Mary Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from Wyoming, Representative Hageman, for hosting this important Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I rise today representing central Illinois, a region that sits at the crossroads of our Nation's transportation network. Illinois is one of our Nation's most important hubs for interstate commerce, driven in large part by a thriving trucking industry. Trucking supports nearly 340,000 jobs in my home State. Ninety-five percent of Illinois' manufactured goods are transported by trucks. Seventy percent of the State's towns and communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their products. Looking at the combined total of all commercial shipments, Illinois is the third busiest freight State and fourth by tonnage. With that type of volume comes an enormous responsibility to keep our roads and transported goods safe. I believe this is a matter of national security. Every American deserves to travel our roads without the threat of an illegal alien behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle who cannot understand road signs. Congress has a duty and an obligation to ensure our laws establish strong standards for commercial drivers and give law enforcement the tools necessary to keep unqualified drivers off our roads. Multiple sanctuary States, including my home State of Illinois, are issuing driver's licenses and CDLs to illegals. This creates an extreme level of risk for all those on the road. The consequences can be deadly. Last year, an Illinois-based company, JKC Trucking, sounded the alarm about the rampant abuse of our licensing system and the growing threat of illegal truckers on American roads. The company showed this issue not only leads to decreased safety, but also leads to the closure of many honest, professional American trucking businesses because they are unable to compete against illegal companies and illegal drivers. Those are the men and women I want to recognize today, the professional truck drivers who don't cut corners, who work long hours to make sure our communities have what they need. The food on grocery store shelves, medicine and prescription drugs in our pharmacies, the materials used to build our homes all depend on a reliable trucking industry. America moves forward because of our truckers. America survives its harshest winters and hottest summers because of our truckers. These men and women are often away from their families for days or weeks at a time, all so communities like mine are well stocked and ready for the day ahead. They deserve a Congress that respects their work and stands up for an industry that is essential to our economy and our way of life. I want to pay a special thanks to Representatives Taylor, Hageman, Harrigan, and Figures for joining me in launching the bipartisan Congressional Trucking Caucus. For the first time in U.S. history, we have a caucus focused directly on addressing the issues related to America's trucking industry and on policies that promote integrity, safety, and growth in industry. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the caucus to defend our hardworking American truckers and to keep our roads safe. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hageman for her continued friendship and leadership on this issue.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 9360, which will sunset the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress. This committee was created in 1990 to advise Congress and the National Archives on the management and retention of congressional records. My bill, however, would eliminate this outdated committee. Due to advancements in technology over the last several decades and changes in the way Congress operates, sunsetting this committee is necessary and will streamline the archival process. This bill will also maintain oversight of the Center for Legislative Archives by requiring the center to publish an annual report on the management and preservation of records. Sunsetting this advisory committee will furthermore save taxpayers approximately $38,000 annually in operating costs without sacrificing the transparency of congressional records. As this advisory committee hits its 36th year, we can agree that the committee has accomplished its original goals and has met its intended purpose, thereby outliving its usefulness. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to improve the efficiency of our government, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Chairman Steil's bill, H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. As Members of the United States Congress, it is our job to preserve the integrity of this institution and take seriously the responsibility placed on us by our constituents. This legislation will bring about a more transparent and accountable Congress and will be a strong measure to restore the American people's trust in this institution. While older laws have prohibited Members from using nonpublic information when trading, they did not go far enough. More robust measures should be put in place, and that is exactly what this bill does. As the American people have seen, Members of this body have become extremely wealthy from trading the stock market while in office, and it is precisely because of this that the American people have lost faith in Congress and in government. We are elected to this office as a privilege to serve in this Chamber, not a right, and we should not be using our positions for our own personal and financial gain. The American people need to be reminded that we are working for them, that we have taken a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not our own bottom line. My colleague claimed that this bill is a poison pill because the SAVE America Act is included, which we have passed multiple times out of this House, with not any support from the Democrats. The Democrats are opposed to voter ID and proof of citizenship. They cannot win elections based on their own bad ideas. They have to continue with the fraud and cheating. We know that our voter rolls are outrageously dirty, that there are millions of ineligible voters on the rolls. I personally here in D.C. have received four ballots in the mail, of which I have not solicited anyone. We have chaos because they will not vote for the SAVE America Act.