Nathaniel Moran

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, every year the Greater Longview United Way hosts a fundraiser known as their annual campaign to raise money for nonprofit organizations in the Gregg County area. In recognition of the 75th year, the United Way's campaign theme was: ``Past. Present. Future. We are UNITED.'' This year, the organization surpassed their goal by over $25,000, raising a grand total of $1.1 million, which will be used to help fund nearly 40 programs across 20 nonprofits in the Gregg County area. United Ways are a vital part of communities across the Nation, bringing people together to volunteer, advocate, and give back to their community. Their core belief is that only when a community is united to benefit all people, regardless of race, creed, class, school district, or place of origin that true change can happen. Mr. Speaker, I thank the executive director, Dr. Evan Dolive; campaign and community outreach manager, Heather Stevenson; and front office coordinator, Raven Atkinson for their dedication to the United Way and our Gregg County community.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Chairman, first and foremost, I thank Congressman Greg Steube of Florida for introducing this important piece of legislation, and Chairwoman Foxx for managing this afternoon's floor debate. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 will safeguard the ability of female athletes to participate freely in an athletic space that for decades has been specifically carved out for these athletes to compete safely. When biological males infiltrate these spaces, opportunities are taken away from these biological females. Earlier this month, the Biden administration proposed a new Title IX rule prohibiting public schools from banning transgender male athletes from competing in sporting events with girls and women and eliminating the State's policy to promote integrity in sports. The Biden administration is attempting to change the playing field, but there is nothing equal or level about allowing biological men to compete in women and girls' sports. Coaches in East Texas that I represent understand the biological differences between men and women, and they understand that there is nothing equal about allowing men to compete in women's sports. This legislation will ensure that schools who receive Federal funding can still protect biological women's and girls' rights to freely and fairly participate in sports. As a father of two boys and two girls, this is important to me. This will safeguard and uphold the integrity of women's sports and the true intention of Title IX. Mr. Chair, I am proud to stand here on the House floor today in support of this legislation.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Bean of Florida, for gathering us here this evening to raise awareness of the rising influence of foreign adversaries in our institutions of higher education, namely China and the Chinese Communist Party. As he mentioned, I have just returned from a Foreign Affairs congressional delegation trip to the Indo-Pacific region where we met with the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to talk about the aggression of China not just from a military standpoint, but from a diplomatic and an economic standpoint. Here tonight, we are talking about the aggression of China to take over America through its educational institutions. Universities across the Nation are being exploited by the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries, with the CCP leading efforts to infiltrate college campuses to steal our intellectual property, spread propaganda, and collect information to send back to China. Our institutions of higher learning play a vital role in preparing our workforce for not only the next step in their career, but in evolving as contributing members of our society. On college campuses across the United States, China has sponsored ambassadors to enroll in American institutions called ``Confucius Institutes'' to take advantage of domestic resources while influencing public perception that China is somehow compassionate and does not pose an economic or security threat to this Nation. They are doing it all within our borders, and it is simply false. The Confucius Institutes aim to expand the Chinese footprint on universities around the world, influencing our students and threatening academic freedom. In the United States alone, China has spent over $150 million developing these programs by planting over 100 of the institutions. Today, there are 13 Confucius Institutes in the United States, with over 100 of the previously established institutes having closed or being in the process of closing, thankfully. These so-called culture centers have given universities a direct line of communication with foreign adversaries, in addition to a direct source of foreign funding. By law, universities receiving gifts from foreign countries with a value of over $250,000 are required to report these donations to the Department of Education. Several prestigious universities, however, across the United States, including universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown received funding--lots of funding, millions and millions of dollars of funding--from foreign adversaries between 2014 and 2017. Yet, they failed to disclose any of these donations to the Department of Education. I wonder why. During the Trump administration, the Department of Education actually enforced the law and investigated these reports and donations ensuring that universities were compliant in this reporting. As we all know, transparency is the key to accountability in this country. Yet here we see a lack of transparency on the part of these universities. Unsurprisingly, the Biden administration, who has been weak on foreign policy and the promotion of American interests, has not yet investigated the nearly $6.5 billion in unreported foreign money received by colleges and universities during the Biden administration. I will repeat that again: $6.5 billion. And you ask, what is that money buying the Chinese Communist Party? The administration's failure to enforce the law and ensure transparency and accountability of foreign money funneled into the United States institutions is dangerous, and it reveals a lack of desire to protect American national security and our values from bad actors. The stake that the Chinese Government has in universities has given the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party a seat at the table of our educational institutions, a seat they should not have. They are strong-arming free speech and academic freedom. They are rewriting history, the history of the Chinese Communist Party, and they are doing it all through the dissolution of our free speech and our academic freedom, those pillars of our society. As Members of Congress, it is of the utmost importance that we have accountability over the foreign dollars entering our college campuses and universities and ensure that dangerous ideals are not being promoted across the country through the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries that would use this information and these investments against our national security efforts. American universities and colleges are esteemed for brilliant research and academia. We must not tolerate foreign governments stealing critical information in these premier research programs for the purpose of using it against the United States and weakening our national security. I can tell you again from experience, these past couple of weeks have opened my eyes to the reality of the threat that is the Chinese Communist Party. Again, it is not just our diplomatic status, it is not just our economic warfare that we are engaging in, it is not just what we are seeing from a military presence that they have around the island of Taiwan. Know that it is now indeed in our educational institutions. We must push back on every front. It is a multi-front fight that we cannot lose, or we will lose this Nation.