Tracey Mann

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of a great Kansan, Mark Fowler, and to mourn his untimely passing at the age of 52 at his home in Manhattan on February 20. Mark grew up on his family's farm near Emporia, Kansas. He earned a bachelor's degree in Milling Science and Management from Kansas State University, and later returned to complete a master's degree in agricultural economics. He began his career as a flour miller, first for Cargill, and then Seaboard. In those roles, Mark ran flour mills, which worked on projects in several developing countries, including Ecuador, Guyana, and Haiti, and worked as a technical director of the African Division within Seaboard's Overseas Group in Durban, South Africa. Mark was the president and CEO of Farmer Direct Foods, a farmer- owned, flour milling company in New Cambria, Kansas, after which he moved into his most recent role at U.S. Wheat, where he originally served as vice president of overseas operations. Mark once said that he wanted to advance the U.S. wheat export market development mission because, through his work overseas, he experienced the global impact of wheat milling. Mark's dedicated service helped hungry people all over the world, and he will be sorely missed. To his colleagues and friends, his widow, Courtney, his daughters Piper and Paige, his mother Ruth Fowler, and his sisters Rhonda and Amy, you are in my thoughts and prayers as you mourn Mark's passing. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Andy McCurry

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great Kansan, Andrew J. McCurry, who passed away on February 12 at his home in Burrton, Kansas, surrounded by his loving family. Andy was born in 1950 in Hutchinson, Kansas. After studying animal science and industry at Kansas State University, he and his wife, Mary, started their registered Angus operation Marands Angus, which later became McCurry Angus Ranch. As third- and fourth-generation Angus breeders, Andy and his family built a legacy all their own while carrying on the traditions of their ancestors. Andy spent a lifetime pounding posts by hand, making a suitable place for hosting cattle sales, chuckwagon cookouts, livestock judging teams, and visitors from across the U.S. Ultimately, he built a place to raise both his family and world-class Angus cattle by the sweat of his brow. Andy's gift was the ability to meet people from all walks of life and spend time getting to know them, and his network of friends was nationwide. Later in life, Andy pursued another career as a pharmacist. He attended the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, graduated in 1990, after which he worked as a pharmacist in the Hutchinson, Kansas, area for 30 years, retiring on his 70th birthday in 2020. Because of his career-change experience, Andy was able to come alongside young people and help them find direction in their lives. He encouraged so many. To Andy's wife, Mary; his son, John; his daughter, Emily; and all his grandchildren, you have my prayers as you gather together to remember Andy's loving impact. Andy's legacy lives on in so many ways, especially in the cattle his family still produces. I know the first bull sale without Andy will be a tough one, but what a way to honor his legacy by continuing on the tradition he loved so much. I will be praying for you tomorrow during the sale that your family would have peace, Andy would be honored, and that the bulls would set new records.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight a few of the ways that I am keeping my commitment to the people of the Big First. A few weeks ago, I released my commitment to the Big First, which is a legislative roadmap for the 118th Congress that details my plans for an economy that is strong, a government that is accountable, a future that is built on freedom, and a nation that is safe. Here are some of the ways I am working to get America back on track. To create an economy that is strong, I voted ``yes'' on the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, which the House just passed. Kansas families and small businesses are already paying the price of President Biden's inflation tax. The last thing we need is 87,000 more IRS agents and 1.2 million more audits. I voted ``yes'' on the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act because it is a clear-cut way to fight back against one of the most egregious pieces of legislation from the last Congress. The $72 billion of taxpayer money that Washington Democrats allocated to the IRS last year would have ballooned the agency to a size larger than the Pentagon, State Department, FBI, and Border Patrol combined. I am committed to creating an economy that is strong by stopping President Biden's audit army, and I am keeping my commitment. To create a government that is accountable, I voted ``yes'' on the Strategic Production Response Act, which the House also passed. President Biden has been playing fast and loose with one of our country's most important national security assets. His administration's energy policies have caused prices to skyrocket at the pump, and using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a political tool to mask that failure has led to severe U.S. energy insecurity and depletion of our oil reserves, which poses a threat to our national security. I voted ``yes'' on the Strategic Production Response Act, which is a step toward ending President Biden's war on fossil fuels, empowering domestic energy producers, and resurrecting American energy independence by protecting our SPR from an administration that clearly doesn't understand how important it is. I made a commitment to hold the government accountable, and I am keeping that commitment. To create a future that is built on freedom, I voted ``yes'' on the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which the House passed. This vote was crystal clear: If a child is born alive following an abortion or an attempted abortion, that newborn child deserves the same standard of medical care that any newborn deserves. It is horrifying that we need to address issues like this in a free country, but Washington Democrats have advocated for unthinkable, gruesome policies that constitute an all-out attack on human life. I am proud to be a pro-life Member of Congress, and I will always support policies that protect life. I made a commitment to building a future based on freedom by supporting the God-given right to life held by unborn American citizens, and I am keeping my commitment. To create a nation that is safe, I will vote to denounce the horrors of socialism later this week. I hope that all of my colleagues can get behind this. Socialism ideology runs counter to everything we stand for in America because it requires the concentration of power, which results in totalitarianism. Democracy, on the other hand, enshrines individual liberty and gives people a voice in who governs them. Socialism creates famine, devastation, and bloodshed. It tears families apart, creates exile and mass theft, and flatly denies individual rights as fundamental as personal property. You don't have to look very far, Mr. Speaker, into the history of socialism to find these abuses and atrocities. They happen every time a country tries socialism on for size. It seems that certain people in America would like to experiment with socialism, but enough socialist experiments have been conducted already, and the verdict is clear: Socialism has no place on American soil. I made a commitment to ensuring that America is a nation that is safe, which means continuing to stand strong as a world leader in democracy and freedom. I am keeping that commitment. When we reflect on our work, it helps us to stay the course in the future, and we still have a lot of work to do in the 118th Congress. We need to create a balanced budget and strengthen the supply chain. We need to lower taxes and secure the southern border. We need to fully fund a robust police and military. We need a comprehensive reauthorization of the farm bill with strengthened crop insurance. We need a maintained stepped-up basis tax provision and global food security legislation that stops wars before they start. I will be keeping all of these commitments to the people of the Big First, and I will continue to spend time thinking, praying, and reflecting on how best to serve the people in my district. I did not come to Congress to be a caretaker in the slow demise of America. I am here to fight and work to make America stronger. With all of us working together, our brightest days are yet to come.