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for his important leadership. Mr. Speaker, the statistics are alarming. The average age of a child's first exposure to pornography is just 12 years old, and nearly 80 percent of America's children between 12 and 17 have already been exposed to it. Not only has the sexual content become intentionally easier to access, but it has also become increasingly violent, abusive, normalizing sexual assault, physical violence, and nonconsensual acts for young, impressionable minds. The consequences are devastating. Research has linked early exposure to pornography with anxiety, addiction, depression, low self-esteem, body image disorders, and an increased likelihood that minors will engage in risky and harmful sexual behavior. States across America have recognized this crisis. More than a dozen have declared children's exposure to pornography a public health crisis, and more than two dozen States have enacted age verification requirements for adult websites. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld Texas' age verification law. The court ruled that the burden placed on adults to verify one's age is incidental when the intent is to protect the innocence of the children. For that reason, I am grateful that Chairman Guthrie included the SCREEN Act in this legislative package. Senator Mike Lee and I drafted this legislation to establish age verification requirements for adult websites, creating a minimum requirement that every State must meet while allowing flexibility to enact stronger protections for children. I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment, but constitutional law has long recognized that its protections do not extend to obscenity. Our laws already require age verification to purchase alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or to enter a casino. We recognize that some products and activities are simply inappropriate for children. Pornography should be no different. The SCREEN Act is one of the most consequential bills to protect children in the digital age. Today, we have an opportunity to make the internet safer for the next generation, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation. I thank Chairman Guthrie for including my bill in this package.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Vice Chair Moore for hosting this important Special Order commemorating one of the greatest triumphs in our pursuit to protect the lives of the unborn. June 24, 2022, will forever be one of the greatest days in American history. After 50 years of peacefully praying outside clinics and marching in Washington, Roe v. Wade is no more. While the Dobbs decision was a monumental victory, the fight for life has only just begun. Many States have stepped up to the plate, with over half of them enacting laws protecting the unborn. However, blue States have doubled down on the murderous assault of the unborn. Sadly, my home State of Illinois, is one of those States and has become the destination State of the Midwest for abortions. In 2023 we recorded the most abortions ever in our State's history, and Illinois' Governor proudly signed legislation allowing abortions through 9 months of pregnancy. Since the Biden administration rescinded safety regulations for chemical abortions, women are being harmed, and our water supply is being severely contaminated. Democrats oppose safety regulations. They oppose information on the development of the baby. They are not pro-choice. They are pro- abortion. They don't want the mother to know that there are two humans involved, different blood types, different sex, different heart rates, and ultimately, within months, two distinct human beings. Republicans are the party of life, and we must protect both mom and baby. That is why I have introduced legislation like H.R. 796, the Second Chance for Moms Act, which would require the FDA to place a warning label on chemical abortion drugs so that women can reverse the chemical abortion before it is too late. I have also introduced H.R. 797, the Ultrasounds Save Lives Act, which would mandate an ultrasound be performed before an abortion can take place. The ultrasound is a window to the womb. Up to 80 percent of women who get an ultrasound before attempting an abortion change their minds and choose life. The Dobbs decision ended the greatest human rights violation of our time, but the work has just begun. Republicans stand ready to support women facing crisis pregnancies, not just with words but with actions. I again thank Vice Chair Moore for commemorating this important anniversary.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I join the majority of my Republican colleagues in voicing strong opposition to H.R. 5408, the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This bill puts the selfish needs of the union bosses above the welfare of American workers. It would force employers to begin bargaining with new unions within 10 days of certification. It would force Federal mediation to intervene if no contract is signed. It would force the arbitrated contracts to last 2 years, and they cannot be appealed. Let me be clear. Employers and unions already meet at the negotiating table. There is no need to use government overreach to force labor negotiations. The Faster Labor Contracts Act is bad for employers, bad for employees, and bad for the economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and vote ``no.''

