August Pfluger

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the State of Israel and the Jewish community here in the United States of America and, quite frankly, throughout the world. I thank the chairman and the ranking member, two men who have worked tirelessly on this very topic, this very subject. I have a resolution. It is simple. It is one page. It is one page, but I think it is powerful. It says the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. It says that Congress rejects all forms of anti- Semitism and xenophobia. Lastly, it says that the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel. It is simple. It is a one-page resolution that I think every Member of Congress should be able to agree on. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we have heard disgusting statements from Members on the other side of the aisle against Israel. Mr. Speaker, as I look at this debate here, this is the time when anyone who has said those types of things can come to the House floor to debate and have a conversation. If there is disagreement with this, let's let the American people hear that disagreement. From my standpoint, we look at Israel as the most important partner in the Middle East. Tomorrow, in fact, as we welcome President Herzog to this very body, to the United States, to a joint address of Congress, it is critical for the U.S. Congress to send a unified message that we stand with Israel and unequivocally support our Jewish communities. There is no place for hate or hateful words. Mr. Speaker, I hope this is an easy vote today. It should be easy. All 435 Members of this body should be able to vote in affirmation of this so that when President Herzog enters this body tomorrow, he knows unequivocally that the United States is with Israel and that the entire world knows that. In fact, 75 years ago, within minutes of being recognized as a nation, the United States was the very first to recognize Israel as a nation. It is because we both believe in freedom. We both believe in a trusted partnership. We both believe in pushing back against enemies around the world like Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism, that would seek to undermine at every turn the State of Israel. Where are those colleagues if they disagree? I think what this debate tells me today, seeing very little disagreement on the House floor, is that we as the United States of America, that we as the U.S. Congress, that the House of Representatives believes in the tenets. I will say it one more time. The State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. Congress rejects all forms have anti-Semitism or xenophobia. The United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel. Mr. Speaker, not only do I urge my colleagues to support this, but I urge my colleagues to stand up against bullying against those who would say things that are not true, those that would denounce or use words that are hateful in their rhetoric, that undermine the very essence of the nation of Israel, and that undermine the freedoms that this country stands for. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I am able to author this and stand before the American public and reaffirm, on the 75th anniversary of Israel as a nation, our support in the United States of America for a nation that I believe is divinely inspired.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2023 NCAA Division II National Champion Angelo State University Rams baseball team. The Rams' championship is the first in history and the fifth national championship title at Angelo State. This is a time to reflect upon the diligence, sacrifice, and determination that these young men have contributed toward the national championship, and I especially want to recognize Head Coach Kevin Brooks and his coaching staff. Coach Brooks started the program in 2005 and has remained a dedicated leader of his team and of the young baseball players. I also want to recognize President Ronnie Hawkins for his leadership to the university and to the community. Mr. Speaker, baseball isn't the only good thing going on at Angelo State. There are many things to celebrate, but today, I congratulate the Rams. Their achievement will forever be etched in the annals of history. Their success is a source of pride for our entire community, and they will inspire future generations of Texas-11 athletes for years to come. Today, we celebrate their victory and the unyielding pursuit of excellence that it represents. Well done, Champions.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Florida for yielding. Mr. Chair, it is almost hard to believe that we are actually having to have this discussion. At a time when Americans are struggling to afford groceries, the Biden administration is trying to implement new rules to dictate what you have in your house, what kind of appliances you have in your home. As my friend from New York just stood up and said that this is not just a Texas issue. This is not localized to one part of our country. This spans the entire country. We have seen the EPA overreach in every single aspect of energy, every single aspect, whether it is with endangered species, the threat of nonattainment in the Permian Basin, where I represent, they are overreaching. Their de facto ban on gas stoves would eliminate more than half of the gas cooktops on the market today while forcing 187 million Americans who use affordable, reliable natural gas to switch to expensive, less