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss my plans for representing the Big First District in the 118th Congress. As I have said on this House floor before, the Big First is the geographic center and the pilot light of America because there, the values that make America great are still alive and well: faith, family, freedom, and personal responsibility. We are farmers, ranchers, feed lot managers, businessowners, lenders, bankers, teachers, doctors, nurses, and parents. My job is to serve and advocate for the people of the Big First, which is why I am excited and grateful to have been appointed to the House Agriculture, House Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Small Business Committees. As a farm kid and a fifth-generation Kansan, I am honored to serve on the House Agriculture Committee again in the 118th Congress. Agriculture is the largest economic driver of the Big First. We rank number one in beef, wheat, and sorghum production. When I meet with farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers, I hear about skyrocketing inflation and record-high input costs, labor shortages, government overreach, and the importance of reauthorizing the farm bill. We need well-crafted farm and food policy in America to remain secure as a Nation, and the reauthorization of the farm bill is an enormous responsibility. My priorities for that legislation remain the same: to protect and strengthen crop insurance, promote trade, and stop regulatory overreach. I am committed to rolling up my sleeves and working for the men and women who feed, fuel, and clothe the world. I am also honored to serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Big First has 83,000 miles of road, seven commercial airports, and more than 4,000 miles of railroad tracks. We rely on this system to get to work, take our kids to school, and deliver food, fuel, and fiber to the rest of the world. The people of the Big First deserve a voice on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and I am proud to be their spokesperson. A well-maintained, fiscally responsible infrastructure network supports economic activity, strengthens the supply chain, and helps America to remain a global power. During this Congress, I will also serve on the House Small Business Committee. The Big First is home to more than 200,000 small businesses which employ 80 percent of all employees in the district. Small businesses help drive the American economy and define the American dream. They add brick and mortar to the values that make our country unique, like freedom, self-determination, and the pursuit of happiness. As a child, I learned about the responsibility, drive, and decisionmaking skills required to run a small business from watching my parents operate our preconditioning feedlot and family farm. I will continue to defend and support small businesses, their owners, employees, and the American values that small businesses embody. I am honored to serve on these committees, and we have a lot of work to do. Over the next 2 years, we need to reauthorize the farm bill, develop new trade agreements with countries that will benefit American ag producers, and review the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act. We need to reauthorize FAA and the Water Resources Development Act, protect producers from a burdensome and overreaching definition of waters of the United States, and ensure that our small and regional airports have the support they need. We also need to maintain the stepped-up basis, return money to small businesses from IRS watchdogs, and ensure that small businesses have a fair shot at government contracts. I will be working on a wide variety of issues, but I am bringing the same approach to all of them. A Russell native, Senator Bob Dole once told me about the Kansas approach: honesty; hard work; respect for your roots; service; simplicity; genuine, thoughtful care for people; and just plain common sense. I learned these Kansan conservative values as a kid in the Big First, they inspire my work today on all my committees, and they will always guide my steps here in Congress. Ultimately, I believe that with prayer and hard work, our brightest days are yet to come.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, in my first remarks before the 118th Congress, I rise today to share with you what I learned from my first term representing the Big First District of Kansas and how I will respond over the next 2 years. I grew up on the farm south of Quinter, Kansas, that has been in my family for five generations. The house my parents live in and the house I grew up in is the same house my great-great-grandfather ordered from a Montgomery Ward catalog in the early 1900s. Growing up there meant that I spent thousands of hours on a tractor working in fields and on horseback doctoring cattle in our family feed yard. I think of the Big First as the pilot light of America because the values that make America great are still alive and well there. People in the Big First are good people who carry a pioneering spirit with them, the same way those who settled my State did over 160 years ago. We know one another, look out for one another, and sacrifice for one another. We are farmers and ranchers, feedlot managers, businessowners, lenders, bankers, teachers, doctors, nurses, and parents. Over the last 2 years, I did a lot of listening. I held listening sessions each month. I received tens of thousands of calls, emails, and letters from Kansans. I hosted leaders and other Members of Congress in the district to listen with them. I hosted townhalls 126 times over the last 2 years, and I am gearing up to start my 2023 townhall tour again next week. As I travel across the district, I hear concerns about inflation, the border crisis, Big Government, sweeping executive orders, out-of- control government spending, sky-high taxes, and the infringement on basic rights like the Second Amendment and the right to life. I have long said, if it matters to a Kansan, it matters to me. In response to what I heard over the last 2 years and to what I have seen while serving in Congress, I developed my ``Commitment to the Big First.'' It is a roadmap for the 118th Congress that gets America back on track, advocates for agriculture, and advances our Kansas conservative values. My ``Commitment to the Big First'' details plans for an economy that is strong, a nation that is safe, a future that is built on freedom, and a government that is accountable. It is a plan for a balanced budget and a strengthened supply chain, for lower taxes and a secure southern border, for a robust police and military, for a comprehensive reauthorization of the farm bill and strengthened crop insurance, for a maintained stepped-up basis tax provision and global food security legislation that stops wars before they start. Senator Bob Dole once told me about the Kansas approach: honesty; hard work; respect for your roots; service; simplicity; genuine, thoughtful care for people; and common sense. My ``Commitment to the Big First'' is a plan for commonsense solutions to the complex problems that America faces today. I wasted no time implementing this commitment. On Monday, I reintroduced the More Accountability is Necessary Now Acts, or the MANN Acts. The MANN Acts are six pieces of legislation that will hold the Biden administration accountable, demand