Kevin McCarthy

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, it is an open secret that Americans are facing serious challenges today. Many of these challenges are Washington-inflicted caused by Democrats' incompetence and radicalism. Absolute chaos on the southern border, unsafe streets, record-high gas prices, rising inflation, a broken supply chain, an ongoing labor shortage, a failing education system, and, of course, a baby formula shortage they knew about for more than a year. Will this Congress be remembered as the Congress that addressed these issues? Probably not. Instead, this Congress will go down in history as the out-of-touch Congress. This week, as families scramble to find baby formula, Speaker Pelosi's House decided to add special new perks for Washington lawmakers and staff. One of those perks was a VIP membership to Peloton gyms; paid for by hardworking American taxpayers. What is next, free Jeni's ice cream? You may be asking: What is Peloton? It is a bike that costs about $2,000. Not only that, each month you pay a monthly subscription fee to ride your $2,000 bike. Best of all, it is stationary. They charge you about $300 to set it up. It is a $2,000 bike that you pay to use and pay to set up that doesn't go anywhere. What a business. Speaker Pelosi decided to give everyone in Congress a Peloton gym membership; more specifically, the premier employee benefits package. You know what, she did it without any debate or discussion with any Republicans. First, they appoint a political committee and don't allow the Republicans to name anybody. Now they decide to use your taxpayer money and never talked to the other side. We were left in the dark. Congress, meaning taxpayers, will pay Peloton $10,000 up front and $10 per month per person. In all, this contract could cost taxpayers an extra $100,000 or more per month. I guess New York City isn't the only place Speaker Pelosi went on a spending spree last week. As the sixth richest Member of Congress, the Speaker might not be worried about this costly new program, but American families should sweat it. It comes as families are getting crushed by the worst inflation in 40 years. It is insane. It is also redundant. Members and staff already have access to a congressional gym for a membership fee. The Peloton perk did not replace it. Instead, it duplicates it. I would like to see any Democrat go to their district, my district, anyone else's district and defend this; look people straight in the face. I will tell you what is happening in our district, there are parents who are going to eight or nine stores looking for baby formula, paying for gas that you can barely afford. Instead of trying to help these struggling families, Democrats are plundering their pocketbooks to pay for Pelosi's Peloton membership. You can't image a more out-of-touch party. This isn't just an exception; it is the rule in the Democratic conference. Let me tell you something, Mr. Speaker. I actually heard your conference chair, Hakeem Jeffries, say--talking about the Democrat agenda and saying about gas prices: ``That issue hasn't come up in our conference.'' It has come up in every single American's kitchen table, but not in the Democratic conference. Mr. Speaker, we also heard a Democrat Member, Congresswoman Porter, who said: ``We aren't seeing inflation in the polls.'' I am not sure what polls they are taking that they think that Peloton for Members and staff is going to solve this problem. In the Democratic conference nobody talks about gas prices because they haven't heard about it. The polling says inflation doesn't come up. Yet, as we speak, Democrats are pushing for more reckless spending and higher taxes that will only make this problem worse. Mr. Speaker, I remember sitting on this floor, talking in this mike, warning the majority party, the Democrats, if they went through with the reckless spending of almost $2 trillion that inflation would come. The sad part, Mr. Speaker, is that it wasn't just the Republicans warning you, it was Democrats; those that had worked in the Obama administration and the Biden administration. Lo and behold, what have we found, Mr. Speaker? Inflation. They first want to tell America, no, it is just temporary. No, it is not. We now have the former ex-Fed chair saying you are going to get stagflation, just like in the 1970s. Do you remember in the late 1970s when you couldn't get gas on an even day if your license plate ended in an odd number? Now you don't know if you can afford it when you pull up. You don't know if your credit card goes high enough. You don't know if you have enough money to go. You are filling it up because you are trying to drive to find baby formula that the administration knew about for a year and did nothing about. We have watched a Congress be so partisan. We have watched a Washington with one-party rule and only care about one person-- themselves. Their first bill was about changing election law so they could dictate who wins. Then when the polls were bad and they were going to lose, they appointed a political committee to go after their political opponents. That is all going to change in 174 days from now. That focus is going to be on you, the American people. It is not going to be more Pelotons for those in Congress. It is not going to be wasting your taxpayer money. It is not going to be appointing committees and not allowing the other side just to go after your political opponents. It is going to be focusing on America. Do you know what the rise in gas prices with this one-party rule has done to America? It is costing every family more than $2,000. The rising prices are costing them an extra $5,000. An open border is now costing the lives of Americans. Fentanyl is the number one cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. I don't know how that doesn't show up on their polls. Now what do they want to do? They want to lift title 42. It is not just Republicans warning them, it is Democrats, who sat as Secretaries of Homeland Security, warned them not to do it. I don't know if they think it will take the attention away from no baby formula, can't afford gas, inflation continuing to rise; but they think they are doing all right. We should reward staff and get them a Peloton membership. Don't just get them any membership, get them the VIP. They think it doesn't cost you anything because they take it to the American taxpayer, the hardworking taxpayer, to spend more of your money. Just like they did with $2 trillion. Just like they wanted to do more with their Build Back Better. Have they not learned enough? If you go to their conferences, I am not sure what they talk about. They say they don't bring up the gas price. They say inflation doesn't show up in the polls. They are probably looking at more perks and spending more tax dollars. That day is ending soon and a new Congress with a focus on the American people and the future of America is soon to come.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I come from the part of the country where people are used to working hard and making things. For some, it is producing oil and natural gas. For others, it is farming. For me, it was owning a small business. What we do may be different, but why we do it is not. We want to provide a better life for our family and our children. That is the American Dream. That is what we strive for. That is what we sacrifice for. That is what Democrats' radical policies are destroying. Today, the ex-Chairman of the Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy is heading toward stagflation for the first time since the 1970s. Remember, in the late 1970s, Democrats had control of the White House, the Senate, and the House, just like they do now. The CEO of Goldman Sachs also said that the risk of falling into a recession is very high. Did you ever think that would happen in just 1 year of one-party rule? The last time we went through stagflation was in the 1970s after an oil supply shock. Today, Democrats' radical policies are leading to a similar shock in terms of energy. Since April 2021, prices have risen at least 5 percent every month. This year, under one-party control, prices have risen at least 7 percent for 5 consecutive months. Now, what does that mean to the average American? Well, it means to every single American, in gas costs alone, families will pay an extra $2,000 this year to fill up at the pump. That is $2,000, Mr. Speaker. That is money that could have been used for their children's education, summer vacation, or just paying the house payment or rent. Democrats are presiding over one of the costliest years in recent history, and the next year could be even worse. Americans need stable, competent leadership that understands the problems our country is facing. Want to lower the gas prices? The Republicans' answer is to unleash American energy. The Democrats' answer is to hire another six-figure, out-of-touch Washington bureaucrat who has never run a business to tell people who work for a living what to do, or what the President did just a week ago: shut down more leases and opportunity for America to produce oil, but try to buy it somewhere else, maybe Russia. They are attacking energy producers to shift blame from their own failures. They have no better answers to the problems they created except to demand more control. Mr. Speaker, that is what got us here in the first place. Last March, do we all remember when the Democrats dumped $2 trillion into a recovering economy and paid people not to work? I remember very well, Mr. Speaker. Over on this side of the aisle, we warned you if you go through with this, you will create inflation. Every single Democrat said no. They voted for it. Every single Republican knew what would happen, and they said no. They believed in the American people: Don't punish them. Don't cost them more. Then, we heard the likes of it was transitory inflation; it wouldn't last; it was only short term. Every month, 5 percent growth, and then it went to 7 percent, and now we have the ex-Fed Chair saying stagflation, something we haven't seen since the 1970s. One-party rule, in only a year and a half, not only has created inflation like we haven't seen in 40 years; it is putting the punishment onto the American people. This $2 trillion that you claimed was going to go for COVID--when it is less than 9 percent--the scheme worked well for the well-connected when you are in one-party control. Blue States got bailouts. Washington Democrats got more power. Working families got crushed by the worst inflation in 40 years. This is why Americans don't trust Democrats. Mr. Speaker, for all of those watching, for all of those struggling to put gas in the tank and food on the table, we know Democrats think they can afford to stay in power for 2 more years. The question is: Can you?

