Devin Nunes

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tulare High School's Agricultural Issues team for winning the prestigious 2021 National FFA Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hosted by the National FFA Organization, the National FFA Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event is a competitive event that tests students' knowledge of agricultural issues and evaluates how well they can apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. To compete in the national competition, teams must first design a presentation that addresses multiple viewpoints of a contemporary agricultural issue and present it to multiple audiences in their community. Teams must then incorporate the feedback received from their local community into their presentation to the judges at the Leadership Development Event. Raised in California's San Joaquin Valley--the most productive and abundant agriculture region in the world--Tulare High School's Agricultural Issues team was uniquely placed to learn from the world's preeminent farmers in preparation for the Leadership Development Event, including the Tulare County Farm Bureau, the Board of Directors at Harris Ranch, and other local community service clubs. Their national championship victory is a reflection of the determined work ethic and love for farming that defines Tulare County and the greater San Joaquin Valley community. Congratulations to team members Aidan Champagne, Duncan Champagne, Avery Coelho, Emma Coelho, and Madeline Lew, and their coaches, Jennifer Sousa, and Dave and Krim Caetano. The Central Valley is proud of their tremendous accomplishment.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, the Democrats have summoned us to the House floor today to debate their unaffordable socialist spending bill. It is rather novel for Congress to debate a bill that does not yet have final legislative text, but. after suffering alarming electoral defeats earlier this month, the Democrats appear desperate to save President Biden's domestic agenda, regardless of the consequences. So, here we are. While the bill's actual provisions remain unclear, what is clear is the Biden administration's zeal to permanently transform the American economy. In an October press conference, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki went to great lengths to explain that the Democrats' reconciliation spending bill is seen by the President as a vehicle to remake the economy. Biden seeks to ``do something historic that will fundamentally change the economy,'' she declared. He's seeking to make ``fundamental changes,'' she added. She later noted that the President seeks to ``make fundamental change in our economy,'' ``change fundamentally how we invest in our workforce,'' ``fundamentally change the economy,'' and ``fundamentally change people's lives.'' We should take Psaki at her word--President Biden believes he has found basic flaws in our economic system, and the solution is to inject trillions of dollars into government programs. Earlier this year, the President made a down payment on this fundamental transformation when he signed into law the Democrats' $1.9 trillion so-called stimulus plan. The economic impact has been staggering: gas prices are reaching record highs, our supply chain is in crisis, small businesses are beset by a government-made labor shortage, and skyrocketing inflation is making everyday life unaffordable for working Americans. The response from Democrats has been instructive. First, Democrats denied that inflation existed at all. Then, they claimed Republicans were exacerbating concerns over what they deemed ``transitory inflation'' for political gain. Next, they said inflation was both not transitory and, in fact, a good thing for the economy. Now, they accuse Republicans of opposing their plan to tackle the inflation they claimed was a good thing. If inflation is indeed a good thing, then America is in luck--the Democrats' Build Back Better agenda promises much more of it. It's as if the Democrats are attempting to hyperinflate their way out of inflation. This unaffordable bill won't solve the problems the Democrats have created. It won't lower energy prices, or tame inflation, or resolve the supply chain crisis, or help Americans get back to work. To the contrary, it's an ideological bill designed to implant socialism irreversibly in the federal government. The whole bill is a slap in the face to the American people. Thankfully, however, this debate is just political theater, since we all know the bill, whenever it is finally passed by House Democrats, will die a quick death in the Senate.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today and oppose the Democrat's latest socialist spending spree. Today, the Federal Government presides over nearly $30 trillion in debt and $100 trillion of unfunded liabilities in Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid. These catastrophic debts are growing increasingly unsustainable. And now the Democrats are using the debt ceiling as a blackmail to enable passage of an unaffordable so-called human infrastructure bill. I still don't quite understand what that means, but maybe they will enlighten us during the debate. The Democrats, themselves, can't honestly tell us how much this bill would cost. First, they said it was $3.5 trillion, then the amount was raised to over $4 trillion. And both figures, obviously, underestimate the true cost by trillions of dollars. Then with an amazing message discipline, Democrats in the House, Senate, and White House, along with their media cheerleaders, suddenly began claiming, in unison, that the bill won't cost anything