August Pfluger

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to recognize and congratulate Mr. Walt Koenig, who is retiring from his position as President and CEO of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. I greatly appreciate Mr. Koenig's four years of dedicated service which profoundly impacted the San Angelo community. I was born and raised in San Angelo and am proud to call San Angelo my home. In recent years, I have witnessed significant growth and positive change across the city. Thanks to our leadership in both enterprise and government, San Angelo has become one of the best small cities for business. Mr. Koenig's stewardship and enthusiasm for improving our city across the board have left a lasting impact that is greatly valued by the entire San Angelo community. Before his tenure at the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Koenig served as the President and CEO of the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce and the Executive Director of the Kerr County Economic Development Program. Mr. Koenig's many contributions on the business level include over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Along with his history in business, Mr. Koenig also served 8 years as a senior diplomat with the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce. Mr. Koenig made no waste of his four years serving the community of San Angelo. Under his leadership, San Angelo was established as the Visual Arts Capitol of Texas, the 2024 Best Visitor Center in Texas, and the 2024 People's Choice Award for Best Destination for Arts and Culture in the State of Texas. Along with these accolades, San Angelo has seen significant economic growth due to a surge in new local businesses, tourism, and overall quality of life. Due to his hard work and enthusiastic support for the city, it is safe to say that Mr. Koenig left the greater San Angelo community in a better position than he found it. Beyond his duties at the Chamber of Commerce, Walt was also a civic leader for Goodfellow Air Force Base. Mr. Koenig was heavily involved at the base, including going out of his way to speak with students from other countries in their native language. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Koenig consistently went above and beyond in his unwavering support for the community, which left an indelible mark on the city of San Angelo. He and his wife, MG, poured their hearts out for our community, and for that, I will always be thankful. Walt is a good friend of our office and our community--he will be missed dearly. I am proud to honor Mr. Walt Koenig's incredible contributions to the city of San Angelo during his successful tenure. I extend my most heartfelt wishes to his family for a smooth transition as they embark on their journey to Italy.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 192, which would prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia. I think there has been a lot of talk about our Founding Fathers. I point out that I think one of the things that they envisioned was a healthy, functioning Republic with accountability, with D.C. at the epicenter, and D.C. not being a State but a District because they knew that that would change the dynamics of this place. I, like many others, think that this Federal District is very special, and it is worth having the accountability, and that accountability is here in the United States Congress. It is Congress through the Constitution that our Founders entrusted the care of D.C., specifically ``exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever'' over the District. Washington, D.C., is going through a tough time. It has not been going well in the last couple of years. In fact, let me just point out that, in 2023, this was the deadliest year on record in Washington, D.C. Madam Speaker, 274 people were killed. Violent crime spiked by nearly 40 percent. There were proceedings that even the Mayor opposed that had to do with violent crime, carjackings, lowering the penalties and thresholds, and making it a little bit easier. It was a strategy of appeasement that even the Mayor opposed. In this Congress, last year, we acted and did something. What we did was said no, Washington, D.C., is not going to lower those penalties for things like carjackings. It was said that we would never get that through the Senate. Guess what? The Senate passed it, and President Biden signed it into law because he said it was ridiculous to reduce accountability measures in the District of Columbia. So, here we are. In this case, the D.C. City Council has made a very shortsighted decision that I fear could be a harbinger around the country. That decision, I believe, lessens and cheapens citizenship. We see that in other areas, but the D.C. City Council has moved to allow noncitizens, including illegal aliens and foreign agents, to vote in local D.C. elections. In fact, not only are they allowed to vote, but they are being encouraged. You can look at this flyer right here. This was just sent out by Washington, D.C., to encourage people to vote. Yes, there may be 500 who are registered--this is a year old--but there are 50,000, according to Washington, D.C., statistics, who are eligible. They are encouraging people to vote for Mayor, for attorney general, for members of the board of education, and more. Some may argue that, yes, these are just local elections. They are democratic elections that regularly determine taxation, the criminal code that I just referenced, and the election of the very city councilmembers who decide ordinances like who gets to vote, not to mention that many of these are decided by close margins. I find it inconceivable that the city council and now other city councils around the United States would intentionally dilute the voting power of their constituents for noncitizens who otherwise might not meet the requirements, might not pay taxes, might not be members of the community who want the same things as those who are citizens. Therefore, I believe it is cheapening and lessening citizenship. As the Capital of our democracy, Washington, D.C., ought to be leading the way, setting the example, not incentivizing the exact practices that our adversaries would relish. Take a look at what happened in San Francisco, where they just swore in somebody who is not a citizen to be an election administrator. The election administrator will administrate elections in that part of California, not just for local and municipal elections but all the elections. Let's look beyond the Democrats' call for this bill to be deemed discriminatory or false claims about its intended purpose. I am asking my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to look ahead and put citizenship back in its rightful place as the gold standard. Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic. I believe that is what our Founders intended. Noncitizen voting, whether it is one vote or a million votes, dilutes the voting power of the citizen. Madam Speaker, I believe Congress must act clearly and decisively to bar noncitizens from voting in any election, including Washington, D.C., and I urge my colleagues to support my resolution.

