Mary Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Joe Biden's open-border policies have created a crisis on our border not seen in over 30 years. And what are the Democrats doing to address this worsening border crisis? They just passed through a multitrillion-dollar spending bill with mass amnesty for up to 10 million illegal immigrants, plus $100 billion in taxpayer-funded benefits. This far-left, socialist reconciliation package provides zero funding for border wall construction, technology, or additional Border Patrol agents. While border arrests are at an all-time high with no signs of stopping, our border czar, Vice President Harris, who has yet to be seen, has no solutions that would end the crisis on our border. Instead, Biden and Harris continue to incentivize illegal immigration at the expense of all Americans. Open borders plus amnesty is the end of our great country as we know it.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have observed multiple times when we open our daily session in prayer that we are praying to Creator God, acknowledging that God is our creator. He is also the giver of life. I am proud of my five daughters who cherish this blessing from our Creator and have blessed us with 17 grandchildren. The abortion industry talks about pregnancy as if it is a cancer diagnosis. How sad and tragic that Planned Parenthood and the chemical abortion industry have targeted and deceived young women for their own profit. Today, we have been praying for wisdom and for God's guiding hand over the Supreme Court as it hears the Dobbs v. Jackson case. This case could mark the biggest win for human life in America in decades. In Illinois' 15th Congressional District, we honor and respect the dignity of all stages of life, born and unborn. Pro-life Americans believe all life has value, no matter how small. I also have a little grandson who has Down syndrome. He is just precious. His name is Nathaniel, and that means a gift from God. With the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, the Court can correct the dreadful ruling of Roe v. Wade and acknowledge that the decision wasn't constitutional or based in reality.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Lamborn, for hosting this wonderful Special Order this evening. It is fitting that we commemorate the Bible's central role in moral, educated, and free societies and that we get to celebrate the freedom that we have in this country to own, to share, and to speak about the Bible. Bible reading has been a great encouragement and comfort to people throughout history and has contributed to the spiritual, moral, and social fiber of our Nation. Millions of Americans have been impacted by the Bible. It is especially important to my constituents back in the 15th Congressional District of Illinois. It is a priority of our home. We have daily Bible reading and scripture memory, and we raised our children that way. John Quincy Adams said, ``So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.'' I do have to agree with Congressman Babin when he said we live in perilous times. I would like to suggest that maybe we shouldn't have neglected in recent times the Scriptures and maybe we need to give more earnest heed to the Bible and what it says. The Bible is the book above all others, to be read at all ages and in all conditions of human life. The Psalms say, ``Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'' It answers all the great questions of life: Where did we come from? Why am I here? How shall I live? What is good and evil? What is the remedy for my sin? And where is our destiny? May those of us who read and reverence the Holy Scriptures be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, our Nation's cattle ranchers are going bankrupt and yet, the price of beef remains expensive and continues to rise. The price disparities between live cattle prices and wholesale beef rise in tandem with historic levels of consolidation in the meat packing sector and minimal levels of competition in the marketplace. My colleagues and I, along with cattle producers nationwide, are asking for action to strengthen the integrity of the cattle market and are requesting an update on the Department of Justice's investigation into the four largest meatpackers in the United States. We must determine if any manipulation, collusion, or other illegal activity may be occurring in order to ensure market transparency. It is vital for the continuation of the American beef industry that market manipulation is identified. We must stand with our farmers and ranchers for fair, competitive, and free market business practices.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, the only thing President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and the Democrats in Congress will be building back better is China's economy. Truly, they are building Beijing back better. A new report released today shows that China has officially surpassed the U.S. as the richest nation in the world because Congress gave China most favored nation status under the Clinton administration. They have definitely tipped the scales for Chinese manufacturing. D.C. politicians themselves have been enriched off of China, while the American middle class suffers. Now Democrats are pushing the Green New Deal policies that will make the middle class suffer even more with higher gas prices and home heating bills this winter. Biden's policies enrich China because they manufacture solar panels, lithium batteries, and windmills, and taxpayers are going to be forced to subsidize this. China mines these minerals for batteries and solar panels with child labor and slave labor. When asked about the slave labor behind the Green New Deal, John Kerry said it was ``not my lane.'' That is despicable.