at all. They previously argued that ``tax the rich'' would pay for everything. But now, they have apparently conjured a true economic miracle: No one will have to pay for the astronomical cost of this bill. It is Congress' first self-financing, multi-trillion-dollar spending plan. It is amazing that no Member of Congress ever figured this out before. Now that the Democrats are full of their new socialist colleagues, you have finally achieved the Marxist dream of abolishing money. The bill itself is the mother of all socialist spending programs. It is as if the Democrats are rejecting all fiscal restraint and decided that they had one shot to turn America into a socialist welfare state. Madam Speaker, I reject that transformation and the spending gimmicks needed to enact it. I urge all Members to vote against this scheme and vote down the increase in the debt limit.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the accomplishments of Richard Torrez Jr., who earned a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Born on June 1, 1999, Mr. Torrez was raised in Tulare, California. He developed a love for boxing at a young age, following in the footsteps of his grandfather as well as his father Richard Torrez Sr., who competed in the 1984 Olympic Boxing Trials. As a child, Mr. Torrez was mesmerized by the Olympic games and dreamed of one day winning a medal for the United States. Mr. Torrez grew up in the boxing gym his father owns and operates, Tulare Athletic Boxing Club. Learning discipline and commitment, he quickly became an elite boxer. Family always remained at his core. His father, to this day, remains one of his coaches. Graduating from Mission Oak High School in 2017, Mr. Torrez was considered one of the most accomplished students of his graduating class. He was president of the school's chess club and involved in the robotics team. He was also a varsity member of the football, basketball, and track teams. Mr. Torrez capped off his high school career as valedictorian of his graduating class. Fighting as a super heavyweight, Mr. Torrez placed fifth at the 2019 Elite World Championships, third at the 2019 Pan American Games, and first at the 2020 Boxam Tournament. He has successfully competed in many other tournaments as well, but reaching the Olympics have always been his biggest goal. Mr. Torrez earned the right to represent the United States as a super heavyweight boxer at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. His years of disciplined training were evident from his first fight, becoming the first American to vie for the super heavyweight gold medal since Riddick Bowe in 1988 at the Seoul Olympic Games. He made the United States proud by earning the silver medal. Through his accomplishments, Mr. Torrez brought great pride to his hometown. Hundreds of people gathered in various places in Tulare to watch his fights. Signs supporting him were placed on most streets. He joins two other Tulare residents, Bob Mathias and Sim Iness, as the city's Olympic medalists. All of America is proud of Richard Torrez Jr. His impact on U.S. boxing and his Central Valley community will be long remembered.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Schouten on his retirement as Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Sires, an international bovine genetics company in Visalia, California. John retires after thirty-five years at World Wide Sires and twenty years as its CEO. Despite joining World Wide Sires with little international experience, John rigorously applied himself, forging relationships that allowed U.S. genetics to enter countless parts of the world and support dairy farmers globally. As CEO, John continuously pursued the latest technological innovations that made World Wide Sires an international leader in the bovine genetics industry. In addition to pioneering World Wide Sires' success, John has been a leader for the whole industry. He served numerous times as Chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders International Marketing Committee and worked closely with USDA Foreign Agriculture Service staff in various countries to develop more direct pathways for importing U.S. genetics. Under John's leadership, World Wide Sires' export business has grown more than 500 percent, expanding the company's genetics and support services to over 75 countries. As a dairyman, I am grateful for John's considerable contributions to the global bovine genetics industry and helping American cattle farmers receive access to foreign markets. I wish John all the best in his retirement.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Albert Onis Watts, Sr., who passed away on July 8, 2021, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Terra Bella, California. He was 77 years old. Born on June 7, 1944, Mr. Watts was a lifelong resident of California's San Joaquin Valley, growing up in Taft before marrying his high school sweetheart Earlene and relocating first to Delano and finally to Terra Bella. He spent thirty years educating children in Delano, teaching physical education and social studies before becoming the principal of Princeton Street Elementary School. Additionally, Mr. Watts was a twenty-year member of the Delano Elks lodge and started the Tulare County Tea Party Patriots organization in Porterville, California. Throughout his life, Mr. Watts demonstrated a laudable commitment to his community in both his public and private lives. He will be deeply missed. Mr. Watts is survived by his wife Earlene, his children Michelle, Audra, and A.J., his ten grandchildren, his brother John and brother-in-law Michael, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his