desirable alternatives. If this administration was serious about limiting pollution and protecting our climate, they would unleash the energy that we produce in my district in the Permian Basin, they would put Midland over Moscow, and they would make it easier to produce clean energy, 40 percent cleaner natural gas in the U.S. compared to Russia. In fact, homes with natural gas appliances emit 22 percent less CO2 than all-electric homes. House Republicans are not just standing by idly. We are going to do something. We are doing something. We are going to prevent this overreach from happening. Mr. President, unleash American energy. Don't make it harder to produce natural gas here. Don't limit the types of stoves and appliances we have in our homes. Quit overreaching. Mr. Chair, allow Americans the freedoms that our Constitution protects and pass this bill. Our bill will prevent the administration from banning gas stoves or cooktops or imposing any standards that make gas stoves unaffordable. I appreciate the leadership throughout this House from the Speaker and everyone else to bring this bill to bear. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will help end thousands of deaths from this tragic situation. I am speaking on behalf of parents like Joe Warnick and Donna Johnson of Odessa, Texas, who lost their son, Jackson, to fentanyl poisoning. I am speaking up for thousands of families across the United States. How can you oppose this? Literally, how can you oppose this? Every day we hear more and more stories of lives ended by fentanyl. It is our responsibility to act. The HALT Fentanyl Act will help end the fentanyl crisis by cracking down on criminals who are trafficking deadly fentanyl across the southern border and into our communities. It will ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to keep these extremely lethal and dangerous drugs off our streets. The moms and dads that I have talked to are tired of words. They want action, and the HALT Fentanyl Act is the action that we need to take. Lives are on the line. Mr. Chair, I am very proud of my Republican Conference for proposing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of all Texans and all Americans whose lives have been put at risk by the untenable crisis at our southern border. Let's just look at the numbers. In the 2 years that this President has been in office, there have been over 5 million encounters at the southern border, 1.4 million got-aways, and countless numbers of people who matched not only the terrorist watch list, but also criminal organizations. That totals nearly 6\1/2\ million people. To put that in perspective, that is bigger than over 33 States in the United States. Among those 5 million, our Border Patrol have caught nearly 200 known and suspected terrorists trying to cross into our country illegally. This should not only concern every American, but it also outrages Americans who want law and order and safety to be considered. What I am even more concerned about is: How many among the 1.4 million got-aways would match that list that we don't know about? This is something that I have been sounding the alarm bells for my entire time in Congress. It is something that, unfortunately, my Democrat colleagues have buried their heads in the sand and refused to address for the last 2 years. I could continue talking about the terrible numbers all day, about the 15,000 criminals arrested, the 14,000 pounds of fentanyl that have been seized, which, by the way, is enough to kill 3 billion people, and that is just in the last 6 months. Instead, I will turn the focus of today's discussion about border security back to the tragedies, the human tragedies, which are affecting every district, including mine. Americans like Elisa Tambunga whose 7-year-old daughter and 71-year- old grandmother were tragically killed by human traffickers doing 105 miles an hour with 11 illegal immigrants in the back seat who hit their car and instantly killed them. They are the victims. Let's talk about the 700 unaccompanied migrant children who have been displaced and separated. These 700 unaccompanied migrants were dropped off in Midland, Texas, trafficked by traffickers away from their parents, and dropped off in the middle of the night. They are the victims. What about fathers like Joe Warnick of Odessa, Texas, who found his 17-year-old son dead after taking a pill laced with fentanyl. He is a victim, along with 110,000 Americans last year who lost their lives to fentanyl. The 53 migrants who died in the sweltering heat in the back of a tractor trailer south of San Antonio, Texas, last year, they are the victims. These are real people. This is not just a border crisis. This is a national security emergency. Texans demand a solution. Today, I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. The timing of this legislation could not be more precise with the ending of title 42. Our bill will force the administration to restart construction of the border wall. It will deploy much-needed technology to the border. It will increase the number of border agents and give them the well-deserved bonuses that they need to maintain their services. Several of my original provisions have been included in this package to require the administration to own up to the total number of known got-aways or known and suspected terrorists crossing the border each month, as well as outlining the costs that are incurred by States like Texas. Mr. President, how many more lives will be lost? How many will it take to take action? That is why Republicans are not ignoring this crisis. We are taking action. We are restoring the security of our border. I am extremely proud to stand here with Chairman Mark Green and his efforts, and Speaker McCarthy, to pass a bill that will finally secure the border and do what Americans put us here to do.