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank all those who have risen in support of this. Let's just think about it in simple terms. If we go back to our constituents and tell them that Washington, D.C., is allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, they can't believe it. It has been said by several colleagues on the other side of the aisle that multiple States allowed noncitizens to vote. In the case of Texas, that was literally over 100 years ago, and we figured out it was not a good idea. It is absolutely ridiculous that this is even a thought. I said it a little bit ago, but Washington, D.C., is not exactly having an easy time with accountability. When you look at the crime rates, violent crime is spiking by 40 percent, and 2023 was the deadliest year on record here, with 274 people killed. Look at what Congress had to do, what President Biden signed into law, to maintain the penalties on violent offenders, specifically in carjackings, because the city council in Washington, D.C., decided to lessen those penalties. This Congress voted on that last year, and the President signed it into law. That is the kind of accountability that Americans are wanting. They want that accountability. To think that Americans are in favor of having noncitizens vote in Washington, D.C., is ludicrous. That is why this legislation is so important. Washington, D.C., should be the standard. It should be the standard. It is a unique case. It is a unique case in our country because it is not a State. Congress has jurisdiction constitutionally authorized to us, and we are acting because the city council overstepped. They have done something that even the Mayor is not in favor of. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation to put citizenship on the pedestal that it deserves and to stop lessening and cheapening citizenship in this country. I urge support of H.R. 192.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, last month, Congress passed the Israel security supplemental with overwhelmingly bipartisan support, but now the President is holding security assistance to our ally, Israel, hostage. Let's not forget that Hamas is responsible for this massacre on October 7, with over 1,400 people being murdered and all the horrific actions that have taken place. President Biden's decision to withhold weapons from Israel is a disgrace that will harm Israel's capacity to defend itself. It is yet another foreign policy failure that will prolong the conflict and make things worse in the Middle East. House Republicans are leading and demonstrating steadfast commitment to Israel, our most important and longest-standing ally in the Middle East, but the Biden administration is choosing to betray the will of Congress. The President doesn't get to pick and choose when he follows the law and when he does not. Congress must act quickly to reverse this decision and stand with Israel. Support for Israel's defense against the threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis is not a political decision; it is the right decision. The United States stands with Israel, and I urge support of this.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 8146, the Police Our Border Act. On National Police Week, I am proud to join my colleagues in hosting meetings, speaking on the floor, and holding hearings, like we had today with my colleague, Mr. D'Esposito, to honor the dedication and sacrifice of our law enforcement and first responders. It is so important for us to thank our men and women who put their lives on the line every day while knowing the dangers that await them to keep our families, communities, children, and loved ones safe. There is no denying that our law enforcement has fallen under attack in recent years as Democratic governments cave to the defund the police movement. The crisis at our southern border now affects every State, every town, every congressional district, and it certainly affects our law enforcement heroes, as we heard during testimony this week. Congress should be using every tool and resource available to support our officers. With enough fentanyl coming across the border each year to kill every American seven times over, criminal illegal aliens being let free to roam in our communities, community resources being handed out to individuals who have been deported multiple times, and women and children being raped and killed, the crisis has reached a breaking point. Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement are suffering the worst consequences of President Biden's border crisis, and they need the Police Our Border Act now. This bill provides critical solutions that hold Congress and the administration accountable and ensure we are showing up for our law enforcement, and not just showing up, but that we show them our support through our voting here in Congress. Mr. Chairman, I hope and ask for colleagues' support on this very important act.