work on this bill and my colleagues on the Senate side and the House side. I rise in strong support of this legislation. When intelligence community officers risk their health and safety in service of their country, they need to know they will receive the full support of the United States Government if they are injured. That assurance is crucial for the officers' ability to carry out their missions. As the public now knows, our officers have been the victims of targeted attacks around the globe. I want to say upfront that these incidents are real, and the officers' accounts are credible. Victims have described the sudden onset of symptoms, such as intense head pressure, dizziness, vertigo, and cognitive difficulties. Some incidents have resulted in traumatic brain injuries, debilitating pain, and other serious health issues. Many victims continue to experience chronic health problems and require sustained treatment. Over the past several months, we have been looking into these incidents. In my view, there are three objectives. The first is to determine the best way to help these officers and their families. The second is to find out who is perpetrating these attacks. The third is to conduct strong oversight of our agencies and make the necessary changes to achieve the first two objectives. That will require vigorous effort, but I am committed to uncovering the truth. The bill we are considering today takes important steps to assist the victims of these attacks and ensure that our people will be compensated for their brain injuries. It builds on legislation we passed last Congress to improve worker's compensation for certain personnel and their dependents. Some have called the legislation technical, which it is, but it is, nevertheless, vital. Patriotic Americans serving to promote and protect our freedoms deserve our gratitude and full support. The Senate has already passed this bill by unanimous consent. I fully support it, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for giving some extended time to recognize Jerry Lewis, who was a statesman, a Congressman from the Inland Empire, a good friend to all of us. Jerry really was a one-man institution on Capitol Hill, having served in the House for more than 30 years. Jerry was extremely effective at serving his constituents. He always kept his constituents in the Inland Empire in mind, and he was always popular with them. Jerry never lost and never received less than 61 percent of his vote in any of his congressional races. Jerry was a veteran Congressman, and when I first came to the House in 2003, I actually already knew him, because, as was typical of Jerry, he liked to work with young people. At the time in the eighties and nineties, him and Congressman Bill Thomas from Bakersfield, they would organize conferences for young people to teach them about policy and politics. And I went to many of those events, which I have fond memories of, and when I look back at that, those were really important events in my life that probably inspired me in some way to ultimately serve with Jerry. I will always be thankful for that. When I did come to Washington as a Representative, Jerry became a close friend, a mentor. Jerry taught me the ropes and how to assimilate and deal with sometimes the strange ways of doing things around here. Also, back home in California, there are many times that I had the opportunity to visit both Jerry, his wife Arlene, Mr. Calvert, memorable times at dinner doing constituent events, getting to know his area and always focusing as a whole on how we could do things better in California and work together. Jerry ultimately became one of the most influential and well- respected Members of the House, earning admiration and affection on both sides of the political aisle and serving his long tenure with distinction. Jerry was a good friend and a true statesman who will be missed not only in these Halls of Congress but also, as well, in California. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding, and I also thank Mr. Calvert for organizing this tribute to Mr. Lewis.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Phillip Andrew Cox, a lifelong Visalia resident, businessman, and public servant. Born to Samuel Elmer Cox and Lou Emma Strange on a small farm in Laton, California on April 17, 1957, Phil moved to Visalia before his second birthday. He remained dedicated to the Visalia community throughout his life. After graduating from Mt. Whitney High School, Phil served in Switzerland as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. Following his service, Phil returned to Visalia to attend the College of the Sequoias. In 1985, Phillip founded Cox Sheet Metal Company. Twelve years later, he opened Visalia Paintball Supply. During this period, Phillip was also an advisory committee member and served on the Visalia Planning Commission. Phil's love for his community motivated him to pursue elected office, where he worked to improve the health of his community and build a reputation for his tireless dedication to public service. In 2001, Phil was first elected to the Visalia City Council; he then served on the Tulare County Board of Supervisors for twelve distinguished years. Phil later returned to his roots, rejoining the Visalia City Council. Outside of public office, Phil served as a scoutmaster and merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of America and was a local varsity athletics coach. Whether government or extracurriculars, Phillip's dedication to his community was unparalleled. Phil died on June 16, 2021. A beloved member of his community, he will be greatly missed by many. Phillip is survived by his wife, Connie, and his children, Phillip II, Robert, Matthew, Kevin, Timothy, Kimberly, and Heidi. He also leaves behind twenty-two grandchildren. I offer his family my deepest condolences. His presence will be greatly missed.