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Keller for yielding. It has been great starting the day today in prayer for our country and now finishing with this Special Order. The Fifth Circuit blocking OSHA's COVID mandate is a huge win for the American people, but Biden and the far left aren't going to give up this power grab without a fight. This vaccine mandate would destroy what is left of our economy and make Americans less safe. We are forcing people to quit their jobs with unconstitutional mandates from an out-of-control Federal Government. This mandate is causing the American people to be less safe by making firefighters, police officers, Border Patrol, and nurses to choose between the jab or their job. If U.S. military members are discharged, China and our adversaries stand to be the beneficiaries. Natural immunity is completely ignored because natural immunity doesn't have a lobbyist here in D.C. We cannot sit idly by while the government works to centralize the personal health information of Americans. Americans have the God-given right to the pursuit of happiness, and we will not bow to king Biden and his unconstitutional edicts.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, some Members of this body have called to defund the police. Sadly, while crime is on the rise, we have Democrat Governors across the country who are implementing anti-police policies. In Illinois, our Governor signed legislation to eliminate bail and put offenders right back on the street. He released dangerous inmates because of COVID and refuses to work with ICE to deport illegal immigrants. The result, as we all know, is that our neighborhoods are less safe and the job of law enforcement is more dangerous. People want and need police protection. Americans appreciate and support our police. Tragically, this past year we lost a brave officer from Champaign, Illinois. In the line of duty, Officer Chris Oberheim was killed and Officer Jeffrey Creel, his partner, was shot three times while returning fire. He survived. Like so many law enforcement officers around our country, Officer Oberheim and Officer Creel put the people of their community first ahead of their own safety. Officer Oberheim's life and service will not and should not be forgotten. I cannot imagine the loss and the pain that his family suffers day by day. They continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Misguided policies from ignorant politicians have turned Chicago into a war zone and are making our communities less safe. Criminals are allowed to steal thousands of dollars of merchandise and many are not being charged. Soft-on-crime policies embolden criminals. I promise to always back the blue and stand with our police. May God bless our law enforcement.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, President Biden and the Democrats want to defund the police, take away your Second Amendment right to self-defense, and then stand by and watch crime skyrocket in cities like Chicago. The new push by the left, intended to diminish your Second Amendment rights, is to pass so-called red-flag gun confiscation laws. This is a disguised attempt by Congressional Democrats and some Republicans to seize lawfully owned firearms and violate the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. Congressional Democrats and some Republicans voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes red-flag gun confiscation provisions. I urge the Senate to reject red-flag gun confiscation provisions in the NDAA. I will always stand up for the Second Amendment rights of my constituents. Shootings in Chicago are up 220 percent due to the pro-crime policies of the left. Businesses and citizens are leaving Illinois at a record number. Officers are retiring from the Chicago police force at a record pace. Our Second Amendment right to defend our home and family has never been more important. I will always stand up for the Constitution and for the safety of the people in Illinois.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to commend the Governor of Florida for the great example he has been to the rest of the States and how he is leading the way in education. We appreciate it. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. 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. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I do have to say that this is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is an issue that affects all American children. But where are the Democrat leaders? Why are they not speaking out on this? Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. To conclude, Madam Speaker, I want to say that we want our children to be smart; we want them to master the core subjects; and we want them to love their neighbor and their country. Please do not underestimate the power of regular people to defend their children and their country. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Texas heartbeat case. I pray that the Justices find wisdom and compassion to defend the rights of the unborn. So many of my constituents were horrified to learn that the FDA was actually purchasing fetal tissue to surgically implant baby skulls into mice. Thank God President Trump defended life and stopped this horrific practice. We opened this session with a prayer to ``Creator God.'' God is the creator of human life, which begins at conception. Abortion is an offense to God, and we are bringing the wrath of God down upon our Nation. Madam Speaker, I urge us as lawmakers and Americans to repent and change course. Every child is made in the image of God, and every child is precious.