Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my good friend, Dan Newhouse, chairman of the Western Caucus, for his great leadership for bringing us together tonight. This is a pivotal moment in our Nation's history. We are witnessing the real dangers of undermining our independence because of a rush-to- green agenda and what it means for our national security, our geopolitical power, and our standard of living here in the United States of America. Energy is foundational to everything that we do. Actions to shut down American energy disarms us, and it disarms our security. By boosting our domestic production of oil and natural gas, we could be helping our allies in Europe, standing with Ukraine, and countering Putin's war. Shutting down American energy drives people into poverty. Energy prices here at home are surging. Gas prices are the most expensive in the United States' history, breaking the record that was set by the Obama administration in 2008. Filling up the gas tank now will cost a typical family an additional $2,000 this year. This is not ``Putin's price hike.'' How did this happen? How did America get into this energy crisis? These are the facts: Under President Biden, domestic oil production declined by more than 1.5 million barrels per day, while Russian imports to the United States reached an 11-year high. President Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and imposed a moratorium on energy development on Federal lands. The administration is currently sitting on more than 4,500 permits to drill. Regulatory uncertainty surrounding pipeline approvals have already led to the cancelation of at least four major pipeline projects that could have served over 25 million homes. The cancelations of these four pipelines restricted nearly 10 percent of our natural gas production. And other pipelines are under threat of closure, like Line 5, which is critical to those who live in Michigan and Ohio. But what is the administration's solution to this self-made crisis? What they really want to do is ban all oil and force a faster transition to their radical agenda. The President is doubling down on the rush to wind, solar, and electric vehicles--he stated so in the State of the Union--while at the same time saying that he wants to make things in America. In order to make things in America, we must cut the red tape for domestic mining, the processing of minerals that right now is nearly impossible in our Nation. China is controlling 80 percent of the critical minerals and materials needed to manufacture renewables and batteries. We can't trade American energy security, reliability, and affordability by rushing to green technologies that make us reliant on the Chinese Communist Party. America is the number one energy producer in the world, and we should act like it, yet the actions we are taking right now are not helping. We could boost our domestic energy production. It is vital to our way of life, our security in bringing down energy prices. This Congress should move the legislation that I introduced with my friend Bruce Westerman, who is the ranking Republican on the Natural Resources Committee. It is called the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. It would immediately remove restrictions on U.S. LNG exports so that we could deliver natural gas to our allies in Europe rather than them continuing to be dependent on Russia. They get 40 percent of their natural gas from Russia. It would restart the oil and gas leasing on Federal lands and offshore so that we could regain our energy dominance, our energy independence. It would protect American energy and mineral development from unilateral shutdowns by the Biden administration just revoking permits. And because we need more pipelines, pipelines that are the safest way to move product, we would approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Second, the administration must stop delaying the permits and put Americans to work on energy infrastructure in America. Right now, it takes on average 6 or 7 years to review a project. Third, we need to embrace innovation for abundant, affordable, and clean energy for us and the rest of the world. It means reducing the permitting and regulatory burdens around nuclear. We should be leading in advanced nuclear technology, for us here in the United States and around the world, but right now the permitting is so costly and time consuming, it is delaying our progress. With an all-of-the-above strategy, we can say ``yes'' to America's global leadership and lower energy prices. I continue to urge my colleagues across the aisle to work together on this. Let's flip the switch on American energy to ensure a better life and a more secure future for all.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, on March 8, 2022, the House voted on H. Con. Res. 70, a measure condemning threats of violence against historically Black colleges and universities and reaffirming support for HBCUs and their students. I was not present for this vote, but had I been in the House Chamber, I would have voted Yes on H. Con. Res. 70.