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bid farewell to Ambassador George C. Maior, who will be ending his posting as Romania's Ambassador to the United States at the end of May. After serving as Ambassador to the United States since 2015, he will be greatly missed by all who have had the pleasure of working with him. He has consistently devoted his impressive reserves of energy, enthusiasm, and wisdom in representing Romania, while working to develop the bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States. Ambassador Maior's diplomatic career spans three decades. He joined the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 and served in the Department of Treaties and later the Department of Strategic Affairs. From 1997 to 1999, he served as the Charge D'affaires at the Romanian Embassy in Dublin, Ireland and in 2004, he was conferred the rank of Ambassador. Throughout his career, he has served in top positions dedicated to public service, including as State Secretary and head of the Department for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Defense Policy within the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. In November 2004, Ambassador Maior was elected as Senator in the Romanian Parliament, where he served as Chairman of the Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security; member of the Joint Committee for the Parliamentary Oversight on the Foreign Intelligence Service Activity; and member of the Senate Committee for Human Rights, Cults and Minorities. In 2006, he was nominated to serve as the Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI). During his eight years as Director, the SRI bolstered its bilateral and multilateral partnerships with intelligence services around the world. Ambassador Maior was consistently recognized by the United States Government for his outstanding partnership and exceptional leadership in that position. I wish Ambassador Maior and his wife Anamaria the greatest success and happiness as he moves to his next assignment as Romania's Ambassador to Jordan. While he will be missed in the United States, I am confident he will continue to emphasize the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship between our two nations.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote on Roll Call Numbers 95, 96, and 97. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 95; NAY on Roll Call No. 96; and YEA on Roll Call No. 97.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a San Joaquin Valley legend, Robert Smittcamp, who passed away on March 4, 2021, at the age of 79. I am deeply saddened by Bob's passing. Bob was a one-man Valley institution. A businessman, philanthropist, and community activist, he headed both Lyons Magnus food company and Wawona Packing. He had a particular passion for expanding healthcare access and improving education, donating millions of dollars to enhance both sectors throughout the Valley. I'm lucky to have had Bob as a close friend and mentor. I was among countless Valley residents who frequently turned to him for advice on Valley issues. His assistance was invaluable on critical issues such as the Valley water crisis and the 2008 recession. Bob and I also spent many hours discussing how to bring high-quality, affordable healthcare to every Valley family. I valued his insights on that question because he developed innovative ways to provide healthcare for his employees, who he always viewed as part of his own family. I'm convinced Bob's approach provides a model for drastically improving healthcare for the entire country. Bob epitomized all the virtues of the San Joaquin Valley. He was always available to help those of us who sought his guidance. But if you were looking for someone to sugarcoat a tough situation, then Bob was not your best option. He was an honest straight-shooter who'd give you candid answers whether you wanted them or not. That's why I always consulted him when I had especially tough problems that needed realistic solutions. Bob's love for the Valley ran deep, and the region is richer in countless ways thanks to his contributions. He created jobs, ran companies that fed millions of people, shared his wisdom and experience with anyone who asked, generously funded deserving community institutions, and raised an exceptional family. Bob was simply irreplaceable. He'll be deeply missed, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy of hard work, success, and unconcealed passion for the Valley and its people. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife Annette, his children Brent, Lisa, and Brandon, and the rest of his family.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I was detained and unable to cast my vote for one amendment to and final passage of H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 30 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 31. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Aguilar (Carbajal) Amodei (Kelly (PA)) Axne (Stevens) Baird (Bucshon) Barragan (Beyer) Bishop (GA) (Butterfield) Blumenauer (Beyer) Bowman (Clark (MA)) Brooks (Kelly (PA)) Buchanan (Arrington) Calvert (Garcia (CA)) Cardenas (Gomez) Carson (Butterfield) Carter (TX) (Nehls) Castor (FL) (Demings) Cohen (Beyer) Cooper (Clark (MA)) Cuellar (Butterfield) DeSaulnier (Matsui) DesJarlais (Kustoff) Doggett (Beyer) Donalds (Cammack) Fallon (Nehls) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Gallego (Gomez) Garcia (IL) (Pressley) Gonzalez, Vicente (Gomez) Gosar (Wagner) Granger (Arrington) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Higgins (NY) (Kildee) Jayapal (Clark (MA)) Kahele (Case) Kind (Beyer) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Krishnamoorthi (Brown) Langevin (Courtney) Larson (CT) (Courtney) Lawrence (Kildee) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu (Beyer) Lofgren (Jeffries) Long (Wagner) Lowenthal (Beyer) Luetkemeyer (Kelly (PA)) Lynch (Clark (MA)) Maloney, Carolyn B. (Jeffries) McCaul (Wagner) McEachin (Wexton) McHenry (Banks) Meng (Clark (MA)) Moulton (Beyer) Mullin (Lucas) Napolitano (Correa) Norman (Arrington) Panetta (Kildee) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Rodgers (WA) (Herrera Beutler) Roybal-Allard (Correa) Ruiz (Carbajal) Rush (Underwood) Scott, David (Cartwright) Speier (Scanlon) Timmons (Kustoff) Titus (Connolly) Trahan (McGovern) Vela (Gomez) Waltz (Cammack) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Adams)

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, public service calls us at different times and in different ways. Some lead with loud voices, but often the most significant leaders are humble folk who quietly and tirelessly work to serve their constituents. My friend Kenny Marchant is one of those great leaders, and I am proud to have served with him. Service comes natural for the Bonham, TX native, something he learned from his father Hobart, who was a barber and World War II Veteran. Throughout his thirty-five years of public service, from zoning committee and city council to state representative to the U.S. House of Representatives, Kenny has ceaselessly worked to make both Texas and America great. Everyone that knows Kenny knows of his love and adornment for his family, his wife Donna, sons Matthew, Luke, and Kenny, Jr., and his daughter Dallas. But if you really want to see him smile, ask him about his grandchildren, Kendall, Hayden, Carolina, Sadie, Walker, Neyland, Conway, and Carter Bailey. Congressman Marchant served this House, the state of Texas, and the people of District 24 with honor, respect, and dignity. I will greatly miss him on the Ways and Means Committee where we served together for many years. His impact in helping pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement cannot be understated. And, during this Congress, Congressman Marchant was selected as Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee, a position in which he continued his devotion to humble public service. I very much wish Kenny wasn't retiring at the end of this Congress, but he has earned a well-deserved retirement. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating our friend and colleague on his many years of service. We wish him, and the Marchant family, all the best on his retirement.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was detained and unable to cast my vote for the two amendments and passage of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner ``nay'' on rollcall No. 225, ``yea'' on rollcall no. 226, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 227. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 965, 116th Congress Barragan (Beyer) Beatty (Fudge) Blumenauer (Beyer) Bonamici (Clark (MA)) Boyle, Brendan F. (Jeffries) Brownley (CA) (Clark (MA)) Bustos (Kuster (NH)) Carson (IN) (Cleaver) Castro (TX) (Garcia (TX)) Cisneros (Correa) Clay (Cleaver) Cohen (Beyer) Costa (Cooper) Courtney (Hayes) DeGette (Blunt Rochester) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Doyle, Michael F. (Cartwright) Escobar (Garcia (TX)) Frankel (Clark (MA)) Garamendi (Sherman) Gonzalez (TX) (Gomez) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Higgins (NY) (Sanchez) Jayapal (Raskin) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Keating (Kuster (NH)) Kind (Beyer) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Langevin (Lynch) Larson (CT) (Hayes) Lawrence (Kildee) Lawson (FL) (Demings) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Lofgren (Jeffries) Lowenthal (Beyer) Lowey (Jeffries) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Kuster (NH)) Moore (Beyer) Nadler (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) Norcross (Sires) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Perlmutter (Neguse) Peterson (McCollum) Pingree (Kuster (NH)) Pocan (Raskin) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Rooney (FL) (Beyer) Rose (NY) (Golden) Roybal-Allard (Bass) Ruiz (Dingell) Rush (Underwood) Ryan (Kildee) Schrier (Kilmer) Serrano (Jeffries) Speier (Scanlon) Titus (Connolly) Tonko (Morelle) Vargas (Correa) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time. Since the election of President Trump, the most absurd conspiracy theories have been proclaimed as gospel by the entire Democratic Party and their media mouthpieces. Let's begin with the Russian collusion hoax; the theory that Trump was a secret Russian agent who colluded with Putin to steal the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton. The theory comprised many preposterous sub-conspiracies, including several wild tales. For example, secret computer servers communicated with Russians. Secret meetings with Russians occurred in Prague, and secret Russian money laundering from the Trump campaign. Best of all, Putin had a secret stash of nude pictures of Trump and the now infamous pee tapes that the Democrats and their puppets in the media spent several years searching all over Europe for. The Russia hoax ultimately imploded. But, Madam Speaker, you have to almost admire the Democrats' amazing ability to jump from one debunked conspiracy theory to another without