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the beloved father, husband, son, and hero, Specialist Steven Ray Givens, who gave his life in service to our country. As a young child, Steven was inspired by his grandfather and made the decision to serve. In May 2005, Steven gave his life in Balad, Iraq, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Steven is remembered for his incredible service and deep love and commitment to his family. He loved playing video games with his son in his lap, hunting and fishing, and chatting about military history. Steven is survived by his mother, Joyce; his son, Blake; and his wife, Cayssia. Cayssia serves as the Gold Star Congressional Fellow in my Killeen, Texas, district office and honors Steven's legacy daily by serving our veterans, Active-Duty servicemembers, and other Gold Star families at Fort Cavazos and beyond. Mr. Speaker, Camille and I thank Cayssia, Joyce, and Blake for their incredible sacrifice, and we join them in remembering Steven.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, passing H.R. 1 is just the beginning. The American public put their trust in Republicans under Speaker McCarthy and Chair McMorris Rodgers to lower costs, and that is exactly what we are going to do by boosting American production instead of siding with Russia, Iran, and China. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to stand with America to pass H.R. 1.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support H.R. 1, the most important bill and the priority for this Congress. When I came to Congress, I made it my mission to spread the word about the Permian Basin, the heartbeat of American energy and the largest secure supply of oil and gas. I am incredibly proud to represent the men and women of the Permian Basin, who have revolutionized the way we produce energy in order to provide us with an incredible national security and economic asset. Unfortunately, President Biden has demonized the very people that I represent. He has demonized the people of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. From his policies, like killing the Keystone XL pipeline and shutting down drilling permitting, but however, begging foreign dictators to produce more oil, his rhetoric, literally promising to end fossil fuels, he has used every tool in the toolkit to build a bureaucracy that is completely obsessed and opposed to killing American energy. His policies have driven energy costs and inflation through the roof. Today, I say to the American public: You are going to hear a lot of misinformation about the Inflation Reduction Act, which did nothing to curb inflation. Energy policies by this administration have increased costs for American families. Americans are being forced to pay 40 percent more on gasoline since the President took office, 20 to 30 percent more on their electricity bills. It is all in the name of a climate crusade, which can't even come close to what the Permian Basin and other producing areas in this country have done to reduce harmful emissions and provide affordable and clean reliable energy. In fact, I spoke to the president of IPAA yesterday. What we just heard was that the Independent Producers of America support the Democrats' policies. That couldn't be further from the truth. I asked them that. They said no, industry was not consulted. Over the past 10 years we have brought down methane emissions by almost 15 percent. No government mandate could come close to that. We are only beginning to tap into the incredible asset that is liquified natural gas. Not only is it good for our environment, but it is good for the economy. We heard this when we took the Energy and Commerce Committee on the road and we talked to Mayor Blong in Midland, Texas, and we heard this from the producers. Today, we will likely continue to hear about Big Oil. The Big Oil boogeyman that doesn't actually exist. The truth is, and I would face the Democrats, my friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and tell you what the IPAA told us, and what they continue to tell us: 90 percent of our energy is produced by small, independent producers, companies that have 10, 20, 30 employees. Big Oil? You are talking to the people of West Virginia when you say that. When Democrats and this administration blame Big Oil, they are talking about my district. H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act is a complete rejection of the Biden administration's anti-energy policies that have been aimed at workers throughout this country for 2 years. We are fighting back. We want to produce American-made oil. We want to boost American products in order to reduce inflation. I am extremely proud to have worked on this legislation that includes my bill to reduce taxes on natural gas. This is just the beginning. House Republicans are going to follow through on our commitment to the American public and on our commitment to American families.