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. We are all inspired by the people of Ukraine and the leadership of President Zelensky and Mayor Klitschko. Today, Christian Ukrainians asked for Christians around the world to join in praying, specifically, Psalm 31. So please join me. O Lord, we come to You for protection. Don't let us be disgraced. Save us, for You do what is right. Turn Your ear to listen to us. Rescue us. Be our rock, our protection, our fortress, where we will be safe. For the honor of Your name, lead us out of this danger. Pull us from the traps of our enemies, for we find protection in You alone. We entrust our spirit into Your hand. Rescue us, Lord, for You are a faithful God. We will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love. You have seen our troubles and You care about the anguish of our souls. Have mercy on us, Lord, for we are in distress. Tears blur our eyes. Our body and soul are withering away. We are dying from grief. We are scorned by our enemies, despised by their neighbors. Even our friends are afraid to come near. When they see us in the streets, they will run the other way. We are being ignored as if we were dead, as if we were a broken pot. We have heard the many rumors, and they are surrounded by terror. Their enemies conspire, plotting to take our lives. But we are trusting You, O Lord, saying You are our God. Our future is in Your hands. Rescue us from those who hunt us down relentlessly. Let Your favor shine on Your servants. In Your unfailing love, rescue. Don't let us be disgraced, O Lord, for we call out to You for help. Let the wicked be disgraced. Let them lie in silence in the grave. Silence their lying lips, those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly. How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide us in the shelter of Your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter us in Your presence, far from accusing tongues. Praise the Lord, for He has shown us the wonders of His unfailing love. He has kept us safe when my city was under attack. In panic, we cried out, ``We are cut off from the Lord,'' but You heard our cry for mercy and answered our call for help. Love the Lord, all you godly ones, for the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him, but He harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge immediate consideration of the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. Innocent blood is being spilled in Ukraine as we speak. Women and children are being separated from their fathers. Democracy is under attack. Freedom must prevail. What do the people in Ukraine want? They want self-determination and independence from Russia. Mr. Speaker, Russia's economy is entirely dependent upon energy production and exports. Putin uses energy and pipelines as weapons, threatening to cut off supplies or hike prices when the West confronts Russia's aggression. Russia's energy exports fund its military and its current attack on Ukraine. America, not Russia, is the world's number one energy producer. We should act like it and lead. President Biden must restore American energy dominance and use energy resources to help Ukraine and Europe fight back. We shouldn't be buying a single barrel of oil from Russia, and our allies shouldn't be beholden to aggressors that attack their freedom. Europe should have the choice to buy American energy and say no to Russian pipelines and Nord Stream 2. That is why Congressman Bruce Westerman and I are leading on the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. This bill flips the switch on American energy. We need more pipelines, including Keystone XL, so this bill immediately approves the Keystone XL pipeline so that we can import crude oil from Canada, not Russia. It also removes all restrictions on U.S. energy exports to deliver natural gas to our allies in Europe, and it restarts oil and gas leasing on our Federal lands and offshore waters. This is how we shut down Putin's war chest, stand by Ukraine, empower our allies, protect our national security, and create jobs here at home. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to say ``no'' on this previous question and ``yes'' on the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for bringing us together to highlight such an important issue, the issue of fentanyl and fentanyl substances that are surging on our southern border. We must take action. We have legislation, the STOP Fentanyl Act. Why it is not moving forward is the question before us tonight. There have been over 1 million years of life lost because of teenagers and young adults who have died due to overdoses--1 million years. I think about a 23-year-old young man from Spokane, Washington, Carson, who lost his life. He had his entire life ahead of him. His mom, Molly, told me that all he wanted to do was to make this a better place. When his dad passed away, it was Carson who helped maintain their home. He lent a hand to those in need and did not expect anything in return. The day after Thanksgiving, he took one pill from a drug dealer on Snapchat who told him it was Xanax. It was laced with illicit fentanyl, and it killed him instantly. His mom, Molly, is pleading with us to stop fentanyl and stop these weapons-grade poisons so that other parents, other people, and other family members all across this country do not have to feel her grief and pain. She deserves justice. Let's help end this crisis, save lives, and pass the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I rise in strong opposition to this dangerous bill. This isn't just a missed opportunity to boost American competitiveness; it actually will set us back on our goal to beat China and win the future. I have heard the majority say that if you oppose this bill, you aren't in favor of increasing