a hint of shame, embarrassment, or self-reflection. The Democrats supposedly convened us here today to protect Americans from Trump's latest nefarious plot--his alleged attempt to sabotage the Postal Service to steal the election. In the grand scheme of Democratic conspiracy theories, this one really is scraping the bottom of the barrel. I suppose we can grant the Democrats that the post office actually does exist, and it does deliver mail. But watching them vent outrage on social media about missing mailboxes and anti-mail theft devices is rather sad. Good conspiracy theories have rich, false details that tell a story, like Area 51 for example. But the Democrats have grown a little lazy to develop the necessary back story. The Postal Service hoax is more akin to theories that the Earth is flat, NASA faked Moon landings, that Elvis is alive, and that Paul McCartney is dead. Even the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, and the Chupacabra at least yielded photographic evidence. In closing, I want to thank my Democratic colleagues for inviting us here for a Saturday afternoon matinee in August. I urge them next time to put more effort into their future conspiracy theories. If you no longer have time to properly craft your fake news narratives, you can also have the Democratic National Committee launder money to hire a British spy to go to your Russian friends and develop another set of fake dossiers. Madam Speaker, have a good afternoon. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor my friend John Lewis. A giant of the civil rights movement in life, John Lewis' legacy now transcends his death. Nearly two hundred years after our Founders dedicated our nation to the proposition that all men are created equal, John Lewis worked to secure that precious truth. He did so with a warm heart and a smile on his face. He brought that same spirit to Congress, where we served on the Ways and Means Committee together and his presence was always uplifting. Facing racial segregation and violence, Congressman Lewis held an unwavering conviction in the ability of nonviolence to deliver equality to all Americans. His tireless and bold efforts were met with determined resistance and brutality. He suffered vicious beatings and unwarranted arrests. Through all strife and opposition, he stood bloody but unbowed. John Lewis helped move our nation, and he will be dearly missed in this House.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1425. Per usual, this is a partisan bill that will go nowhere in the Senate and the President will not sign into law. Among the various problems in this bill is the Democrats' insistence on including provisions which will prevent scientists from finding new cures--at a time when our Nation is working to overcome the coronavirus. According to the California Life Sciences Association, if this bill passes, 88 percent of new drugs in the pipeline will be discontinued. That is hundreds of diseases that will not be cured and countless lives that will be lost. That is not something that I can support. Rather than engineer a government takeover of the prescription drug industry, we can work together to provide lower prices for families, and we can do it without reducing cures. But this bill we have before us today is not the answer. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1425.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I rise along with Representatives Mike Conaway, Michael Turner, Brad Wenstrup, Chris Stewart, Rick Crawford, Elise Stefanik, and Will Hurd, to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania. Whereas, the United States established diplomatic relations with Romania in June 1880; Whereas, the United States regards Romania as an important ally in Central and Southeast Europe, which is setting an example of steady commitment to democratic leadership, national and transatlantic security, and economic development; Whereas, the United States and Romania have developed a strategic partnership built on longstanding friendship, historical ties and a joint promise to advancing the security and prosperity of their citizens and communities; Whereas, the United States recognizes and appreciates Romania's lasting efforts to modernize its armed forces and meet its NATO burden- sharing commitments as one of the leading NATO members to allocate 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for defense spending; Whereas, the Romanian Armed Forces have supported NATO and United States operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theatres for almost two decades, contributing more than 30,000 total combat and support personnel to those missions, fighting alongside U.S. service members, and helping to protect vital security interests; Whereas, Romania as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS has deployed military trainers to train Iraqi Security Forces, provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq arid Syria, and is making remarkable efforts to support combatting international terrorism, including through critical intelligence sharing with Coalition partners; Whereas, Romania has been a leading nation in providing cybersecurity support to NATO and its partners, and the first country to have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Government on the secure implementation of fifth generation wireless communications (5G) technology aimed at protecting critical security infrastructure from disruption and interference; Whereas, Romania has been a driving force leading to the establishment of the Three Seas Initiative, and one of the first countries to invest in the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, which