law enforcement. They claim to care about national security, but allow infrastructure critical to that mission of security to decay. They give lipservice to the need to reshore our supply chains, while time and again supporting policies and legislation that ensure that America remains dependent on our foreign adversaries. Their opposition to the rule today undermines and underlines the stark contrast between the left's words and their actions, which threaten to undermine our country. Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act. Every single day, law enforcement officers are asked to make split-second decisions in dangerous, unpredictable situations. In those moments, officers should have access to every appropriate tool available to de-escalate encounters, protect themselves, and save the public's lives. Yet standing in their way is outdated Federal law. Under current statute, less-than-lethal devices like tasers are still treated like firearms. That classification no longer reflects modern technology, modern training, or modern policing. It creates unnecessary barriers for law enforcement agencies across this country. These devices are designed to temporarily incapacitate an individual without causing serious or permanent injury. They play a critical role in real-world law enforcement encounters by giving officers a nonlethal option to defuse potentially violent situations and protect both officers and the public at large. Because these de-escalation tools are misclassified under Federal law, the consequences are real. Law enforcement agencies and communities face higher costs, procurement delays, and unnecessary regulatory hurdles, including taxes and rules written over 50 years ago that were never intended to apply to modern, less-than-lethal technology. At a time when departments are investing in better training, accountability, and modern technology to reduce fatal encounters, access to less-than-lethal alternatives should be expanding, not shrinking. Federal law should be keeping pace with innovation, not trapping law enforcement in the past. Mr. Speaker, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act updates this outdated framework and acknowledges a simple fact. Law enforcement officers need access to better tools in order to do their job safely and effectively. The bill ensures less-than-lethal devices are treated for what they are, which are tools in de-escalation, not firearms. It draws clear lines, focuses on devices designed to incapacitate without causing serious injury, and explicitly prevents any device that would be converted into a lethal weapon from falling under the new definition. Democrats will claim that this bill is dangerous. They always do. The real danger is forcing our law enforcement officers into a false choice between using deadly force or no force at all. If we are serious about reducing violent encounters and saving lives, we should be focused on giving officers more options to de-escalate situations when seconds matter. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 261, the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025. This bill is about infrastructure most Americans will never see but every single one of us rely on every single day. From sending an email to making a phone call to moving money across the globe, undersea cables are the backbone of the modern world. In fact, undersea cables carry more than 95 percent of global internet traffic. They support military communications. They move trillions of dollars in financial transactions and keep the global economy functioning. Protecting this infrastructure is not just about speed or convenience. It is about national security. Route diversity matters. When too many cables are forced into the same landing areas, vulnerabilities increase. Adversaries take notice. Despite their importance, undersea cable projects face duplicative and unnecessary regulatory hurdles. Even after projects receive all required Federal and State approvals, agencies can still demand additional authorizations, slowing installation, maintenance, and repair work that is critical to keeping these systems secure. We see this pattern far too often in Washington. Projects are approved, but delays pile up anyway. Timelines slip. Responsibility gets passed around. Bureaucracy grows, while real-world risks go unaddressed. We saw the same pattern play out in upstate New York. Micron is making a historic investment in bringing advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States, creating thousands of good- paying jobs and strengthening domestic supply chains critical to our national security. Yet, even after clearing one of the most stringent State environmental review processes in the country, the project is subjected to duplicative Federal reviews that reached the same exact conclusions again and again. Those delays were not about environmental risks. They were bureaucratic duplication, years of lost time before construction could even begin. That is not environmental protection. It is regulatory paralysis. It is the same kind of post-approval delay and second-guessing that puts critical projects, including our undersea cable installation, maintenance, and repair, at risk. At a time when adversaries are actively probing undersea infrastructure, Washington should be focused on protection, resilience, and readiness, not red tape. That is exactly what the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 does. It prevents agencies from piling new permitting requirements onto projects that have already been reviewed and approved. It allows installation, maintenance, and repair to move forward without unnecessary delay, while preserving coordination and oversight. Nothing in this bill weakens environmental laws. Nothing strips oversight and accountability. It simply says that once the government has completed its review, it should not keep finding ways to slow down critical security infrastructure. If Democrats were serious about national security, we could pass this on suspension. They would support protecting the infrastructure that carries our communications, our commerce, and our defense information. Instead, they will continue to defend a broken process that leaves critical assets exposed and America more vulnerable than it should be. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 3617, the Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act. Critical minerals are essential to modern life. They are used in defense systems, energy infrastructure, manufacturing, and the advanced technologies that power our economy and keep this country secure. Without reliable access to these materials, everything built on top of them becomes vulnerable. Yet for years, Washington policies have discouraged domestic production and pushed our supply chains overseas. The result was predictable. The United States became dangerously dependent on foreign sources for critical minerals, often controlled by adversarial nations that do not share our interests or our values. American jobs were lost and supply chains weakened. Foreign governments gained leverage over materials our economy and national defense rely on every single day. That is the damage this Congress is now working to reverse. Energy security has been a core national security concern before. After the oil crises of the 1970s, Americans learned the hard way what happens when adversaries control the resources our economy depends on. Today, we face a similar threat not just in energy but across the next generation of industries like artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and defense systems that all rely on critical minerals. After decades of degrowth policies that drove energy production, mining, and refining all overseas, our adversaries exploited those vulnerabilities. The result is an economy that leaves American families exposed to decisions made in places like Communist China. We have already seen this play out. Communist China has taken steps to restrict exports of key minerals including antimony, which is essential to defense manufacturing for systems like radar. That is not a theoretical risk. It is active leverage being used against the United States today. Under President Trump, the United States has begun to change course by prioritizing domestic production, strengthening supply chain security, and treating critical minerals as a strategic national interest. H.R. 3617, the Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act, builds on that effort. It forces the Federal Government to take a hard look at where America is vulnerable, improves coordination across agencies, and ensures securing critical minerals is treated as a priority, not as an afterthought. The bill strengthens the Department of Energy's role in identifying supply chain risks and supporting responsible domestic production, refining, and processing, so America is not forced to rely on adversaries for materials essential to our economy and to our defense. Let's be clear about what this bill does not do. It does not eliminate environmental review. It does not lower standards. It simply says America should be able to responsibly produce what it needs here at home instead of outsourcing our future to foreign powers. Instead of trying to score political points, Democrats should support efforts to close the supply chain vulnerabilities that Communist China actively exploits to the detriment of the American people. If Democrats were serious about supply chain security and national defense, this is exactly the kind of bill that they would support. Instead, they spent years defending policies that left America exposed. Republicans are choosing strength, security, and self-reliance. Democrats choose dependence and delay. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell).

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues across the aisle would love to scapegoat everything on the President's tariff authority. The question of affordability, which they have all of a sudden gotten into their hands, is rich given that they presided over the worst inflation spike in 40 years. Under President Joe Biden, families paid more for everything, for food, housing, transportation, and energy. It all exploded on their watch when they ran three Houses of government. Energy prices surged roughly 20 percent. In many parts of the country, electricity rates rose 30 percent. Democrats didn't just miss the problem. They caused it, and then they put their hands over their face and pretended like everything was okay. Those weren't abstract numbers. Those were kitchen table realities, and they remain kitchen table realities for working families, who are lectured by Democrats to be patient. Meanwhile, this transitory inflation--their claim--they just spent trillions of dollars more and inflamed the problem all the more. The difference today could not be any clearer. Gas prices are coming down. They are at their lowest level in 4 years. Real wages are rising again. Regulatory costs are finally being rolled back after years of Democrats using regulations as a weapon against affordability. President Trump and congressional Republicans are cleaning up the mess left behind, undoing the damage of the Biden economic policies, restoring confidence, and rebuilding an economy that works for people who actually earn a paycheck. That brings us to the rule before us today. The three bills under this rule all address affordability in the real world. They reduce unnecessary delays that drive up costs. They protect the infrastructure Americans rely on every single day. They support domestic production, so families are not left paying more because Washington chose delay, dependence, and dysfunction. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald).