our competitiveness against China. Yet, the White House didn't even mention China in its statement of support. This is a go-it-alone approach that will actually embolden China; ignore the damage of the radical agenda that has been pushed through this Congress under one-party rule and what it has done to our ability to compete. The Chinese Communist Party tries to compete by cheating, stealing, and using their centrally controlled economy to pick winners and losers through massive government subsidies. Instead of embracing free markets and American ingenuity, this bill tries to copy that type of an approach of centralized industrial policy and massive government handouts that benefit political allies. We cannot and we should not even try to beat the Chinese Communist Party at their own game. It is not the American way. The United States of America has a record. Ours is one where we have done more to lift people out of poverty, raise the standard of living, cure diseases, spur innovation, more than any other country in the history of the world. We have done so by embracing freedom, free markets, human rights, and the respect for human dignity; where success isn't contingent upon the approval or the direction of the government, the Federal Government; where hard work, creative thinking, and risk- taking are rewarded. The approach of this bill ignores this and, instead, attempts to cover up the many crises that have been created in the last year under the Biden-Harris administration and this majority. Virtually every piece of this radical agenda from the last year, under one-party rule, has hurt our ability to compete. The war on American energy has set back our energy independence and harmed our economic and national security, while making us more dependent upon China. The record amount of spending has created rampant inflation. The regulatory agenda has made it more difficult for our businesses. Speaker Pelosi's drug pricing control scheme will destroy American medical innovation. The radical environmental agenda will make it impossible to have a domestic source for critical minerals and chemicals needed for advanced manufacturing. And the push to keep our schools closed will set back an entire generation of Americans. If the Democrats wanted to make America more competitive, they would abandon the destructive agenda and work to reform burdensome permitting, licensing, and regulatory regimes. Sadly, this legislation, driven out of the Speaker's Office, is Speaker Pelosi doubling down on that agenda, one that is benefiting political allies, leading to rampant waste, fraud, and abuse, and the increase of dependence on China. You know, there were many bipartisan provisions from the Committee on Energy and Commerce included in this bill but, unfortunately, the overall bill is extremely problematic. And a previously bipartisan program that we had negotiated that would spur development and deployment of like, for example, advanced communications infrastructure, had labor restrictions attached to them that is only going to make it harder for us to lead in 5G and next-gen communications. It also creates massive slush funds and more grants for Democrats' political allies. There is a new grant and loan program at the Department of Energy that is Solyndra on steroids, a $3 billion domestic solar manufacturing program with less waste, fraud, and abuse protections than what had led to Solyndra. It is a supercharged Solyndra, that will benefit China, which controls critical minerals and parts for solar panels. There is a $45 billion supply chain program that is also for their political allies, prioritizing labor unions, Blue State mayors and Governors, and other allies over businesses and entities that could actually make our supply chains more resilient. I urge my colleagues to abandon this plan. Let's not surrender our competitive edge to China. Let's work on real solutions that will make us more competitive, win the future, and offer a better life for all.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer a resolution. I do not offer this resolution on my own behalf. I offer it as a representative of the people of the United States, to formalize the unspoken sentiments and concerns that abound in our Nation right now. Any authority I have is given to me by the people. And this is what we believe: Our Nation is unique. It is distinctive, exceptional. American exceptionalism is too often misunderstood to mean something that it is not. It does not mean justification to dominate or condescend to other nations, or indulgent flattery to ourselves that we are better. It does not mean that we are a chosen people, or that circumstances give us privilege to circumvent law. Our Nation is bound by the same universal moral principles that must bind and shape the behaviors of all civilized nations. In this regard, we are all the same, as nations, and yet, we are different, very different in a very important way. It is not wealth or military power that makes us exceptional. It is not our institutions nor the genius of our written Constitution or our Bill of Rights; not directly. These are manifestations of something more fundamental and profound. Our exceptionalism is based on something else, a singular belief, a proposition you might call it, a proposition underlying all legal and constitutional beliefs. Our assertions of human equality and unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness, the right