Ryan Mackenzie

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1131, I call up the bill (H. Res. 1128) expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1128.

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1128, Expressing the Support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security. As we meet today, tens of thousands of Federal workers serving on the front lines of our national security are going unpaid. For over 40 days, the men and women we count on to protect passengers, secure our critical infrastructure, and step up during disasters have gone unpaid. For the third time in 6 months, politics is getting in the way of critical American workers, the pay that they have earned. The impact of these political games isn't theoretical. It is causing real-world impacts each and every day. Over 50,000 Federal employees are going without paychecks just at TSA alone. Hundreds of employees have quit. Call-out rates are in the double digits, and those who are able to go to work are stuck managing some of the longest lines that we have seen at U.S. airports. All of this is happening at a time when our Nation is preparing to host major events while experiencing heightened national security risks. We have to do better. Today, this House will have an opportunity to vote on my resolution, H. Res. 1128, affirming the importance of DHS, the necessity of funding its agencies and employees, the risks of defunding our security apparatus, and our gratitude to the men and women who are working every day to protect this Nation. The House has already passed the appropriations bill to fully fund DHS twice, both times with bipartisan support. Now, it is time for us to speak with one voice putting aside politics to thank the members of the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, and more, who are continuing to do their jobs and keep us safe, despite many now going nearly a month and a half without a paycheck. Saying ``yes'' to funding does not mean saying ``no'' to reform. There are concerns that need to be addressed with respect to certain ICE and CBP operations, and when there are opportunities for positive reform we should work together to achieve it. That is why the DHS funding bill passed twice by this House already features significant new measures aimed at reducing tensions and improving transparency, including new funding for body cameras, de- escalation training, and the DHS Office of Inspector General. Despite this, in the face of grave terror threats against our Nation, some are choosing to politicize our national security and hold paychecks hostage until all of their demands are met. Let me be clear. Conversations about commonsense reforms at DHS operations are underway. They were underway before this shutdown. They continue to go on, and we will not stop until we get the reforms that the American people are looking for. I look forward to continuing to engage on this issue and working together to achieve a system of immigration enforcement that meets the needs and standards of the American people. Defunding our security apparatus, robbing workers of their paychecks, and creating chaos at our airports across this country does not bring us any closer to achieving those goals. It is time to put the politics aside and get serious about our national security. In the meantime, the American people are waiting. Throughout this shutdown, we have seen powerful examples of our communities stepping in to provide for neighbors and those who are impacted. In my district in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, we have seen residents coming forward to donate everything, like food and diapers, to our dedicated TSA agents at our local airport. They are continuing to do their jobs every single day, even as the bills pile up and savings are stretched thin. To the TSA staff at the ABE airport and to all those impacted workers in my district and throughout the country who are continuing to work, I say: Thank you. I also thank all of those who stepped up to provide support for them and their families. Here is the reality: We shouldn't have to count on local communities to provide for our Federal workers. That is the job of our elected Representatives. That is why I and so many in this Chamber have voted to provide full funding for DHS. Tens of thousands of Federal workers are doing their jobs. We, in a bipartisan fashion, have already done that here in the House of Representatives, but we need bipartisan buy-in from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to make it a reality. We need bipartisan support in the Senate to get Democrats to go along with this full funding of DHS to make sure that this makes its way to the President's desk and gets signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution thanking these workers and recognizing the critical nature of the work that they do to protect our communities and our country, and calling for the Department of Homeland Security to receive full funding--full funding-- for its needs to keep our community safe. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, what we just heard was not, in fact, the whole story. The previous speaker mentioned that he wanted to tell the whole story. Well, I think it is important that we get all the facts on the record. What the gentleman left out was that he, himself, voted twice against funding for DHS. This resolution is not in lieu of the opportunity to vote for funding. We are going to give you another opportunity, but you are going to vote ``no'' again. That is the whole story. The Democrats in this House want to stand in the way of keeping America safe. The Democrats in the Senate want to change the rules of the game. What they choose to do is they go out there and demand all kinds of unrealistic conditions that would actually hamstring DHS, keep our country less safe, and are totally unworkable in practice. We, as Republicans, have offered full funding. We have offered partial funding with reforms. We have said here is the way that we can make this system not only better but keep America safe while making these reasonable commonsense reforms. What did they do? They dismissed them out of hand. He said Donald Trump, our President, our duly elected President, has shot down these opposition proposals. That is not the case. The Senate, the Congress are the ones that are going to advance these pieces of legislation to the President's desk. The Senate has put forward those proposals to Democratic colleagues, and what did they do? They are the ones who rejected the latest offer. We have extended the olive branch, we have extended our hand and said: Come together, work with us, fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. They will never fund ICE because of their radical left. They are beholden to the fringe in their party that will do everything to protect and promote illegal immigrants over the interests of American citizens. However, it should be noted that ICE actually does some very critical work in our local community. There is Homeland Security Investigations, HSI. What does that do as a part of ICE? They go out and protect people against human trafficking, drug trafficking, drug smuggling. That is what you are opposed to? It is ludicrous. Mr. Speaker, we have to fully fund ICE. The previous gentleman said that this resolution doesn't do enough. I agree. I agree. The resolution is a way to thank and recognize DHS and all of its employees for the great work they do to keep us safe. We should agree on that. We should also agree on getting funding to fully fund the operations of DHS. You voted against it twice. You are going to vote against it again, and you are going to leave the American people less safe. That is the full story. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate the spirited debate, but it is important when you are debating somebody to call out their half-truths and their deflections. The half-truth that this gentleman speaks of is that Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, and so that gives us total ability to pass whatever we want. That is not the case. We know that in the Senate you need 60 votes to get something passed in policy, so you do need bipartisan support to actually get something passed into law and help the American people. We are asking, Mr. Speaker, for our Democrat colleagues to come along and join us in fully funding the operations of DHS. Now, the deflection comes when he tells you all about the important and critical training and the ways that DHS operates. We are talking not only in this resolution but also in an appropriations bill that is going to follow about fully funding the operations of ICE. The gentleman tries to obfuscate, tries to change the conversation. The bottom line is that that funding for DHS was voted on twice in this House already. We voted for it in a bipartisan fashion, and we are going to give all Members of this body the ability to vote on it for a third time. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Van Epps).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is so critically important that we fund and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. The best way to do that is in a bipartisan fashion. That is why this House of Representatives has already voted twice with bipartisan support to advance that legislation over to the Senate. The previous speaker, his wishful thinking, his off-the-wall Rube Goldberg proposal, saying that Republicans in the House are somehow opposing his scheme, it is just simply unrealistic. The American people don't buy it because there is not something before us that has the bipartisan support of over 218 votes to pass. That is not what he is proposing. What we have is the pragmatic, commonsense solution that has the bipartisan support to pass twice. Join us in that effort. Join us, please. Please. I don't understand, Mr. Speaker--

