Ralph Norman

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, my amendment is pretty simple. It prohibits funding for the purchase of electric vehicles. We have a Member here in Congress who owns a dealership who is burying his electric vehicle, which doesn't work, as a testament to how useless these vehicles are. I rise in support of my amendment that prohibits funds for the purchase of electric vehicles. As part of the Department of Homeland Security's Climate Action Plan, whatever that is, the agency responsible for the safety and security of our Nation is wasting hard- earned taxpayer dollars on EVs. DHS has set a goal to transition 50 percent of its vehicle fleet to zero-emissions vehicles by 2030 in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where is DHS' goal to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering this country? DHS is proud to be the first Federal agency to debut electric vehicles for law enforcement. How does an electric vehicle help a law enforcement officer do his or her job better? How does an electric vehicle protect our Nation? The DHS' website says it is implementing a new approach to meet the climate crisis, whatever that is, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Chair, this is a joke. What about the real crisis that is threatening our Nation, the crisis at the border, the crisis that has resulted in many deaths that are reported daily? Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, the real crisis at the border is the invasion that is now taking place with over 9.6 million illegal immigrant encounters since the Biden administration took office 3\1/2\ years ago, over 1.8 got-aways who evaded Border Patrol since the Biden administration took office 3\1/2\ years ago, over 50 illegal immigrants with ties to ISIS infiltrating our Nation, and over 27,000 Chinese Communist nationals encountered in fiscal year 2024. I don't know how much longer we are going to have to put up with the killings that are taking place. In one 2 days ago, a 13-year-old girl was dragged under a bridge, tortured for 2 hours, raped, and then killed. How long will my friends on the opposite side of the aisle put up with this kind of insanity? Since the Biden administration took office, it has opened the borders to anybody from anywhere, any country, without any vetting. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to ensure DHS is focused on their true mission to secure the Nation from the many threats that we face and to keep America safe. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment that prohibits funds for TSA's Inclusion Action Committee. In August 2020, TSA announced the Inclusion Action Committee, which it describes as a coalition of diverse leaders focused on measuring the current state of diversity and inclusion at the TSA. The committee was instrumental in creating a gender-neutral option for the TSA PreCheck to serve nonbinary and gender nonconforming passengers and allow applicants to select their gender based on self-attestation, regardless of the sex assigned at birth. This is flat-out insanity. Where else does this work in our society? Can I go to a bank and say I am Bill Gates and need a $10 million loan? Can I go to any NFL team and say I am a star football player and get automatically on the team? It is insanity. How does letting a confused man check a box calling himself a woman make our country any safer? Is this really what we should be focusing on? The committee also came out with a report on best practices to support an inclusive, diverse environment. Where is the report on the best practices to secure our border, which has been open for the last 3\1/2\ years? The Department of Homeland Security has utilized over 50 airports to process over 400,000 inadmissible aliens through this administration's unlawful Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan mass parole programs as well as any other country. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just say this is insanity. For those listening in the balcony, I am sure if they flew here, they had to present a valid ID, a valid verification, a valid ticket before they got on the airplane. With illegals, it is no photo ID, no verification or information, just a piece of paper provided by the illegal immigrant. This is a blatant mockery of United States law. Instead of securing our transportation system, TSA is more worried about diversity and feelings. As a side note, can I go up to the TSA agent and claim to be a pilot and get in the pilot seat? No, I can't. It is insanity to even say that. It is amazing this is even something we have to spend time debating. As I explained with my last amendment, DHS' mission is to secure the Nation from the many threats we face and to keep America safe. TSA's mission is to protect the Nation's transportation system, to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. How does an Inclusion Action Committee that advocates for a woke diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda make our Nation any safer? The answer is it doesn't. Again, it is insanity to even have to debate this on the floor of the House of Representatives with all the other crises that we are facing. