Mary Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Our Nation was made great because we have rewarded merit. Mr. Chair, I urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, this amendment defunds a costly and misguided EPA agency rule that requires heavy-duty vehicles to comply with reduced emissions limits of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. This rule applies to vehicles, including certain long- and short-haul trucks, motor homes, school and transit buses, and commercial pickup trucks and vans. The EPA, the very agency that created this rule, estimates the technology required to meet the new rule's standards will cost around $8,000 per vehicle. This cost will be borne by consumers and the supply chain. The American people cannot afford the financial burdens of this aggressive regulation that would further raise costs of any product transported by trucks, including food, clothing, and building materials. This regulation's cost of compliance is so high, operators and owners of trucks will be forced to leave the market. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and defund a rule that places costly and burdensome emissions standards on vehicles, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I urge the Democrats to quit complaining about inflation while they are fanning the flame through excessive regulation. Mr. Chair, I urge the support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for making the restoration of Title IX such an important priority for this committee. Madam Speaker, we recently celebrated the 52nd anniversary of this body passing Title IX. Fifty-two years ago, everyone saw the need for equal opportunities in education, scholarships, and athletics for our girls. Title IX was enacted to do just that, but Joe Biden's new rule will erase those protections and opportunities for our girls. Unfortunately, the Democrats and the radical left don't know the difference between a man and a woman. I am proud to be leading this effort today to overturn Joe Biden's unlawful and radical destruction of Title IX. We keep hearing the Democrats parrot that they are just following the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock. That is a lie. The Supreme Court specifically said in that ruling that Bostock should not be applied to Title IX. This is from the majority opinion in Bostock: `` . . . we do not purport to address bathrooms, locker rooms, or anything else of the kind,'' but Joe Biden does not care about courts or the rule of law. He will do anything to appease the radical left. Biden wants to force biological men into our girls' showers and bathrooms, and the Biden Title IX rule will be the end of girls' sports. The prospect of this is sickening, and parents across this country are horrified. We must pray for a return to the Trump administration policies that protected our girls from the vile leftwing agenda to force biological men into our girls' safe spaces and sports. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and stand up to Joe Biden.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chair, President Biden does have authority to secure the border, and he did use his pen to open the border. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, since Joe Biden took office, 10 million illegal aliens have entered our country, and untold numbers of Americans have been murdered by people who should never have been here. To the Americans watching, Joe Biden does not care about you. He does not care about your family. For him, it is worth letting hundreds of thousands of illegals in every month and hundreds of foreigners on the FBI's terrorist watch list if it means the Democratic Party's base turns out in November. The purpose of this amendment is that President Biden already has existing authority to secure the border, and he needs to use it, but he doesn't want to because he is afraid of his far-left base. President Biden is choosing to keep our border open and allowing the American people to be kept in harm's way. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. I do.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include in the Record extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I am incredibly privileged to join the patriots at Concerned Women for America for the third year in a row by recognizing April as Faith Month. It is a time when we can set aside our differences and talk about the most important aspect of our lives: our faith. Since our founding, in America, we have believed that God governs in the affairs of men. Actually, every day here in Congress, we acknowledge God by opening Congress with daily prayer. It was my faith in God that first inspired me to run for public office. As a Christian, my faith is at the heart of everything I do. Before any major decision and during moments of conflict, I ask for God's guidance and wisdom to guide me in accordance with his will. For my husband, Chris, and I, our Christian faith was central to raising our seven children. Now, they are making faith a central pillar for the upbringing of our 20 grandchildren. We also put our Christian faith first in running our family farm, seeking to honor God as stewards of the land and everything he has blessed us with. Faith was key to our Nation's founding. In fact, the Pilgrims came to the new world in search of religious freedom, making the voyage across the Atlantic to the shores of Massachusetts. The right to publicly express their faith was so important that they risked their very lives. Contrary to public opinion, our Founders did not believe America should be an atheistic society that shuns God. Benjamin Franklin called for prayer at the Constitutional Convention when it seemed destined for failure. The convention then proceeded smoothly, and a few weeks later, the delegates adopted the Constitution that endures to this day. John Adams believed that our Republic could not function without faith. In fact, he said: ``Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.'' Thomas Jefferson attended and promoted a church service in this very building every Sunday. Our Founders never meant for faith to be separate from public life. Quite the opposite, they intended for faith to play a central role in our Nation. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said: ``If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'' I believe faith is what is needed in this body today. We need faith to overcome our mountains of division so we can do what is right for our country and the American people. I am humbled to share my faith on the House floor and recognize that this sacred right has been preserved by those who have selflessly laid down their lives for our freedom. I am honored to share this Special Order with several other friends and colleagues in this body. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to Mrs. Harshbarger, I thank her for being a co-chair of the Congressional Family Caucus. We know two things made our country not only good but great, and that is faith and family. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger).