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that the Supreme Court heard arguments on November 5 on this very issue of whether the Trump administration has the authority to impose the tariffs under the debate right here. Our extension of the tolling days is something Democrats did themselves back in the 116th and the 117th Congress. Unlike when they did it, ours has a clear end date, sunsetting in a matter of months, unlike the blanket prohibitions of COVID NEA resolutions under Democratic rule. This extension will allow the Supreme Court the time necessary to provide a ruling on this extremely consequential issue. It is just amazing to hear the arguments about affordability when they presided over an era of government that exploded our national debt, exploded prices, not to the tune of $1,000 but tens of thousands of dollars on Americans across the board, and they still tried to convince people that their policies had nothing to do with it. That is why this House is in Republican hands, the U.S. Senate is in Republican hands, and the White House is in Republican hands. That is because it was part of the mandate given by the American people to reset the global trade order and to renegotiate unfair trade deals that have happened over decades. Both Republican and Democratic administrations alike took advantage of the American worker, chased our jobs overseas, and ruined our supply chains. All of those things happened. The tariffs have been an important tool that the President has been able to use to create real trade deals, opening up markets for American products. We have seen it firsthand. We have new trade deals around the globe. America has come from a position of strength because of this tool, not a position of weakness. We can't allow that weakness to prevail. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2189 does not allow felons or violent criminals to gain access to anything new. It does not override State or local law, and anyone barred from possessing these devices today remains barred tomorrow. What this bill actually does is correct an outdated Federal classification that treats tasers like deadly firearms. That outdated and absurd classification has driven up costs, created delays, and made it harder for law enforcement agencies to access less-than-lethal tools designed to specifically de-escalate situations and to save lives. Democrats are calling that clarity a loophole. In reality, the only thing that this bill closes is the gap between outdated law and modern policing. Instead of supporting officers who want safer alternatives to deadly force, Democrats are trying to scare the public with cherry- picked statistics and misleading claims. Let's be honest. If Democrats were truly concerned about public safety, they would not oppose a bill that encourages de-escalation and reduces the likelihood of fatal outcomes and encounters. Despite all this rhetorical nonsense about policing in the United States, Democrats are standing in the way of this commonsense measure. They cannot seem to support legislation that empowers law enforcement in any way, even when it keeps communities safe. However, this pattern is not stopped with this bill. Across all three bills before the House today, the choice is the same. Republicans are offering practical solutions to strengthen public safety, protect critical infrastructure, and secure our supply chains that our national security depends on, and Democrats are choosing, again, to delay, to distort, and to defend broken systems and outcomes. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it has become impossible to ignore a defining feature of today's Democratic Party, and that is Trump derangement syndrome, which is a real disease. No matter what legislation is before this House, no matter how unrelated it is to President Trump, Democrats find a way to twist the debate back to him--his personality, what they hate about him--not the text of the bill, not any of the real-world problems families are facing, just Trump over and over and over. Every time they do that, American people pay the price. When inflation exploded in 2022, after trillions of dollars in Democratic spending overheated the economy, families were drowning in higher grocery bills, higher gas prices, and higher rents. All of it exploded, went out of control. It is a matter of fact. It is not a matter up for debate. It happened in this country. Democrats were not focused on fixing those things. Instead, they are focused on their latest Trump obsession. When the border collapsed and millions of illegal immigrants poured into communities across our country, Democrats once again ignored the consequences of their own policies. Instead of securing the border or addressing affordability, they leaned harder into the same tired talking points and hysteria about President Trump. Voters saw right through that in the last election, and Democrats lost the popular vote. They lost the electoral college. They lost every swing State on the map. Yet, even after that decisive rejection, Trump derangement syndrome remains completely untreated. Instead of course correcting, Democrats continue to defend wasteful programs, failed policies, bloated bureaucracy, while reflexively opposing every effort that President Trump and House Republicans are making to clean up the mess that they created. Here we are again today listening to the same theatrics. The American people are no longer entertained by those theatrics. They are focused on results: lowering costs, securing the border, strengthening energy independence, restoring accountability in Washington, reshoring American jobs, and bringing manufacturing here back to the United States of America that their failed policies over decades have chased away. While Democrats remain stuck in the year 9--we are going on year 10-- of Trump derangement syndrome, Republicans are focused on governing and delivering results for working families. Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again remind my colleagues of what is actually in the rule before us today. The rule provides for consideration of three commonsense bills: the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, which we have talked about; the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025; and H.R. 3617, the Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Act, which will strengthen our domestic critical mineral supply chain so we can be stronger here at home and across the world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, for years, Democrats told the American people not to believe what they could see with their own eyes. They said that crime was under control, our infrastructure was secure, our supply chains were resilient, and our energy systems were just fine. The legislation under the rule today takes real steps toward fixing broken systems, supporting our law enforcement officers, protecting critical infrastructure, and rebuilding supply chains right here at home. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the rule before us today.