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment with Congressman Crenshaw. The only thing dangerous about this is not implementing this, not moving at the speed of relevancy. That is what we are trying to accomplish here. I agree with my colleague from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) that this should be bipartisan. We should be allowing the States to do what they do to reduce those emissions. This amendment is critical to ensure the States can deploy carbon capture utilization and storage technologies. As was mentioned, the Safe Drinking Water Act allows States to apply for primacy enforcement responsibility of underground injection control wells, including class 6 wells that are used for injection of CO2 into the deep subsurface formations for long-term storage. Only two States, North Dakota and Wyoming, currently have received a delegation of primary enforcement responsibility over class 6 wells. States' historic experience with handling these permits and the familiarity with their own geology translates to faster review times. It does not negatively impact drinking water. The freedom to craft those programs in a manner that makes sense the most should be relied upon at that local level. Unfortunately, those applications for primacy are often held up with the EPA without any clarity. As you heard, those 270 days are completely unfortunate to moving at that speed of relevancy. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment, to pass this, to let the States do what they can do to help not only drinking water, but emissions control.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, for nearly 3 years now, the truth about COVID-19 and its origins have been hidden from the American people. We are at a real crossroads here. There should not be a single partisan fight over this issue. We are talking about the lives of so many people, not only in our country, but also throughout the rest of the world. Unfortunately, Big Government bureaucrats like Anthony Fauci abused their positions of power to disguise and distort the facts and to further a tyrannical approach to our country. Anyone who dared ask the question about the origins of COVID, or chose to make an independent healthcare decision for their own family, were silenced, censored, and ostracized as conspiracy theorists. Lo and behold, we stand here today with so many of these truths that were previously called conspiracy theories turning out to be true; the most glaring example being that Fauci knew as early as March of 2020 that the coronavirus leaked from a lab in Wuhan, China. He spent the next 3 years dodging, misleading, mischaracterizing the possibility, and even using American taxpayer dollars to pay for studies to discredit that very thing. This is not just unfortunate, this is truly astonishing. We wonder why the American people have a lack of trust in our government; it is because of these kinds of things. My constituents deserve to know the truth. Everyone that is here, their constituents deserve to know the truth. Republicans delivered a Commitment to America that we would deliver accountability; that we would have a government that is accountable, and it starts with things like this. We shouldn't fear government institutions. We should not fear the decisions that are made. But when you hide things, you mischaracterize things, and you mislead the public, we do. That is part of our Commitment to America, to uncover these things and make accountable and transparent; to put things on the table and let people know the facts. That accountability is going to have to be for the lives that were lost, the livelihoods that were destroyed, and the years together that families were robbed of. Pass this bill. Declassify this information, and let's get the truth.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the hard work of San Angelo's very own James Huffman, who is being rightly being recognized with the Texas Southwest Council, Boy Scouts of America's prestigious Distinguished Citizen Award--an annual recognition of those who give freely of their time and talents to improve the quality of life for our community, Nation, and world. James is an Eagle Scout, a family man, distinguished businessman, and servant to our community. His impact to San Angelo and the greater area cannot be overstated. He earned his degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech University and embarked on a career that led him back to San Angelo in 1984. Later, he earned his CPA certification and opened his own accounting practice. Through the years, Mr. Huffman has been awarded for his achievements including his 1995 Small Business Administration's San Antonio-District CPA of the Year Award and in 2004 Innovation in Texas Award for his Cross Cut Wood Company from the Texas Railroad Commission. Mr. Huffman has been very involved in many civic duties in West Texas. He serves, or has served, on the Rawls of School of Business Dean's Advisory Council, as a Board member of the Concho Valley Center for Entrepreneurial Development, a member of the Sonora Downtown Lion's Club and San Angelo Jaycees, on the board of the San Angelo Areawide Foundation, and he helped establish the San Angelo Safari Club chapter in 2014 as a board member as well as serving as the Vice President from 2014 to 2021. In 2011, James joined the Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America's Texas Southwest Council, serving on the executive committee and as Chair of the Property Committee. I am grateful for the impact James has made on our community.