Barry Moore

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the Month of October as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. This month serves to celebrate the lives and countless accomplishments and contributions of Alabamians with Down syndrome, and to memorialize the caregivers, educators, and community that enables these individuals to thrive. Every life is precious and created in God's image, with dignity, worth, and purpose in this world. Down Syndrome Awareness Month is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those living with disabilities, and to cherish the joy and blessings they bring to their community and the lives around them. I want to recognize the advocacy groups throughout the State of Alabama who have dedicated their lives to promoting awareness to Down syndrome. The Coastal Alabama Down Syndrome Society (CADSS), based in Mobile, for its work supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout southwest Alabama, including Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, and surrounding counties. FRIENDS, an organization serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families in Dothan and the Wiregrass region, for its contributions to family support, advocacy, awareness, and community connections. Finally, Down Syndrome Alabama, which provides statewide advocacy, education, and family connections. Down syndrome is a condition that encompasses an additional full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This condition has varying effects on life expectancy and quality of life, but advances in medical care have contributed to expanded opportunities for those with Down syndrome. While a diagnosis is lifelong, it has not hindered individuals from developing careers, building relationships, and becoming pillars of their community. I also want to acknowledge the important work of national organizations, including the National Down Syndrome Congress, National Down Syndrome Society, and Global Down Syndrome Foundation, along with the affiliate-support network Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, Will Roberts, who recently passed away due to stage 4 osteosarcoma, was a brave and inspiring young man from Alabama, and I'm honored to take a moment today to recognize his life. After being hospitalized for osteosarcoma at just 15 years old, Will entered into the presence of his Savior on Wednesday, July 22nd, surrounded by his loved ones. While we celebrate that his battle is over, and has been won in Jesus Christ, our hearts go out to Will's family in this devastating time. Will's condition might have affected him physically, but it could not take away the contagious joy he brought into every room. According to his mother, Brittney Battles Roberts, Will was ``the funniest person in the room . . . (and) had a personality that could light up a hospital floor.'' This legacy of joy will not leave the hearts of the people who loved him or the community that he impacted so deeply. Throughout his battle, Will actively fought for the children, teenagers, and young adults who are affected by the same disease, urging communities to help find a cure for his stage 4 cancer. Will's fight for a cure not just for himself, but also for others battling cancer, will remain a remarkable legacy that his family and friends can hold tight to in the times ahead. No child should have to endure this kind of pain and no family this kind of loss. As Alabamians, we stand united in offering our prayers and condolences to the Roberts family and all other families who face a childhood cancer journey. Will shall forever be remembered as a light in his community, and his life is a testimony that will never be forgotten.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, the American people work hard for every dollar they send to Washington, and they deserve to know how every one of those dollars is spent. That is the simple principle behind the Stop Secret Spending Act. Federal agencies have been able to spend billions of taxpayer dollars through what are known as other transaction agreements, or OTAs, without fully reporting those expenditures on usaspending.gov. These agreements may have legitimate uses, but the American people should not have to wonder whether Federal spending is being disclosed or not. When our national debt is approaching $40 trillion, transparency is not optional. It is a responsibility. This bill closes a loophole that has allowed significant amounts of Federal spending to remain outside the public reporting system. It does not ban OTAs. It does not create unnecessary red tape. It simply requires the agencies to report these agreements so taxpayers can see where their money is going. Every family in Alabama knows where their money is spent. Farmers know where they money is spent. Small business owners know where their money is spent. The Federal Government should be held to that same standard. Sunlight is one of the best safeguards against waste, fraud, and abuse. Transparency helps Congress do its job. It helps taxpayers hold Washington accountable, and it helps restore trust in government. That is common sense. That is accountability. That is exactly what the American people expect from their government. Madam Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support the Stop Secret Spending Act.