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act, which joins with the administration's efforts to rid the Federal Government of waste, fraud, and abuse. Last month, President Trump announced serious reforms to safeguard Federal taxpayer dollars spent in the Child Care and Development Block Grant program to ensure that this program is serving the families who need it most. The Stop Child Care Scams Act builds on those actions by enforcing program integrity to ensure every State is compliant with Federal requirements. Since 2002, the block grant has been identified as a Federal program at risk for improper payments. The Office of Management and Budget, GAO, and HHS have all consistently warned that changes are needed to protect the program from fraud and abuse. In fact, a 2020 GAO report estimated that under the block grant program, there were $325 million in improper payments nationwide during the 2019 fiscal year. HHS data shows that the rate of improper payments in Minnesota's Federal Child Care Assistance Program is nearly twice the national average. In this case, the State failed to address fraud or repeated noncompliance. This is unacceptable, and there must be real consequences. In 2024, the owner of several Chicago childcare centers was sentenced to 4 years in prison for stealing more than $3 million of taxpayer funds. That is why I am leading H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act. This bill includes many reforms championed by my colleagues on the Education and Workforce Committee to make commonsense updates to the Child Care and Development Block Grant program so that Federal dollars continue to go to working families, not fraudsters. Congressman Mark Messmer's Child Care Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act requires States to assess how many block grant payments are fraudulent. Congressman Glenn Grothman's CRACKDOWN Act lowers the improper payment threshold of grant funds from 10 to 5 percent. Congressman Bob Onder's Child Care Integrity Monitoring Act requires an audit of State childcare assistance programs every 3 years. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx's Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars in Child Care Act prevents fraudulent providers from receiving future grant funds. Congressman Joe Wilson's No Waivers for Fraud Act leaves sanctions in place for noncompliant States. Congressman Mike Rulli's Stop Child Care Fraud Act requires States to ensure all relevant agencies have access to necessary data and are examining it to prevent fraud. Congressman Burgess Owens' Closing the Provider Fraud Gap Act requires GAO to examine the progress that has been made in protecting Federal taxpayer dollars in provider-related programs. Lastly, my No Funds for Repeat Child Care Violations Act withholds block grant funds from noncompliant States. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that doesn't support working families. Fraud harms our families. It harms our workforce. Americans should have confidence that their Federal taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and carefully. Ensuring accountability for these dollars is not optional. It is sensible, responsible, and a moral choice to protect working families who contribute to our communities and help our local economies thrive. House Republicans are taking waste, fraud, and abuse seriously, and I urge my colleagues to do the same and support this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, a special thanks to Chairman Walberg and Representative Owens for leading this important bill. As reports continue to come out from the Department of Education, we have seen that public schools are blatantly violating FERPA by secretly encouraging children to adopt so-called transgender identities behind their parents' back. In fact, the DOJ recently announced investigations into 36 public school districts in my home State of Illinois for violations of President Trump's executive orders that affirm the biological reality of male and female and prohibit public schools from indoctrinating children into believing they were born in the wrong body. H.R. 2616, the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, takes an important step forward by codifying these executive orders and by rescinding Federal funding from any school that seeks to undermine parents. Democrats believe children are nothing more than wards of the State to be indoctrinated as loyal foot soldiers in their march toward Marxism. They have labeled parents who are concerned about their children's well-being domestic terrorists and arrested them at school board meetings. Parents are the only ones who have the fundamental, God-given right to raise their children as they see fit. Republicans are here fighting to protect parental rights, shield children from radical gender ideology, and restore sanity to America's classrooms. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2616.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Self for holding this Special Order and for confronting an issue that too many are afraid to name with clarity and conviction. Sharia law is fundamentally incompatible with our Constitution and the values that define our Nation. Its mission is to expand, influence, and impose control at the expense of basic human rights. We are currently witnessing the chilling rise of Islamic terrorists who openly adhere to sharia. They reject assimilation. They reject our laws. They reject the very idea of America itself. Many of my colleagues on the other side have chosen to stay silent. They sit on their hands while sharia law marches through America. They refuse to speak honestly or act with urgency to defend the fundamental rights of the American people. Let me be very clear: We will not allow sharia to take root in our schools or our institutions. We will not allow it to erode the foundation of our civilization. This is a defining moment, a test of whether we have the will to defend what has been entrusted to us. That is precisely what we are doing here today, exposing a dangerous ideology and refusing to bow to the pressures of political correctness or intimidation. If we fail to confront it now, it will not stop. It will continue to expand in an attempt to reshape our society into something unrecognizable, something fundamentally un-American. We will remain strong, sovereign, and free. Responsibility begins here in this Chamber. It requires the courage of every one of us to stand firm in defense of the principles that have made this country the greatest and most free nation on Earth. I am proud to join the Sharia-Free America Caucus to stand alongside my colleagues. My thanks to President Trump for restoring law, order, and security.