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

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary dedication and service of Gary Braunscheidle, who has devoted 62 years to serving the Town of Pendleton and the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Gary has responded to over 200 emergencies in the past year alone, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to public safety. Gary has held multiple roles within the company, including Assistant Chief and company mechanic, and has been a cornerstone of the social and fundraising efforts that support the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. He has played a vital role in events such as making chowder, managing the kitchen for the Gun Raffle, assisting with Fire Prevention, and supporting Company Field Days and the Harvest Moon 5K. Gary's guidance, leadership, and readiness to help in any capacity have made him an indispensable member of the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring Gary Braunscheidle for his remarkable 62 years of service and in wishing him continued success and fulfillment in his ongoing commitment to the community.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary dedication and service of Randy Moje, who has devoted 50 years to serving the Town of Pendleton and the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. A second-generation firefighter, Randy has held numerous leadership positions, including Chief, and has consistently demonstrated commitment to public safety and the growth of the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Randy has been a leader in Fire Prevention, spending many hours with the Fire Prevention trailer educating the community, and has been an essential contributor to fundraising events such as chowder-making, lobster dinners, and the Farmers Breakfast. His dedication extends to supporting both the operational and social functions that sustain the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Randy's experience, leadership, and willingness to serve in any capacity have inspired generations of firefighters and strengthened the company's presence in the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring Randy Moje for his remarkable 50 years of service and in wishing him continued success and fulfillment in his ongoing commitment to the community.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary dedication and service of Doreen Neilson, who has devoted 60 years to serving the Town of Pendleton and the Wendelville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. Over the course of her long and distinguished career, Doreen has held numerous leadership and administrative roles, providing unwavering support to both the firefighters and the community. Together with her husband Victor, she helped establish and run the famous Fish and Chips at the Annual Wendelville Field Days and has contributed to countless social and fundraising activities that sustain the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Her dedication has ensured that the Ladies Auxiliary remains a vital part of the organization and the community. Doreen's leadership, experience, and commitment have served as an example for all members of the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company and the broader community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring Doreen Neilson for her remarkable 60 years of service and in wishing her continued success and fulfillment in her ongoing commitment to the community.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary dedication and service of Shawn Christman, who has devoted 25 years to serving the Town of Pendleton and the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company. Over the course of his career, Shawn has served as President and two-time Chief, holding many officer positions while providing guidance and training to new and current firefighters. Shawn is a certified State Fire Instructor and has also led community initiatives, including the Santa Run for Christmas and the Lancaster Christmas Parade, helping the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company achieve three Overall Championships. He has been instrumental in combining his leadership with technical expertise to support both the company and the community. Shawn's leadership and guidance have strengthened the Wendelville Volunteer Fire Company and its connection to the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring Shawn Christman for his remarkable 25 years of service and in wishing him continued success and fulfillment in his ongoing commitment to the community.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I was not present due to unforeseen personal circumstance. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 49 and YEA on Roll Call No. 50. personal explanation

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional public service of the Honorable M. William Boller, who is retiring after more than four decades of legal and judicial service in Western New York. Since beginning his public career in 1981, Judge Boller has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice, professionalism, and fair administration of the law. Judge Boller began his career with the Erie County Department of Social Services, handling hundreds of Family Court cases, and later served for two decades with the Erie County Child Support Unit. In 1984, he was selected as Elma Town Justice, becoming at age 28 the youngest Town Justice in Erie County, and went on to serve the Town of Elma for more than twenty-two years. In 2006, Judge Boller was nominated to the New York State Court of Claims and later received full appointments in 2010 and 2019. He also served as an Acting Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Supervising Judge of Town and Village Courts across four counties, and Erie County Firearms Licensing Officer. His integrity, sound judgment, and dedication have left a lasting impact on the judicial system in our region. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States House of Representatives join me in honoring Judge M. William Boller for his many years of devoted service and in wishing him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I was not recorded due to unforeseen personal circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 12.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sharon Murphy of Horseheads, New York, a truly special public servant from New York's southern tier. For more than 15 years, Sharon served the people of New York's 23rd Congressional District with professionalism, compassion, and a genuine heart for service. She was a steady presence in our community, serving three consecutive Members of Congress, and always putting the people first. Known for her kindness and reliability, Sharon often worked behind the scenes to help families through their most difficult moments. She took great pride in managing our service academy nominations, helping young men and women take their first steps toward a career serving this Nation. As Sharon Murphy enters her retirement, I will miss having her on my staff. I will miss her. My staff will miss her. My community will miss her Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Sharon Murphy for her outstanding service and in wishing her every happiness in this next chapter of her life.