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, crime and the fear of crime impacts the lives of every American. We know its rising pace: carjackings at record highs; smash-and-grab robberies surging; and at least 12 major cities breaking homicide records in 2021. We know its price in dollar terms: $200 billion annually in a regressive crime tax. We know its widespread costs to families who are afraid to walk the streets at night. We know the tragic costs it inflicts in death and suffering. And we know its root cause: soft-on-crime policies, far-left prosecutors, and radical Democrats. From Seattle and Portland to New York City and Washington, D.C., Democrats have failed the first duty of government. They have failed to keep citizens safe. Now, some House Democrats want to erase their own soft-on-crime record, but the American people will not be fooled. This Congress, 219 House Democrats voted for a bill that would cost local police departments hundreds of millions of dollars. The American people can't afford Democrats' radical agenda of fewer police officers on the streets, fewer criminals behind bars, more victims of violent crime. Our police officers can't afford it either. Last year, more officers were murdered in the line of duty during President Biden's first year in office than at any point since 1995. Mr. Speaker, let me say that again. Last year, more officers were murdered in the line of duty during President Biden's first year in office than at any point since 1995. One of those officers was Kern County Sheriff's Office Deputy Phillip Campas. He was a rising star who was killed in the line of duty last year after his SWAT team responded to a domestic violence call. He leaves behind a wife and a young family. He grew up in my hometown, and he went to the exact same elementary school and junior high that I did. Campas was a bright example of what it means to serve others. Fittingly, this year, his name was added to the Roll Call of Heroes on the National Peace Officers' Memorial in Washington, D.C. To Deputy Campas' children, we cannot begin to imagine your sadness and pain, but I want you to know this: Your father was a hero. We will never forget him. Mr. Speaker, the solution to safer communities is the exact opposite of Democrats' radical agenda. This crime crisis deserves serious leadership, and it starts with stepping up and supporting law enforcement. Our brave officers face enormous challenges, yet they choose to wear the uniform every day. It is not enough to fully fund them. They must know we have their backs. So, as National Police Week begins, I want to say something our law enforcement officers don't hear enough: Thank you. Thank you for protecting our communities. Thank you for protecting our children. Thank you for protecting our country. While radical Democrats want to defund, demonize, and abolish the police, Republicans salute you, and we will always support you.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, today's resolution is about criminalizing dissent. Democrats are threatening to throw in jail a good man who has done nothing but attempt to follow the law simply because he is President Trump's closest aid. Mr. Scavino does not deserve that. He tried to cooperate with the select committee's requests. He sent timely letters to the committee to clarify the vague scope of the requested testimony. He even offered to answer the committee's questions in writing, which the committee's rules allow for, so he could balance cooperation with fair concerns about executive privilege. But the committee rejected every compromise. It is their way or no way. It took them 2 months to reply to Mr. Scavino's letter, then another 6 weeks. Then they rushed to hold him in contempt. They also demanded the right to ask any question they wanted, including on topics that have nothing to do with protecting the Capitol, like the 25th Amendment. Even if you agree that the select committee has a legislative purpose, the fact is that purpose is not unlimited. The committee must identify a specific nexus between its legislative purpose and the information it wants. But it never identified the nexus for the information it was seeking from Mr. Scavino. And I bet it won't identify that nexus today either. Why? Because the nexus does not exist. Without it, their subpoena is invalid. Congressional oversight is supposed to inform the legislative process and must have a valid legislative purpose. It is not there so the swamp can bully its political enemies. Let's be honest. Mr. Scavino never acted like he was above the law, and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. If anyone has acted like they are above the law, it is the Select Committee. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, two wrongs don't make a right. The riot on January 6 was wrong, but Democrats' reaction to trample American civil liberties is also wrong. Do we really want to live in a country where politicians can seize your phone records, compel your testimony, and ignore your rights because they disagree with your politics? Most Americans don't want to live in a country like that. That happens in Russia, in Communist China, in North Korea. It should never happen in America. But, Mr. Speaker, under one-party rule, it is. But to all Americans, when we take back the House, it will stop.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, for the House to be in order, should people be in their seats, or should people be talking?

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, the House is not in order. He has not been recognized.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I have the time. You have the gavel.

Mr. McCARTHY. No. I said to Mr. Speaker, the House is not in order. There was no yielding. Your staff is continuing to communicate. I think if I am speaking, the House should be in order. I don't know if that is a criminal offense, too.

Mr. McCARTHY. I was going to tell Mr. Speaker if the House is not in order, and you need to listen to staff, I can pause.

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, two wrongs don't make a right. Let me be clear: the riot on January 6 was wrong. Any violence on that day should be punished, as I have said before. But make no mistake: the Democrats' response is also wrong. For 15 months, Democrats have used January 6 as a blank check to trample on civil rights and congressional norms. They broke every rule, violated every norm, bullied every skeptic simply to hold on to power. Let's be honest: this is a political show trial. The committee has sent hundreds of subpoenas to private citizens for phone records, bank records, and private communications. To those who invoked their right to due process, Chairman Thompson replied, `` . . . you are part and parcel guilty to what occurred.'' What a disgusting betrayal of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. But think for a second about what Chairman Thompson is saying. If you question his authority, if you disobey his demands, then you are a criminal and you should be punished. Congresswoman Luria, who is also on the select committee agrees. Last week, she criticized Attorney General Garland for not putting her political opponents in jail fast enough. She told Garland, `` . . . do your job so we can do ours.'' I am sure some Members got real excited by that. Democrats are using the power of the Federal Government to jail their political opponents and threatening the Attorney General for not doing it fast enough. In their twisted view, this agreement is immoral. Dissent is a crime. And they are to be obeyed without question. Today's resolution is also about criminalizing dissent. I can pause, Mr. Speaker, if he needs to listen more.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, the House is not in order. People are standing and talking.