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Chairman, first I thank Congresswoman Letlow for introducing this important piece of legislation and Chairwoman Foxx for her steady and unwavering leadership, guiding the Education and the Workforce Committee through a 16-hour debate, ending in a 2:23 a.m. vote a few weeks ago to pass this out of committee. This bill ensures that parents stay at the center of educating their children, regardless of whether that education occurs at home or in a public school system or anywhere in between. Until we can get the Federal Government completely out of K-12 education, Federal legislation shoring up the rights of parents is absolutely necessary. H.R. 5, known as the Parental Bill of Rights Act, will keep parents and families at the forefront of their child's educational journey. It will also strengthen those critical partnerships between engaged parents and willing educators. The beneficiary of such partnerships will undoubtedly be the schoolchildren nationwide. For generations, our classrooms have been a sacred place, a place where children dig in to understand this world and how it works, where they discover their passions and the reason for their creation, and where they prepare for a lifetime of pursuing those passions. I know this firsthand because before I entered my legal career, I worked in a public school system for multiple years. I married a public educator. About 9 years ago, I helped to start and run an education foundation that supports the fabulous teachers in my local public school district who teach with innovation and passion. Currently, I have four children donning the doors of that very school system, a choice my wife and I proudly make. However, public classrooms should not be a place for advancing personal agendas or political propaganda. The role of our public educators is to educate, not to indoctrinate. Although the overwhelming majority of educators that I represent in east Texas thankfully understand this, it seems to me that in so many other corners of this country, many others have forgotten this or perhaps they have just simply forsaken this on purpose. In either case, it requires action by this Congress to stand firmly with parents in their partnership with educators. Neither parents nor educators are the enemy. The enemy here is an unchecked system and political agenda that excludes one of those two essential parties necessary for the proper education of students; namely, the parents. In 1925, the Supreme Court unanimously held that ``the parental right to guide one's child intellectually and religiously is a most substantial part of the liberty and freedom of a parent.'' This concept is nothing new. We are talking about the fundamental rights of parents. Parents should be at the center of the education of their children, not the Federal Government. As a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I will continue to fight to keep the Federal Government out of our children's educational journey while working to increase the voice of our parents and families. As a member of that committee, I will also continue to applaud the dedicated work of so many educators in this country who have been doing the right thing by both parents and students for decades. For those educators and school districts, this legislation changes little; but for those who see parents as the enemy, this legislation changes much. Under this legislation, young and impressionable students will be safeguarded from propaganda and undue influence from those who should be educating but who have instead chosen to deviate from this responsibility to pursue a political agenda. Nearly a century later after the Supreme Court weighed in on this issue, I am proud to stand here in support of the Parental Bill of Rights Act, which will reinforce the fundamental rights of parents and guardians to make the decision that is best for their families and their children's academic career.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Edna Morris, who recently joined our Lord in Heaven. During my time as a Smith County judge, I had the pleasure of working directly with Edna, an optimistic, gentle, and patient woman who treated everyone around her with kindness. Edna was devout in her faith and firmly knew that her eternal future was rooted in it. She never worried. Edna consistently encouraged those around her to see the good in every situation, and she led by example. She persevered through many obstacles and lived a full life, passionately serving her community in any way that she could, from serving Smith County as chief deputy of elections to helping in her church office, to volunteering at her granddaughter's school. In a world where people have the choice to be anything, she always chose to be kind. Edna will be missed deeply by me and so many others in Smith County. My prayers are with her family, friends, and all who were blessed to know her.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to join Representative Roy and so many from the Texas delegation today to recognize 200 years of history--the 200th anniversary of our most prolific investigative law enforcement agency in Texas, and one of the most prolific law enforcement agencies in this Nation and worldwide, the Texas Rangers. In 1823, Stephen F. Austin assembled a small collection of brave men in a call to arms. Over the past two centuries, this small group numbering less than 200 today, has undertaken almost every aspect of law enforcement in Texas. Let me pause there and reinforce that, less than 200 Rangers on the job today. By the amount of work that they do, you would think there were hundreds, even thousands across Texas, but indeed it is a small elite force. From investigating murder to conspiracy and every crime in between, they have protected our borders, both in the 19th century and here again in the 21st century. They have protected our Governor and our historical Alamo. The Texas Rangers are an esteemed symbol of the Lone Star State. They are guardians of the highest order. They are the cream of the crop. Because of that, they have been praised and storied again and again in poem, in song, in movies, and in television--from the Lone Ranger to Walker Texas Ranger. You see replications of these Texas Rangers over and