Mr. LANGWORTHY

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 951 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon), 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 may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules met last night and reported a rule, House Resolution 951, providing for consideration of six measures. The rule provides for H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act, to be considered under a structured rule, making in order six amendments. Additionally, it provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources, or their respective designees, and it provides for one motion to recommit. Further, H.R. 1366, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, and H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, will be considered 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 Natural Resources, or their respective designees, and provides each with one motion to recommit. Additionally, H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act, and H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025, will each be considered under closed rules, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, or their respective designees, with one motion to recommit. Finally, H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act, will be considered under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. The rule before us gives this House an opportunity to finally begin undoing the damage caused by years of reckless regulatory overreach and economic mismanagement driven by Democrats' failed policies. Joe Biden may no longer be in the White House, but American families are still paying the price for his administration's failures. Under President Biden, this country experienced the worst inflation spike in 40 years, and we are still paying the price. Groceries costs were more, housing costs were more, transportation costs more, and working families were left wondering how much further their paychecks could stretch. Mr. Speaker, that pressure didn't stop there. Under Democratic leadership, electricity prices surged by more than 20 percent in many parts of the country, including my own in New York. Families opened their utility bills and asked a simple question: Why is this getting so expensive so quickly? The answer is clear: Democrats chose ideology over affordability. They chose mandates over reliability, and they chose Washington control over simple, plain common sense. Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act. For years, Democrats have taken the well-intentioned National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and twisted it far beyond its original purpose. NEPA was meant to be a commonsense safeguard for our environment, not a tool to block projects indefinitely, but that is exactly how it is being abused today. NEPA is now one of the most litigated statutes in Federal law, not because projects fail environmental standards but because a small group of activist organizations exploit the process itself. They file endless lawsuits to stall infrastructure, energy, and conservation projects for years and years, sometimes decades, with little regard to the real-world consequences for workers, families, communities, and progress. Those consequences are real. Projects get shelved. Costs skyrocket. Jobs disappear, and families pay more for energy, housing, and basic infrastructure. We see this broken system clearly in upstate New York. Take Micron, a company and a project too big to fail. This historic investment to bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States is critical for our country, for our national security, and for the upstate economy. This project means thousands of good-paying jobs and a stronger domestic supply chain. Yet despite meeting some of the most stringent environmental review requirements in the country under New York law, Micron is still being forced through duplicative Federal reviews that reach the very same conclusions as the State reviews. As a result, Micron is the only semiconductor project in the country held up, pending a full environmental impact statement, not because of environmental risk, but because of bureaucratic delay and regulatory duplication. This is not environmental protection. This is regulatory paralysis, and it is costing us jobs and a brighter economic future. Time and again, Democrats defend this broken system because it gives Washington more control and activist groups more leverage. Because of this process, the result is gridlock. Nothing gets built. Nothing gets fixed. Nothing gets cheaper. The SPEED Act restores balance. It reins in duplicative reviews. It requires the Federal Government to make timely decisions and stop endless delay from becoming the official policy of the government. If Democrats are serious about infrastructure, clean energy, and environmental progress, they should support fixing the permitting system that they helped break. They should have no problem supporting things like the SPEED Act. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 3632, the Power Plant Reliability Act. Years of Democratic energy policy have put our electric grid under real, significant strain, and Americans are feeling the consequences in real time. Demand is rising rapidly. Manufacturing growth and electrification are pushing this system harder and harder every single year. At the same time, Democrats are forcing reliable baseload generation offline, without a serious plan to replace it. Instead of coordinating policy, they regulate in silos. Instead of planning for reliability, they react after the fact. The Power Plant Reliability Act forces accountability. It ensures regulators cannot quietly retire critical power plants without fully understanding the reliability consequences on our Nation. Americans don't need a white paper to understand what happens when reliability is ignored. They see it when the power goes out. They feel it when their energy bills spike. They pay the price when Washington refuses to plan for real-world demand. Keeping the lights on should not be controversial. It should be something we should be able to get 435 votes on, but Democrats chose politics over reliability. The families in this country are the ones paying the price right now. Premature plant retirements are only part of the problem. The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act. This bill addresses another uncomfortable truth that Democrats don't want to admit. Federal agencies are finalizing regulations that directly threaten grid stability without fully accounting for the consequences, and it is just purely reckless. The Reliable Power Act requires a long-term reliability assessment that ensures that when serious risks are identified, regulators cannot simply ignore them and press ahead anyway. Quite simply, this legislation is about ending, once and for all, the implementation of asinine regulations that only harm our grid's reliability. Reliable electricity underpins everything: public safety, economic growth, hospitals, schools, and national security. Republicans are treating that responsibility seriously, and that is why we are bringing this legislation forward today. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not. Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 1366, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act. Democrats talk endlessly about supply chains and national security, but their policies undermine both. Domestic mining projects are stalled, not because they fail environmental standards, but because Democrats have once again allowed endless regulation and regulatory ambiguity to choke them off. That means fewer American jobs. It means greater dependence on foreign adversaries that are getting rich in the process. It means higher costs across our economy. If Democrats want secure supply chains and fewer imports from hostile foreign powers, this is exactly the kind of bill that they should support. Mr. Speaker, the rule also includes consideration of H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. It is impossible to deny that the recovery of the gray wolf is a success story. Population goals were met years and years ago, yet Democrats refuse to trust the science and acknowledge the clear success of saving the gray wolf population in this country. Why? Because it would mean betraying the radical environmental groups that want to see laws like the Endangered Species Act weaponized rather than work as intended, to save these animals. Instead, bowing to their base and ignoring the science, Democrats have kept the future of gray wolf management trapped in endless litigation, leaving farmers and ranchers to deal with the real consequences that they face on their ranches and farms every single day. What are those consequences? Livestock are attacked, and livelihoods across rural America are threatened, all to satisfy the whims of a radical left activist base that thinks their food comes from the grocery store and their energy comes from a socket in the wall when you plug something in. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act puts an end to this endless litigation and weaponization of the ESA. It recognizes science, acknowledges success, and restores balance, something our colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem unwilling to do. Mr. Speaker, finally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act. The bill exists because of a tragic failure, one that my Democratic colleagues, who supported the last administration for 4 long years of open borders, would rather continue to ignore. As the first Trump administration recognized, the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program has been exploited by criminals, including gang members, who come to this country as wolves in sheep's clothing. These individuals use the UAC system not for protection but to recruit and traffic new members and to wreak havoc on American communities. Under the Biden administration open-border, no-consequences policies, policies my Democratic colleagues wholeheartedly supported, that exploitation exploded. During the Biden years, approximately 465,000 unaccompanied alien children were released to unvetted sponsors. The program lacked basic safeguards to prevent illegal aliens from serving as sponsors. According to Health and Human Services, roughly 85 percent of UAC sponsors lack lawful immigration status. Thanks to the Biden administration's own policies supported by Democrats for 4 years, countless smugglers, cartels, and bad actors profited from nothing less than the exploitation of children and human trafficking. Instead of tightening safeguards as encounters surged, Democrats chose to roll back background checks and sponsor reviews, moving children out of law enforcement custody faster, regardless of risk. The consequences to innocent children harmed from years of this horrific policy choice have yet to be fully reckoned with and will certainly haunt generations of innocent victims for years to come. What we do know is that in May 2024, the Biden administration had lost track of more than 320,000 unaccompanied alien children, placing them at heightened risk of sex trafficking, forced labor, and abuse. Mr. Speaker, this is not compassion. This is pure negligence. Picking up the pieces from the wreckage of the Biden-Harris immigration policies, the Trump administration has committed to locating these children and to saving lives, something that eluded Democrats for 4 long years. So far, more than 