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, the numbers of those willing to serve in the military are now down over 30 percent. The military's sole purpose is to provide for the defense of our great Nation. Our military's focus should be the protection of the American people and our freedoms, not liberals' feelings. Therefore, my amendment would eliminate any offices of DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the Armed Forces and in the DOD. We should focus on diversity of ideas and opinions, not races and genders. DEI programs tend to be ineffective and cost the taxpayers more money, and it has been a very real detriment to the recruitment of our military. In short order, a woke military is a weak military. Woke ideology undermines military readiness in various ways. It undermines the cohesiveness by emphasizing differences based on race, ethnicity, and sex. It undermines leadership authority by introducing questions about whether a promotion is based on merit or quota requirements. It leads to military personnel serving in specialties and areas for which they are not qualified nor are they ready. It takes time and resources away from training activities and weapons development that contribute to readiness. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I agree with my friend across the aisle. We shouldn't even be dealing with this, to be honest with you. The fact that money is going to fund this--you don't go to politicians to find out what is wrong with your car. You go to the mechanic. I am in the real estate business. We build houses. If I have trouble with a house, I go to my carpenters. I would remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that last year 160 retired flag officers wrote a letter to the Armed Services Committee Chairman Rogers about the dangers of DEI and their opposition to it in the military. Mr. Chair, 160 retired flag officers--and I am sure it would be far more than this if you talked to the people that are serving--have pointed out why this is so detrimental. The officers wrote this: We respectfully request that Congress take legislative action to remove all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the DOD. Secondly, our military must be laser focused on one mission: readiness, undiminished by culture wars engulfing our country. Thirdly, the domestic cultural threat has an innocuous name of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but in reality, DEI is dividing, it is not uniting our military service, nor our society. DEI principles are derived from critical race theory which is rooted in cultural Marxism where people are grouped into identity classes, typically by race, labeled as oppressed or oppressors and victims and pitted against each other. Under the guise of DEI, some people are selected for career-enhancing opportunities and advancement based on preferences given to identity groups based on race, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, et cetera. It is unbelievable we are even talking about this or funding it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just add that I think if you took a really diverse group and got opinions on the military, if it were doing so well, why are they 30 percent down in recruitment? Why are people not coming into it? Less than a month after the appointment by President Biden of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, he directed commanding officers and supervisors at all levels to schedule a day to discuss extremism. What do you think our foreign adversaries are doing upon hearing this? They are laughing their heads off. I would just say that we need to support this amendment. Get DEI out of the military. Let's focus on building ships, focus on building airplanes, focus on building missions, not DEI and extremism that my friends on the other side of the aisle want to try to continue to highlight. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, can I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just add, I don't know how long my friends on the other side of the aisle are going to keep mentioning the pandemic, COVID, but it is over with, and the shortage still exists. The fact that, again, we are funding this, devoting a day to discuss it, we ought to be having a day devoted to how to fight and arm our brave men and women who are serving in the military. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment prohibits the provision of gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication, through an Exceptional Family Member Program. I think I have heard it all, when my good friend on the other side mentioned that the medical profession was for the surgery. That is like saying the owners of a gas station or a petroleum company are for gasoline production. It is a given. Everything has got a price tag up here, and when I hear Viagra, I hope and pray that Viagra is not included in what the other side is wanting to do. That is not the place for that, particularly now. The Exceptional Family Member Program provides resources to military families with special needs. This program is designed for military spouses, children, or other dependent family members who require ongoing medical or educational services such as individuals with asthma, autism, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disabilities, and much more. The military has tried to politicize this valuable program in order to get transgender procedures passed. For example, the Air Force suggested using the Exceptional Family Member Program for families who want to help their child transition. I would just say the other side is taking--and I will list some of the other things that are included in this that already exist that they are paying for--money away from the things I will mention, and I think that is unheard of. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, in closing, what my colleagues are trying to do goes against what the intent for this program was, and I am offended that the gentleman wants to take dollars away from that cancer patient. If my colleague is telling me the cancer patient goes behind somebody who doesn't know whether they are a man or a woman, the gentleman and I just have a basic world view difference. The price tag for individual gender-affirming surgical procedures and other medical treatments can range from $8,000 to $100,000. I am offended that the gentleman wants to take that from somebody who has a disability. Mr. Chairman, the fact that we are having to debate this is amazing, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I will just add to some comments made about medical doctors. The medical doctors are making money on this. Gas stations make money. The free enterprise system does that, and for them to be in favor of it, they are doing the surgery, and they are getting paid for it. The military is meant to defend this country, and it has gotten away from that. That is what the American people are so sick of. In another amendment, I brought up the fact that 168 generals and people active in the military are saying that that is why the recruitment is down 30 percent. It is for just what the other side is trying to oppose. On my particular amendment, you have to realize this program was meant to help families with special needs. Now, Mr. Chair, if you don't know whether you are a man or a woman, that is fine, go figure it out, and you pay for it, not the government from money we don't have. Mr. Chair, let me just name you some of the things that are included now but by providing transgender surgery that will take away from these programs. I guarantee you, Mr. Chair, you can ask and do a poll of everyone in the balcony: Do you want to do away with funds for life-threatening conditions or chronic conditions for transgender surgery? Do you want to take away asthma and respiratory-related diagnoses for transgender surgery? Do you want to delay intellectual development by taking the dollars away for that for transgender surgery? Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, do you want to take that away? How about chronic conditions that require adaptive equipment and assistive technology or environmental or architectural considerations? That is everything that is included. What the other side wants to do is take money for somebody who doesn't know whether they are a man or a woman. It didn't make sense then, and it doesn't make sense now. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, my amendment is pretty simple. It requires the Treasury Secretary in consultation with the CFTC and the SEC to complete a study and submit a report to Congress that identifies any digital asset registrants that are owned by governments of foreign adversaries. The report will determine whether foreign adversary governments are collecting or trading personal data about American citizens in the digital asset markets and evaluate whether foreign adversary governments are misusing or stealing any proprietary intellectual property of digital asset registrants. The GAO is required to complete a study and submit a report to Congress on the very same issues. This amendment would promote transparency regarding how our Nation's strategic enemies may be exploiting the digital asset marketplace to invade the privacy of Americans and steal valuable intellectual property. In June 2023, the Financial Services hearings that focused on the very bill that we are considering today, Aaron Kaplan, the CEO of, Prometheum, the first and only SEC/FINRA approved Special Purpose Broker-Dealer for digital assets, stated that Prometheum and its CCP partners entered into a joint agreement in December 2018 to develop a blockchain trading system where the Chinese partner took a 20 percent stake in Prometheum. In case anyone has any doubts about the CCP ties, Prometheum's Chinese partner company was founded in 1969 by a former senior CCP official. In 2021, the party's central committee posthumously named him a ``National Excellent Communist Party member.'' In July 2023, several of my colleagues and I sent a letter to the SEC and the DOJ expressing our concerns with inconsistencies in Prometheum's public filings and the CCP's ownership of an entity that had the blessing of the SEC and FINRA to operate in the United States. I followed up on this letter in a September 2023 hearing with the SEC Chair Gary Gensler, where he dodged my question and did not take my concerns of the 20 percent CCP ownership of Prometheum seriously. The fact of the matter is that because Chinese companies are generally required by Chinese law to share data with the Chinese Government, these companies present substantial risks to United States individual privacy and our national security. Chinese-owned broker- dealers like Prometheum, Webull, and MooMoo operate as registered entities here in the United States, and the Biden administration and Chair Gensler do not seem to care, yet they attack American businesses operating in good faith with no regulatory clarity. This is simply how the CCP and other foreign adversaries operate. They infiltrate our markets while the Biden administration looks the other way and punishes American companies who are only trying to operate in the United States but face endless regulation by enforcement of the Biden administration. We need to pass FIT21 into law because the SEC's current regulation by enforcement is putting the United States at a disadvantage and allowing foreign adversaries to gain an advantage in our U.S. crypto markets, all while Gary Gensler attacks American public companies who have tried to work with the SEC and come in and register. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment to protect Americans from having their personal data shared with the CCP and other foreign adversaries. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable individual, Marlene Mitchell, whose dedication to her family, her work, and to our great Nation continues to inspire and impact our community. Marlene was born in a small town in southern Illinois, raised by her grandmother, who instilled honesty, hard work, perseverance, and love of God, family, and country in her. Her commitment to these values can be seen in her own life, and the lives of those around her, still today. Marlene married the love of her life, Gary Mitchell in January 1969. They moved throughout the East Coast while Gary served in the Navy. I want to thank both Marlene and Gary for their sacrifice in service to this Nation. She is also the loving mother to two daughters, Stephanie and Stacy, and grandmother to three grandchildren, Victoria, Alexandria, and Mitchell. Reverend Billy Graham said, ``only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of her children. Most of the noble characters and fine leaders of history have had good, God-fearing mothers. The influence of a mother upon the lives of children cannot be measured.'' Marlene is a living example of the value of having a strong, God-fearing mother. The power of her influence can be seen in the success of her children and grandchildren. Marlene started out her career as a receptionist in an insurance agency and soon after discovered that she had a strong passion for insurance. In 1982, she opened an independent agency before opening her own independent agency in a partnership, and then became the sole owner in November of 1986. She retired in October of 2016 after years of successful, award-winning years of service. Marlene was regarded by her clients as one of the most honest and knowledgeable agents around. Marlene has also served as the President of the York County South Carolina Republican Women's Party. Over the years, she has chaired and advocated for many important fundraisers, projects, and charities. Marlene has displayed great perseverance and courage in her work for what is right and beneficial to all Americans.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I applaud Congressman Van Drew and his leadership on this issue and am proud to support his legislation to detain illegal immigrants who assault law enforcement. My amendment is really straightforward and I believe in line with the goals of the underlying bill. My amendment simply ensures that campus police officers and school resource officers are considered law enforcement officers for the purpose of the bill's provisions. In light of the increase in violent protests on college campuses, it is especially important that we show these brave campus police officers that we have their back. Under President Biden's watch, nearly 4.7 million illegals have been released, and more than 1.8 million known illegal alien got-aways have escaped into the United States. In South Carolina alone, we have over 175,000 illegal aliens in my home State. These include dangerous individuals who violate our laws and then assault the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect our communities. It is imperative that we fight back against the Biden administration's radical open-borders policy by mandating immigration detention for illegal aliens who assault law enforcement officers. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to explicitly ensure that our hardworking campus police officers and resource officers are afforded the same protections as other law enforcement officers under this legislation. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I think we have all seen the college campuses. The protests that you are talking about, many include breaking windows, knocking down doors. That is not protest. That is destruction of property. This has no place on the college campuses. To have the presidents and the tenured professors be quiet on this and to have students scared to go to class and to cancel exams, that is not what they paid money for. That is not what the taxpayers deserve. This is very simple. If you are a resource officer, your job is to protect the students and the facilities. If you are in law enforcement on the campuses hired by the individual school, you are there to protect the campus and protect the students. I am sick and tired of these liberals who keep saying peaceful protest. It is like the 50 cities that were burned a couple of years ago. That was not a peaceful protest. That is destruction of property and that has consequences. All we are saying is: Give these officers the protection that law enforcement has. It shouldn't even have to be said for me to have to bring this amendment. It is a shame that we have reached this point in this country that we are having to define what a resource officer is. I would ask all those who may be questioning this, you go out and volunteer to be a resource officer or sign up to be a resource officer. You go out and sign up to protect the campus, and let's see how the tables will turn. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Conservative Partnership Institute, otherwise known as CPI, on their 7- year anniversary. I also welcome Ed Corrigan and Mark Meadows into the gallery to recognize this great organization. In 2017, former Congressman and Senator Jim DeMint began this organization to be an incredible support system for conservatives in Washington, D.C. CPI was designed to train and unite true conservative leaders in Washington and all across the country to stand up against the swamp. I consider the CPI a safe haven, a place that feels like home for conservative lawmakers and staff to go to connect, to learn, and to brainstorm. CPI has shown a great commitment to conservative offices, to conservative Members, to conservative staffers, and to conservative lawmakers alike. CPI provides everything from regular training seminars on House and Senate procedures, advertisement on floor strategy, communications, budget, and much, much more. Their vested interest in all aspects of governance plays a large role in the success we have seen from conservative offices and individuals. The training provided by CPI is top of the line, and its positive impacts are clearly on display not only here in Washington, D.C. but in districts all across the country. Their efforts continue to ensure that we are well prepared in our fight for this great Nation. I also want to take the time to specifically honor Jim DeMint and his lifelong and tireless fight for freedom, prosperity, and traditional American valves. Jim represented South Carolina in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate from 1999 to 2013. He led meaningful efforts such as a ban on congressional earmarks and reclaiming control of billions of dollars of wasteful spending. Today, he and others, including Ed Corrigan and Mark Meadows, spearhead the fight for a new generation of true conservatives. All over America, the CPI has been a bulwark against the swamp and the support systems for conservatives looking for the right thing to do. The goal is reflected daily in the operations of CPI and the tremendous impact that it continues to spread. I cannot thank the many patriots who have fought hard to preserve this great American system as we know it, otherwise known as freedom for we, the people. Please join me in congratulating CPI for their excellence during the first 7 years. It means everything to me and my colleagues and our staffs to have a home at the CPI building. I am forever grateful to Jim DeMint and others and the entire team at CPI for providing the platform for us to grow even stronger in our American ideals. I look forward to watching them pave a path forward for true conservatives to thrive and to make America the best that it can be.

Mr. NORMAN

Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 1 as the beginning of National Myositis Month and commend the outstanding dedication and advocacy of Mr. Richard Galloway, Jr., whose parents are in the balcony today and we welcome, for his unwavering commitment to raising awareness about myositis. Myositis is comprised of a group of muscle diseases characterized by weakness and inflammation in the muscles. Symptoms include muscle weakness, pain, and fatigue. While there is currently no cure, there are ongoing research efforts aimed at better understanding the underlying mechanisms of this disease and to develop more effective treatment options. Mr. Galloway's journey is one marked by resilience and compassion. In January of 2020, he was diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, otherwise known by the acronym IBM, at the Medical University of South Carolina located in Charleston. Despite facing this challenging diagnosis, he has shown remarkable strength and determination in his battle against this debilitating disease. Beyond his personal journey, Mr. Galloway has been a tireless advocate for myositis awareness. In October of 2023, Mr. Galloway organized the impactful event Crossing the Cooper for Christ, which raised over $13,000 for The Myositis Association. His dedication to this cause was further underscored when he was invited to lead a session known as Finding Strength Through Faith at an annual patient conference in San Diego, California. Recognizing this significant contribution, Mr. Galloway was voted onto the board of directors of The Myositis Association at the beginning of 2024. The Myositis Association, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1993, focuses on improving the lives of those affected by this awful disease through support, education, advocacy, and research. Mr. Galloway's unwavering dedication to raising awareness about myositis and supporting individuals battling this disease exemplifies the best of the human spirit. His commitment to advocacy and service is an inspiration for all of us, and it is with great admiration and gratitude that I recognize his contributions today. I also extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Galloway and The Myositis Association for their selfless dedication and tireless efforts in making a difference in the lives of those affected by this awful disease. The Dangers We Face as a Free Democracy