transparency from Washington, fight unconstitutional executive orders, and push back against Federal Government overreach. The MANN Acts require the executive branch to notify the American public and Congress of its intent to issue any new executive orders pertaining to agriculture, energy, the environment, pro-life provisions, the Second Amendment, and immigration. Single-party rule here in Washington, D.C., is over. The American people gave Republicans control of the House for a reason. They are tired of seeing their tax dollars wasted, their rights violated, and the laws of our land dictated by executive orders from the White House. The MANN Acts and my ``Commitment to the Big First'' are just the first steps toward executing on a plan that America has demanded of us. When we get into the middle of issues, roll up our sleeves, get to work, listen to those around us, and do the heavy lifting, we gain perspective and better results. That is what I learned in the Big First. I refuse to be stapled to my desk in Washington, D.C. I will continue to spend time thinking, praying, and reflecting on how best to serve the people in my district. I did not come to Congress to be a caretaker of the slow demise of America. I am here to fight and to work to make America stronger. I really believe that our brightest days are yet to come.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver the closing installment of my farm bill impact series for the 117th Congress. In 2022, I delivered 15 speeches on this House floor about various farm bill programs and titles that I believe Congress must understand and support ahead of the 2023 reauthorization. In Congress, we deal with the laws of the land--and that is important--but farmers are the caretakers of the land itself. Farmers built our history, sustain our present, and secure our future. They deserve the unwavering support of Congress in the form of legislation that supports their tireless efforts to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. That means keeping crop insurance strong, supporting robust trade programs, and ensuring that producers are not being hamstrung by burdensome overregulation. Early in my speech series, I highlighted crop insurance first. Keeping this program strong is my highest priority for the 2023 farm bill. Crop insurance helps producers manage the risks that they face every day from weather, pests, disease, and market volatility. It is also a great example of a successful public-private partnership. Agricultural producers have a fickle partner in Mother Nature, who doesn't always cooperate, and crop insurance helps producers stay afloat when disaster strikes. Shortly after my crop insurance speech, I spoke about trade programs which serve to spearhead innovative market access, new market development, and promote agricultural sales overseas. Each year $140 billion worth of agricultural products are exported. My State of Kansas is known as the Wheat State, and 50 percent of all wheat sold in the U.S. is exported. So Congress must think critically and carefully about the international components of the trade title. Trade programs, which have longstanding records of success in America, also represent the partnership between the public and private sectors of our country, just like crop insurance. The biggest threat to American agriculture, however, isn't a scarcity of natural resources or bad weather, but Federal Government overreach. The Biden administration has tried to dismantle the stepped-up basis and impose a farm killer capital gains tax on American producers that would destroy thousands of family farms overnight; the definition of waters of the U.S. keeps changing, and now the Federal Government would like to tell farmers what to do with their puddles; animals, like the lesser prairie-chicken, are being added to the endangered species list; and fertilizer and other inputs--even if you can get them--are often so expensive that they can't be afforded by agricultural producers. Government overreach has created a tornado of chaos, and my producers are in its path of destruction. Mr. Speaker, I am standing here today, and will continue to stand here, advocating for American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers because they are the lifeblood of this country. They keep us fed, fueled, and clothed. And they have earned the unwavering support of Congress. I will be delivering more installments of my farm bill impact series in the 118th Congress, and I look forward to the 2023 reauthorization of the farm bill because it is an opportunity for Congress to say unequivocally that we stand with our farmers. Recognizing Legislative Assistant Cale Beam

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Cale Beam for his service to me, my office, and the great people of the First District of Kansas. Cale was on my team since my first day in Congress, and he has consistently brought an eloquent and thoughtful approach to his research, writing, and recommendations. He has a genuine and kind spirit, a clever sense of humor, and a wisdom that is beyond his years. I am so excited to see what lies ahead for Cale, and I know that with his skill set, he will go far. Cale, like me, is a man of faith. I want to send him off on his new adventure with these two brief thoughts from the Scriptures. First, God works all things to good for those who love Him. Second, delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Mr. Speaker, I thank Cale. My first session in Congress would not have been the same without him. I will miss him, and I wish him all the best with his new pursuit.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1156. Twenty years ago, Kansas legend and hero of mine Senator Bob Dole and Senator George McGovern reached across the aisle to gather bipartisan support for their noble idea to have the U.S. Department of Agriculture purchase surplus American commodities from producers and donate those products to countries across the globe struggling with food security. Since then, the McGovern-Dole Program has provided 5.5 billion school meals to 31 million school-age children in 48 countries, improving the food security, nutrition, literacy, and primary education of these children and their families. Codified as part of 2002 farm bill, the program is an ongoing, successful example of public-private partnerships. The U.S. Department of Agriculture works alongside nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, and organizations like the World Food Programme, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, and many more to provide school meals, teacher training, and related support to bolster school enrollment and academic performance, all to keep kids fed and learning. Just in the past 2 months, I have heard nothing but excitement about this program from both wheat farmers at home and sorghum producers who visited with me in my office here in Washington, D.C. There is a reason all commodity groups and humanitarian aid organizations support moving this legislation forward. Whether it is wheat and sorghum from Kansas, red beans from Louisiana, or peanut butter formula made from Georgia peanuts, American agricultural producers are vital to the success of the McGovern-Dole Program. Since the program's inception, they have proudly donated more than 1.3 metric tons of commodities to create nutritious school meals. Representative McGovern and I, along with 86 cosponsors, have brought this resolution forward to the House to express this body's commitment to build on the success of the McGovern-Dole Program and to support the American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers who provide the commodities required for it to function. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution and to support this program's success for 20 more years and beyond, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. It has been a privilege to advocate for this resolution today. The McGovern-Dole program absolutely deserves the recognition of Congress for its wide support and bipartisan nature. It is not often that you can go to a grain elevator in Kansas to speak with commodity groups and visit with nuns from Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C. and hear them both advocating for the exact same program. More than 200 commodity groups, trade associations, humanitarian groups, and businesses support this program for its merits and support today's resolution. This resolution honors the positive impact that we can have when we reach across the aisle and work together. Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern had a brilliant vision, and they executed on it. It has been a joy to work with Representative McGovern and more than 86 cosponsors on today's resolution. Today, we honor the 20th anniversary of the McGovern-Dole program because it is a shining example of strategic and effective foreign diplomacy that we can all support. Today, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this simple bipartisan resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great Kansan, Rich Felts, and to congratulate him on his retirement from a career of service to Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Rich has always been a tireless advocate for agriculture. He earned his degree in animal science from Kansas State University, after which he began his service to Kansas Farm Bureau at the county level, holding many different leadership and volunteer positions. Now, after having served as the president of Kansas Farm Bureau for 8 years, Rich will be retiring on December 5. As a partner in Felts Farms, a grain and livestock operation near Liberty, Kansas, Rich has been through it all, and he brought his firsthand experience with him to Kansas Farm Bureau, where he never failed to empathize with local producers. Congratulations on a job well done, Rich. Thank you for stewarding the legacy of Kansas Farm Bureau so well. I know that Shirley and your children, Cynthia, Darren, Ryan, and Kimberly are so proud of you. Your leadership has been an inspiration and a model to us all. Congratulations.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the American farmer and to deliver the 15th installment of my farm bill impact series. The United States is the most food-secure country in the world thanks to the strength and determination of American farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers. With America's robust resources, we have been committed to ensuring food security at home and around the world, and Kansas has been on the cutting edge of that effort for nearly a century. In September of 1953, Peter O'Brien, a farmer from Cheyenne County, Kansas, stood up at his local county farm bureau meeting to share an idea. He wanted to use Kansas grain to help hungry people around the world. Over the next several months, today's Food for Peace program was crafted. The following year, one of Kansas' favorite sons, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, signed parts of the program into law. That was the beginning of what is now a longstanding Kansas tradition of commitment, care, and leadership in the international effort to address global hunger. Two weeks ago, I hosted David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme, in Kansas for an event to thank the American farmer. Executive Director Beasley had just been in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Rome, but he came to Kansas because he understands the impact that farmers in my State have had on international food aid. American farmers use their resources to feed, fuel, and clothe the world, which is no small task. It takes grit, determination, and a strong partnership between the public and private sectors. The World Food Programme won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and it is the world's largest humanitarian organization specializing in using American-grown commodities for international food assistance. It is a great example of what we can accomplish when public-private partnerships thrive. Now, with the 2023 reauthorization of the farm bill upon us, we see that the Kansas legacy of international food aid is alive and well. Today, our country administers in-kind food assistance primarily through farm bill programs, such as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program, just to name two. These programs have an especially strong return on investment because they support American agriculture producers today while greatly reducing the need for conflict or war-related dollars tomorrow. In the long run, these programs save the American taxpayer money. We know that when food rations are accessible in developing countries, conflict decreases. International food aid is, therefore, a way to stop wars before they start. I have the privilege and responsibility of advocating for Kansas' top priorities in the farm bill. That means protecting crop insurance, promoting trade, and ensuring that any oversight within the bill doesn't needlessly handcuff American producers with red tape. Congress must also ensure that international food aid programs remain strong in the farm bill. Around the world today, hungry people facing starvation in emergency situations rely on American farmers, who have provided nutrition in the place of starvation, created careers of dignity in the place of aimlessness, and secured peace in the place of war. I will be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my farm bill impact series and highlight more programs and titles within the bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in America. The people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve our unwavering support.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my good friend from West Texas, Red Raider, for yielding me time. I would say if K-State can beat OU 3 of the last 4 years, certainly we can make massive progress on this debt that we have racked up. Nothing is impossible. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the excessive government funding at a time when inflation is skyrocketing, the supply chain is still struggling to recover, and farmers are going out of business. I look forward to the month of August every year because it gives me an extended period of time back home to visit with folks in my district and hear about their needs. This year, however, on August 12, Speaker Pelosi called the House back into session to vote on a $700 billion tax-and-spend plan chock full of Green New Deal priorities. This so- called Inflation Reduction Act will do nothing to slow down inflation; it will only make it worse. The bill contains countless reckless spending provisions such as: $80 billion to hire 87,000 IRS agents, increasing audits on the middle class and small businesses; spending more than $250 billion on Green New Deal spending and a brand new $27 billion climate slush fund at the EPA; $12 billion in new taxes on oil and gas producers, expanding the senseless war on producers of fossil fuels; $128 billion spent to expand Obamacare subsidies. As if this weren't enough, President Biden announced a plan just a few weeks ago to forgive student loans for up to $20,000 per borrower without the approval of this Congress. Regardless of party, that is appalling. This plan is obviously just campaigning utilizing taxpayer dollars. It is ill-timed, shortsighted, and irresponsible. In light of the astronomically high inflation that our country is facing, the plan to cancel student loans will cost taxpayers more than $300 billion, transferring the debt burden of borrowers to low- and middle-class taxpayers. The Biden plan unfairly punishes Americans who have already paid their student loans or never attended college. Government spending is set to expire tomorrow, September 30, and Congress will consider a stop-gap spending bill tomorrow morning to keep this government operating again. Included in the bill is $1 billion of spending to subsidize the home utility costs of low-income Americans, when Biden's war on fossil fuels caused the utility costs to skyrocket in the first place. There are better ways to solve most problems than simply throwing money at them, but that is all this administration seems to know how to do. Oddly enough, the one place where House Democrats and this administration don't want to spend more money is on police. The brave men and women who protect us all. It is truly unbelievable. The picture here, overall, is one of wasteful spending, political pandering that endangers Americans, carelessness, and shortsightedness. This administration needs to wake up to the real problems facing America and start offering practical solutions to pay down our debt before it is too late.