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to recognize and honor Permian Resources, one of the largest exploration and production companies in the Permian Basin. Our Nation is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and a strong innovative spirit that encapsulates the American character. Nowhere is more evident than right here in the Permian Basin, where we lead the Nation in affordable, reliable, and clean energy production that has revitalized our economy and fundamentally changed the global energy landscape. Among the trailblazers is the team at Permian Resources--including Will Hickey, James Walter, Guy Oliphint, John Bell, Brandon Gaynor, and Robert Shannon, along with their many employees who work tirelessly to provide the country, and the world, with the energy it needs. Permian Resources' commitment to their employees, partners, communities, and environment showcases their operational excellence. There is no question that this organization is greatly admired by those in their community and beyond. The impact that this company produces extends far beyond the Permian Basin and the state of Texas--it is felt throughout the entire world. Along with providing substantial job growth to the Permian Basin region, Permian Resources has proven its dedication to guiding us in restoring American energy dominance from the ground up. These individuals carry the entrepreneurial spirit our state is so well-known for, which has helped us unleash the massive energy potential of this region. I am proud to honor the contributions of Permian Resources to our community. While we strive in the United States Congress to enact pro- energy policies, I am proud to represent these individuals who will help deliver this promise.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my good friend, Mr. Stauber, for this bill. Let's just call it what it is. It is not a big secret that the Biden administration hates American energy. Since day one, they have waged a complete and all-out war on domestic production. If you take yourself back to 2019, then-candidate Biden said he would kill fossil fuels. I think they made good on that promise, and this is another example of that. In September 2023, the administration canceled existing oil and gas leases in the Coastal Plain of Alaska, violating statutorily mandated lease sales and suspending operations crucial to Alaska's economy. These actions were taken despite bipartisan opposition in Alaska as we just heard from our colleague across the aisle. H.R. 6285, a House Energy Action Team initiative, would reverse Biden's harmful anti-Alaska policies by reinstating mandated ANWR oil and gas leases and prohibiting a leasing moratorium in the Coastal Plain, and nullifying executive orders by the President. Just last week, the administration denied permission for the development of the Ambler Road, once again, superseding ongoing conversations at the State level. Alaskans should be able to decide what they want to develop, not the administration, but Alaskans who know Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I thank the RSC HEAT staff for their work on this legislation and Representative Stauber. Let me just respond to something that we have heard about Ukraine, about Russia, about the administration. Let me remind all Americans, Mr. Speaker, that it was this President in 2021 who refused to continue and to enhance the sanctions on the Nord Stream pipeline that would have helped all of Europe. It would have helped the Ukrainians more than anything. If you want to talk about being strong and standing up to Russia, let's take ourselves back to that point where this administration failed to do that, and instead handed Putin a huge gift and decided to declare an all-out war on American energy. This is just yet another example of that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am happy to recognize and congratulate the Junior League of Midland on their 75 years of service to their community. What began with a charter membership of just 29 women has turned into a robust network of over 600 volunteer members, working on projects that greatly support the city of Midland and effectively training women to be leaders in the community. For seven and a half decades, the Junior League of Midland has played a crucial role in developing community-oriented institutions such as the Museum of the Southwest, Teen Court, Rays of Hope, and many others. Beyond the development of these important institutions, their network of volunteers provides crucial support to the community--such as donating hygiene supplies to thousands of students in need, hosting after-school reading programs, and providing job-skills mentoring programs to survivors of domestic abuse. The members of this organization spend countless unpaid hours working toward the greater good of the people of Midland; for that, I cannot thank them enough. I am confident that the Junior League of Midland will continue to inspire and be of service to others across the community for many more years to come. Again, I want to congratulate the Junior League of Midland on their dedication to serving the Midland community for the past 75 years. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am beyond proud to represent these women in Congress.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, the theme that we are talking about right now is a complete overturning of a maximum pressure campaign on Iran from 2017 through the end of 2020. In 2021, we began a new theme, and that theme was appeasement: appeasement of Iran; appeasement of its policies; an overturning of the JCPOA; a message to the world that: We trust you, Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism on the globe. We don't think you are going to do anything. That strategy has clearly not worked. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back in time to September 11, 2023. Instead of mourning our Nation and standing firm against terrorism, the President of the United States took the anniversary of 9/11 as an opportunity to give Iran, the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, a $6 billion present. It is no coincidence that shortly following this foreign policy faux pas, the Iranian-backed terrorist group was emboldened to launch a barbaric attack against our democratic ally, Israel, murdering over 1,400 innocent civilians and abducting hundreds of hostages, some of whom still remain inside Gaza. In the 6 months following those attacks on that fateful morning of October 7, Iran's proxies--Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, the Shia militia groups, and others--have continued carrying out terrorist attacks against Israel and the Middle East, culminating in Iran's direct and unprecedented attack this past weekend against Israel. When it comes to foreign policy, the theme that I mentioned, a turning away from maximum pressure, a turning away from deterrence, a turning away from holding a hard line and toward appeasement, the President has gotten it wrong every single time. In fact, on September 10, 2001, one day before the attacks on 9/11, then-Senator Joe Biden criticized President Bush's proposed missile defense system as dangerous and potentially disastrous and that it weakens us. In reality, President Biden's decades-long strategy of appeasement is what weakens us. His choices have made our country less safe. They have resulted in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. They have emboldened our adversaries to attack around the world. When asked what his message to Iran was in the lead-up to a possible attack on Israel, that we knew about, the President simply said: ``Don't.'' Well, Mr. President, they did. I agree with my colleague, the ranking member, that innocent human life is important. The disagreement at this point in time is that we have had 3-plus years of a strategy of appeasement that has not resulted in deterrence. It has weakened our interest, our allies, Israel and others, not just in the region but throughout the world. I want to talk about electricity. Yes, Iraq needs electricity. The fact is that the waiver given by Secretary Pompeo at the end of the Trump administration was predicated on the theory that Iraq would reform its electricity system and this would not be needed for a long time. This was 4 years ago. At what point is there accountability? At what point after waiver and waiver and waiver given do we cut the dependency; do we reform the system; do we make sure that the Iraqi citizens have what they need? This administration has taken the opposite approach. When you look in the news just today, everyone around the world, all the major organizations, the major nation-states, are considering additional sanctions on Iran. They understand that appeasement doesn't work. The U.N., the G7, and even France have made the decision to enforce stronger sanctions with no waivers. President Biden over 3 years ago made a decision to go from maximum pressure on Iran that resulted in unprecedented deterrence and peace to a strategy of appeasement. The examples are many. Appeasement and weakness have led to chaos and aggression. In fact, every intelligence briefing, every national security pundit, every talking head on TV, every person who knows anything about this subject has said the same consistent theme for 3- plus years, that the threat from the Iranian regime toward the United States and our allies and partners and our interests has only increased. It culminated this weekend with an unprecedented drone attack. We are so lucky, along with our brothers and sisters in arms, the U.S. military and our partners like the Jordanians and the Israelis, that the air defense systems worked, that these brave airmen and these brave air defense personnel were able to take out these drones and prevent not a single loss of life, to prevent the death of anyone inside Israel. It is unbelievable that that was able to happen. The reason that we are doing this, I believe, is because the Founders of this country knew that there would be a time when checks and balances had to be issued, there would be a time when we had to have a check on the executive branch because they got it wrong. This doesn't have to be a partisan exercise. In fact, I hope it is bipartisan. I hope that we can all join together and say we don't believe in appeasement, that that strategy has not worked. They have had 3\1/2\ years to see if it works, and it doesn't. Now is the time to stand fast. Now is the time to come together and to check the executive branch and to pass legislation that prevents the rescission of these waivers that prevents the $6 billion gift and other gifts from funding the Iranian war machine, the terror war machine that is sowing chaos across the Middle East and even broader than that region. If we remember back to September 11, then we know this threat is real. Let's believe the Iranians when they have threatened us over the weekend. Let's believe their threats, but let's not cower to their threats. Let's stand strong. Let's show deterrence. Not a single dollar should be allowed to go to the Iranian Government. Not a single dollar should be allowed to go to the largest arbiter of terrorism on the planet. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will join in regaining our Article I authority, will join in asserting American leadership around the globe, to send a strong message not just to Iran but to other would-be adversaries, that we are serious about defending freedom, that we are serious about defending Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East. My legislation permanently freezes all Iranian-sanctioned assets and prevents the President from using any waiver authority, including licenses and guidance and otherwise, to lift sanctions. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand strong, to support this legislation, to pass H.R. 5947, to protect Israel, and to stop the Iranian war machine.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 4006, a bill originally introduced by Representative Johnson of Ohio, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Thursday, April 11, 2024, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting His Excellency Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Duncan and Chair McMorris Rodgers for yielding. I appreciate the leadership of Gary Palmer on this particular legislation, H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act. As we sit here and listen, it has been pretty amusing. The reason we are here is because the American public is sick and tired of the games. The veil has been lifted. They know the facts. Affordability and reliability are the most important things, and we will get to the facts about the actual emissions that have been cut. Let's just start with the fact that this natural gas tax is unworkable. It was included despite never being considered, never being talked about with stakeholders in places like the Permian Basin that I represent. There was never expert testimony that talked about how to work this in. Instead of looking at emissions holistically, the natural gas tax was based on the single premise that if reliable energy is taxed, less of it will be produced. Let's ask the American public if they are for that. Especially as the EPA rolls out proposed rules to implement the natural gas tax, it is clear that we have to take action. There are dozens of rules that they are rolling out. When we talked to the directors of the EPA when they came before Congress this year, they didn't even know how they were going to implement this. They haven't talked to stakeholders. Why have they not been to the Permian Basin? Not a single person from the EPA has come to the largest producing area to see what we are doing, to see that in the last 12 to 15 years that we have increased production by 300 or 400 percent from 1 million barrels a day to over 5 million barrels, and we have reduced methane intensity by over 70 percent. Why can't Administrator Regan or Director Nance or Mr. Goffman come to the Permian Basin and see what we have done? Not because the government has told them to do it, but because it makes economic sense because they are doing it from a business sense. That is what you are not going to hear from my colleagues on the left. They are being driven from a radical, environmental activist position that doesn't represent what the country wants or needs. I was pleased to host Speaker Johnson in Midland, Texas, this week to kick off energy week. The Speaker had a chance to meet with industry experts, people that know this business, people that have cut the emissions, people who do care about providing affordable, reliable energy as well as reducing harmful emissions. They have been doing it. They have been doing it for years. It makes sense that Congress would come together and talk about reducing harmful emissions in a meaningful way. Not a single industry expert has come to Congress and said that they want methane intensity to increase. What they don't want, or need is a new tax. What they don't want, or need is to assault the industry that literally won World War II for us, that has provided our partners and allies what they need because they aren't blessed with the resources that we are. If this is implemented, the ill-conceived natural gas tax will handicap technological innovation, reduce the supply of affordable energy in this country and for our partners and allies, and it will increase not only costs, but emissions. In fact, this tax alone will drive up the cost of household energy for 180 million Americans and over 5\1/2\ million businesses that rely on the natural gas tax. The underpinnings of our national security depend on us making smart decisions, producing energy here domestically, and not giving Vladimir Putin, the Iranians, or other nefarious actors a win. Madam Speaker, I urge support for American energy, I urge support for domestic production, and I urge support for H.R. 1023.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, on January 26, President Biden imposed an immediate and indefinite ban on the issuance of LNG export permits to non-FTA countries while DOE conducts a review to consider the climate impacts of natural gas. Well, the DOE has already commissioned five studies to examine the effects of U.S. LNG exports, and the results unanimously demonstrate the benefits to the U.S. economy and to domestic prices. In fact, the two prior Presidential administrations conducted these studies without blocking export permits. President Biden's ban on LNG is radically shortsighted when it comes to the environmental risks. Clean natural gas is a major reason why the U.S. has reduced emissions more than any other Nation. According to DOE, U.S. LNG exports are also 41 percent cleaner than Russian natural gas delivered to Europe. Current law requires that natural gas exports to countries with non- FTA countries are deemed in the public interest, unless DOE finds exports will not be consistent with public interest. There is a very clear statutory presumption already that exports are in the public interest, and each administration has held opposition to a very high bar. I think what the administration is saying right now is the political interest, that the statutory presumption has been held to a very high bar up until now. This is the same President who promised Europe that we would meet their needs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Who stepped up to the plate? It was American energy producers who sent more than 87 percent of LNG exports to the EU, U.K., and Asia in December--all markets which will now be forced to turn to nefarious actors for their needs. I am proud of this bipartisan bill, and one of the reasons is because of the steps that the industry has taken to help the climate, to help emissions, to reduce emissions. Let's consider that two-thirds of the world's recoverable natural gas is in four countries: Iran, Qatar, Russia, and the United States. Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues who they recommend they turn to? If not the U.S., then who? Not only is President Biden cutting off our allies at the knees, but this move will also raise global and domestic prices. Domestic natural gas prices are lower and more stable with free, fair, and open markets, and U.S. LNG is the price ballast in a global market. The decision to ban exports creates uncertainty and discourages investments that would otherwise create jobs and expand the supply of natural gas. Out of all of President Biden's poor energy policies, the ban on LNG exports is the most egregious, shortsighted, and impactful on the credit of U.S. commitments around the world. I am proud to lead H.R. 7176 to immediately reverse the ban and to take politics out of LNG exports by giving FERC sole authority for LNG exports and repealing all restrictions. I would say to the President that the world needs U.S. LNG. This catastrophic, politically based, and legally dubious ban must be reversed immediately. I appreciate the bipartisan support that we are receiving, but I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7176.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, this is a sad day. It is a sad day that we have to be here, but the Framers of our Constitution forecasted that this could occur. While we are going to hear that this is a policy difference, that this is maladministration. This is the systemic refusal to follow the law and to enforce the law. It is an egregious breach of public trust. Moreover, there are no other avenues here. There must be a consequence, and there must be accountability. That is why we are moving to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas for endangering our country. Anyone with common sense can see that what is being allowed to happen at our border is not only a catastrophe, but it is a national security crisis. Madam Speaker, 9 million illegal aliens have entered our country since President Biden has been in office, including 300 people that have matched the terror watch list. It took less than 20 people to orchestrate the attacks on 9/11, which sent me into 20 years of service to this country to protect us overseas. Yet, we are letting the Trojan horse into our country that threatens us. We have a Secretary who refuses to enforce the laws on the books. It is Congress' duty to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is led by individuals committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting our borders, and the failure to secure the border has been so severe that we have to provide accountability. Not only is this a systemic refusal to follow the law, but it is also the systemic deconstruction of the rule of law that eventually will eat away at this country. I am so concerned, and our country should be concerned. Madam Speaker, I urge everyone in this House to do something that actually gets accountability, to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, and to get our country secure again.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert E. `Bobby' Burns on his retirement from the Midland Chamber of Commerce after twelve years leading the organization, and more than four decades of service to the Midland community. Bobby is officially retiring after an illustrious career as a business owner, three-term mayor, and most recently as the President and CEO of the Midland Chamber of Commerce. Under Bobby's leadership, the city of Midland and its business community soared to new heights. As Mayor, he led the charge to connect Midland and Odessa to the rest of the country through the creation of the Midland International Airport and connected Midlanders through the construction of Loop 250. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Scharbauer Sports Complex. While leading the Chamber, Bobby revitalized the organization and oversaw the Four-Star Accreditation of the Midland Chamber with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in the development of the first-class Barbara & George H.W. Bush Convention Center in the heart of downtown Midland, and he raised funds for the life-size sculpture of the President and Mrs. Bush. I especially want to recognize Bobby for his love of Midland and this great nation. Under his watch, Bobby organized the 4th of July Star- Spangled Salute and the Midland-Odessa Fly-In to Washington D.C. The Salute is still the most widely attended annual single-day event in all of Midland, and the Fly-In brings West Texas values--especially those foundational to the oil and gas industry--to our nation's capital. Above all else Bobby is a family man: husband to Denise `Deni,' father of two, and grandfather of three. I want to sincerely thank his family for their service and for supporting his efforts. Please join me in recognizing Bobby for his decades of selfless service to the community of Midland.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Guthrie, as well as Chair Rodgers for their work on this bill. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4531, the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, the SUPPORT Act. Looking back, it was originally created in 2018 as a significant investment in overdose prevention. There is an urgent need to actually reauthorize the SUPPORT Act, with nearly 110,000 annual overdose deaths in this country last year. This reauthorization ensures that individuals seeking assistance for substance use disorders have access to critical lifesaving treatments, recovery support services, prevention programming, and long-term recovery services. I draw attention to an emerging public health concern addressed by this legislation, the illicit use of xylazine. Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer that has become drug traffickers' preferred substance for cutting fentanyl. Xylazine's current ease of access--as it can just be purchased online for as little as $6 per kilogram--directly threatens our communities. DEA Administrator Milgram warned that ``Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier.'' To counter this growing threat, the bill proposes scheduling illicit xylazine under schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, while safeguarding--and this is important--crucial access for veterinary use and the livestock industry. The fentanyl crisis has already inflicted severe damage on treatment clinics and public health agencies throughout our entire country. Adding another highly toxic substance to the illicit drug supply only intensifies the crisis. Congress must take action against this emerging threat. I am pleased that the SUPPORT Act builds upon the collaboration of Congressman Panetta and I with the agricultural and veterinary industries and law enforcement to ensure this legislation cracks down on illicit uses of xylazine while preserving its critical role within agriculture and veterinary medicine. I urge my colleagues to support the SUPPORT Act. This is not just legislation. It is a response to help save lives within our communities.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership on this. I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 88 to block President Biden's taxpayer-funded student loan bailout. Here we go again. If you don't succeed, and the Supreme Court says it is not constitutional, well, let's find another way, find another mechanism. That is exactly what we are facing today. We are standing in the gap, Mr. Speaker. This rule unjustly imposes an excessive burden on hardworking American taxpayers, who should not be forced to shoulder the responsibility for student debt that is not their own. It is not a coincidence that on the same day the Supreme Court found the Biden administration's first attempt at loan forgiveness unconstitutional, the Department of Education announced this final rule to allow a majority of bachelor's degree student loan borrowers to avoid paying back even the principal on their loans. Let me be clear: This rule does not offer genuine debt forgiveness. Instead, it shifts the weight of $559 billion in Federal student loans onto the shoulders of almost 90 percent of Americans who don't have those student loans. This includes individuals who may earn significantly less than those who took out the loans in the first place. Rather than addressing the root causes of a student loan debt crisis, the administration would rather transfer the financial burden onto taxpayers, exacerbating our ongoing issues with inflation and contributing further to our staggering $33 trillion of national debt. This approach is not only flawed but fundamentally unfair to those who opted not to attend college, who diligently paid their own way through school, or who have already successfully paid off their own student loans. This is what the White House is pushing. By the way, they are also pushing dollars into institutions like Harvard, Penn, and other schools where, as we found out this week, the presidents can't even admit there are anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish hatred messages in their own institutions happening. They can't even admit it. As a Texan, I can confidently tell you that no hardworking constituent in my district wants to pay for any degree at Harvard using taxpayer money, certainly not ours. By the way, until the presidents of those universities acknowledge the anti-Jewish messages and hatred that has occurred on their college campuses, I urge Congress not to send another dollar of Federal money to any of those institutions. House Republicans are blocking the Biden administration's illogical and unreasonable student bailout program, and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort. Let's be clear: It is not fair and not American, and the Supreme Court has said it is unconstitutional that Americans should bear the burden of student loans that they did not incur themselves. Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I urge a strong stance on this, and I urge my colleagues to protect the hard-earned dollars of American taxpayers and prevent further financial strain.