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, we face an unprecedented assault on the American way of life by the radical left. Under President Biden's leadership, the left has weaponized the Federal Government to go after the American people. President Biden is building an IRS army of 85,000 new IRS agents to investigate middle-class Americans and ruin their lives. The Biden IRS wants the power to spy on private citizens' bank accounts and monitor their transactions. Biden's Treasury Secretary said her next goal is to create a new tax on the value of farmland in America. This will destroy the American family farm and eliminate independent food production. The Biden-Harris administration is also weaponizing OSHA to fire Americans who live paycheck to paycheck if they don't make a healthcare decision about vaccines that leftwing politicians don't like. Madam Speaker, I note this hypocrisy from pro-abortion liberals who use the ``my body my choice'' slogan. We watched last week as Biden's Attorney General tried to defend the use of the FBI agents who intimidated, harassed, and want to spy on parents who show up to school board meetings to speak in opposition to the Biden agenda. Middle-class parents are rightfully outraged that President Biden and leftwing school boards want to turn their children against each other with racist curriculum or indoctrinate their young children with perverted sexual content. Americans used to be protected by the First Amendment. They were allowed to speak freely in our society. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights limit the power of the Federal Government because our Nation is a place where people should be free to start independent small businesses and raise their own children. The Biden administration and the radical left have a far different agenda. They want to use the FBI to intimidate and harass Americans; they want to use the IRS to spy on Americans; and they want to use OSHA to fire Americans. The Federal Government is now a tool, a weapon that they want to use to make Americans obey. My constituents and the American people will not be intimidated by the Biden administration or the radical left, Madam Speaker. We are born free and our rights come from God. Our response to a weaponized Federal Government is loud and clear. In the spirit of freedom, we say: Let's go, Brandon.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I cannot in good conscience support legislation that opens the door to Federal dollars being used to harm our most vulnerable--the unborn. Current law prohibits Federal funding from being used to pay for reimbursements for medical services while still allowing domestic violence victims to obtain referrals to have their healthcare needs met. This prohibition, coupled with the longstanding Hyde amendment included in annual appropriations, has long been supported by Democrats, including President Biden. This precedent ensures that tax dollars under this law do not pay for abortion services either directly or indirectly. Sadly, committee Democrats are proposing to strike this prohibition from the law. Along with their public intentions to strike the Hyde amendment, I am concerned that this bill could lead to taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortions instead. My amendment would have maintained current law and made clear that FVPSA funds cannot be used for abortion services or abortion referrals. This will ensure that even as Democrats make an extreme push to repeal Hyde, these funds will not be used for such services. A Marist Poll from earlier this year indicated that 58 percent of Americans opposed taxpayer funding of abortion--or we could say inducement for women to have abortions. We should not force taxpayers to fund services that violate their strongly held beliefs. This amendment ensures that this does not occur. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3110, the PUMP Act. Americans want nursing mothers to have adequate provisions in the workplace. The fact is, they are already provided in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill before us consists of unreasonable burdens on employers and penalties that will end up disincentivizing job creation. At the same time that nursing mothers deserve protections, employers deserve allowances for flexibility in their workplace. We are in the midst of an economic, supply chain, and employment crisis. We don't need to put more hurdles in the way of businesses and employment. When I am in my district and I speak to business owners all around my district, the number one thing I hear is we cannot find enough workers. Why are we going to put more strain on them?

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin for yielding. The Biden socialist spending bill provides amnesty to eight million illegal immigrants, including illegal aliens who are active gang members, have convictions for sex crimes, and have multiple DUI offenses. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee actually said he was okay with allowing illegal immigrants to remain in our country even if they have 20 DUI convictions. Does that make our country more safe? The Biden-Harris open border policies have allowed over 200,000 illegal immigrants to cross our border each month with a caravan of 400,000 on the way. This is equal to the population of Minneapolis. They are about to cross our border in the next few weeks. Tragically, the Biden administration has allowed 125,000 children to be trafficked into our country by criminal cartels. These children often face sexual assaults by cartel predators who are only able to operate because the Biden administration eliminated remain in Mexico and brought back catch and release. The invasion at our border plus amnesty is truly the end of our country as we know it. Americans oppose mass amnesty for illegal immigrants. We want strong borders and a border wall.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Americans miss President Donald Trump. Under the Biden administration, we have a supply chain crisis, an energy crisis, a border crisis, an Afghanistan crisis, and an economic crisis that threatens every bank account and paycheck that we earn. Americans are scared and losing hope after 9 months of the Biden- Harris administration. Under President Trump, we had a roaring economy; we had energy independence; our border was secure; and our enemies feared our resolve. The radical left is attempting to destroy our economy and the American way of life, but every crisis created by the Biden administration is only a reminder of how great it was to have an American President who put America first. Today marks 9 months of the Biden administration, and my constituents miss President Trump now more than ever.