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy Sekine on his retirement from the County of Kern in California after 31 years of service to our community. A friend and public servant, Roy attended college at California State University, Bakersfield, graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. While still a college senior, Roy began working at the Kern County Library--which currently serves over 850,000 county residents--as a systems coordinator. Maintaining his employment with the organization upon graduation, Roy spent the next six years transforming the library system. Roy's tireless efforts led to the installation of the first public internet terminal at Beale Library, the implementation of Netscape browsers throughout the 30 County Library Branches, and a swift transition to the electronic book checkout system for Kern County residents. One year after transferring to the Bakersfield Municipal Court in 1997, Roy was recruited to the Kern County Department of Child Support Services (KCDCSS). Named the Local Area Network Systems Administrator for KCDCSS, Roy led critical improvements to the Department's technology systems for over 20 years, enabling the organization to better assist parents and youth in our community. With a savviness in computer networking and operations management, Roy helped start the KIDZ Child Support Program and implement the State of California's CASES Child Support Program locally. Additionally, when the coronavirus pandemic forced KCDCSS operations online, Roy helped County staff work through technological issues so they could continue to serve Kern County residents in a seamless fashion. Roy's service to Kern County is undeniable. In 2020, he was recognized with the KCDCSS Values Award for Teamwork for his patience, work ethic, and respect for all. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, l want to thank my good friend Roy for his unwavering commitment to bettering our community and Kern County government that serves many of my constituents. Judy and I wish him the best as he enters this new chapter in his life.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a dear friend, Beverly ``Bev'' Camp, of Bakersfield, California. After battling cancer for nearly two years, Bev passed away on February 19, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Queens, New York, Bev entered the world on July 29, 1962 to two loving parents. As the youngest of three children, she was curious and patient, always putting others before herself. In 1979, when Bev was 17, her family packed their bags and moved out to Bakersfield, California--the city where Bev would meet her husband and partner in life, raise three beautiful children, and make countless contributions to our community. A woman of faith and compassion, Bev devoted her time to charitable causes. As a member of Catholic Charities, Bev advanced the launch of Harvest of Hope, an annual fundraiser that provides financial support to low-income families facing hardship, and helped found the organization's Career and Education Center, which helps students develop career skills for future employment. Along with her husband Jim, Bev's philanthropic efforts were impactful to many other community initiatives. In 2019, the pair helped establish the county's first burn unit at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and more recently, were leading the expansion project for Mercy Hospital Southwest to address the growing needs of Bakersfield residents. In recognition of her efforts, Bev was regularly recognized with awards by local organizations, including Community Action Partnership of Kern County's Humanitarian of the Year, the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Community Service Award, and Garden Pathways' Woman with a Heart for Bakersfield. Above all, Bev loved her family. She enjoyed watching her kids grow and took pride in the Sunday family dinners she cooked after church. Bev is survived by her husband Jim; her parents Bruce and Margaret Murray; and her three sons, Bruce and wife, Kayla; Kurt and wife, Montse; and Scott. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, it is my privilege to honor Bev's life and the remarkable service and impact she had on our community. My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones as they mourn the loss of an incredible woman.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, tonight, Congress opens back up for the first time in 49 years without Congressman Don Young, and this Chamber is going to feel a big hole, especially, off to my left in the back side in that chair. No one in here has assigned seating, except our dean did. For the first time in 49 years, we will not hear Don's booming voice yelling ``regular order.'' For the first time in 49 years, we won't see that big smile or friendly laugh. For the first time in 49 years, we won't hear that strong voice when it comes to an issue about Alaska. But we will never forget him or the legacy he leaves behind. Don taught all of us, and especially me, three big lessons. First, he taught us how to fight for what you believe in, regardless of party. Second, he taught us how deep a love can be for your own family, and savor every moment together. Third, he reminded us of what an honor it is to serve our constituents. We will miss Don deeply. But more importantly, we will not forget him. Madam Speaker, I ask that the House rise to observe a moment of silence for our dean, Congressman Don Young.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Taft College and recognize the profound contribution the school has made to our community over the last century. Established on August 30, 1922, Taft College emerged from humble beginnings. Sharing a campus with Taft Union High School at the time, Taft College enrolled 10 students in its first year of operation. As one of only 15 community colleges in California in the early 1920s, the Taft Union High School District Board--the founders of Taft College-- envisioned that the school would transform the region by offering local students unprecedented access to higher education. Since then, the school has done just that, producing leaders in business, law, nursing, education, athletics, and public service. Today, Taft College is bustling, operating its own independent campus of nearly 40 acres and its enrollment has grown to 2,400 students. With an average class size of 18 students, students may enroll in any of the 43 degree and 30 certificate programs offered at Taft College and receive high-quality instruction in fields of study ranging from Liberal Arts to Engineering in small group settings. Throughout the past century, Taft has proven itself as a leader among community colleges. In 1995, the school created the Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Program and in 1997, pioneered a distance learning program. The TIL Program is a two-year, post-secondary educational program that provides training and support for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities and helps prepare them to lead confident, self-sufficient lives. Taft College's innovative, first-of-its-kind distance learning program offers greater flexibility to students pursuing a degree while balancing additional priorities at work and in life. Both programs have garnered respect and accolades from educational leaders within and beyond the Taft community. Taft College's success and the critical role that it plays in uplifting individuals throughout California's Central Valley are undeniable. I am confident that Taft College will continue to further its long legacy of instilling a passion for learning in its students and the Taft community. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, it is my honor to share the history of Taft College, celebrate the school's centennial anniversary, and commemorate its enduring contributions to our community.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, before I begin today's remarks, I will take a moment to acknowledge the devastating news of the two confirmed American deaths in Ukraine: Brent Renaud, an American journalist working with a documentary film team who was fatally shot over the weekend; and FOX News network just confirmed moments ago one of their cameramen, Pierre Zakrzewski, was killed while on assignment in Ukraine. An entire nation grieves with their families as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. We also continue to pray for the recovery of FOX News correspondent, Benjamin Hall, who suffered serious injuries while covering the war. Now, Madam Speaker, on Sunday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard fired dozens of missiles near the U.S. consulate in Iraq. This brazen attack on a civilian area by the terrorist arm of the Iranian regime was unjustified, illegal, and dangerous. Madam Speaker, the President of the United States has not said one word about these missiles from Iran--which has bragged about it-- towards the U.S. consulate in Iraq. Iran continues to wage an aggressive terror campaign against America and our allies. Remember, Madam Speaker, Iran's Parliament has chanted ``death to America'' and the commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guard has vowed to set ablaze Israel. I would think with missiles being shot at Americans that the Secretary of State and--at the very least--the President of the United States would say and stand against this. Yet, the Biden administration is quietly rushing ahead with a bad agreement that would give Iran--the world's leading state sponsor of terror-- nuclear weapons. President Biden has kept Congress and the American people in the dark about this dangerous deal which is illegal and goes against legislation this body has passed. Madam Speaker, when you look at the troubling terms, it is easily seen why they want to keep us and America in the dark. It would lift our most significant terrorism and missile sanctions and send Iran hundreds of billions of dollars. That means that Iran would see the windfall of cash to continue their terror campaign