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that I co-introduced with Congressman Pappas, H.R. 8510, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Holding government accountable requires reasonable whistleblower protection. VA employees take a risk when exposing fraud, corruption, or any wrongdoing of any kind, and they deserve to have their claims investigated, and to have protection from retaliation. The VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection was created with good intentions but has never lived up to the expectations of whistleblowers or of this Congress. In 2021, 80 percent of all the disciplinary recommendations that OAWP made were either changed or simply ignored. Here are just two examples of the many troubling stories that my colleagues and I have heard during our hearings. At one facility, OAWP recommended a range of discipline from 12-day suspension to removal for three supervisors who engaged in whistleblower retaliation. VA officials disagreed, however, and the individuals received no disciplinary action. At another facility, OAWP recommended a range of discipline from demotion to removal for an individual who retaliated against and harassed an employee. VA officials believed the file lacked certain testimony and evidence and the individual received no disciplinary action. Despite the efforts of many dedicated VA staff, these cases, and others like them, highlight the need for a change in OAWP's roles and responsibilities. Veterans, whistleblowers, and taxpayers deserve better. H.R. 8510 would remove OAWP's investigative authority, and instead, direct OAWP to refer whistleblowers to the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency, which has a much better track record for whistleblower investigations. This bill would also require OAWP to track settlement negotiations and agreements between VA employees and the Department and refocus the office on providing training to employees on whistleblower rights. This legislation is an example of the good that Congress can do when we work together. I look forward to its swift passage through the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver the 14th installment of my farm bill impact series during a time when the effects of a poor corn harvest in Kansas are only compounded by rising inflation. Kansas farmers are laboring under the burden of skyrocketing input costs while they work hard to keep our country fed, fueled, and clothed, and they deserve workable solutions to this inflation crisis before the situation gets any worse. Farming is already a risky, volatile business without the added burden of inflation, and USDA estimates that input costs will continue to rise to astronomical rates throughout 2022 and beyond. For an example of the risk of volatility in farming, the corn harvest is underway in some parts of Kansas, and the results are a fraction of the yield that farmers hope for and bank on during normal seasons. The farm bill which Congress will reauthorize in 2023 exists, in part, specifically for situations like this current corn crop to provide energy assistance to our ag producers even when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate. The weather in Kansas can be extreme and unpredictable, which means that growing corn can be a very difficult prospect. Kansas is suffering from a major drought right now. According to the USDA, for the week ending September 11, only 14 percent of Kansas topsoil was rated as adequate. And USDA rated the corn condition 27 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 20 percent good, and only 2 percent excellent. Meanwhile, according to Drought Monitor, 34 counties in my district alone are in extreme drought, and 16 are in exceptional drought. The farther west you go in Kansas, Mr. Speaker, the worse it gets. Even irrigated fields are having issues, and far more corn crops than normal will be complete losses. Many Kansas producers are saying that this is the worst corn harvest in recent memory. This is a dire situation. Farmers invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in producing this essential crop, and its failure means that farmers are left wondering how they are going to put food on the table and pay for gas to drive their kids to school. To make matters worse, consumers end up without access to many of the products that they have learned to enjoy and on which they depend. This is where farm bill programs like crop insurance come in. Crop insurance serves producers and consumers alike because it helps prevent producers from going out of business and grocery store aisles from sitting empty. Farm bill programs like crop insurance have secured our national food supply and helped generations of producers avoid bankruptcy when times get tough. We are in one of those times right now. Inflation is skyrocketing in America, President Biden is trying to impose his farm killer tax and dismantle the stepped-up basis, and producers are going out of business. The need to reauthorize the farm bill for 2023 has come at a critical moment in time. A bad harvest in Kansas isn't just about money. It is about morale and spirit. Missing harvest time in Kansas doesn't just mean missing out on the yield of a cash crop. It means missing out on a special Kansas tradition of celebrating the culmination of all of your family's hard work. It creates financial insecurity while leaving a void where a renewal of family camaraderie should be. Washington, D.C., unfortunately, doesn't understand this. This city has never been crippled by something like a lost harvest. D.C. moves right along through drought, heat, late winter snows, and torrential downpours unfazed. That is why I am standing here today, to remind Congress that 1 in 10 employed Americans--nearly 20 million people in this country--work in food and agriculture where weather creates a make-or-break situation for their livelihoods. And, most importantly, every American has to eat. American agricultural producers are hurting not only from skyrocketing input costs that come from inflation, but also from lowered morale that comes from extreme heat, drought, thin margins, and a broken supply chain. In 2023, Congress must reauthorize the farm bill with American farm families at the front of their minds because they are in a crisis. I will be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my farm bill impact series and highlight more programs and titles within the bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in America. The people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve our unwavering support. They also deserve a robust safety net in the farm bill and workable solutions to the inflation crisis before it is too late.