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Draco Miller, a cherished member of the Brownwood community who sadly passed away on February 16, 2023. Draco was a father, husband, son, businessowner, and public servant to the community of Brownwood as a city council member, mentor to our youth, and leader in numerous service-oriented boards and organizations. In 2022, Draco was named Man of the Year by the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce for his service to Brownwood. In his own words, he said: ``This is my city, and I love my city. There is no place like home.'' Although he loved and cherished Brownwood, his family was the most important facet of his life. He dedicated his life to passing along his long-held values of faith, family, and a strong work ethic. He is remembered for his seemingly endless energy, optimism, and good will that carried him through decades of community involvement and community improvement projects. Although we mourn his loss, I know his legacy will live on through his wife, Sonja; their children; many extended family members; and the entire Brownwood community.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Chairman Comer's resolution. The radical D.C. Council is literally putting the integrity of our election system at risk. They have passed a bill to allow illegal immigrants, Chinese and Russian agents, foreign exchange students, and quite literally anyone else who finds themselves on the streets of D.C. in our Nation's Capital for longer than 30 days the ability to vote in elections. This should not be a partisan issue, and you don't have to be a Republican to understand why this is wrong. Voting is a sacred right, regardless of what was just said. Voting is a sacred right. This ridiculous measure disenfranchises millions of legal American citizens and opens up our election system to a host of security issues. In fact, the Mayor of D.C. didn't even sign this. Congress must pass this resolution today, but we should also move to pass my bill, H.R. 192, to make it clear to D.C. that they cannot ever allow noncitizens to influence our Nation's Capital. We are putting every single Member, both Republican and Democrat, on the record about whether they support noncitizens voting. Of course, I urge my colleagues in the House and the Senate and President Biden to pass our bill, to pass this measure, to sign it into law immediately. Let me just say one thing in response to my colleague on the other side of the aisle who a few moments ago said, ``We brought back our worst possible instincts,'' I think when referencing the Republican Party. This tells you everything you need to know. It tells you everything you need to know about Americans. Please listen up, this tells you everything you need to know, that the radicals want you to think that this is normal, and it is not. Americans deserve confidence in our election system and confidence in knowing that only legal American citizens are casting their vote in elections here in this country.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifelong public servant and valuable member of the Texas-11 team, Mrs. Jan Lentz. For 7 years, Jan has devoted her time and talents to our district as a constituent services aide. She previously served with the VA, West Texas Counseling and Guidance, and many other organizations and has led a veterans support group for over 15 years, most of this as a volunteer. Jan's impact on our community exceeds everything beyond words, and her service has extended far beyond our district. She has literally impacted thousands of lives, veteran lives and family member lives, and so many in need in our community. Over the years, Jan has secured countless benefits for veterans and has impacted thousands of veteran families. Last year alone, she returned over $100,000 in taxes back to constituents. Jan is someone who we all wish we could be. As she moves into the next phase of her life in retirement, we want Jan to know that we are grateful for her service. We are grateful for what she has done for our community, veterans, and so many people in need. I say thank you to Jan from the bottom of our hearts, from our team, our district, and the State of Texas. We all wish Jan good luck in retirement.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 497, Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. I would also like to offer my condolences to my colleague on the other side of the aisle for the loss of his mother. I think that, you know, in a stark contrast of what CMS is doing to mandate this, which is the only vaccine that is mandated, what we should be doing is investigating the origins of COVID, the billions of dollars that have been spent, the countless lives that have been lost. I am proud to serve on Energy and Commerce, to be the only rural Texan serving on that committee. Growing up in rural Texas, it gave me a strong appreciation for healthcare, for workers just like my colleague's mother, the heroes that were on the front line during the pandemic and those that have served as doctors and nurses in Texas, quite literally, saving lives every single day. We are facing a massive shortage of healthcare workers throughout our Nation, and, unfortunately, this crisis is amplified in rural America. Rural healthcare workers and providers are among the most negatively impacted by the President's tyrannical COVID vaccine mandate, which remains in effect for Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers. The Biden administration should not be forcing American workers to take the