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate all this discussion, again. We have to do what is best for the American people. We already have something that is advanced. We are going to continue that conversation. In addition to that, we can continue to thank and recognize all of our workers at DHS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleague who just spoke can stick around to hear this. It is important that we are on the same page. My esteemed colleague was here years ago during 9/11. The reason why we established the Department of Homeland Security, as the gentleman knows, is to break down silos. What Democrats are advocating for is building up walls, siloing off parts of our Department of Homeland Security, and leaving our country less safe. That was the whole point of having a unified Department of Homeland Security. The previous speaker knows that history, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman knows that full well. Everybody who was here after 9/11 knows that full well. To go back on that and try to break down these silos and say that we want to fund everything, but we want to defund Federal law enforcement, that is an affront to our national security. That is an affront to the American people. Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is that we need to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. We have that resolution on the floor. We are going to offer it up again. We are going to give them a third opportunity, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful that my colleague stuck around to hear that it is a disastrous idea to build silos in the Department of Homeland Security and to defund Federal law enforcement. That is absolutely accurate, and we need it on the record that those statements were damaging to what our national security apparatus does every single day to keep us safe. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fong).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the spirited debate with my colleagues, especially the past speaker. We appreciate his experience. He has been a Member of this body since even before I was born. I am 43 years old now. He has been a Member of this Chamber for longer than that. He was elected in 1981, and we appreciate his experience and knowledge that he brings to this debate. Yet, when somebody is wrong, regardless of their age or experience, it is our obligation to recognize that and call that out. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, may I as to the time remaining?