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to deliver the 13th installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series during a time when the effects of a poor wheat harvest in Kansas are only compounded by crushing inflation. This is insult added to injury for Kansas wheat farmers. Producers are laboring under the burden of skyrocketing input costs while they work hard to keep our country fed, fueled, and clothed, and they deserve workable solutions to this inflation crisis before the situation gets any worse. Farming is already a risky, volatile business without the added burden of inflation, and USDA estimates that input costs will continue to rise to astronomical rates throughout 2022. For an example of the risk and volatility--the wheat harvest just ended in Kansas, and the results were a fraction of the yield that farmers in the Wheat State hope for and bank on during normal seasons. The Farm Bill (which Congress will reauthorize in 2023) exists, in part, specifically for situations like this past wheat season--to provide emergency assistance to the people who feed, fuel, and clothe the world even when mother nature doesn't cooperate. The weather in Kansas can be extreme and unpredictable, which means that growing wheat in the wheat state can be a very difficult prospect sometimes. I had an intern in my office this summer named Parker Vulgamore who is a rising senior at Kansas State University where he serves as the student body president. He is also a member of the sixth generation of his family farm in Scott City, which lies in my district. Vulgamore Family Farms is a wheat, corn, and sorghum operation, with wheat being a staple. This year, due to an exceptional drought and extreme conditions throughout the growing season, much of the wheat never grew past three inches tall. So, what is typically a highly anticipated three-to-four-week wheat harvest only lasted a day and a half. Many wheat farmers in Kansas barely even ran their combines this year--they harvested what they could, cut their losses, and moved on. This is where Farm Bill emergency assistance programs like crop insurance come in. Crop insurance serves producers and consumers alike because it helps prevent producers from going out of business and grocery store aisles from sitting empty. Farm Bill programs like crop insurance have secured our national food supply and helped generation after generation of producers avoid bankruptcy when times get tough. We're in one of those times right now. Inflation is skyrocketing in America, President Biden is trying to impose his Farm Killer Tax, and producers are going out of business. The chance to reauthorize the Farm Bill for 2023 has come at a critical moment in time. The farm crisis isn't just about money. It's about morale and spirit. It's about joy. Missing wheat harvest time in Kansas doesn't just mean missing out on the yield of a cash crop--it means missing out on the special Kansas tradition of celebrating the culmination of all your family's hard work. It means missing out on grandma's casserole in the harvest field and missing out on seeing your mom in the semi, your dad in the combine, and your little brother getting to drive the grain cart for the first time. A bad wheat harvest in Kansas doesn't just create financial insecurity, it also leaves a void where a renewal of family camaraderie should be. American agricultural producers are hurting not only from the skyrocketing input costs that come with inflation, but also from the lowered morale that comes with drought, thin margins, and a broken supply chain. In 2023, Congress must reauthorize the Farm Bill with American farm families at the front of our minds, because they are in a crisis. I'll be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series and highlight more programs and titles within the Bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in America. The people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve our unwavering support. They also deserve a robust safety net in the Farm Bill and workable solutions to the inflation crisis before it's too late.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and my friend from Louisiana for hosting this Special Order hour and for all that he is doing to get the conservative voice out there. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver the 13th installment of my farm bill impact series during a time when the effects of a poor wheat harvest in Kansas are only compounded by crushing inflation. This is insult added to injury for Kansas wheat farmers. Producers are laboring under the burden of skyrocketing input costs while they work hard to keep our country fed, fueled, and clothed, and they deserve a workable solution to this inflation crisis before the situation gets any worse. Farming is already a risky, volatile business without the added burden of inflation, and USDA estimates that input costs will continue to rise at astronomical rates throughout 2022. For an example of the risk of volatility--the wheat harvest just ended in Kansas, and the results were a fraction of the yield that farmers in the Wheat State hope for and bank on for normal seasons. The farm bill, which Congress will reauthorize in 2023, exists, in part, specifically for situations like this past wheat season--to provide emergency assistance to the people who feed, fuel, and clothe the world even when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate. The weather in Kansas can be extreme and unpredictable, which means that growing wheat in the Wheat State can be a difficult prospect at times. I had an intern in my office this summer named Parker Vulgamore who is a rising senior at Kansas State University where he serves as the student body president. He is also a member of the sixth generation of his family's farm in Scott City, which lies in my district. Vulgamore Family Farms is a wheat, corn, and sorghum operation, with wheat being a staple. This year, due to an exceptional drought and extreme conditions throughout the growing season, much of the wheat never grew past 3 inches tall. You don't have to farm to know that that is not good. What is typically a highly anticipated 3- to 4-week wheat harvest only lasted a day and a half. Many wheat farmers in Kansas barely even ran their combines this year--they harvested what they could, cut their losses, and moved on. This is where farm bill emergency assistance programs like crop insurance come in. Crop insurance serves producers and consumers alike because it helps prevent producers from going out of business and grocery store aisles from sitting empty. Farm bill programs like crop insurance have secured our national food supply and helped generation after generation of producers avoid bankruptcy when times get tough. We are in those times right now. Inflation is skyrocketing in America. President Biden is trying to impose his farm killer tax, and at the same time, producers are going out of business. The chance to reauthorize the farm bill for 2023 has come at a critical moment in time. The farm crisis isn't just about money. It is about morale and spirit. It is about joy. Missing wheat harvest time in Kansas doesn't just mean missing out on the yield of a cash crop. It means missing out on the special Kansas tradition of celebrating the culmination of all your family's hard work. It means missing out on grandma's casserole in the harvest field and missing out on seeing your mom in the semi, your dad on the combine, and your little brother getting to drive the grain cart for the first time. A bad wheat harvest in Kansas doesn't just create financial insecurity. It also leaves a void where a renewal of family camaraderie should be. American agricultural producers are hurting not only from the skyrocketing input costs that come with inflation but also from the lowered morale that come with drought, thin margins, and a broken supply chain. In 2023, Congress must reauthorize the farm bill with American farm families at the front of our minds because they are in crisis. I will be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my farm bill impact series and highlight more programs and titles within the bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in America. The people who feed, fuel, and clothe us all deserve our unwavering support. They also deserve a robust safety net in the farm bill and workable solutions to the inflation crisis before it is too late.