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, if this was a ``Jeopardy!'' game, it would be called: Here we go again for a thousand. Mr. Speaker, if we look at what the EPA has done to overreach, we are talking hundreds of proposed rules that they have overreached on telling the American public what they can and can't do. Mr. Speaker, if it were allowed under House rules, I would address the gallery and I would ask the gallery, raise your hand if you like the fact that the President of the United States is going to tell you what kind of vehicle you can and cannot drive. It is not necessarily allowed under House rules, but I am guessing, because my district doesn't like it, that most Americans don't like it either. Today, we are going to stop the EPA from outlawing gas-powered vehicles. The CARS Act places a critical stop sign on this failed path toward forcing all Americans to own electric vehicles. Not only does this legislation prohibit the EPA from enforcing a ban, but it also acknowledges the abuse that the EPA has done. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and I thank Mr. Walberg for leading this legislation. The Energy and Commerce Committee is leading the way to energy dominance and allowing Americans to make their own choices that they very much need to be able to make.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 992 to officially designate the Texas and New Mexico portions of the future Interstate- designated segments of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as Interstate Route 27. The Ports-to-Plains Corridor is a significant north-south transportation corridor that will unlock transportation capabilities for the energy industry in the Permian Basin and enhance Texas' key economic engines of international trade, energy, and the largest agricultural production in the country. This is a big deal for this part of the United States, specifically for Texas. Madam Speaker, when you think about energy security being national security, Interstate 27 is going to play a massive role in allowing the delivery of that energy not just to our country but also throughout the rest of the world. In addition, food security is national security, and Interstate 27 will play a massive role in allowing the delivery of food to our own country. This new designation literally paves the way for safer roads in West Texas, and clearly marks Midland and Odessa as the energy hub of our Nation. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Jodey Arrington and Senator Ted Cruz for their hard work and partnership on this important issue. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation to make sure that we can continue to deliver energy and food throughout the United States.

Mr. PFLUGER

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

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On October 7, the world watched in horror as Hamas brutally attacked innocent civilians inside Israel, and I am glad to see that we have bipartisan agreement on standing with Israel, standing firm against Hamas. However, I have major concerns when it comes Iran. Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror globally, use fanaticism and extremism to stoke instability in the Middle East to expand their influence and threaten the existence of Israel and to threaten the United States. So far dozens and dozens of attacks since October 7 have been carried out at the behest of Iranian proxies in the Middle East toward U.S. troops. The only currency that is recognized by the Iranian regime is strength, something that the administration has not shown. This attack, and Israel's valid defense of its sovereignty in the wake of this barbaric invasion, is a wake-up call to the threats Iran- backed terrorist groups pose, not just to the Middle East but also to the rest of the world. This is a watershed moment and it demands a resolute response. The United States must increase pressure on the Iranian regime by denying it the access to the funds abroad. Deterrence is the name of the game. In August and September of 2023, the Biden administration facilitated Tehran's access to $6 billion in oil revenues, sanctions that had previously been placed on Iran as a signal of strength, waivers that had been moved by the Biden administration. As currently written, in H.R. 5961 the only thing that is being frozen is the $6 billion of Iranian funds currently in Qatar. It does not freeze other Iranian-sanctioned funds, such as the sanctions waiver announced by the Biden administration last week which would allow Iraq to send $10 billion to Iran. The Founders intended us to have a system of checks and balances, and that is exactly what my amendment would do. My amendment would freeze all Iranian-sanctioned funds, not just the $6 billion in Qatar. Additionally, it would prohibit the President from using any sort of waiver authority, including licenses, guidance, or FAQs to lift the sanctions. As we have seen, we cannot trust this administration to hold fast, to have a strong deterrent policy, and to send the Iranian regime a strong signal. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), my good friend.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), my good friend and fellow Air Force veteran.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, the failed strategy of appeasement has not worked. Deterrence is what is needed. President Biden must reverse course on his policy toward Iran to stop terrorism from impacting us here. The system is blinking red. My amendment strengthens this bill. It puts deterrence at the forefront of the global stage. It restricts any money from going to Iran that they would use to foment terrorism and chaos throughout not only the Middle East but also here in our home. Mr. Chair, our Homeland Security depends on this amendment and depends on passage of this bill. I urge all of my colleagues across the aisle here on the Republican side to support this amendment and to pass this bill. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.