they had engaged in on Sunday and every day. This agreement is entirely on Iran's terms. But what is even worse is: Who is negotiating it? While the world looks at the evil of Putin and Russia killing innocent people and murdering throughout Ukraine, it is this administration that has Russia negotiating with Iran on America's behalf. Now, what does the Russian Ambassador say? He says that the deal that the Biden administration is negotiating gives Iran much more than it could expect, much more. And in return for making significant concessions, we get nothing: no serious system to check if the Iranian regime is cheating on the terms of the deal; no safeguards against Iranian terrorism like we saw on Sunday targeting Americans; no leverage over the expanded trade between Russia, China, and Iran; and nothing to help the Iranian people. This reported agreement is even worse than the Obama Iran deal of 2015. Under the terms of this deal, Iran would be a nuclear state in the blink of an eye. It would have enough uranium to create nuclear bombs which would endanger America, Israel, and the entire world. This is not only unthinkable, it is unacceptable. We should not allow the rogue Iranian regime to have nuclear weapons. The Biden administration has made a dangerous mistake by negotiating with the Iranian regime. They made terrible mistakes time and again, how they pulled out of Afghanistan, welcomed a pipeline to Putin, and said in a press conference that if Putin just takes part of Ukraine, it wouldn't be so bad. And now Iran sends weapons--missiles--at Americans, and not one word is said but a negotiation continues using Russia as our negotiator. This Biden administration has made a dangerous mistake. Furthermore, President Biden has compounded his mistake by relying on Russia to negotiate on our behalf and reportedly has given them written guarantees that the deal would protect their trade with Tehran. Think about that: We are making major concessions on Russian trade with Iran at the very moment we are sanctioning Russia for mercilessly killing Ukrainians. That is outrageous and just plain stupid. Has President Biden learned nothing? Our objective is to isolate Putin, not empower him. The Russians should not be responsible for anything--especially not a major deal-- and should never speak on behalf of Americans. Madam Speaker, I urge President Biden to make the right choice: Walk away. Because knowing when to walk away from the negotiating table is just as important as knowing when to sit down. It is also very important to know when to stand up. If a terrorist country sends weapons and missiles to attack Americans and you stay silent, that is the wrong answer, the wrong response, and leads to a dangerous future. Stand up for America, stand up for freedom, stand up for what is right, and walk away from this agreement.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, what would you do with $1,300? Would you go on vacation? Save for your kids' college? Maybe buy some new appliances? Well, under the Democrats' new America last energy policies, most Americans have little choice but to spend $1,300 extra on gas to fill up their cars over the course of the next year. Today, the price of gas hit an all-time high. Democrats want to blame surging prices on Russia. But the truth is, their out-of-touch policies are why we are here in the first place. Remember what happened on day 1 with one-party rule? The President canceled the Keystone Pipeline, and then he stopped new oil and gas leases on Federal lands and waters. Then he gave the green light to Putin's pipeline. These knee-jerk decisions had damaging effects up and down the supply chain. Now, Democrats are creating a fake choice between sanctioning Russia and lowering gas prices. In their twisted thinking, Americans must feel the pain at the pump in order to punish Putin. It doesn't have to be this way. When Democrats' one-party rule started last year, they inherited an energy independent America. Average prices at the pump were $2.53 a gallon. Oh, do we wish we had those days again. It is still possible to get back to that, which is why Republicans offered a bill last week that would approve the Keystone Pipeline, fast track oil and gas production on Federal lands and waters and remove all hurdles to exporting American natural gas. Do the American people wonder what happened when we offered that? Two hundred twenty Democrats voted against it. Then we offered targeted solutions to the immediate crisis, like approving the six natural gas export permits that are being held up by the Department of Energy. Just approving those six permits could increase U.S. natural gas exports by 25 percent. But Democrats refused to listen. They think our Nation's future is better with leaving our resources in the ground, even if that requires us to buy oil from Iran or Venezuela and batteries from China. It is obvious which party is championing clean, affordable American energy and which party has given up on it. It is interesting that American natural gas is 41 percent cleaner than Russian natural gas. Why wouldn't you want that to go to Europe and everywhere else? If we want to lower prices and protect the environment, we must prioritize American energy independence. What is worse, it is not just the Biden administration; it is complete throughout the Democrats' administration, for those who are in governorships as well. Just take a look at my home State, Madam Speaker, California. Now, the United States imports from Russia 209,000 barrels of crude per day. That is 76.3 million barrels of crude per year. Of that, California imports from Russia 50,265 barrels of crude per day. In fact, California imported twice as many barrels of oil from Russia in 2021 than from Canada. So that means this money went to Putin to pay for his war. Just as the Biden administration chose to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, apparently Governor Newsom thinks it is better to buy oil from Russia than from Canada. California domestic production was 374,000 barrels of crude per day in 2021. That has decreased under Gavin's administration, 89,000 barrels of crude per day less than in 2018. If you take the analysis, looking at the data, if California rolled back the Newsom/Biden regulations that are crippling oil production in California, California could more than offset its use of Russian crude and then some. The United States could offset 43 percent of its dependence on Russian crude if California produced its full capacity. You see, we don't have to be where we are. If the Democrats would change their policies of harming America and harming the environment by buying more Russian oil and gas, we wouldn't be where we are today. The prices would be lower, there would be more Americans working, and the world would be safer.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding, but more importantly, for his service to our Nation, and when he talks about that bill, you think, in Congress, when can you find something that is bipartisan? Here you have something come out of the Senate that Republicans and Democrats both agree upon. Republicans on this side of the aisle will vote for that. The only thing holding it up for these veterans are the Democrats. They know the bill they are going to produce won't go anywhere, and hopefully, we can come back and get this done, and it will go to the President's desk. It would have been nice for the President to have a bill before he came for the State of the Union, so he could actually sign something, but unfortunately, politics again gets in the way. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and to support Mrs. McMorris Rodgers' and Mr. Westerman's legislation. The crisis in Ukraine is a crisis of American energy security. Over the past decade, we have had every opportunity to lead. During the previous administration, we were energy independent and an exporter of energy for the first time in 50 years. Today, however, we have an administration that crippled domestic production. This administration has increased its daily reliance on Russian oil by 34 percent. As every American is glued to their television to see what is happening in Ukraine, to see the bombing of innocent children and women, there is no one American who would want any of our money to go to fund that. But in this administration, you had actually done that, increased the production of oil and natural gas coming from Russia to America. Meanwhile, it slow-walked oil and natural gas exports to our allies in Europe. In doing so, it made Europe more reliant on Putin. Today, 40 percent of natural gas and 25 percent of crude oil in Europe comes from Russian. The Biden administration has made the free world dependent on despots for oil and natural gas from Russia. We all know that is shameful. As an economic and energy superpower why are we relying on dictators when we should be supplying the world? If you are like me and you are concerned about the environment, do you realize that American natural gas is 42 percent cleaner than Russian natural gas? That crude oil could have come from Canada and been refined in America if President Biden hadn't pulled the plug on the Keystone Pipeline. But instead, he allowed Putin to have Nord Stream 2. For those at home that are wondering, what is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline? It is another pipeline built by Russia to go in to supply natural gas to Europe, but it goes around Ukraine because the current pipeline goes through Ukraine, and Ukraine gets part of the money. But with this new administration and President Biden going to meet with Mr. Putin, what did he do? He waived the sanctions. But when President Biden watched Putin put hundreds of thousands of men along the border of Ukraine there was an amendment offered in the Senate to put sanctions on Nord Stream 2. People wondered; did it pass? It came close, but it failed. Do you want to know why it failed? Because the Biden administration used all their political will to lobby against it passing. And more of American