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, Republicans are offering this resolution to thank our great men and women of the Department of Homeland Security for all of their work during this Democratic shutdown, where they are not receiving funding and their paychecks to support them and their families. Republicans have this resolution and also the resolution for appropriating all of the funding, and those are both going to come before the full House. I encourage all of my colleagues to support it. We have had bipartisan support for the appropriations in the past, and, hopefully, we will get that again this time. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this conversation has been rewarding and enlightening for the American people. I have heard half-truths, deflections, and obfuscations from the other side throughout our conversation today. I have also heard fearmongering. What we need are pragmatic, commonsense solutions that have bipartisan support. That is what we have with the DHS funding appropriations that Congress has already passed through the House that we are going to have an opportunity to vote on again. It is a chance to give the American people the results that they are looking for. It is not a conversation. It is fact. Mr. Speaker, it has been great to hear the other side put themselves on the record for not fully funding parts of the Department of Homeland Security, for building up silos, for advocacy about defunding law enforcement. That is what we have heard here today. It is shocking, but I think it is enlightening for the American people to see that contrast and have it on full display. I wish that we had more than an hour to have this debate. I think this is something that every American should see: Republicans coming together to support national security, to fund our workers, and to give our workers, the American people, the paychecks they deserve for the work that they are doing. However, Mr. Speaker, the other side stands in objection as an obstacle to this commonsense solution every single day. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I thank the other side for putting this contrast on full display for the American people, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I couldn't agree with my colleague more that we should fund and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security today. That is why we are going to have the opportunity for every Member to vote ``yes'' on that resolution to fully fund it. We are also going to have the opportunity in addition to that funding to give our Members the opportunity to vote in full support of the men and women at the Department of Homeland Security and all the great work they do every single day. I would encourage a ``yes'' vote on both of those resolutions, certainly on the one that is being debated here before us, H. Res. 1128. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. For generations, boxing stood at the center of American sports. It produced legends, inspired communities, and embodied the grit and determination that defined our country. But today, the sport has become fragmented, marked by inconsistent standards; weak oversight; and, too often, inadequate protections for fighters. As chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I recently led a hearing examining these challenges. We heard directly from experts, advocates, and leaders in the sport about the urgent need to strengthen safety, improve transparency, and create real opportunities for fighters. At the end of the day, boxers are workers, and like every American worker, they deserve a safe and fair workplace. This bill takes important steps to get us there. It establishes clearer, more consistent standards across the sport, strengthens medical protections, and ensures fighters have access to fair pay and proper oversight. Just as importantly, it helps restore integrity and trust in the sport that has meant so much to so many Americans. H.R. 4624 is about putting American fighters first, protecting their health, respecting their dignity, and giving them a fair shot at success. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. For nearly 3 weeks, key pieces of the Department of Homeland Security have been shut down, and families face uncertainty about their paychecks. This is happening because some in this Chamber are choosing to play politics at a time when the work of DHS staff is urgently needed and despite having negotiated this bipartisan agreement themselves. Today, some DHS components are operating at limited capacity. Trainings are halted. Long-term planning is paused. Only bare-minimum essential services are being continued. This is not sustainable for our national security. While some have chosen to politicize this debate by exclusively focusing on ICE, this ignores the fact that DHS is responsible for a wide range of responsibilities that are essential for our national security. TSA officers stand on the front lines every single day to secure our skies, yet they are working without paychecks. The Coast Guard could fully execute marine security if they had funding. Search and rescue operations and drug interdiction missions are in jeopardy because, again, of the opposition from the other side. FEMA's disaster response and recovery efforts are scaled back as severe weather and emergencies approach. CISA, our Nation's cyber defense agency, is operating at limited capacity during heightened global tensions. The Secret Service faces constraints in protecting our leaders.

Mr. MACKENZIE. All of this, again, is after the other side voted in a bipartisan way to support this effort initially and then pulled back their support because of politics. It is despicable what we see happening in our budgeting process here in Congress. We should stand up right now at this time more than ever to protect the American people and protect our homeland by providing this funding. It is time to put the politics aside. Support the men and women who protect our Nation. Prioritize the safety of the American people. That means ending this shutdown, passing the bill, and fully restoring the operational readiness of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Joshua Hobson of the Bethlehem Police Department for an act of service that reflects the very best of our law enforcement. While working an overtime shift, Officer Hobson responded to a call that was first reported as a burglary. It turned out to be an 88-year- old resident who was deeply concerned about the lock on her front door, and she no longer felt safe in her own home. After inspecting the door, Officer Hobson realized that the lock had been improperly installed. Instead of just filing a report and moving along, he took it upon himself to go to a local store, purchase a proper lock, and install it himself, giving this resident the peace of mind that she had been missing. This story is just one example of the many behind-the-scenes ways that our local law enforcement serves their communities every single day. Officer Hobson's actions reflect the care, professionalism, and compassion that define the men and women who protect our communities. I am grateful for Officer Hobson and for the men and women of the Bethlehem Police Department who work every day to keep our communities safe. Recognizing Kate Gilchrist

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kate Gilchrist, a senior at Parkland High School and a resident of Orefield, for an extraordinary achievement. Kate was recently selected as an Emerging Young Artist awardee, 1 of just 15 nationwide whose work will be displayed prominently here in Washington, D.C. This program highlights talented artists with disabilities and supports their growth in the creative economy. Kate's work reflects creativity, confidence, and resilience, and her selection is a testament to her talent and determination. It is inspiring to see a young person from our community be recognized on the national stage for telling her story through art. As a fellow Parkland Trojan, I congratulate Kate, her family, and her teachers, and I wish her continued success as she pursues her passion and future opportunities. Recognizing Mario Landino