to find meaning and purpose and value in our individual lives, derives from a single assertion--that life, given to us by Creator God, is the moral basis of the unshakeable bedrock of our Republic. That proposition, the thing that makes us distinctive, is that we believe a Creator God endowed us with rights. Not just us. Everybody, everywhere. It is a gigantic revolutionary belief, and it is a belief. It is our faith statement. It is what speaks to the soul of our Nation. There are many great and ancient nations that believe in freedom as we do. Most countries in the world claim the rule of law and have written constitutions. Many of us use the language of rights and equality and declare for human dignity. But none have a coherent basis for doing so. We alone occupy that space. God gave us rights; made us in his image and, therefore, demonstrated all human beings are created equal, even the unborn, from conception. The poor, the infirm, the old, the weak, all colors and kinds, all races, all of us, are endowed by the Creator equally because we are made in His image. Without this fundamental belief, rights become only social protocol, conventions, historic inheritances, creatures of state citizenship, class, identity and features of consensus. They become malleable and fading creatures in the capricious hands of willful men. But America is different. God endowed us with rights, and that belief is either true or it is false. If it is false, then we Americans, among all mankind, are most to be pitied. The experiment must fail. It cannot and must not succeed. But if it is true, then we have built our country on a foundation that cannot be shaken, if we are true to it, we are anchored in the eternal bedrock of all truths. As Lincoln said: ``As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.'' To those who are given much, much is expected. And somewhere, deep down inside ordinary Americans know this. It is the air that we breathe. Only we ourselves can end this great experiment. There are no external mortal forces that can overcome the bulwarks of that eternal truth. And therefore, what we believe matters, Madam Speaker. Our invisible immaterial beliefs are the strength of our national soul. The things that we hold on to and serve are the foundations of our institutions, our laws, our liberty, and the hope of our Nation. When the Founders established this Republic 250 years ago, and created the institutions that guide us, they were well aware that those institutions were insufficient in themselves to govern a free people. The lifeblood and the heartbeat of the Nation is moral character, not the institutions. Not the institutions, or even the laws themselves. For laws and institutions are corruption without the rectitude and wisdom of a moral, decent people. Without the people bracing themselves to wisdom and the holdfasts of character, our institutions have no power to preserving us. If the people ever lose their love of truth, justice, goodness, and the efflorescence of beauty that flourishes in them, there can be no hope in the parchment barriers of a Constitution, or the institutions created by it; no matter how noble that hope is. In effect, everything rises and falls in our Republic as a consequence of the character of the people. As a Nation, we live or die by the standards of our own moral character. The Founders knew this, but many of us know we are forgetting it. ``We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.'' John Adams wrote that to the militia of Massachusetts. What he is saying is this: The power of the State is not secured by the power of arms. It is anchored in the honesty and decency of the people. Today, this may seem a quaint notion. I hope it is not. But the Founders who experimented in government to create a just and free society understood explicitly that freedom and justice are not the products of institutions, but, rather, institutions that defend freedom and justice are the product of a moral people. Freedom cannot exist without morality. George Washington understood this. John Adams understood this. Abraham Lincoln understood this. Dr. Martin Luther King understood this. I believe this, not because they believed it, but because it is true. I believe that most Americans understand this. When we drift from the Creator, we drift from the source of our own liberty. When we forget our duties to God, we forget our duties to each other. When we become proudful and lazy and forget the father of all rights, we become orphans of oppression. We are lost without the guiding hand of the Almighty. It may seem that Congress is not the place to introduce an appeal to God. I disagree. Insofar as all our rights and all our institutions are based upon the presumption of a just and Almighty God, and since this Congress itself rests upon the foundation that our Creator gave us the right to govern ourselves, to quote my hero, Abraham Lincoln: ``It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this.'' It is precisely because of America's distinctive belief that I rise in this House to offer a resolution to humble ourselves and entreat wisdom from God, the Father of all blessings and mercy; a resolution of contrition, prayer, and fasting; a resolution in the great tradition of our free people. We have, as His guidance many times before, a resolution to return to the wellspring of liberty and our rights; a resolution to depart from iniquity and entreat His guidance; a