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a win for American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. Fertilizer prices have been skyrocketing for over a year now, with the cost of urea ammonium nitrate, in particular, rising to record highs. Since March, I have been urging the U.S. International Trade Commission to suspend duties on UAN imports from Trinidad and Tobago, and this week, they did just that. On July 18, the U.S. International Trade Commission rejected imposing final duties on urea ammonium nitrate, UAN, in its determination that antidumping activity surrounding UAN fertilizers in Trinidad and Tobago did not harm the U.S. fertilizer industry. With this determination, the ITC has finally responded to my three letters dating back to March, the legislation I introduced in that same month, and my testimony before them in June, all urging reconsideration of the initial duties. I am proud to lead the charge on this effort. I will continue to monitor the situation, and I look forward to seeing the immediate removal of duties on UAN imports from Trinidad and Tobago, which is the most immediate opportunity for a near-term, partial remedy to the high cost of fertilizer facing U.S. farmers.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for hosting this very important Special Order hour, it is a hard-pressed thing and there is nothing more important that we can talk about right now. I rise tonight to use my voice in defense of the voiceless, the unborn. Abortion has desensitized our Nation and I pray that the recent Supreme Court ruling wakes up our country to the horrors that we have visited upon our country's most vulnerable citizens whose lives have been snuffed out by abortion. By 12 weeks of age, a baby has fully formed arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes, a fully functional circulatory system and liver, and the capacity to experience pain--all at the weight of just 1 ounce and the length of 4 inches. This is a miracle of God, and rather than stand in awe of it, some lawmakers would rather disregard it as meaningless. Abortion is not simply an elected medical procedure like getting your wisdom teeth taken out. There is another person involved--another eternal soul whom God created, loves, and sent his son, Jesus, to die for so that they might live. The Supreme Court finally rectified their unthinkable wrong from 50 years ago, when the court legislated from the bench with Roe v. Wade and declared abortion a constitutional right grounded in a woman's right to privacy--a jurisprudential move that was shaky, biased, and flat wrong. The United States is one of only eight countries in the world that permit abortion after 20 weeks of gestation, which means that 95 percent of the countries on Earth think that we are dead wrong on abortion. Now, as the Supreme Court has finally handed this decision back to the States, Americans will get to decide for themselves how abortion should be regulated. It is easy to get caught up in the legislative language and forget that the numbers involved in the abortion issue are actual human beings. In the United States, 63.4 million people--Americans--have died from abortion over the last 50 years. To put that number into context, that is roughly the entire population of the Midwest, which is estimated at 65 million people. Think about that. Would our country notice if the collective populations of Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin were wiped out overnight? Would they miss these people? That is the impact that abortion has had over the past 50 years. I believe that life begins at conception, which is why I support adoptions, foster care, and crisis pregnancy centers that work tirelessly to care for mothers and their babies. I take this moment to thank the pro-life movement at large in American and I am standing with you and thanking God that Roe v. Wade has finally been overturned.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver the twelfth installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series: The Second State of Agriculture. We are at the end of the second quarter, and one of the biggest issues facing agriculture across the board is the cost of things. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers are laboring under the skyrocketing input costs while they work hard to keep our country fed, fueled, and clothed. They deserve workable solutions to this inflation crisis before the situation gets any worse. The U.S. farm economy crashed in the early to mid-1980s due in part to surging inflation. From 2000 to 2020, the average annual rate of inflation was 2.1 percent, which economists consider a normal rate of inflation that helps drive overall economic growth. Last year, prices increased 7 percent overall throughout 2021, which was the largest December-to-December percentage change since 1981. Inflation is a matter of life and death for the American farm. We saw it in the early 1980s, and now we are seeing it again. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers are feeling the effects of inflation more acutely than almost anyone else in America. In agriculture, commodity prices generally rise during periods of inflation, but input costs rise as well. Data collected by USDA shows that over the past three decades, on average, the input costs for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers tend to increase more than the rate of inflation and more than the prices that they receive for their products. To make matters worse, USDA estimates that input costs will continue to rise at least 5 to 6 percent throughout 2022. In the last 12 months, feed, supplies, and repairs are all up 13 percent while ag chemicals, building materials, and machinery are all up 21 percent. Most shockingly, just during the last 12 months, fuel is up 115 percent, natural gas is up 202 percent, and fertilizer is up 220 percent. Think about that. This year it is costing farmers more than double what it cost last year to farm their land. The farm bill contains relief safety net programs like crop insurance and livestock indemnity, but these programs don't account for the rising costs of fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, and seed. Agriculture is a business, and business owners can't afford to lose money year after year, which is happening now thanks to skyrocketing inflation. We need to get this situation under control. A Kansas wheat grower recently said to me: ``Fertilizer is one of the largest expenses on any commercial farming operation. My farm has already used more than 450 tons of fertilizer for this cropping season, which includes nearly 350,000 pounds of UAN, specifically. Even though we cut back on how much we use because of the increased price, it will still cost our farm almost $70,000 more than last year. Looking forward, we will undoubtedly have to cut back on fertilizer again until prices begin to come down.'' Fertilizer cost is a major problem, but the rising cost of everything else is only compounding the issue further. For instance, if you are a Kansas rancher looking to replace all the fence on your farm with 4- barb, Red Brand wire, last year you would have been quoted $10,000 per mile. This year, quotes are coming in at around $20,000 a mile, so it has doubled. Think about that. From fertilizer to fuel to equipment to fencing, inflation is crushing producers across this country. How can small business owners keep up with this? How can we expect the people who bear the responsibility of feeding, fueling, and clothing the world to shoulder that burden while going broke from doing so? The people who make sacrifices so that we can eat can't afford to buy gas to drive their kids to school right now. They can't afford to pay their mortgages. American farmers are perfectly capable of producing plentiful, healthy affordable food, but no matter how much they grow and sell, inflation is killing their margins and they are going out of business. How does the Biden administration respond to this crisis? Well, the President's budget proposal dismantles the stepped-up basis and imposes new capital gains taxes like the farm killer tax on small businesses held in families for 90 years or more. These proposals would destroy thousands of American family farms overnight. House Democrats, for their part, would like to distract the Federal Reserve with social policy while inflation is at a 40-year high. These ideas are a slap in the face to every American farmer, rancher, and agricultural producer. While this administration burns through money like there is no tomorrow, American producers are working tirelessly to keep America secure despite the effects of inflation on their businesses. We owe them not only a debt of gratitude, but also real solutions to the inflation crisis before it is too late.