vaccine or face the possibility of losing their job. Instead, they should be listening to the reasons that so many people in my district, throughout the State of Texas, and throughout the country, quite frankly, may not want to take it. That choice should not have to be made. Unfortunately, the overreach never ends. Republicans are standing up today to free our healthcare heroes from this unconstitutional mandate. I am proud to join Representative Jeff Duncan on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of the 2 million hardworking Texans, the 10 million hardworking Americans, that the President has told their job doesn't matter, putting food on the table doesn't matter, mortgage payments don't matter, grocery bills don't matter. I am actually shocked that this is a partisan issue, that we have my Democrat colleagues that are saying that we don't want to refill an SPR, or we don't want to consider it an emergency use, only for political emergencies. The President campaigned on a promise to end fossil fuels, and he has pushed his failed policies from day one, including the cancellation of Keystone XL, telling 10 million workers who provide the energy our Nation so desperately needs that he doesn't want them to produce. In fact, not only does he not want them to produce, he is going overseas, begging global oil cartels for more energy. These policies are completely disconnected from reality. We are now facing rolling blackouts where families, in the middle of the night, may not have energy. In places like California, that is standard practice. However, now you have to consider it in Pennsylvania and Ohio and everywhere else. Why? Where are my Democrat colleagues who believe in affordable, reliable energy? Where are my colleagues who want to ease the burden of inflation that the President has caused? This Republican majority knows and is in touch with the reality that every family is facing choices, inflationary choices, and it starts with energy. I am proud to work alongside Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers to restore energy security. President Biden's use of the SPR for his own political emergencies is unacceptable, and we are now standing up to return the SPR to its rightful use for national security emergencies, not fabricated political emergencies. It is time for the President to join the Permian Basin, for the President to join every State in using this for what it was designed to be used for. It is a shame that my Democrat colleagues will not stand up for a national security imperative. We must let our producers produce, do what they do best, and keep government out of it.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise because Americans are completely fed up. They are fed up with being targeted. And the assertion that I just heard that MAGA Republicans are domestic terrorists, the assertion that this is happening throughout the country, I must tell my 90-year-old grandmother. Mr. Speaker, this assertion has been made time and time again that MAGA Republicans will blow something up, that MAGA Republicans are terrorists. Listen, we have seen censorship and meddling by former intelligence community experts and current Federal law enforcement agencies against Republicans and preventing media stories from actually coming to light. This is a fact. My friend from Texas just talked about the IRS and other agencies that have done this. We are not standing idly by, and it is time that the truth comes out. When we say things like MAGA Republicans, I think we should all be very careful and not be disingenuous because there are plenty of good Americans and patriots that are willing to stand up to get the truth out.

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, it is important that free speech be upheld--protected free speech be upheld. Not libel, not slander, and not any sort of assertion that all MAGA Republicans are bad because we know that that is not true. In fact, there are many good Americans that are standing up for their rights.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Midland local and World War II veteran Don McSparran for his service to our community. For the past 22 years, Mr. McSparran has spent countless hours patrolling Midland as a volunteer with the Midland Police Department. With his wife, Doris, in the passenger seat, Mr. McSparran drives around town assisting folks at any given moment with something as minor as a local traffic accident or as major as a lost child. He has helped countless people around Midland and is seen as a staple of the MPD. Over the years, Mr. McSparran has selflessly given so much of his time to keep our community safe. Now, at the age of 96, Mr. McSparran has no intention of slowing down. He continues to serve with the utmost commitment, dedication, and patriotism. His efforts strengthen and engage our community, and he improves every life that he touches. At the beginning of this month, Midland Mayor Patrick Payton officially declared the day ``Don McSparran Appreciation Day,'' a wonderful time to recognize Mr. McSparran's lifetime of service and incredible dedication to our community. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McSparran for his time, for his heart, and for his efforts to make Midland a better place. Our district is blessed to have wonderful servant leaders like Don.