prayer that we remember Him as the Father of every good thing that we have, and everything as a Nation and people we aspire to be. Whereas, We the People of the United States of America continue our search for a more perfect union and; Whereas, we are a people conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all are created equal, yet like in the days of Abraham Lincoln, when he observed that ``We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied, and enriched, and strengthened us;'' Whereas, ``We have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own;'' Whereas, we confess we are self-consumed, prideful, and unloving, quick to point out the speck in another person's eye while missing the log in our own; Whereas, we are trusting in our wealth and skill, and leaning on our own understanding; Whereas, we have become ungrateful, lovers of pleasure, stubborn, hard-hearted, divisive, and unforgiving; Whereas, we confess that instead of speaking of forgiveness, we cry out for vengeance. We have allowed the poisonous root of bitterness to grow up and trouble us; Whereas, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has intensified fear, unknowns, chaos, and confusion; Whereas, the impact of lockdowns and isolations has been severe, further exacerbating the breakdown of mental health, families, communities, and our Nation; Whereas, we are divided, perhaps like we haven't seen since the Civil War, when Abraham Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln, by faith, prayed, saying: May we again devote ourselves to prayer and acknowledge as a people and as a Nation our dependence upon the overruling power of God. Let us confess our sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with the assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; Whereas, by faith, at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, when the outlook looked grim, Benjamin Franklin appealed to the delegates and urged prayer, asking: ``I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?'' and Whereas, during World War I and at the signing of the Armistice, President Wilson proclaimed: ``Complete victory . . . God has indeed been gracious, let us thank him.'' and Whereas, this year marked the 80th anniversary of the initial National Bible Week declaration made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt just weeks before the start of World War II; and Whereas, George Washington Carver, born a slave during the Civil War, testified in 1921 in front of the House Ways and Means Committee expounding on the myriad of ingenious uses for the peanut transforming the economy and which had been revealed to him by faith as he regularly walked through the woods at 4 a.m., and Whereas, President John F. Kennedy said: ``The guiding principle of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be `In God We Trust,' '' and Whereas, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., encouraged to us ``Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free,'' Therefore, be it resolved by those assembled, we pray that in this hour of our great need, our Sovereign God will come and do again as He has done in days gone by; we pray for a time of healing from our brokenness, broken lives, broken families, broken communities, and broken systems. We resolve to humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, turn from our wicked ways, and thank and praise the God of our ancestors who has given us wisdom and strength and who controls the course of events; and Therefore, it behooves us to call upon the people of our Nation to humble ourselves before our Creator and acknowledge our complete dependence upon Him, to repent of our pride and selfishness, and to ask the Lord to break our hearts for the things that break His heart; That we may not miss hearing His voice, and that He will pour out His spirit, once again, on our Nation and leaders; and We proclaim a year of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer. What might God do in the next 365 days if we commit to reading His Word daily and praying together for our Nation? In our families? For the young generation, this generation in misery and despair? We are expectant that He will do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine and that He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. May He be as original with us as He has been with others. Amen.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, my heart is heavy as I rise today to honor the life of my dear friend, Senator Douglas Ericksen, who passed away on December 17, 2021 after a battle with COVID-19. My prayers are with Doug's family as we mourn his passing. Doug dedicated his life to working on behalf of the people of Whatcom County, serving in both the Washington State House of Representatives and Senate for more than two decades. Throughout his tenure, Doug was a champion for the rights of every individual, and he was a fierce defender of the Constitution. In Eastern Washington, Doug will always be remembered for being a strong advocate of the Snake River dams--which isn't common for someone from the West side of Washington. His pragmatic approach towards finding balanced solutions to our State's biggest environmental problems made him a special partner of mine for many years, and I will miss his leadership--along with his quick-witted humor--dearly. Above all else, Doug was a remarkable husband to his wife Tasha, father to his daughters Elsa and Addi, friend, and neighbor. His loss will be felt deeply across the entire state of Washington for many years to come, but I thank God for giving me the blessing of calling Doug my friend. Madam Speaker, Doug Ericksen lived an amazing life that deserves to be celebrated. In honor of his legacy, passion, and contributions that inspired so many, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen. May God grant him eternal peace in His kingdom.