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I had the privilege of visiting the border with President Trump in June to see our Border Patrol agents doing one of the most dangerous jobs imaginable. They face the threat of MS-13 and violent drug cartels who have been empowered and enriched by the Biden administration. Sadly, the left is vilifying the Border Patrol the same way they vilified our police officers during the defund the police movement. The American people want secure borders and safe communities. Even President Obama this week said Biden's open border policies are unsustainable because we are a nation with borders. I want to thank President Obama for affirming that we are a nation of laws and a nation with borders, and I hope the Biden administration will listen to him.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, the Biden administration intentionally opened our southern border and empowered drug cartels and human traffickers to flood illegal immigrants into our country with no vetting and no COVID testing or vaccine requirements. Secretary Mayorkas admitted on Friday that the 12,000 Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, who were released into the U.S., were not tested for COVID or subject to any vaccine mandates. President Biden and Secretary Blinken promised rigorous vetting for the Afghan nationals they flew into our country, but so far we have seen several arrested for sexually assaulting children and assaulting a female servicemember while on U.S. soil. This is outrageous. The Biden administration has a double standard, treating American citizens worse than foreign nationals. This is what it means to put America last. Instead of addressing the root cause of Biden's border crisis, House Democrats are now ramming through President Biden's reckless $4.3 trillion socialist agenda, which includes amnesty and free college for illegal immigrants. Americans want secure borders and sound immigration. Open borders and amnesty is the end of America.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, from the cradle to the grave, the mission of House Democrats is a socialist transformation of America, which will bankrupt our country and make the U.S. dollar worthless, diminishing the buying power, savings, and pensions of regular Americans. House Democrats want to fund their $3.5 trillion spending spree by raising our taxes and increasing the debt on our children and grandchildren. After opening our southern border to allow 200,000 illegal immigrants to cross every month, they are now attempting to ram through amnesty so foreign nationals can vote in our elections. The crisis in Del Rio, Texas, is the direct result of failed open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration, which put human traffickers and cartels in control of our border. The Bernie Sanders spending plan was produced by socialist Democrats who have never run a business, signed a paycheck, or kept to a budget. Our Nation's taxpayers deserve the utmost respect when it comes to our Federal budget. The Federal Government has no money, except for what they extort from us and the future of our children and grandchildren. Fiscal responsibility is vital for a stable, strong, and long-lasting economy. Under the Biden administration, inflation continues to skyrocket and the price of everything from gas to groceries has gone up. Gas prices are at their highest since October 2014. Fertilizer prices are the highest since the financial crisis of 2008. Crime, especially homicide, is on the rise in our cities, where these Democrats have pushed to defund the police. The American people do not want failed politicians who have created crises upon crises, from our borders to ruinous cities, in charge of everything and every aspect of our life. We reject the House Democrats' cradle-to-grave socialist takeover.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding and for hosting tonight's special order. I can attest that the most sacred gift we have is our ability to create life. Children are the greatest resource of our Nation. It doesn't matter if the unborn child has a fully-developed heart, arms, legs, fingers, toes, or pain receptors, at any time during a pregnancy even until birth, Democrats want to allow abortions, and they plan to finance it with your tax dollars. And it is a fact when it is legal and free, it is an inducement to women who find themselves in a hard spot to have an abortion. I remember seeing the sonogram of my first child and all six of my children after that. A sonogram is a window to the womb. Interestingly, the Democrats are also anti-informed choice. They want to rush women through and withhold the truth from the pregnant women by withholding required sonograms. I have spoken to many people involved in the industry, and women change their minds when they see the baby in the womb. Hearing the heartbeat, there is no doubt that my first daughter was a human being. The party that says ``trust the science'' would have you doubt the humanity of an unborn child. The right to life is the first right enumerated in the Declaration of Independence. House Republicans support a culture that defends innocent lives and protects the voiceless children in the womb. We also want to protect the women from making the worst decision of their life. This is not about protecting women. You are making victims out of the women also. Democrats in Congress continue to stand in the way of us protecting those who cannot protect themselves. The American people from all faiths and walks of life have to choose what kind of society they want to live in, one that defends and protects a 9-month baby in the womb or one that is going to sell its body for parts. May we fear God's coming wrath and weep and mourn over this great national sin.