over again because of their unique toughness, but also because of their compassion. They make sure that there is swift and sure justice in Texas, but also fair and impartial justice. Like so many other law enforcement agencies, it is not just the possibility of ultimate sacrifice that sets them apart from so many others, it frankly is their daily sacrifice. Each day when they get up, they kiss their kids and their wives and their spouses goodbye, and they head off to work. They set themselves apart by sacrificial service to their communities, putting their life on the line day in and day out for each of us in Texas. As I did when I was a county judge in Texas, I am proud to back the blue. I am honored to stand here today in recognition of the Texas Rangers' 200 years of dedication and service to our communities. To all of our officers: We honor you, we thank you, and we are indebted to you. This Congress should look at the example of the Texas Rangers and the examples set by so many law enforcement officers across this country, and remind ourselves of what is truly important and who we should indeed support when it comes down to it. We should always back the blue. Congratulations, Texas Rangers. Keep leading the way, keep setting the standard, and keep making us proud.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Weber, for gathering us all here today in commemoration of one of my favorite holidays, Texas Independence Day. It is a great day to celebrate. On March 2, 1836, a group of brave Texans adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence to create the Republic of Texas. This occurred in the midst of one of the greatest sacrificial stands for liberty in American history, the battle of the Alamo, that famously lasted 13 days and cost the lives of all combatants who were inside those walls. ``Remember the Alamo'' was the cry that day that went out that inspired our Texans to victory and propelled us to liberty in this great State. The story of freedom for Texas mirrors the story of freedom for the United States. It was borne out of selfless sacrifice by so many looking for a better life, looking to carve out a better life for their families, a life that they could make with their own hands, with their decisions, with government out of the way. Freedom will always find a way, and there are always those who will rise to the occasion when the time comes. I am certain of that. We see many of those here today that are rising to the occasion to speak for liberty and to speak for freedom, just as those Texans did a long time ago. With gratitude to so many from outside Texas who made that dream a reality, especially those who volunteered from Kentucky and from Tennessee, we celebrate the day Texas declared its independence. We share it with those who gratefully gave and graciously gave to Texas during that time. We honor their sacrifices and those of so many more who made it possible in the generations afterward. Texans are tough-minded, kindhearted, and hardworking. They have a deep love for our Lord, service to one another, and working to better their community. These are the values of Texas. They are the values I was raised with and the values I am proud to pass down to my four children. I am extremely proud to represent the First District of Texas, the only State in the Union to have been its own republic. So happy Independence Day, Texas, and God bless you in the years to come.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of James Robert ``Bobby'' Evans, known as the father of the Adopt-A-Highway program, who passed away last week Bobby served Texans as an engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation for 42 years. Throughout his career, he moved across Texas--from the valley to West Texas, to East Texas. In 1984, while serving as the District Engineer in Tyler, Bobby developed the ``Adopt-A-Highway'' program, which encouraged volunteers to ``adopt'' segments of highway, keeping roadways across the State free of litter. This program saw tremendous success and has been adopted across the country and around the world. Bobby embodied the American spirit--working throughout his life in service to his community--working within his church, leading community groups, and encouraging men and women around the world to be good stewards of their local communities. Bobby will be dearly missed, but his impact will never be forgotten. My prayers are with his family, loved ones, and his community.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul and the ranking member for H. Res. 104. Mr. Speaker, I stand to support this resolution. The sovereignty of any nation should, at the very least, be defined by its physical barriers. Certainly, sovereignty extends far beyond geographic borders, but at its base, a sovereign nation not only has the right to defend itself against intrusion, but it has the responsibility to do so. Daily, our executive branch chooses policy pathways in the areas of national defense, foreign affairs, and homeland security that weaken the sovereignty of these United States. We see this on the southern border on a minute-by-minute basis. This past week, we saw this weak-minded leadership when we failed to take timely and decisive action to shoot down what we knew was an intelligence-gathering balloon on a mission from the Chinese Communist Party. This Nation is capable of strong and decisive action to protect its national interests, but we must be willing to act on this capability. Let the foreign affairs and national defense policies in this Nation be strong, strategic, and steady. If we are not, our sovereignty will certainly erode to nothing. Mr. Speaker, I stand again to support H. Res. 104 and appreciate the bipartisan support on this issue. In doing so, I stand to support the sovereignty of the United States and the security of its people.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Section 7: ``All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. ``Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. ``Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.'' Section 8: ``The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; ``To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; ``To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; ``To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; ``To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; ``To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; ``To establish Post Offices and post Roads; ``To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; ``To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; ``To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; ``To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; ``To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; ``To provide and maintain a Navy; ``To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; ``To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; ``To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; ``To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And ``To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States or in any Department or Officer thereof.''