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tom Green County Judge Steve Floyd, a faithful leader of our community who is retiring from elected office at the end of this year. Judge Floyd has dedicated his life to our community with more than 30 years of service as justice of the peace, county commissioner, and now as county judge. Whether he was leading the county, handing down justice, or just mowing the courthouse lawn, he led with wisdom and kindness. Judge Floyd had a monumental impact on the partnership between San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base, where his community leadership and visionary ideas strengthened the bond and paved the way for San Angelo to receive three unprecedented Altus Award trophies for exceptional community partnership, more than any other base has received. Judge Floyd's retirement is bittersweet today. If you are watching this morning, Judge, please know that we are not just saying farewell to a good friend and a good leader but someone who has been an incredible public servant for over 30 years. We are grateful for the decades of service to our community, and we wish you the very best in your upcoming retirement. Congratulations on a job well done, Judge Floyd.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation. I first thank the chairman and the ranking member for focusing our efforts with this piece of legislation on the threats, the most complex threat environment that we have faced, I believe, in our history, and getting rid of things that distracted us, like a vaccine mandate where we saw elite military forces having to make a choice that I believe was unconstitutional. I believe that focus is so necessary right now. For those that are in Killeen, Texas, in the Fort Hood area, which is home to the largest Active-Duty armored military installation in the free world, you have much-needed military construction funds that are coming to you to enhance your readiness. For those at Goodfellow Air Force Base, we are proud of the 12,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, and guardians that are trained there every year in the preparation of intelligence. We have to remain focused. It is a complex threat environment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation and the most solemn duty that we face, which is supporting our military men and women and their families.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a servant leader in our community, Odessa native, Mr. Jesse Porras, a Marine veteran. Mr. Porras has been cooking and serving a Thanksgiving meal to hundreds of Odessans in need every year since 2013 when he first felt called to provide a warm and comforting meal to anyone in need or struggling with homelessness in our community. Since then, it has grown into a community feast, with local businesses and others partnering with Jesse. Over the past 9 years, Mr. Porras' Thanksgiving meal has fed thousands and lifted the spirits of the entire community. Jesse Porras is an inspiration to all of us. Not only was he willing to put his life on the line through his service to our country as a marine, but he continues that service through his generosity and philanthropic spirit today. This is something that we can all emulate, especially as we are approaching the holiday season. I thank Mr. Porras personally for giving so much of his time, talent, and goodwill to share the blessings of Thanksgiving, which, in my opinion, should be celebrated every day. But on that particular day, he does a great job in Odessa. It is with heartfelt thanks that Texas' 11th Congressional District thanks him.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Minnesota for so eloquently explaining the underlying reason that I rise to oppose the previous question so that we may immediately consider H.R. 8749, which is my bill to strike the new tax on every American, the new tax on natural gas that was included in the Democrats' paycheck reduction act. At a time when we actually are witnessing probably the most destructive energy poverty crisis in the civilized world, which is happening right now in Europe, in most cases happening in countries that are now experiencing a tenfold increase of their heating bills, a tenfold increase of their energy bills, a tenfold increase of all the requirements of energy, the most foundational piece of any economy, President Biden is driving an agenda to do the same thing here in the United States, driving an agenda to impoverish the energy needs of this country. While the President may deny the existence of inflation and crippling price hikes, those of us who are actually buying our own groceries and paying our bills every month know that is false. No position in the United States can deny the economic facts--8.3 percent. That, I believe, pales in comparison to what areas in rural America are actually paying. Price hikes on energy are the largest driver of this inflation by far. Gas utility bills are up 33 percent. Electricity is up almost 16 percent. It is 16 percent more expensive than it was this time last year. In the United States right now, today, energy costs are so high that one in six Americans are facing a notice from their electric company that they may be disconnected--one in six. When I said these words just a couple of months ago, everybody on the other side of the aisle laughed at that proposition. Yet, it is the policy that started with the flurry of activity last January, the executive orders that were aimed at killing the industry that underpins our economy, the industry that won World War II, the industry that has lifted 1 billion