aims at increasing energy independence and infrastructure connectivity across Central Europe thereby strengthening the United States and European security; Whereas, Romania has been a champion of energy security in Europe, supporting the U.S. Government's Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) initiative as leading partner on civil nuclear energy, helping to develop the next generation of nuclear technologies, and entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Government on strategic civil nuclear cooperation; Whereas, the United States and Romania have been deepening their economic relationship through increased bilateral trade and investment, and Romania in 2017 hosted the tenth annual U.S. Commercial Service Trade Winds Forum and Trade Mission, helping American companies boost exports across Southeast Europe; Whereas, the Governments of the United States and Romania are working closely together to develop an ambitious bilateral economic, trade, and investment agenda, including through driving a record attendance over the past three consecutive years by more than 50 Romanian companies to the United States SelectUSA Summit; Whereas, in 2018, as Romania celebrated its Unification Centennial, Governors from almost all 50 U.S. States issued Proclamations to congratulate Romanians and Romanian-Americans on that historic milestone, illustrating the close ties and friendship that exist between our nations and our people; Whereas, during the first half of 2019 Romania conducted its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union and promoted a successful agenda advancing important U.S.-EU goals such as energy security, intellectual property, human rights and regional cooperation across the Balkans and the Black Sea area; Whereas, in 2019 Romanians all across America commemorated 30 years since Romania's liberation from the former communist regime, a powerful reminder of the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and a celebration of the triumphant call of freedom, liberty and dignity; Whereas, over more than a century successive generations of Romanian- Americans have contributed their resources of talent and entrepreneurship to American progress, and their rich cultural heritage represents a most precious feature of the American society; Whereas, during these times of unprecedented challenge caused by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis the United States and Romania are strengthening their partnership, helping each other in meaningful ways such as U.S. assistance with targeted funds and medical emergency equipment, and Romanian support for the swift repatriation of U.S. nationals overseas, and working together to enhance their mutual security and economic recovery and prosperity; Whereas, as a sign of solidarity and friendship between the Romanian and the American people, Romania has sent its first medical and expert support and advisory mission to the State of Alabama, assigning 15 Romanian doctors, medical staff and chemical and biological risk experts to exchange best practices and assist local Covid-19 efforts in care facilities, nursing homes and hospitals across Alabama, thus strengthening our mutual capabilities to fight the virus pandemic and protect the health and lives of our citizens; Whereas, 2020 marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) celebrates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania and congratulates Romania and the Romanian people for their historic achievements as a nation and their steadfast pursuit of democratic, political, social and economic progress; (2) reaffirms the close bonds between the United States and Romania, based on their common commitment to the values of freedom, liberal democracy, rule of law and economic prosperity; (3) recognizes and appreciates Romania's principled standing for transatlantic unity and solidarity, and its leadership and contribution to advancing close U.S.-EU relations; (4) calls on the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government to continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and Romania and to find new ways to leverage, support and develop the friendship and cooperation between our two nations.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The dire situation facing our nation's businesses today are not of their own creation. Instead, businesses are endangered by the drastic actions taken by governments at the local, state, and federal level to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. The stark truth is that without immediate government action to assist these hard-hit businesses, many of them will not survive the current crisis. We have already seen record unemployment claims during the coronavirus shutdown, and our nation cannot afford for businesses to continue to go under and millions of employees to lose their jobs, their livelihoods, and their ability to pay rent and make ends meet. The CARES Act will provide crucial assistance to keep businesses solvent during this emergency, keep people employed, and to help individuals and families struggling with these extraordinary circumstances. I regret that the Democrats, from the beginning, have exploited this bill to try to ram through extraneous and partisan measures with no connection whatsoever to helping families and businesses overcome their current hardships. Nevertheless, at a time when many Americans are unsure how they'll pay next month's rent and many American businesses are unsure how much longer they can last, this bill will provide vital support to the American economy. That's why I will vote for the CARES Act.