millions of dollars went to fund Putin who uses it for his military. That natural gas that goes to Europe, it could have come from America, from our Federal lands and waters where President Biden hasn't approved a single new lease--not one; he has actually shut them down-- and if we had continued the energy policies of the Trump administration, we would actually be safer today and Putin would have less money to fund his military weaponry. Our allies would be safer today, and American families would be paying less for cleaner energy. In California it is more than $5 a gallon, as you know, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if you can remember back when when it was much less. Now, I hear from our colleagues on the other side that the reason American resources must stay in the ground is climate change. I listened to Mr. Kerry be interviewed as Russia invaded Ukraine, and he was concerned. This former Secretary of State, now helping in this administration, I thought he would be concerned about the men and women in Ukraine. He was concerned with; would Putin still work with climate change? I think you should tell that to the Ukrainian people. I don't think one of them is concerned about that right now. Now, I hear our colleagues when they talk about climate change, but if they really studied it, the truth is what I told you before, American natural gas is 42 percent cleaner than Russian natural gas. And we can guarantee you this, we are not invading Ukraine. We won't use the resources to carpet-bomb, to shoot innocent women and children. If you are concerned about the environment, like I am, you should support this bill. You could, Mr. Speaker. It immediately approves the Keystone Pipeline because we have waited long enough and can't afford to wait a minute longer. It removes all restriction on liquid natural gas exports so we could become an arsenal of energy for the free world. And it restarts the leases on Federal lands and waters which are being held up by the Biden administration. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting. You have the majority here on the floor. You have the Biden administration. It is in the power of your party. But those six permits that sit at the desk of the Secretary of Energy that could take money away from Putin, provide American jobs, and provide Europe with cleaner natural gas from America still sit there to this day because somehow you think it is better for climate change. Mr. Speaker, a vote for this bill is a vote to produce more energy for our allies. It means American jobs. It means our allies don't have to deal with Putin, be held hostage to him. It means Putin will not have millions of dollars from Americans to buy the weaponry that he uses to kill innocent people in Ukraine. A vote for this bill is a vote to provide relief for working families at the pump. It means Americans won't have to pay the high prices they are today. I know at the White House, when they were asked this question, they said it is okay that the price is high because that way somehow it helps them with climate change if they could get more renewable energy. Mr. Speaker, that is a tax on all Americans, especially low-income. But I don't know, in this administration, they have the highest inflation we have had in 40 years. Somehow, they must think that is positive, too. Mr. Speaker, in this new administration, when you have crime, we have a border that is not secure. People are coming across the border that are on the terrorist watch list. We now have more fentanyl in America today than at any time, enough to kill every single American seven times over. Mr. Speaker, I know you would care about this because you know, today, the number one cause of death of those between the ages of 18 to 45 is fentanyl. You know where it comes from, the chemicals of China, across the border of Mexico that no longer is attended to. Mr. Speaker, I know the President of your party has put the Vice President in charge, and she has been there one time--one time. Every city in America has become a border city today every single weekend. Mr. Speaker, you know this based upon your background. You see the deaths that are happening. It is unwanted. It is unneeded. And we could do better. Mr. Speaker, a vote for this bill is a vote to deprive Putin of a major revenue stream. It is not difficult. There won't be any pressure. All Members have to do is walk onto the floor, take the card out of their pocket, put it in the little box. And if you are somebody that because you are afraid of COVID, you are still home, or you are on a boat, you could still vote by proxy with this majority. What you could do is you could vote for this bill. You could vote to make America energy independent. You could lower the gas prices. You could take the money out of Putin's hands that he uses to kill innocent people. Everybody in the world is watching. Mr. Speaker, the sad part, I bet if this bill was on the floor in any country in Europe, it would be 100 percent voted for. I will be watching. I think America will be watching. Would we stand for America and for freedom? Would we stand for President Zelensky, who didn't take the advice of President Biden and leave his country, who doesn't ask for men and women from America to come to fight? He just asks to provide some weapons so they can defend against Putin. Mr. Speaker, the sad part about that is every day that we allow crude or natural gas to come from Russia, American money is going to Putin. Let's stop that and stop that today.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. But more importantly, I want to thank him for his service to this country. After ignoring the China threat for years, House Democrats finally introduced a bill that is allegedly tough on China. They call it the America COMPETES Act. But make no mistake: It is a bill that concedes to China. The America concedes act is Democrats' desperate answer to their stream of self- created crises. While it contains some provisions supported by Republicans, Speaker Pelosi is holding these good ideas hostage by using this 3,000-page bill as a vehicle for the party's far-left agenda. Almost every page of the Democrats' concedes act has a provision that helps China but hurts America. Now, I know 3,000 pages is a lot to read, and my friends may not always get the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to read it before they vote on it. So I want to take an opportunity here to actually give you some of the pages and what it actually does. Now, here are just a few excerpts. On page 1689, it provides a new, unlimited green card program for the Chinese Communist Party to exploit. It also allows research funds to freely flow to colleges and universities that host Confucius Institutes which are essentially CCP propaganda centers. They literally censor our colleges and campuses. These policies would make our Nation more vulnerable to Chinese espionage. In fact, the threat of Chinese spying in America is so widespread that the FBI has 2,000 active cases. Think about that. There are 2,000, almost as many pages as this bill is. They open a new case every 12 hours. So as we debate this bill for the next few days, there will be six new cases opened. I wonder what they would do. How far would the Chinese spy? I have watched a lot of Hollywood movies. I don't know. Could you imagine? Would they go as far and as deep to even meet somebody and spy on them when they are on the city council? Would they develop a friendship through a college like we see here with Confucius? Maybe they would even help if the city council person wanted to run for Congress. Maybe they would go as far as, if this person runs for Congress and they had developed this long relationship from meeting in college, to offer to put people in their office, to help them work in that office, the interns. It would be good. Could they go as far as this person that got elected to Congress may be just in their second term to get on one of the most influential committees, the Committee on Intelligence? Could they go that far? With the FBI opening up cases every 12 hours, if this person got on the Committee on Intelligence, they would probably warn leadership here about that, I would imagine, because they wouldn't know. If leadership was warned about it, instantly that Member probably would not be on a committee where they could hear secrets that Members here don't get to know. Surely that person would not still be on that committee. I don't know if this is Hollywood or not. Mr. Speaker, what if that Member even wanted to run for President after that? That would be shocking to me. It is probably too Hollywood. It couldn't be true. It couldn't happen in today's world. I don't know. The FBI has 2,000 active cases, and they open a new one every 12 hours. So what are you doing to stop that? Oh, we are going to help them. We are going to give them more money. We are going to give them a green card program. I am sure, when the FBI warns of the next, maybe that person could even become a subcommittee chair on the Committee on Intelligence. That couldn't happen in America. I just know with new leadership it won't be allowed. On page 995, it requests a toothless report from the Biden administration on the origins of COVID. Instead of taking action to get real accountability, it is going to ask for a report. Now this leadership could open a lot of select committees. They do that quite often. Why don't we have a select committee on the origins of COVID? I know we are going to debate this bill for a couple of days. Today, I just got a notice we were going to have a memorial this week on the steps of the Capitol like we had before, because 900,000 Americans have now died because of COVID. That got postponed. I don't know if you know why it was postponed. Was it postponed because we were debating this bill and we didn't want to put them together at the same time? I am not sure of that. I don't know. It is a question I would wonder. Mr. Speaker, the bigger question I would wonder is, instead of just sitting out there and giving a