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 72, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the SAVE America Act ensures that only American citizens vote in American elections. This should be the easiest ``yes'' vote this year. The American people want the SAVE America Act. Mr. Speaker, 83 percent of adults support requiring a photo ID to vote, as do 73 percent of Democrat voters. Democrat politicians standing here today oppose it, just as they have opposed every election integrity measure. Democrats cannot win on their ideas because their agenda has made life harder for American families. The Democratic Party knows that cheating is their only path to victory. Their goal is to replace the votes of American citizens with those of illegal aliens. House Republicans are standing up for the American people here today. Congress has a responsibility to protect the integrity of our elections. The SAVE America Act upholds that duty. I urge my colleagues to listen to the American people and vote ``yes.'' America is watching.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, 53 years ago, the tragedy of Roe v. Wade was decided, and 65 million innocent lives are not here. It is hard to even calculate the loss that this has been. God created them. God had a purpose for their lives, and God meant to bless the world through them. Perhaps they were teachers who could have nurtured the next generation, doctors who could have cured cancer, lawyers who could have defended the defenseless, or musicians who could have written the next great symphony. Thankfully, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe, returning the issue of abortion to Congress and the States. Since Dobbs, 17 States have acted to protect life from the moment of conception. Still, there is so much work to be done. An equal number of States now allow abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy, including my home State of Illinois. Last year, this body took a significant step forward by defunding Planned Parenthood in the working families tax cut, resulting in 50 of their clinics closing. By the way, Planned Parenthood is not pro-choice. They are pro- abortion. If they were pro-choice, they would want women to make informed choices, which is why I want to pass legislation requiring an ultrasound to be done and a waiting period before a woman has an abortion. The greatest privilege of my life is to be a mother of 7, grandma of 23, and soon to be a great-grandma. That includes being a grandma to two children with Down syndrome, one born to us and one adopted. Every time I meet young couples, I encourage them to have one more. Psalm 127 reminds us that children are a heritage from the Lord. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith for his leadership in defending the most vulnerable. I look forward to working with the gentleman and our colleagues to secure more pro-life victories.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, college can be a challenging environment, especially for pregnant women. Many feel forced to choose between motherhood and their education. Nearly 30 percent of all abortions in the United States are performed on women in college. Title IX already protects the right of pregnant women to stay in school. However, many of them face a lack of resources and support. Some even fear punishment and a loss of scholarships simply for carrying their baby to full term while taking classes. The Pregnant Students' Rights Act requires colleges and universities to inform pregnant women of their rights and protections. This includes information on modified class schedules or excused absences. This bill also requires universities to inform pregnant women how to file a complaint with the Department of Education if their Title IX protections are violated. Let me be clear: No woman should ever have to choose between finishing her education or experiencing the joy of motherhood. To my colleague on the other side, I have had a similar situation also, but I do want to thank her for acknowledging that the life within her was a baby. Women are fully capable of raising children and getting an education at the same time. I know because I did it. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hinson for her leadership on the Pregnant Students' Rights Act.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) as cosponsor of H.R. 5116.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Doug was one of the first friends that I made when I joined the Agriculture Committee back in 2021. I soon learned that we had a lot in common. We are both fourth- generation family farmers with a shared love for the land which we call home. Doug was also one of the first Members to join my Congressional Family Caucus and was a strong advocate for parents and children. One of my funny memories was somehow we were having a conversation about what we would do if we had to bug out of D.C., and he offered to give me a ride in his classic Cadillac--I guess he had it here--and give me a ride to Illinois, as he headed to California. I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Mr. Speaker, because Doug accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, he is now in the presence of the Lord. I am praying for his wife, Jill, and their children. May they receive comfort from Revelation 21:4 and the promise that: ``He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'' We thank Doug for his friendship, and we will carry on with the work that he started. He will be missed.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 498, the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act. Medicaid was designed as a safety net to be used only by U.S. citizens when they fall onto hard times and need medical support. It was never intended to bankroll irreversible, gender-mutilating surgeries on vulnerable children. Yet, today, this program is being exploited by the far left, preying on young children to advance their radical trans agenda. Adolescence is a vulnerable time for boys and girls. They are growing into the young men and women that God intended them to be. What these children really need is love and wise counsel, not taxpayer-funded permanent chemical sterilization, mutilating surgeries, or activists profiting from their confusion. The most egregious actor is none other than Planned Parenthood, the leading abortion provider in the Nation and now the leading provider of these dangerous procedures. The Do No Harm in Medicaid Act shields innocent children from predatory companies and stops Medicaid from being weaponized against our next generation. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has no business paying for the destruction of children's bodies, and the American people should never be complicit in it. I thank my colleagues for leading this bill, and I urge all to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today truly heartbroken over the tragic loss of my friend and fellow Illinois native, Charlie Kirk. Charlie was a devoted husband and father, a bold Christian who never backed down from speaking truth peacefully. Charlie inspired millions with his courage and convictions. Because of Charlie, countless young people love America, boldly stand for their faith, and proudly defend our freedoms on college campuses and beyond. His death was not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a disturbing trend in political violence in our country, encouraged by the radical left and amplified by a corrupt media that has gone from being fake to totally evil. As we grieve, let us honor Charlie's legacy by continuing the work he so faithfully championed, and let us lift up his wife and children in our prayers.