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

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I yield to my friend, Congressman Andrew Clyde, I thank him for making it obvious that his faith is so important to him by being such a principled and courageous man in how he handles his opportunity here as a Congressman. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the freedom to share our faith is not something we should take lightly. To preserve that right, we need to exercise it. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), my friend, and I thank him for always taking opportunities to share his faith.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Allen for his words. I can give testimony that he is very faithful to share the prayer requests of other Members, and we pray over them. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to constrain ourselves when we are talking about our faith and the impact that the faith of many Americans who have gone before us have had on our country and the world. We know that faith without works is dead, and when you consider, Mr. Speaker, just the amount of missionaries that have been sent from our country into the world, it is very profound. It is something to really celebrate tonight. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Webster). It is a real privilege to meet regularly with Mr. Webster and another group to pray for our country on a weekly basis.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. I thank my friends and colleagues for participating in this year's Special Order on Faith Month. None of us knows what tomorrow holds, but we can rest assured that our sovereign God is watching over our Nation. America has endured nearly 250 years, and I believe the secret to our greatness has been our faith in God. Through vicious wars, economic hardships, and conflicts that threaten to rip us apart, God has graciously preserved the United States of America as a shining city on a hill. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: ``If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.'' If we truly humble ourselves, pray, repent, and turn from our sins, I believe that God will hear our prayers, forgive us, and heal our deeply divided land. We are never beyond the reach of His grace. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order overturning every border security measure established during the Trump administration and paving the way for 11 million foreign nationals to enter our country illegally. During the first 3 years of his administration, Joe Biden consistently denied the border security crisis. Biden lied. Biden and his staff falsely claimed that the border was secure. It is only now, after countless lives have been taken, that the Biden administration has admitted that there is a problem because they put politics ahead of the safety of the American people. The tragic murder of 22-year-old Georgia student Laken Riley is a direct consequence of Biden's failure to secure the border. The illegal immigrant from Venezuela who killed her should never have been allowed in our country. I grieve for Laken's family on their tragic loss. I cannot imagine the pain. No parent in our country should ever lose a child due to reckless border policies and soft-on-crime policies. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have blood on their hands. They should say her name and apologize to her family. The primary responsibility of the government is to protect the American people. Instead, Biden has opened our borders to an invasion of military-age men and put American lives in danger. Today, we have the opportunity to vote for the Laken Riley Act to ensure that this never happens again. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6918, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. Mr. Speaker, pregnancy centers play a vital role in supporting women facing unexpected or unplanned pregnancies. Since the Dobbs ruling, pregnancy centers have been under vicious attack by the radical left, especially in my home State of Illinois. Why? All for simply loving and supporting vulnerable women. There are approximately 3,000 pregnancy centers across the Nation, serving nearly 2 million mothers, fathers, and families completely free of charge. In 2019 alone, their services and material assistance totaled over $266 million. The goal of pregnancy centers is to support the mother and her unborn child. However, they also offer many resources and services, including relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, and baby clothes, just to name a few. Women in crisis situations deserve to be protected and supported, period. Banning funding to pregnancy centers not only discriminates against women but deprives them of the vital care and materials they desperately need, including information on the development of the baby and an ultrasound. As a volunteer and supporter of crisis pregnancy centers in Illinois, I have seen firsthand how they minister to women in need. Unlike Planned Parenthood, pregnancy centers don't prey upon vulnerable women and coerce them into making decisions they will regret for the rest of their lives. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Fischbach for leading the way to protect the essential work of pregnancy centers, and I look forward to the House swiftly passing this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Angie Wood. Angie was a leader in Illinois who touched the lives of countless people. She was someone who empowered the people around her and was an inspiration to everyone she met. She was quick to invite new friends to dinner and was always there to help someone in need. Angie embodied selfless devotion to her family, her community, and her country. Everyone knew Angie as a patriot because of her love for our Constitution and her devotion to serving our country. She organized women's constitutional luncheons to teach people about our history, our rights, and our freedoms. She firmly believed that knowledge is power, and she was devoted to our Founding Fathers' vision of self-government. Angie's patriotism was not merely something she talked about. It was something she lived out every day because of her love for God and country. At her core, Angie was a Christian whose faith in Christ was evident to everyone around her, and she sought to carry the love of Jesus into the world. She organized Bible studies and was always first to offer prayer. She was sure to remind her friends about the peace and comfort that comes from the Lord. Angie would remind people that the only hope for our Nation and the world is Jesus Christ. Angie's legacy will continue to inspire everyone who knew her. She exemplified servant leadership, and her patriotism, optimism, and faith will be lived out by the people whose lives she touched. No matter how the future looked, Angie would always say that the best is yet to come. Now, I want to read one of her favorite passages from Philippians: Whatever happens, keep living your lives based on the reality of the Gospel of Christ. Then, when I come to see you or hear good reports of you, I will know that you stand united in one spirit and one passion, celebrating together as conquerors in the faith of the gospel. Then you will never be shaken or intimidated by the opposition that rises up against us. Your courage will prove to be a true sign from God of their coming destruction. I pray that her memory will serve as an example to us all. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for a moment of silence.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chair, I thank Ms. Foxx for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Thompson and Chairwoman Foxx for sponsoring this important legislation. I rise in support of H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This crucial legislation recognizes the nutritional benefits of whole milk for our children. As a result of the radical Obama Administration policies led by Michelle Obama, only fat-free and low-fat milks can be served in school meals. H.R. 1147 would end this practice and allow schools to serve whole milk. Whole milk is a rich source of essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D, which are vital for developing strong bones and a healthy immune system. Studies have also shown that whole milk can contribute to healthier weight in children. I raised my seven children on whole-fat milk, and they are all within normal weights. I also have recognized that children who have high-fat diets stay full longer. I am proud to support this bill on behalf of parents, and I want to thank America's dairy farmers for producing milk for our families.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves--the unborn. Since 1973, over 60 million American children have lost their lives to the atrocity of abortion, the greatest human rights violation in history. We often boast that we are a nation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, we deny this sacred right to the most innocent among us. Last year, the Supreme Court gave the unborn a monumental victory with the Dobbs ruling, returning the issue of abortion to Congress and the States. That is why today I am introducing a series of three bills designed to further protect the most vulnerable among us--the unborn. First, the Love Them Both Act would prevent the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from exploiting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to cover abortion or abortion-related services. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is designed to protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace, and it should not be used for political purposes. We have a responsibility to ensure both women and their unborn children are treated equally and fairly, and the Love Them Both Act does exactly that. Second, the Pregnancy Is Not an Illness Act would correct a longstanding but erroneous conclusion of the FDA. In 2000, the FDA fast-tracked approval of dangerous abortion-inducing drugs. To do so, they declared abortion to be a life-threatening illness. As a mother of seven, I can assure you that pregnancy is very much not an illness or disability, but rather, nothing short of a miracle from the hand of God. The Pregnancy Is Not an Illness Act would prohibit the FDA from ever calling pregnancy an illness again for the purpose of approving abortion-inducing drugs. Lastly, I am introducing the Woman's Right to Know Act so that women seeking abortions are fully aware of the consequences of their actions. This bill would require an abortion provider to perform an ultrasound and then describe the development of the unborn child to the mother. My bill would also ask for a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion is performed. These are simple, commonsense steps aimed to prevent a woman from making a decision she will regret for the rest of her life. In Psalm 139:13-16, David writes: ``For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the Earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.'' Life is the most precious gift we have. Without it, we have nothing. If we don't protect the right to life, all of our other rights are in danger of being taken away. We cannot call ourselves a nation of liberty and justice for all when we deprive this most sacred right from the most vulnerable among us. We are in the midst of the most joyous time of year, Christmas. Although this is the season of parties, concerts, and family time, that is not why we celebrate. We celebrate Christmas because of God's greatest gift to mankind, Jesus. Without him, there would be no Christmas. What better time to protect the cause of life than this special season of Christmas? Make no mistake, the world is watching, and so is Almighty God. They are watching to see if we will live up to our promise of providing freedom and a bright future to anyone born here. They are watching to see if we truly want everyone to achieve the American Dream. They are watching to see if we really are that shining city set on a hill that John Winthrop and Ronald Reagan proclaimed us to be. To quote one of my favorite Presidents, and accurately, I might add, Ronald Reagan famously said: ``I have noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born.'' Mr. Speaker, you and I had the chance at life. We have been given the chance to live fulfilling lives, and I believe God has called each one of us to this body for a specific purpose. Mr. Speaker, 60 million of our children have not had that chance, and if we really want to create a bright American future, that is the least they deserve. I believe these three bills will go a long way toward protecting the most vulnerable among us, and I urge the House to act swiftly in passing them.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government's primary role is to protect the country by securing our borders. The Biden administration has allowed, even facilitated, an invasion of more than 8 million foreign nationals led by drug cartels, terrorists, and human traffickers. Joe Biden has created a fentanyl crisis, a national security crisis, and a child trafficking disaster, making the U.S. vulnerable in every way. In addition, this invasion costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Cartels are bringing unaccompanied minors across the border, and these taxpayer dollars are being used to fly unaccompanied children across the country on secret flights. Secretary Mayorkas has lost track of 85,000 children, and he must be held accountable through impeachment. Americans miss President Trump. He made border security his top priority. In Congress, I will always defend children and fight for strong borders.