moment of silence, why wouldn't we give them more time to explain why those 900,000 in America died, let alone the millions around the world where it originated from? Don't you think that would be a better use of our time? I know with the new leadership we will have that committee. On page 1396, it directs the American military to train to combat climate change. How does that compete? I always thought the American military would be trained to defend America, to protect America. But lo and behold this Congress on page 1396 is going to direct the American military to train to combat climate change. If the leadership in this Congress was different, I know that would not be in there. On page 1645, this is very important for competing. It creates a Coral Reef Task Force because, you know, a Coral Reef Task Force, somebody can cut himself, but 900,000 Americans can die of COVID, but you can't have a task force on that to know where it originated from. If anybody gets hurt from a coral reef, we have got the task force right here in this building. That is going to make America compete like no other country can. On page 227, it creates a new Federal program to study plumbing. Mr. Speaker, I will tell you we don't need any new program to study plumbing. If anybody here wants to study plumbing, I know Markwayne Mullin will give you a class day in and day out. Nobody is finer. He has proven it. This is going to make America compete? Mr. Speaker, 900,000 Americans can die, but you are not going to do anything about understanding where the origin was created. We are getting spied on every single day, all the way down to city council, but we are not doing anything there. We are actually going to fund it and let them do more. When it comes to coral reefs and plumbing, we are going to excel. On page 1392, it gives $8 billion. Can you imagine $8 billion? How do we get $8 billion? We take it from the taxpayer. How does the taxpayer get $8 billion? They wake up in the morning. They work. They are paying more for gas. They are paying more for their milk, for their eggs, for their breakfast. They are paying more for the masks they have got to put on their kids, if the schools are even open. They earn less because inflation hits them every day, but what we are going to do is take more of their money. Mr. Speaker, $8 billion, what would this Congress invest in? Well, they are going to give it to the unaccountable U.N. Green Climate Fund. Now what have they done with this fund? Where does this money go? If it is really worthy, I am sure the American taxpayer would offer $8 billion more for this Congress to decide where they should be able to send that so their kids can't enjoy maybe a day at Disneyland or somewhere else or simply to be able to pay their electricity bill that continues to rise. Well, the U.N. is very, very accountable for this. They have already funneled $100 million to China. So how does the America COMPETES Act do anything to China but provide them more money? Whose money are they provided? You are taking it from the hardworking American taxpayer to give to China through the U.N. Maybe they can buy more solar panels and batteries made by the slave labor in China but paid for by the American taxpayer. I don't think that does much to help us to compete. Now, Republicans have offered amendments to prevent China from using that money. Wouldn't it seem like it would be an easy vote? I think it would be hands down. I would really be interested in knowing who in this body has constituents that have raised their hand and said they will give $8 billion of their hard-earned taxpayer money so we can send it to the U.N. for the Green Climate Fund that has given China $100 million. I would like to know that district. We offered the amendment to stop it. Do you know what is so interesting? There has to be at least 218 districts that want to do that because it failed. The Democrats said no. They are in the majority. So it had to be your districts. I am not sure if any of you have taken a poll on that. Maybe I am wrong. Mr. Speaker, all of these far-left policies would make America more vulnerable. We might be stronger in the coral reef, but in everything else we are going to be more vulnerable when it comes to China. Mr. Speaker, Democrats have spent this debate defending none of them. Earlier this week the Biden White House never mentioned the word China in a letter to the House Democrats, urging them to support the America COMPETES Act. How is that possible, Mr. Speaker? This is the White House with an administration that has worked closely with this Democrat leadership. This bill is all based upon competes, making us stronger against China. The only thing I could think of is the White House must have read the bill, because there is nothing in there that actually makes us stronger against China, only weaker. So I guess they didn't want to mention it. Now Democrats seem to be pivoting to talking about the economy. You should be so proud of what you have done to the economy because you have changed it. You have changed it drastically. It looks worse today than it did 1 year ago. We have just passed the 1-year anniversary of one-party rule. I am not sure you can blame other people for it. You can show what you accomplished. Some have even said that this $320 billion will help reduce inflation. That is deja vu all over again. Mr. Speaker, we were on this floor and lo and behold it became a moment in time where no longer did we want to do anything bipartisan when it came to COVID because now you had the Senate. You had the White House. So I guess you think you didn't need to do that. So you came up with this great idea to spend almost $2 trillion. You know what? I can't blame you because it is kind of similar to this bill. Title it COVID but only spent 9 percent on it. Spend $2 trillion. We come to the floor, and we debate. Mr. Speaker, we actually warned you. There were moments in time I thought, should we warn you or should we not? But I care too much about the country. It is too much pain. If you make this bill go through and you spend $2 trillion, you are going to create inflation, a tax on every single American. Oh, no, no, no, you said. Lo and behold, a year later, we were right again. Don't make the same mistake twice. Don't bring a bill where even the President won't mention China. And don't lie to the American public that it's going to make us stronger. If you are talking about the coral reef bill, go right ahead. It is not a surprise that Democrats want to change the subject. Unfortunately, China is not waiting around for us to act. The real threats we face should remind all of us about the importance of leading by example and putting America first. That starts with taking the threat of China seriously. Mr. Speaker, I believe personally the two greatest threats to the future of this country are the size of our debt and China. No matter what you study in history, every great society that overextends themselves collapses. We have $30 trillion in debt, larger than our economy. You are here, wanting to take more money to give to the U.N. to give to China. You want to take more money to study plumbing. We all know water goes downhill. You want to take more money to study the coral reef. You want to tell the American public that we are going to be better, that we are going to be able to compete. Mr. Speaker, I don't sit here just to criticize. I tried to work, to do it together, to make it better. House Republicans have tried to work with Democrats on important issues. Three years ago, I remember traveling to the 75th anniversary of Normandy. It is an unbelievable location. I remember a lot of the Members went together. I went with Speaker Pelosi. I remember walking through the cemetery. You look at those headstones from the Star of David to the cross. All the names were young men who died, all about the same age and close in proximity. All died in about the same timeframe. As you reflect on their life, you begin to reflect on the position that we currently serve. What action could have been done that that day never had to take place? It wouldn't be a week before or a month before; it would be years before. What position, what policy could we have done then as a country that D-day didn't have to take place? In doing so, as I ponder this, as we were sitting on foreign soil and we were watching as Americans gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives--with the Speaker and others--and knowing what I think about our debt and China, I asked the Speaker, could we create a committee, a select committee--make it an equal number of Republicans and Democrats so politics is out of it--to focus on not only making America compete, but compete against China, from our critical minerals, from our medical supplies, and others; that we could have a real plan that could come out united as one. Now, I didn't give up. I worked on it for like 8 months. I talked to the majority leader, Steny Hoyer. I will tell you, we finally came to agreement, and the answer was yes. I was so excited. We worked on who would we appoint. We wanted to make it right. We worked hard on it. We even came back, when the Democrats said it had to be a smaller committee, I said, ``Okay, I will make it smaller just so we can do it.'' In February 2020, a joint release was ready to go out. This is how far we came. I don't know if you know the reporter Josh Rogin with the Washington Post? We even brought him in to interview the Members of Congress who were going to be appointed to this committee so we could have a story about it. That is how close we were. But just as that press release was ready to hit the button to go at the time, on 2-24, Chairman Engel's staff said some small things needed to be changed. March 18, the early days of China coronavirus outbreak, and the cover-up came out. A study published in March indicated that if Chinese authorities had acted 3 weeks earlier than they did, the number of cases could have been reduced by 95 percent. I am sure that committee could have found a lot of that. On May 7, 