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith so much for his decades of service to the pro-life movement. June 24, 2022, will forever be one of the greatest days in American history. After 50 years of peacefully praying outside clinics and marching in Washington and our State capitals, Roe v. Wade was no more. While the Dobbs decision was a monumental victory, the fight for life has only just begun. Many States have stepped up to the plate, with over half of them enacting laws to protect unborn life. However, blue States have doubled down on their murderous assault of the unborn. Sadly, my home State of Illinois has become one of the destination States in the Midwest for abortion. In 2023, we recorded the most abortions ever in our State's history, and our radical Governor proudly signed legislation allowing abortions through all 9 months of pregnancy. Since the previous administration rescinded safety regulations for chemical abortions, women are being harmed, and our water supply is being severely contaminated. Republicans are the party of life, and we must protect both mom and baby. That is why I have introduced legislation like H.R. 796, the Second Chance for Moms Act, which would require the FDA to place a warning label on chemical abortion drugs so that women can reverse a chemical abortion before it is too late. I have also introduced H.R. 797, the Ultrasounds Save Lives Act, which would mandate an ultrasound be performed before an abortion can take place. Up to 90 percent of women seeking an abortion who see an ultrasound of their baby change their minds and choose life. The Dobbs decision ended the greatest human rights violation of our time, but our work has just begun. Republicans stand ready to support women facing crisis pregnancies not just with words but with actions. I again thank Congressman Smith for commemorating this important anniversary.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule, which includes several Congressional Review Acts against the disastrous Biden-era electric vehicle mandates. These create undue, burdensome rules, which impact our rural communities. Rural communities are the backbone of our country. They are the farmers, ranchers, teachers, and parents, and they are being crushed by the costly and out-of-touch policies from Washington. There is no doubt EV mandates only add further financial strain to hardworking Americans, especially in my district. Have you seen an electric tractor, baler, or plow? I haven't because they don't work on farms or in the real world. In fact, the heavy-duty trucks in cold weather States lose 20 percent of their battery capacity. When compared to cities, rural areas have extremely low EV rates, with the vast majority of rural areas having EV registration rates between zero and a half of a percent. This means there are between zero to five EVs registered per 10,000 people in rural areas. It is simple. EVs are for urban elites in warm-weather States who have no concept of rural America. A government EV mandate is unjustifiable. Vehicle decisions should be left up to the American consumers, not woke extreme climate activists. I urge the passage of this rule.

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 extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in recognition of Faith Month, a time that we set aside each year in this body to share the importance of our faith and how it inspires us in public service. We just celebrated the greatest event in human history: the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When Christ ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, he promised that the Holy Spirit would comfort and guide us. He also left us with Scripture that provides answers to every problem we face. Our Founding Fathers acknowledged the importance of God's Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. In his ``Notes on the State of Virginia,'' Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a Nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.'' Our first freedom, religious liberty, even finds its roots in Scripture in that God gives every man and woman the freedom to accept or reject His free gift of salvation. Patrick Henry acknowledged that: ``It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and the freedom of worship here.'' When the Constitutional Convention was about to fail, Benjamin Franklin called the delegates to prayer and declared: ``I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that `except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' ``I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.'' You can't design a building without a firm foundation, and that is why our Founders made sure our Republic was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. The Bible contains the answer to every major political issue we face, whether it be life, marriage, family, or the difference between a man and a woman. The Bible gives warnings to nations, governments, and rulers on how to properly lead its citizens. The Bible teaches us how to treat each other with dignity and respect and provides the ultimate source of purpose and contentment: a life committed to Jesus Christ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, our Founding Fathers, including George Washington, did not shy away from expressing their religious beliefs. In 1854, Congress made the statement: ``The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.'' That is Congress, 1854. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger).

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is such a privilege to be able to meet with you and other legislators to pray for our Nation. To quote another one of our Founding Fathers, Patrick Henry, Revolutionary general, legislator, the voice of liberty, ratifier of the U.S. Constitution, and Governor of Virginia. He said: ``Righteousness alone can exalt America as a Nation. Whoever thou art, remember this and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.'' One of the verses that I came to Washington, D.C., with to be a plumb line for me, to remind me, is II Corinthians 5:9: So whether we are at home or away--this is the Apostle Paul--we make it our aim to please Him, knowing that we are going to give an account for what we have done in our bodies whether for good or for evil. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), my good friend.

Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Allen for his faithfulness to show up to pray together for our country and to always be bold to share his faith. I also thank the gentleman for the compliment that I am a light out here, but I do say along with the First Book of Peter 2:9: `` . . . proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.'' What is the darkness? The darkness is sin. It is what has afflicted mankind since the Garden of Eden, and it causes humans to be self- consumed, rebellious, and foolish. Yet, we should draw near to the Lord and come boldly to his throne in time of need. Hebrews says: ``Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), my good friend.