Mr. MORAN. Amendment XI: ``The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.'' Amendment XII: ``The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. ``The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.'' Amendment XIII, Section 1: ``Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.'' Section 2: ``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' Amendment XIV, Section 1: ``All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'' Section 2: ``Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.'' Section 3: ``No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.'' Section 4: ``The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.'' Section 5: ``The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.'' Amendment XV, Section 1: ``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'' Section 2: ``The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' Amendment XVI: ``The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.''

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, as Biden's border crisis continues to cost American taxpayers billions per year, I rise today to introduce my first bill, the Border Security Investment Act. This legislation will target the millions of immigrants who entered our country illegally, use American resources, don't pay taxes, and then proceed to send money back to foreign countries. More specifically, it would place a 37 percent user-based transaction fee on remittance transfers made through money service businesses where the remittance originates in the U.S. and is sent back to one of the top five nations of origin for illegal immigration. Revenue collected is placed under two trusts; both for border security. In the first trust the funds will be used by the Federal Government specifically for salaries and wages for Customs and Border Protection, physical barriers, and detection technology only. The second trust is allocated to reimburse States for their expenditures for border security enforcement measures. Any unspent money under this legislation from these two funds exceeding $50 billion is allocated to the Treasury solely for the purpose of reducing national debt. While there is still plenty of work to be done, this bill is a first step in securing our border, keeping our communities safe, and working toward a balanced budget.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 74.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, February 1, 2003, was intended to be a day of celebration to welcome back home seven brave men and women from their mission to space. Instead, that day of intended celebration turned quickly to tragedy when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over east Texas upon reentry, an event captured on camera by local medical doctor, Scott Lieberman. I rise today to honor those seven individuals who lost their lives in pursuit of space exploration and to commend my fellow east Texans who participated in the recovery efforts that followed. I am proud to represent east Texans, who in the face of tragedy do not hesitate to spring into action, whatever the cause and whatever the need. Please join me in honoring those astronauts who lost their lives 20 years ago: Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon. We pray for their loved ones and remember with sympathy all impacted by this disaster.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize National School Choice Week, I rise to support educational freedom and efforts to empower our Nation's parents to make the educational decisions best for their families. Over the last 2 years, we have seen our school systems and classrooms weaponized, pushing political agendas on our Nation's children. These agendas have undermined the core purpose of our school systems: educating our children and preparing them for a successful future. These biased agendas are nothing more than liberal propaganda forced on our children, and they simply do not belong in the classroom. As the proud parent of four school-age children, I understand how critical it is for parents to direct the education of their children, whether through the public school system, private schools, charter schools, homeschools, or otherwise. Each is a vital part of our educational system. As one of the newest members of the Committee on Education and Workforce, I look forward to restoring the rights of parents to direct their child's education, not the Federal Government acting in loco parentis.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) for this opportunity to speak. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce myself and to re-introduce the First District of Texas to this distinguished body, the people's House. For those of you that do not know, the First District of Texas is made up of 17 counties in east and northeast Texas. The people there are faith-based, they are family-loving, they are hardworking, they are tough-minded, and they are service-oriented individuals. They use their independent spirits, their patriotic hearts, and their rugged hands to build a future centered around faith, family, and freedom. There are simply no better people in this world than those who reside in Congressional District 1 in Texas, and there are none more dedicated to seeing this world be a better place for our children and our grandchildren than my constituents. The First District of Texas boasts a landscape of pine trees, dogwoods, roses, azaleas, pecan and peach orchards, lakes, and beauty beyond imagination. Its economy is as diverse and strong as its people. It is not just home to some of the best oil and gas operations in the world, but it is home to innovative manufacturing, world-class healthcare, top-notch educational institutions, farming and ranching operations, food processing plants, steel and pipe companies, and so much more. You name it, our folks do it, and they do it with a spirit of excellence, innovation, and service toward one another. The people in