22,600 unaccompanied children have been located, and over 400 sponsors have been arrested. Tragically, 27 minors have been found dead, victims of murder, victims of suicide, victims of drug overdose. Those are not statistics. Those are lives that are forever lost to tragedy. The Kayla Hamilton Act restores basic safeguards. It requires background checks. It seeks criminal records from home countries. It puts public safety first. I urge my colleagues to support this rule. I urge my colleagues to support the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think we are now approaching about year 9 of Democrats suffering from Trump derangement syndrome. No matter what is before this House, no matter what the rule before us today actually contains, my colleagues across the aisle find a way to make this about President Trump, not the substance of the legislation, not the issues before the American people, not the suffering the last 4 years have brought on them, not the costs facing families, not the failures of their own record. It is just about Trump to them. While they are fixated on that, the American people have paid the price. In 2022, while Democrats were consumed by their latest Trump obsession, families were being crushed by the worst inflation spikes in 40 years after trillions upon trillions in Democratic spending overheated the economy. Groceries, gas, and rent all skyrocketed. You didn't hear a peep on the other side of the aisle. Democrats didn't fix it. They didn't even acknowledge it. Then they doubled down on it and made it worse. In 2024, with the border wide open and millions of illegal aliens pouring into our communities across the country, Democrats once again ignored the top concerns of American families. Instead of securing the border or addressing affordability, they doubled down on the same, tired narrative claiming that President Trump was a threat to democracy. You will hear more of it today, Mr. Speaker. The voters rejected it. They lost the electoral college, they lost the popular vote, and they lost every swing State on the table. Since then, Democrats haven't learned a thing. They have spent their time defending wasteful programs, failed policies, and bureaucratic overreach all while opposing every serious effort by President Trump and House Republicans to clean up the mess that they left behind. Yet here we are today hearing the same hysterics. The American people have tuned it out. They know what actually matters: trying to lower costs, keeping communities safe, securing reliable energy, and restoring accountability in Washington. That is exactly what the bills under this rule are about. While Democrats rehash old grievances and relive the same political fixation for the ninth year in a row, Republicans are focused on delivering results for working families. After 4 years of the economic mismanagement under Democratic leadership, Democrats are suddenly pretending to care about trade, tariffs, and the American economy. It is quite a performance. The American people see right through it. For 4 years, Democrats told families not to believe their own eyes as inflation hit 40-year highs, as their grocery bills exploded, and as their energy costs soared. They brushed off concerns from workers and manufacturers who were watching their jobs disappear overseas and while Washington signed one bad trade deal after another. They told Americans that surrendering leverage was smart trade policy even as foreign countries flooded our markets and shut their own doors for American producers. Now President Trump is back in office and trying to right the ship. He is delivering results, and Democrats are scrambling to rewrite history. Under President Trump's America First trade agenda, the trade deficit has narrowed to its smallest level since the mid-2020 year, down more than 35 percent over last year alone. Exports are up 6 percent year- over-year, reaching their second highest level on record. Inflation- adjusted exports of consumer goods are the largest ever. The trade deficit with China has narrowed to its second smallest since 2009. In the third quarter of 2025, real exports grew 4.1 percent annual rate while imports fell 5 percent, adding roughly 1 full percentage point to real GDP growth. In November alone, the trade deficit was cut by more than one-half compared to last year, driven by rising tariff revenues as President Trump secured better terms for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers. This didn't happen by accident. For decades, weak trade policies allowed foreign governments to exploit American openness while protecting their own industries. President Trump ended that arrangement by using tariffs as leverage. He forced countries to come to the table. They have, and they are continuing to. Since announcing his trade agenda in April, President Trump has secured new and improved trade deals with major partners covering more than one-half of the global GDP, spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. At the same time, companies are responding by committing trillions of dollars in new investment, bringing jobs back here at home, rebuilding supply chains, and putting American workers first again. Mr. Speaker, shouldn't that be what we are working on here? I could go on and on, Mr. Speaker, but today's debate is not about relitigating trade policy or listening to Democrats pretend to suddenly discover economic responsibility. Today we are focused on the six bills under this rule, bills that reflect the same commonsense approach that President Trump has applied to trade, strengthening domestic production, lowering costs, restoring reliability, and undoing the damage of the Biden years. That is the work before us today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.