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, first, to my colleague and friend, Andy Barr, what a beautiful tribute to Carol. And I join my colleagues, everyone here today, in strong support of the CAROL Act. We love you. We love Carol. Our hearts go out to you. I am sitting here, and I am thinking what a beautiful tribute. And to Eleanor and Mary Clay, I just saw their Christmas card, and I was thinking they are beautiful, and they are loved, and they shine brightly just like their mom did. I know that this has been such a difficult time, and to see Andy step forward, bring this legislation-- the CAROL Act that is going to help thousands of others across the country--to highlight important research that needs to be done so that others will not have to go through something similar because Andy has led in such a strong way. We are grateful to know Andy, and we want him to know that he is not alone. I will always remember the times that I was with Carol. She was one of those people who seemed to do it all and do it all so well. And my memory of her is one of just lighting up the room. She shined so brightly. And Andy continues to shine. And their girls are shining today. We join today in strong support of this legislation. It is going to help us get answers so that others will not be impacted the same way. And let's get this done, as Carol said.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Eastern Washington's finest young men, Cole Baerlocher. Cole is a student at Washington State University, and he recently was elected to serve as the next national president of the Future Farmers of America. For Cole, his family, and our entire community, this is a huge deal. Cole is from Colfax, the county seat of Whitman County, the top wheat- producing county in America. Having him serve as the face of this organization is a tremendous honor. The FFA has more than 735,000 members; 37 candidates were considered for the honor of serving as president. Only one was selected to lead, and that person was Cole. Cole, I know I speak for our entire community when I say congratulations on this incredible achievement. We could not be more proud. Go Cougs!

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, on October 20, 2021, I was not present for the vote on H.R. 3635, the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2021. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted in favor of the legislation.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. We all agree on the need to modernize and invest in our Nation's infrastructure. In fact, Energy and Commerce Republicans have led on dozens of bills to close the digital divide, increase our energy security, clean energy deployment, make investments in safe drinking water and make our roadways safe. Our solutions target Federal investments that are paired with comprehensive permitting, regulatory, and licensing reforms to reduce barriers to deployment and spur private investment. Unfortunately, this bill does not lift barriers that make projects expensive, and in many cases impossible. On energy, this bill's rush-to-green will compromise America's reliability and affordability. On broadband, this bill fails to target funds to unserved areas based on accurate FCC maps. It also ignores the most important policy for safer roads: A national framework for autonomous vehicles. Overall, it prioritizes spending and investments in urban centers at the expense of more rural areas of our country. This is the wrong approach. Finally, this bill paves the way for the radical, multi-trillion- dollar tax-and-spending spree that Speaker Pelosi is rewriting behind closed doors at this very moment. The programs and funding levels agreed to by the Senate will be massively expanded in her bill. We have already seen this from the provisions marked up by our committee. This tax-and-spending spree will radically expand the Federal Government's command and control over our lives. It will raise costs on families and leave us less safe, less prosperous, and more dependent on foreign adversaries like China. Again, this is not the approach that we should take. This is taking us down a dangerous road. To win the future, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Letlow), who is the 31st pro-life Congresswoman.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne), who is a champion for life.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), my classmate and champion for life.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the Earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them. What sorrow awaits those who argue with their creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, Stop, you're doing it wrong? Does the pot exclaim, How clumsy can you be? How terrible it would be if the newborn baby said to its father, Why was I born? Or if it said to its mother, Why did you make me this way? It is the word of the Lord. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.