2020, The Washington Post wrote, ``GOP to Launch China Task Force,'' because I wanted the Democrats to stay with us. We had the reports; we had the names; we had everything; but they said no. They said no. Three years ago they said no. This select committee was not going to study the coral reef, was not going to study plumbing, was simply going to focus on how does America compete for the future, what do we need to compete against China. That is all we were going to do. We were not going to take $8 billion and give it to the U.N. to give to China. We weren't going to do any of that. So we went ahead without you. That was May 7. One week later, Mr. Speaker, on May 14, the Speaker of this House, Nancy Pelosi, said: ``Trump's focus on China is an interesting diversion.'' An interesting diversion. Think about where we are today and if we had acted back then. Today, Mr. Speaker, Speaker Pelosi says the only thing is the GOP may not want the President to have a victory, which is a sad statement on their part because this is really a jobs issue and a national security issue. Well, I am not sure, because in reading the bill, if it is a jobs issue, I guess she takes that from the plumbing study. A national security issue, I guess making our military trained against climate change. But why couldn't we have done that 3 years ago, to have a real committee? Three years ago the bipartisan talks for the China Task Force, it did take me a year, but unfortunately Speaker Pelosi walked away. Luckily for America, the House Republicans started the task force anyway. We quickly delivered hundreds of specific recommendations that addressed every part of the China threat. There wasn't one bill on plumbing or one bill on the coral reef. In October of 2020 our China Task Force released something no Congress in history has done before, a comprehensive blueprint to guide our response to China. I am proud that it is the most thorough report on China in the history of Congress. I am proud that it is bold, achievable, and realistic. It identifies the threat of Communist China. It doesn't reward them with money. Two-thirds of those recommendations are bipartisan, and one-third have already passed the House or the Senate. And we did not stop there. On the issue of COVID, perhaps the greatest offense China has committed, House Republicans offered eight reasonable solutions to achieve justice for Americans and to hold China accountable, including relocating the Olympics from Beijing. Mr. Speaker, those opening ceremonies are going to be quite interesting. President Xi and President Putin are probably going to be arm in arm. I don't know, we might be arm in arm, I don't know the exact day we are going to go out to pay tribute to the 900,000 Americans who died from COVID. More in the last year than the year before. No select committee here to study the origins of it. Wouldn't you want to know? None of those families can sue the people who created it. That was one of the recommendations. I kind of think that would be common sense. I kind of think we both could get to the same place. Meanwhile, House Democrats picked this week of all weeks to finally put a weak bill that requests moving the Games. Yeah, if you wait to that very last day, I bet you could do it then, 2 days before they begin. Frankly, it is too little and too late. I bet you China laughs just like they laugh at this bill. The actions of the majority tell you all you need to know about who they truly want to help--themselves, their corporate allies, and the Chinese Communist Party. Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the Communist Party has on the majority party here, but it must be powerful. It must be powerful. To be that close to have a select committee, to have the reporter who already had written the story to get pulled away, to have 900,000 American lives taken, and you move the date. I don't know why, but could it be this bill at this time? There is nothing in this bill to study the origins; there is nothing in this bill to give those families the right to be compensated for the life they lost. But there is money in here for China. There is money in here to give more green cards. There is money in here where the institutes could be continued. Mr. Speaker, I implore my colleagues to take some time and think deeply about what our country stands for. It certainly isn't this political stunt by the majority. Mr. Speaker, I will never question somebody's patriotism. The only thing I ask is if you were there on the 75th anniversary of Normandy, and you walked through, and you read those names, and you ever wondered what could have been done beforehand, I think you would know this is not the right path. I would hope you would have the political courage to say so, and I would hope you would have the will to vote ``no,'' not because your political life depends on it, but because America's future depends on it.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, more than one million students started 2022 with closed schools: another year of disrupted learning. In Chicago, more than 300,000 kids spent 4 days locked out of their classrooms. This is the same Chicago that received nearly $2 billion from the Democrats' so-called COVID relief bill to keep schools open. We have an education and a mental health crisis on our hands. Every student who is trapped behind a screen knows it. Every mom and dad who is anxious about another year of last-minute closures know it. Even Democrat mayors and voters know it. And yet, President Biden said yesterday, America is on the ``right track'' with regard to the pandemic. Mr. President, in what world is this considered the right track? Disrupted learning means we are leaving behind a generation of struggling students. It might be the single most destructive policy imposed on our children this century. The negative consequences can last a lifetime. The only question we have now is, how do we save our kids from more disruption to their education in the days and weeks to come? The President of the United States could have gone to Chicago or any of the 5,400 schools that started off this year closed to send a clear signal that kids belong in the classroom. Instead, he was in Atlanta yesterday delivering a speech that was so self-serving and out-of-touch that even Stacey Abrams kept her distance. But I have a simple principle that every parent knows well: Our kids' education is not dispensable. Their futures are not dispensable. I believe that as a parent, as a lawmaker, and as an American citizen, and I know every House Republican believes it, too. We must be a society that pushes to do the best we can for the next generation, a society that finally achieves the goal of allowing every kid in every neighborhood to go to the school that their parents believe is best for them. House Republicans will work to make sure our children are the national priority they should be, even if this administration and House Democrats won't.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Jo Pasek, a talented and service-oriented community leader who has dedicated herself to improving the work of countless students and the Kern County community throughout her career, on her retirement from Bakersfield College. Mary Jo arrived in Bakersfield, California by way of Minnesota-- following her graduation from the College of St. Scholastica--and worked in the booming Kern County oil and natural gas industry before joining Calcot Limited, a cotton grower and marketing cooperative, where she would work for over 25 years. In a testament to her leadership skills and drive, Mary Jo went on to become the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources at Calcot. While in this role, Mary Jo oversaw the employee benefits program, developed a computer literacy program for the Calcot workforce, and managed the Calcot-Seitz Foundation Scholarship Program, which awards annual scholarships to promising students pursuing careers in agriculture. Following her passion for helping students succeed, Mary Jo began a new chapter in her career in 2007 when she joined Bakersfield College-- part of the Kern Community College District (KCCD)--and its team of devoted educators, who have committed themselves to advancing the KCCD's mission of creating lifelong learners. In her role as the Community Relations, Scheduling, and Events Manager at Bakersfield College, Mary Jo oversaw a number of departments, including the Human Resources and Event Management divisions. She enhanced personnel training and professional development programs, developed relationships between the school and broader community, and raised needed funds for the Bakersfield College Foundation and Athletic Department--positioning Bakersfield College to continue to offer quality programming for students and faculty for years to come. Over the years, I have had the privilege of participating in many of the events that Mary Jo coordinated at Bakersfield College. From hosting my office and the Library of Congress on Bakersfield College's campus to conduct Veterans History Project interviews to playing an integral role in the highly successful 2014 Kern Agriculture Summit that I joined to discuss important issues facing Central Valley farmers, Mary Jo has always been uniquely capable of bringing together diverse stakeholders with the shared goal of bettering and giving back to the Kern County community. In addition to serving others through her work at Bakersfield College, Mary Jo has extensive volunteer experience, having worked on behalf of Kern County veterans and several community groups, including the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary, United Way of Kern County, and the American Cancer Society. She has received well-earned recognition for her accomplishments over the years, including the District Rotary Rotarian of the Year, Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Volunteer of the Year, and Bernice Harrel Chipman Bakersfield Woman of the Year awards for her tireless work. While Mary Jo will no longer be with Bakersfield College, I am confident she will continue to be a strong role model for others and an enthusiastic leader in the community. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, I wish Mary Jo and her husband, Tom, all the best as they enter this new chapter in their lives.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend for yielding, and I want to thank him for his friendship and his work. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. I want to thank Congressman Barr for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor in a strong bipartisan way. I am proud to support the CAROL Act in honor of Andy's lovely wife, the late Carol Barr. Like everyone who knew her, we know the moment and where we were when we heard of her passing. It was sudden. It was unexpected. It was something no one ever thought could happen. If you ever met her, you were her friend. She was a kind and graceful person with a heart for service. As I speak today, I remember her laugh. Throughout her own career and working with Andy, Carol devoted her time and energy to giving back to the community. She had a service heart. It was all about the Sixth District. I met her years ago. I met her when she first knew Andy, before either daughter was born. I was able to watch them grow and watch the look in their mom's eyes. I remember one time when we were there, she was holding Eleanor. Eleanor was showing me her parade wave. Carol led a highly respected career in sales at Pfizer. She served as executive director for the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship; and she volunteered at the Junior League of Lexington and the University of Kentucky's College of Communication and Information National Advisory Board. Her faith, her patriotism, and her generosity toward her neighbors were manifest. For those who attended the time to honor her life, speaker after speaker after speaker could tell you the moment in time that Carol walked into their life. The interesting part when they told it, their life got better, but Carol never walked out of their life. That was the interesting part. Oh, how she loved Andy and her two beautiful girls, Eleanor and Mary Clay. This disease strikes you at a time you don't even know. You just come back from doing something most all of us do--the family photos, even getting ready for a campaign. You look at her face, and you look at the children's faces. And you know Andy. Carol did all the work. Carol prepared everybody. Andy is a great legislator, but Carol made everything happen. I love when I meet people early on. I always ask, how did you first meet? I asked Andy and Carol. Andy would tell you the story. He saw her, and he could tell you the moment it happened. He had a plan. His plan, he had it all mapped out. He was going to ask for her business card. He just didn't realize she didn't have one. The problem with Andy is, he didn't have a backup plan. But the great thing about it is, God had already taken care of this. God already had a plan for Andy and Carol. Eight weeks later, he brought them back together again. This time, Andy didn't let her get away. They were married for more than 13 years. I cannot tell you the loss we feel. Andy feels it every day. The community feels it every day. There is not a day that goes by that we don't pray for him and the girls. There are times when I would pick up, just call and check on him. I remember doing it recently. He said it was a good weekend. He took the girls, just the girls and him, and went to the place that the Barr family would always go to. It was in the woods. It was a time of reflection. There are others in this body that have had to deal with this type of loss, a loss in their own family. We all know the different ways to suffer. We are all familiar with the five different stages of grief-- the denial, the anger, the bargaining, the depression, and the acceptance. Andy didn't have time for any of them. Andy channeled his grief into what I believe is the sixth stage, the lawmaker, and he did something important, working to honor Carol today but save lives for everybody else in the future. We are going to do work today that most people when they talk about Congress wish we did every day. There is not going to be partisanship. I think if you met Carol, it didn't matter what side of the aisle you were on. It would be harder to attack Andy. We are going to save lives for the future, and that is exactly what this bill does, Madam Speaker. It saves lives. More than 25,000 Americans die from valvular heart disease every year. Many, like Carol, show no outward signs. You don't have a warning. You kiss your spouse good-bye, and you are going to go down the street. The next thing, something goes wrong. Too often, the diagnosis comes down to luck. Carol got an indication, but we had COVID. We said to wait to have a procedure. We must do better. Our doctors and families deserve to have better information so they can make the right decisions about treatment. The CAROL Act will help get them the information by providing $20 million in research grants to study valvular heart problems. Andy, your work to pass this bill in honor of Carol has truly been an inspiration to all of us. Of all the moments that I had an opportunity to spend with them, I always reflect on this one. Like many of you, collectively, we will do a trip to Israel, legislatively, foreign policy. There was this moment in the trip--and you know the trip. It is filled with meetings after meetings after meetings. You are in a different time zone, and it gets tiring. You are up early until late at night. Carol would always be smiling. We were visiting this one facility with the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus had spoken. I remember standing next to her, reading the story in the Bible. I remember her smile. More importantly, I remember her love for all. I know she is with us today. I know she is proud of Andy. She is proud of Eleanor and Mary Clay. Her work and life on this Earth was not long, but her impact was great. Today, what we are doing is right. Today, what we are doing is going to make tomorrow better. Andy, your dedication, which is so ably represented in this important bill, is a fitting tribute to Carol. She had a heart for service. Anyone who knew her will tell you that. Today, we are going to honor her memory, and we are going to salute you. We are going to salute that Carol made a difference yesterday, today, and tomorrow. She will not be forgotten, be it through the caring, the sweetness, the kindness of her daughters; but, more importantly, the love and respect of her husband, who, in a very tragic situation, could go a lot of different paths. But I know he wondered what Carol would want to be done, and that is exactly what he did. He put himself in a position to make the world better and to make fewer families to have that same call. I respect everybody I serve with. People go through a lot of challenges. There are very few people in my life who I have ever witnessed the dignity and the respect and the honor that Andy has given to Carol for her life and her memory.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Bakersfield Fire Department Chief Anthony Galagaza on his retirement from the Bakersfield Fire Department after 30 years of public service to our community. Anthony's career as a first responder and exposure to firefighting began when he accepted a summer position in 1989 as a seasonal firefighter for the United States Bureau of Land Management. Captivated by the field, Anthony decided to take his talents to the Bakersfield Fire Department, where he would complete over 30 years of service. Indicative of his knowledge of public safety and passion for helping others in times of crisis, Anthony quickly climbed the ladder within the Department. In 1990, Anthony started out as a reserve firefighter and in 1992 became a full-time firefighter. In 2013, Anthony was promoted to Fire Battalion Chief after serving as a fire engineer and Fire Captain. Five years later, Anthony was tapped to become the Fire Chief, overseeing the Department's fleet of personnel, fire stations, and various divisions. During his tenure as Fire Chief, Anthony has transformed the Department to ensure it had the staff and resources necessary to tackle the challenges of the next decade. Some of his major achievements include significantly increasing the number of rescue squads and arson personnel in the Department, advancing health and wellness programs for Department staff and firefighters, and fostering public trust in the community. The emphasis on public trust and outreach helped the Bakersfield Fire Department maintain its elite status among fire departments as a recipient of a class two rating by the Insurance Services Office, which assesses the ability of a fire department to respond effectively to fires in its area of responsibility. This high rating indicates the effectiveness of the Bakersfield Fire Department and is a testament to Anthony's effective leadership as the Fire Chief. Anthony's investment in, and passion for, keeping the people of Bakersfield safe is without question. That is why, in August 2021, as House Republican Leader, I had the privilege to appoint him to the Medal of Valor Review Board, which reviews individuals to be awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor--the highest national award for valor a public safety officer can receive--and make recommendations to the White House. Throughout his career, Anthony has dedicated himself to serving others, building trust in the city, and ensuring the safety and security of homes, schools, and workplaces in our community. He has been integral in highlighting the value of our firefighting and dispatch personnel and will be missed by the Bakersfield Fire Department, which he has referred to as his second family. On behalf of the people of Bakersfield and the 23rd Congressional District of California, I would like to thank Anthony for his decades of service to our community and I wish him and his family the very best as he starts this next chapter of his life.