east Texas know that liberty gives rise to prosperity, but prosperity should always give rise to generosity. In east Texas, the people love their God, their families, and their Nation, and they are willing to sacrifice all for those things. That is why we have so many veterans in our community. East Texas is filled with individuals who, out of reverence and respect for the most important things in life, still stand for the national anthem and bow at their church altar. They know how to stand firm for their principles and to ask for forgiveness when they make mistakes. To be sure, they know that strength and humility are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are values that support and build on one another. I am so proud and humbled to represent Texas' First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. When I was just shy of 2 years old, my parents moved me and my three older brothers from Arizona to east Texas in Southern Smith County, and they worked with other families in that area to start a Bible college. For almost a decade, I lived on that Bible college campus and spent most of my time either going to church or exploring the woods and the county roads that surrounded our little single-wide trailer. From climbing trees, to shooting snakes, drinking the nectar of honeysuckles along the roadside, playing football with the neighborhood kids, or recovering from multiple broken bones from all the adventures we had living in the country, several things became clear to me from my upbringing. Among them, I learned, first: that Almighty God has a call for each of us in this life; that we were created for a divine purpose. I learned that each of us have equal and eternal value. I learned also that the great commandment in Matthew 22, of loving God and loving others, should guide our every decision and action in life. I learned simply that we are all sinners in need of a savior; and I learned that these United States form the greatest Nation that has ever existed; and our Republic is great because of the breadth of the freedoms offered here, which come only from heaven above. I am proud to be the first graduate of Whitehouse High School to serve as a Member of Congress, and I am deeply thankful that my calling in life has led me to this place, to this floor, where I hope to fan the flames of liberty, and to create more opportunities for my children, my four children, and for the children of every family in east Texas and beyond. As a city councilmember in Tyler, I learned quickly that sound policy is so much more important than soundbites. Those 4 years on the city council solidified my desire to serve my community in whatever way possible. Whether as a Sunday school teacher, a church deacon, a trombone player in the worship band, Cub Scout den leader, assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts, or coach for my daughters' basketball teams, or simply just a volunteer for nonprofits across the community, I discovered that giving is so much better than receiving. I am blessed with a loving wife and four children, two boys and two girls, from high school down to kindergarten, and they are a primary motivator for me to fix what is so wrong with this country. I want my kids to grow and to know a country where freedom reigns supreme; where government is limited; and where their good decisions can lead to good consequences but, equally as important, where their bad decisions can lead to bad consequences so they can learn from their mistakes. The road ahead for America will not be easy. As a country, we must make tough decisions to reverse our current trajectory. If we make these good decisions, we will see good consequences. But if we fail in that task, in that mission, the consequences will get more dire and the future will become more bleak. In fulfilling our mission, we should never compromise our principles, but we can be both principled conservatives and pragmatic policymakers. As a county judge in one of the most conservative counties in the State of Texas, I was proud to maintain one of the lowest tax rates in the State while still addressing critical areas of county government like improving roads and bridges, supporting law enforcement, working to improve election integrity, and addressing longstanding facility needs. It is possible to do both, to keep the burden of taxes low while still addressing the critical needs of this country, but it takes the wisdom to see the right path forward and the courage to take it. In short, it means channeling the greatness of the character of this country, the type of bold and strong character evident in the people of the First Congressional District in east Texas and in so many other places in this great country. I thank my constituents for this opportunity to serve; to be strong and courageous for them and for this country; and to work with all my might to preserve, protect, and defend this Constitution and the United States of America. I pledge to do just that and to do all that I can to make that happen.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to stand here today on the floor of the House of Representatives to serve as the voice of east Texans in Congress. As a man of faith and father of four children, I rise today for the very first time as a Member of Congress to stand for the sanctity of life and in full support of children nationwide. I can think of no better cause than the cause of life. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Ann Wagner, for bringing this valuable bill to the floor. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which will ensure that all children who are born are protected and treated the same as any other newborn. Every life is a gift. Every life has a calling divinely given by God. I stand firmly committed to protecting those lives and to opposing any action that threatens them. This legislation is the next step in our effort to protect our future generations and return to our Nation's values.