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mario Landino, a graduate of Emmaus High School, for representing our community on one of football's biggest stages. Mario recently played in the College Football National Championship as a member of the Indiana University Hoosiers, starting on the defensive line as his team captured the national title. Back home in Emmaus, where I reside, friends, former teammates, coaches, and neighbors came together to cheer him on, a testament to the character and leadership that Mario has shown, both on and off the field. Mario's success reflects the hard work, discipline, and values instilled by his family, coaches, and community. I congratulate him on this incredible achievement and wish him all of the best and continued success in the years that lie ahead. Honoring the Life and Service of Jim VanWert

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Jim VanWert, a dedicated member of the Lower Macungie Fire Department, who recently passed away after 45 years of service to our community. Jim devoted his life to protecting others, serving in many roles over the decades, including nearly 25 years as assistant fire chief. Jim's leadership, experience, and commitment helped to shape the department and mentor generations of firefighters. For nearly half a century, Jim answered the call whenever his neighbors needed help. His service reflects the dedication and sacrifice that define fire departments across our region. I extend my deepest condolences to Jim's family, his fellow firefighters, and the entire Lower Macungie community. As a Lower Macungie resident, I thank Jim for his service and the sacrifice that he gave. Jim will never be forgotten, and I am grateful for the example that he has set for all of those who serve. Recognizing Kevin Cahill

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kevin Cahill, head coach of the Lehigh University football team, for earning the Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision, or FCS. This national honor reflects Coach Cahill's leadership in building Lehigh football and restoring a championship culture. Under his guidance, the Mountain Hawks captured back-to-back Patriot League titles, earned consecutive FCS playoff appearances, and completed an undefeated regular season. Beyond the wins, Coach Cahill has built a program centered on discipline, teamwork, and student-athlete leadership, values that will reflect the very best of the Lehigh University community. I congratulate Coach Cahill, his staff, and all of the student- athletes on this well-deserved recognition, and I thank them for representing Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley with excellence, both on and off the field.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Florida for yielding, and I thank Chairman Hill and members of the Financial Services Committee who helped bring this legislation, the Housing for the 21st Century, to the House floor and helped get it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Throughout our Nation, the American people are experiencing a housing crisis that has been years in the making. From 2020 to 2024, the cost of a home soared 37 percent. Over that same period, rents increased 24 percent. Many communities, including those that I represent in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, have seen even sharper increases. In Allentown, home prices have increased 63 percent in the past 5 years while rents have risen 44 percent. Working families who were already squeezed by the worst inflation in decades have been stretched to the limit by these increases, dashing their hopes and derailing their plans. For millions of hardworking Americans, especially young people, renting has become a painful burden, and homeownership has become a near impossibility. Apartments in cities should not be reserved only for those who can afford luxury units. They should be accessible to all working Americans who keep our cities running and keep them safe. Houses shouldn't be limited to those who have a lifetime of accumulated assets. They should be available to young families and those just starting out who have scraped and saved to afford a reasonable downpayment. However, what we have seen after years of bad economic policies in the Biden administration, those inflationary prices have actually made it so that the first-time home buyer has risen to the age of 40. For millions of Americans striving to afford the American Dream: We hear you, and we see you. That is why this Financial Services Committee, led by Chairman Hill, has brought this legislation to the floor. It is why the administration and President Trump are speaking out about changes to our housing situation right here in the United States. Congress is now working in a bipartisan way to resolve this issue and bring back housing affordability. In 2025, as a part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, we passed what has been called the largest expansion ever of affordable housing tax credits. Our reforms to the low-income housing tax credit are predicted to create 1.2 million additional affordable housing units over the next decade, helping millions more Americans access the high-quality affordable housing they deserve. We have also passed legislation like the SPEED Act, clearing away bureaucratic obstacles that are slowing down construction and driving up costs. Today, the Housing for the 21st Century Act will help us take an additional step forward. This bipartisan legislation tackles some of the biggest challenges driving today's housing shortage, cutting red tape, streamlining Federal processes, and using public policy to support housing production rather than slow it down. By enabling jurisdictions to adopt ready-to-use, pre-approved home designs, it helps builders focus on building instead of navigating unnecessary bureaucracy. By modernizing key HUD programs and coordinating outdated review processes, it ensures the department supports construction and opportunity rather than standing in the way. By expanding flexible financing tools for community and neighborhood lenders, it empowers them to do what they do best: serve local communities and help power America's housing comeback. We know that solving the housing crisis requires a lot of changes for our State and local government partners, but we in the Federal Government have a role to play as well, one where we can help facilitate these changes as opposed to more bureaucracy or rules that stand in the way of American talent and ingenuity. By embracing these reforms, we can help grow the housing supply, expand opportunity, and unlock the American Dream for millions of Americans.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 32.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on December 9, 2025, because I was attending an event in my district with the President. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 316, and YEA on Roll Call No. 315.