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, for 4 years the Biden administration opened the door to illegal immigration, drug trafficking, cartel activity, and violent crime. American families paid the price while Washington looked the other way. President Trump changed that on day one. He restored the will to enforce the law and put law enforcement back in the fight. Now Congress has a simple choice: to fund the mission or stand in the way of those carrying it out. A sovereign nation must be willing to enforce its own laws. Border security is not optional. It is a fundamental responsibility of government. Alabama may not sit on the Rio Grande, but the consequences of an open border reach every corner of our State. In my hometown of Enterprise, Angel and Jeremy Seay, a newlywed couple I knew personally, were killed when an illegal alien driving under the influence crashed into their motorcycle. Their lives were cut short by a tragedy that never should have happened. We also have seen cartel-linked fentanyl trafficking reach Alabama communities. Families in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, Dothan, and across our State deserve a government that puts their safety first. Fentanyl does not stop at the border, and neither do the criminal networks bringing it into our country. S. 2 backs ICE, Border Patrol, and local law enforcement officers who have been left to deal with the consequences of Washington's failures. These men and women do not need more speeches. They need the resources, technology, and support necessary to do their jobs. The cartels do not fear press releases. They fear consequences. I choose law and order. I choose secure borders. I choose families in Alabama who are tired of being put last. President Trump set the mission. S. 2 helps fund it. Vote ``yes'' on S. 2, back law enforcement, secure the border, and protect American families.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, what we have seen happen to Alabama's own Vulcan Materials Company should concern every Member of this body. A foreign government shut down an American company's operations, moved to seize its property, and ignored the rule of law. If it can happen to one American company, it can happen to any of them. We must protect American jobs and American investments and stand on the principles that the United States will stand for its people and its companies wherever they operate. The Government of Mexico's actions, shutting down operations, expropriating a deepwater port and quarry, and hiding behind environmental designations set a dangerous precedent that weakens trade relationships and threatens our national security. The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 makes it clear. If you target American businesses, there will be consequences. It strengthens our trade enforcement rules, expands section 301 authority, and allows the United States to take real action against those who seize or interfere with American property. We will not allow foreign governments to benefit from the access of our markets while violating the rights of American companies. I urge my colleagues to stand with the American workers, stand with the rule of law, and support this bill.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, America has one law, the United States Constitution. It is the foundation of our Republic and the ultimate authority in our legal system. It applies equally to every person in every place and in every case. The principle of equal justice under the law is what sets our Nation apart and ensures that no one is above the law and no one is beneath it. Sharia law is not simply a matter of personal religious belief or private practice, it is a comprehensive legal and political framework. Where it has been enforced around the world, it has often led to restrictions on basic freedoms that Americans recognize not only as God given, but constitutionally protected. In practice, sharia law has been used to target and disadvantage women, limit the rights of religious minorities, and punish political dissent. Our system is built on individual liberty, accountability, and fairness, not on unequal treatment or restrictions based on belief, gender, or background. No foreign legal code should ever influence American courts and create a parallel system of justice. Allowing outside legal framework to seep into our system would undermine the consistency and integrity of American law. Sharia law must never be allowed to override the Constitution in any kind of way. America does not bend itself to radical ideologies, whether they come from within or outside our borders. Our duty is to preserve and defend the freedoms that generations of Americans have fought to protect. That means remaining vigilant, upholding our Constitution, and ensuring that liberty, equality, and justice remain the guiding principles of the United States of America.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, how about we just don't mutilate our children? I think that is a good call. This is allowing people above the age of 18 to make those decisions. Most of us here were young people at one time or another. I can remember being in the second or third grade. There was a thing called cooties. I don't know if you all remember that, but if you hung around the girls, they would say: Oh, don't do that, you are going to get the ``cooties.'' I don't know if you ever heard that term. It is a south Alabama thing, Madam Speaker. By the time we were in the sixth grade, we were on the gym floor, trying to decide whether or not to ask--we didn't have the courage to ask the girls to dance. By the time we were in the 10th or 11th grade, we were hoping they would notice us in the hall. By the time we were seniors, maybe we had the courage to ask them on a date, and maybe they said yes. The decisions they are wanting to make, these are kids that are in the second and third grade. These are not kids that are either old enough to understand that we might be interested, we might want to go in that direction. Like Marjorie said, only 12 percent of the males who go through this actually stick with it. It is important to us to understand that these are children, and in many cases they are being bullied by the physicians. One of the physicians at Vanderbilt said: We make a boatload of money on these procedures. Often, I think that it is more about the children and protecting the children than driving this ideological leftwing whatever it is and the mutilation of our children. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, in February 2024, the American College of Pediatricians released a position statement detailing how social transition, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones have no demonstrable long-term benefits on the psychological well-being of adolescents in gender dysphoria. I am reminded of a quote that a Vanderbilt University doctor said in 2022. He said: ``These affirming procedures are huge moneymakers.'' We are here to protect the children. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Moore).