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Childhood Nutrition Program, named in part after a Kansas legend, the late Senator Bob Dole. The McGovern-Dole program has provided 5.5 billion school meals benefiting 31 million school-age children in 48 countries over the last two decades, improving the food security, nutrition, literacy, and primary education of these children and their families. When schools closed due to COVID, the program distributed 23,000 metric tons of commodities to more than 1.7 million children and their families. This program is a success story of public-private partnership. Representative McGovern and I have a resolution before the House expressing this body's commitment to building on the success of the McGovern-Dole program and supporting the American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers who provide the commodities required for it to function. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this resolution, submit appropriation requests for funding, and ensure that this program can continue to support nutrition and education for children around the world.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, in preparation for reauthorizing the Farm Bill in 2023, I rise today to deliver the eleventh installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series, where I am highlighting various aspects of the Farm Bill that deserve Congress' awareness and support. We need robust biosecurity in America not only because we need to eat in order to survive, but also because strong American agriculture will help keep our country free and self-determining as a Nation. Manhattan, KS, the home of my alma mater Kansas State University, is also home to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF. This state-of-the-art, 700,000 square foot facility will be a national asset that helps protects our nation's agriculture against the threat and potential impact of serious animal diseases. Experts believe that 75 percent of new and emerging infectious animal diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans. NBAF will be home to the only maximum biocontainment space in the country, where USDA will be conduct comprehensive research, develop vaccines and anti-virals, and explore enhanced diagnostic and training capabilities. The United States Department of Agriculture is currently working with the Department of Homeland Security to bring NBAF online by this December, and to begin establishing partnerships between two key sectors heavily invested in animal health: academia and industry. Working with scientists and other industry professionals, NBAF will create new safety and security guidelines that will be critical for the prevention of future pandemics. Currently, scientists are conducting this very important research in New York at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, which is more than 60 years old. NBAF will replace this aging facility, create 400 local jobs for Kansans, generate over $100 million in total economic benefit for our state, and make Kansas the home of internationally recognized animal disease experts. NBAF isn't just an exciting development for Kansas, it also marks the future of biodefense research that will protect the United States and the world. The 2018 Farm Bill contained special authorization for biosecurity planning and response, which helped make NBAF possible. That version of the bill explicitly mentioned, ``the coordination of tactical science activities to protect the integrity, reliability, sustainability, and profitability of the food and agricultural system of the United States against biosecurity threats from pests, diseases, contaminants, and disasters.'' NBAF is a concrete example of the impact that we can have when we reauthorize the Farm Bill in careful and creative ways. During National Agriculture Month in March, I brought House Agriculture Committee Republican Leader GT Thompson on an Ag tour of Kansas where I was proud to show him NBAF. The technology, scale, and international significance of the facility is truly second to none. Once fully operational in December, NBAF won't just support and protect agriculture, it will protect our country and the world. I'll be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my Farm Bill Impact Series and highlight more programs and titles within the Bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in America.

Mr. MANN

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to H.R. 7606. I support our country's farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers because they are the lifeblood of America. They keep us food and fuel secure and therefore free and self-determining as a Nation. I cosponsor the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act, which would address limitations on Reid vapor pressure and allow for producers to supply, and consumers to purchase, E15 year-round. I have supported this measure long before my time in Congress, and I will continue to be a strong proponent of year-round E15. A temporary waiver is not enough. We must make this decision permanent and provide certainty to producers. That bill is now part of H.R. 7606. I cosponsor the Butcher Block Act, which would codify the authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants and loans to expand meat and poultry processing capacity. I support consumer choice. That bill is now part of H.R. 7606. In the House Agriculture Committee, I voted in favor of four other bills that are now part of H.R. 7606, but today's vote is disappointing because House Democrats ignored an effort made by Mr. Davis and others, one I am proud to cosponsor, to include an amendment separating these good pro-agriculture bills from a poison pill. Included in H.R. 7606 is a provision that would create a politically charged special investigator office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate and prosecute food producers in America. You heard that right. The original H.R. 7606 and a provision in today's so-called Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act would create a new office at USDA to investigate and prosecute the people who work to feed us. I represent the Big First District of Kansas, which ranks number one in the country for the value of sales of cattle and calves at more than $9 billion annually. We see the entire beef supply chain in the Big First, from cow-calf producers to cattle feeders and packers. Under the Packers and Stockyards Division at USDA, all of those players, all of them, are already subject to strict inspection. Under H.R. 7606, they would be subject to a type of politically charged scrutiny we expect of no other related business. Do you think that a Democratic-controlled Congress and USDA would stop there? No. H.R. 7606 would set the horrible precedent for political administrations to inspect and prosecute anything and anyone they disagree with.

Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, today it is packing facilities, tomorrow it is cornfields and biofuel facilities, or wheat growers and milling stations. I support farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers in this country, and I am disappointed this poison pill is included.