Mr. NUNES

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, is a critical tool for thwarting terrorist plots and collecting vital intelligence on actors who are hostile to U.S. interests. During the FBI's 2016 Russia collusion investigation, however, FBI officials grossly abused FISA to spy on an associate of a Presidential campaign they opposed. The purpose of the bill before us today is to reauthorize expiring FISA authorities while ensuring that other FISA tools can never again be turned against the American people for political purposes. In 2017, in the course of our own investigation on Russia, House Intelligence Committee Republicans received strong indications that FISA had been severely abused in order to spy on Carter Page, a former associate of the Trump campaign. As we investigated the matter, we were stonewalled at nearly every juncture by top officials of the FBI and the Department of Justice. Their denials of any wrongdoing were uniformly repeated by the media and by political figures, who were spreading the false accusation that Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russian Government to interfere in the 2016 Presidential election. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my Republican colleagues and staff on the committee who persisted amid the most determined obstruction of any investigation this House has seen in a long time. I also want to thank our Republican colleagues on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees who worked hard to uncover the full extent of this malfeasance. The full scope of the abuse was eventually detailed by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, whose December 2019 report revealed 17 major mistakes and omissions, along with many lesser abuses. Among many other abuses the Inspector General found, is that the FBI had used unverified allegations from the Steele dossier to get a FISA warrant on Carter Page; had misrepresented the reliability of those allegations to the court; had omitted exculpatory information from their submission; and had doctored an email to hide Page's prior cooperation with a U.S. intelligence agency. H.R. 6172 is the first step in imposing reforms to address these gross abuses and restore accountability in the FISA process. These reforms include but are not limited to: Requiring the Attorney General's approval in order to obtain a FISA warrant for any candidate for Federal office; Imposing stronger penalties for those who conceal information from the FISA court or leak FISA-derived information; and Providing clear authorization for Congress to access FISA materials so that elected officials can better oversee FISA cases without obstruction. This legislation makes strong reforms that will protect the American people from government overreach while continuing to protect the homeland from terrorist threats. Close Congressional oversight of the FISA process, which will be enhanced significantly by this bill, must continue in order to prevent future abuses. What happened to the Trump campaign in 2016 can never be allowed to happen again, not to a political campaign and not to an American citizen. I believe I speak for all Republicans when I say that our work is not finished. We will continue to look for further ways to improve both privacy protections as well as FISA's effectiveness in defusing national security threats to our country. Madam Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 6172, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader.

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just a couple of comments for some of my colleagues who I know are concerned that this doesn't go far enough. One of the concerns they have is that there is an ongoing investigation led by the U.S. attorney out of Connecticut, and there is a lot of consternation on our side of the aisle that nothing has been done yet. I want to assure my colleagues that even if that gets to a point where people are held accountable for what we believe to be criminal activity, these reforms in this new piece of legislation where we opened up title I, we believe that we have all the reforms that are necessary to prevent this malfeasance from happening again in the future. If this doesn't work and if this does happen again, I think then you will have what some people want, which is a complete elimination of the court and this entire system. I hope that we don't get to that point in this country, because these tools have worked well as long as the people who are conducting and using these surveillance capabilities don't decide to turn them on political opponents. So I want to, you know, assure my colleagues on this side of the aisle that we feel like these reforms are as far as we need to go at this time, no matter what the ultimate conclusion is of the U.S. attorney out of Connecticut on whether or not to bring charges against those who perpetrated these crimes and criminal activity. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close at this time. In closing, the weaponization of FISA, as exhibited in 2016, should never have happened, and this bill aims to prevent future gross abuses from occurring again. I would like to thank my staff, particularly Allen Souza, Laura Casulli, Meghan Green, Andrew House, and Betsy Hulme, for all their efforts to reach this bipartisan compromise. They worked many, many hours with Members of both parties and colleagues of both parties, staff of both parties, from the Judiciary Committee and the Republican and Democratic leadership, to reach this bipartisan compromise. I am also fairly confident, with the remarks that have been made on the Senate side, that this will be a rare opportunity where we actually pass a bill, and it appears like the Senate is prepared to accept a complete House-produced product, which I think means a lot to everyone involved in this process, that that rarely happens, especially in this day and age. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 6172, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).

Mr. NUNES. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).