people out of poverty, 1 billion people around the world in places like sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Far East. That is because of the shale revolution. That is because of technology. The Paris climate accords have absolutely nothing on the reduction of harmful pollutants and emissions that private innovation has actually done. And even knowing this, President Biden and Democrats in Congress have introduced another tax on American energy that will continue to drive costs up. How many more Americans will be unable to heat their homes this fall and this winter when Democrat tax initiatives make their utility bills 50 percent more expensive than last year? Does the Green New Deal lobby group want America to follow in the footsteps of the Europeans I just mentioned who have returned-- literally returned to burning wood chips in their homes? Restarting coal plants, where was that in the Green New Deal? Where was that in the Paris climate accord in COP26? Make no mistake. These costs will swiftly be passed along to the 180 million Americans and 5.5 million businesses that rely on natural gas. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office now estimates this fee will increase taxes by $6.5 billion and raise natural gas bills an additional 17 percent, in addition to the inflationary pressures already facing our economy. What an inexcusable error. Instead of encouraging more U.S. production of oil and gas, House Democrats have opted instead to cut government checks to favored green special interest groups. And by the way, what happened to the President's promise not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than 400,000? It is laughable. Americans are begging for lower prices. They are begging for the government to simply allow free market principles to work; to allow the companies that underpin energy to do what they do best, which is to do it better, to do it more efficient; to do it cleaner and to not be dependent on adversaries like Russia and China and other adversaries. The crowning achievement of President Biden's energy policies will be dependence on adversaries for our energy needs. In Maslow's hierarchy, I couldn't think of something that is worse; dependence on OPEC oil as he goes to Saudi Arabia asking for more production when we can do it here better. We only need to look at the reckless policies in Europe to understand how bad this can be. We only need to look at the dependence that Europe had on Russia that has now, in many, many ways, led to a crisis in Ukraine. Energy underpins everything. And I am tired of hearing that we are in an energy transition. We are not. We are in an energy expansion. Another billion people will be added to the population of this globe within the next 15 to 20 years, one billion. Where is their energy going to come from? Can those people afford electric vehicles? Where does electricity come from? These are the questions it would be nice to have in a transparent, open, and realistic debate. In this energy expansion, I invite my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to come to my district to see the fact that my congressional district has more wind energy than the entire State of California. Come see what we do with regards to solar.

Mr. PFLUGER. Come to my district to see that, in this energy expansion, it is going to take every available source of energy. But most importantly, it is going to take reliable energy, base-load energy, sources that are primary that can provide the reliability. We don't need to go the direction that Europe has gone, and we certainly don't need to go the direction that our friends in California have gotten used to with rolling blackouts. And we don't need higher taxes. Every American family is struggling. The solution is literally directly below our feet. It is literally at the hands of the most innovative and experienced entrepreneurs, engineers, hardworking patriots. It is here. We can provide that reliability and reduce dependency. I urge my colleagues to cast their vote for the American family, for the senior on a fixed income, for the small business owner, and for energy security. And let me issue a warning. If we continue down this path, it will end in energy poverty right here in this country; and those that will be affected most are the vulnerable in our population, the ones that are disconnected from their energy companies; the ones that can't afford to do anything because energy costs are so high. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8749 which would strike the new tax on natural gas, and get us on a path, once again, to energy dominance, energy security and reliability.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, Charles and JoAnne Powell were a perfect team, and they supported one another as they completed their missions of life with flying colors. Together, they raised an exceptional daughter, Terri, and adored their two wonderful grandchildren. I am thrilled today to be able to honor them, to honor their service, the impact that they had in the Concho Valley, the impact that they had on so many veterans, and the impact that they had on our military with the naming of the Charles and JoAnne Powell VA Clinic. I thank the chairman and ranking member and the entire Texas delegation and your staffs for helping make this a reality. Obviously, I thank Charles and JoAnne Powell for their love of this country, which is a legacy that I think all of us could stand to learn from.