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, this is not rare; 5,700 children had these surgeries, mainly between 2019 and 2023, in mainly blue States. Here on PBMs, it says that puberty blockers have not been approved by the FDA for the indication of gender dysphoria, and they are off-label uses. So these are not safe uses in many cases of these transitions. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace).

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Georgia.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I would like to mention that Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law recently not to notify parents. Administrators and schoolteachers don't notify parents that their kids are considering a transition. We do trust parents in many cases, but in a lot of cases in some of these blue States parents are not notified. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, we as a Nation are facing one of the greatest crises of our time: Child abuse disguised as medical intervention. Children are being coerced by adults in positions of authority into life- altering and medically questionable gender transition procedures without a full understanding of the meaning or that impact. Democrats have embraced an extreme position on this so-called gender- affirming care. They are more interested in promoting the radical left policies than protecting our children from harm. Despite the American public's widespread rejection of the practice in 2024, the radical left continues to distort the debate surrounding so-called gender affirming care. Instead of accurately describing the procedures as harmful and life- altering, the left deceptively frames the procedures as being necessary to improve the health and the well-being of our children. Through gender-affirming care, Democrats are indoctrinating children and causing them to make life-altering decisions about their body involving hormones and surgery and jeopardizing their health. So-called gender-affirming care is the genital mutilation and chemical castration of children. It is not lifesaving care. It is child abuse. All evidence points to the fact that gender transition procedures, including the puberty blockers, the hormones, and the surgeries, are a form of genital mutilation. More and more de-transitioners, such as our brave Chloe Cole, are coming forward to share their horrific experiences of being used as experiments of the medical establishment. The majority of these brave transitioners are girls and women. The first rule of medicine is do no harm. Yet, those in the medical community performing these grotesque procedures on children are committing some serious harm. In fact, these procedures are so grotesque that during the markup of this legislation, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle had a hard time hearing these specific procedures described. This begs the question: If they cannot bear to hear this, why are they forcing it on our children? Doctors across the U.S. and other countries are beginning to take a stand against those in the medical community who insist on these being lifesaving procedures. They should be questioned. Even our neighbors to the North have acted responsibly. In Canada, all genital surgeries are only available to children who are 18 years of age or older. This policy aligns with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards. According to these standards, a person must be the age of majority to undergo reassignment surgery. Likewise, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, the minimum age requirement to undergo any sex reassignment surgery is 18. We should not fall behind these countries when it comes to protecting our children. The Protect Children's Innocence Act will hold those accountable who perform or attempt to perform genital mutilation and chemical castration on our children. This bill expands the covered offenses to include body mutilation and chemical castration of minors. Victims are protected by ensuring that they cannot be arrested or prosecuted if one of these, or other prohibited procedures, are performed on them. This legislation continues President Trump's important priority to protect children. Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order titled: ``Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.'' This order defunds the chemical and surgical mutilation of children and halts the use of Federal funds supporting gender-affirming medical care for youth under the age of 19. H.R. 3492 works to codify President Trump's executive order and amends section 116 of the United States Code to explicitly include bodily mutilation and chemical castration. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have lamented: Leave our children alone. Madam Speaker, that is exactly what this bill does. This issue is simple. Do not force children into making decisions that they will not be able to reverse. Do not make these children lifelong patients and dependent on the medical system. Most importantly, do not abuse our Nation's children. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam 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 H.R. 3492.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, Pursuant to House Resolution 953, I call up the bill (H.R. 3492) to amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 331, I mistakenly voted YEA when I intended to vote NAY.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. His All-Holiness is not only a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, but he is also soon to be the recipient of the Templeton Award, the world's foremost award in Religion and Science. His All-Holiness is the spiritual leader and Primus inter Pares of Orthodox Christianity, providing leadership to a Church of 300 million people. He has throughout his ministry been a foremost advocate of religious freedom and has regularly traveled to countries hostile to Christians in order to advocate for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is a leading figure in the dialogues of the Abrahamic Faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and his presence in Washington, D.C. is an extraordinary opportunity to highlight the positive role that religious leaders of his stature bring to the cause of religious liberty. On behalf of the people of Alabama, especially the Orthodox community of my district, I want to thank His All-Holiness for his continued efforts towards peace for Christians everywhere.

Mr. MOORE of Alabama

Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of Mayor William S. ``Sandy'' Stimpson, 108th Mayor of the City of Mobile, Alabama. Since his election in 2013, Mayor Stimpson has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service, fiscal responsibility, and the shared vision of building Mobile into a city that is safer, more business-friendly, and more family-friendly for all. Under his leadership, Mobile has achieved major financial reform, including reducing their bonded debt by nearly $210 million and their unfunded liabilities by more than $200 million. These reforms led to multiple credit rating upgrades and allowed for significant investments to improve public safety, infrastructure, and city personnel. Mayor Stimpson has also championed long-term improvements, including modernizing the city's zoning code and launching a nationally recognized urban blight reduction program. As a founding member and chairman of the Alabama Big 10 Mayor Association, his influence extends beyond Mobile, strengthening the voice of Alabama's cities across the state. On behalf of the people of Alabama, I want to thank Mayor Stimpson for his leadership and deep commitment to public service. Through his work, every Mobilian has been empowered to have a voice and a seat at the table in shaping a better future for their city.