August Pfluger

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a staple in the Odessa, Texas, community, Ms. Elizabeth Ann Mafford, also known as ``Ms. Ann''. Ms. Ann recently celebrated her 10th work anniversary at Chick-fil-A in Odessa, Texas. And while this was a special occasion in and of itself, it comes on the heels of Ms. Ann also celebrating her 90th birthday. Ms. Ann is a constant in Odessa, Texas, bringing joy and light to everyone she encounters. From working the drive-through and the front counter and just greeting customers on the way in, she continuously spreads light throughout the entire community. In a testament to Ms. Ann's life, her celebration of her 10th anniversary on the job was recognized community-wide. Folks posted online in recognition of Ms. Ann's kindness and love, and I would like to personally thank her for living the American Dream, for showing everyone throughout this country that even at 90 years young that she can still work and be a productive member of our community, bringing so much light and joy throughout Odessa, the Permian Basin, and Texas. Ms. Ann, thank you for what you do for our community and the joy you spread.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated leader in the Permian Basin, Odessa College president Dr. Gregory Williams. Dr. Williams began his educational career in 1983 as a student at Odessa College, later attending the University of Texas Permian Basin, then earning his doctorate in higher education from Baylor University. In 2007, Dr. Williams returned to the Permian Basin to serve as president of Odessa College. His impressive career has garnered local, State, and national attention. As both the chairman of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and as a member of the board of directors and the executive board of the American Association of Community Colleges, he continuously dedicates his time for the advocacy of community colleges and underrepresented communities. Thanks to Dr. Williams' stewardship, Odessa College has become one of the most impactful educational institutions in the Nation. Not only did his leadership earn Odessa College national recognition as a top-ranked community college, but his tenure as president saw enrollment increase by 35 percent and the number of degrees awarded by an incredible 197 percent. I thank my colleague from Illinois for also representing the achievements of Dr. Williams. He is a fierce advocate of community colleges. I speak for the entire community in sincerely thanking Dr. Williams for his commitment to the Permian Basin and to higher education.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose the previous question so we can immediately pass the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. I would like to thank Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her leadership on this. Really, the question is simple. I think we are missing the point. The question here is: Is the President of the United States going to pick America, or is he going to pick our enemies? That is the debate here. Step one was great, and I am glad that we are going to support Ukraine. I was there 5 weeks ago; we need to support Ukraine. Step two is we need the President to support America. Energy security is national security, Mr. President. It is time to put Midland over Moscow. Unfortunately, that security has been under assault for decades but most recently beginning on January 20, 2021. The administration is leading the assault on energy. The reality is that American energy is the cleanest in the world, but the President and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to acknowledge that fact and unleash it. Instead, they are choosing, the President is choosing, our adversaries, terrorists, and begging them to produce more when we can do it right here. Instead of calling on the 10 million Americans who do it every single day, we are outsourcing production to adversaries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and they are harming our environment even more. The war on Ukraine is horrifying, and it is heartbreaking. When I sat with President Zelensky, he said that the impetus to invade his country came from the fact that Nord Stream existed. Our President green-lighted Nord Stream but canceled the Keystone pipeline. Right now, today, there are six LNG terminals that the President, with the stroke of a pen, could approve. Are we going to pick the United States of America, or are we going to pick our adversaries? The United States should not be energy dependent. We should be energy dominant. Put Midland over Moscow. Unleash American LNG. Restart oil and gas leasing on Federal lands, and protect our own country. Pick our country.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, today is a sad day, a tragic day, as we witness the horrific images that are coming out of Ukraine. I was there just 4\1/2\ short weeks ago. I met with President Zelensky. I listened to the people on the streets of Kyiv. President Zelensky is a lion of a leader. He has displayed courage to the West. When he said, ``I don't need a ride, I need ammunition,'' I think that all of us should look at that, we should listen to that. The time to act is now. We don't have time to wait. Now is the time to act to help our Ukrainian partners. He didn't ask for troops inside Ukraine. He is asking for help. I hope that we will put Midland over Moscow, as the President last night in this Chamber said that it is time to buy American product. Energy security is national security, and that is absolutely what this body should be doing is putting our own energy security into the hands of our partners and allies so that they can defend and deter against the malign influence of Vladimir Putin. Our heart and our prayers go out to the people of Ukraine, and our thanks to President Zelensky for his leadership.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss, unfortunately, yet another crisis. When Russia invaded the Ukraine in 2014, I was actually an Active Duty Air Force officer stationed in Europe in NATO. Assigned to a NATO unit, I saw this firsthand. This is much different. I just returned from Kyiv where we met with many Ukrainian officials, including the President, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister. While there, we heard a message that was loud and clear. Vladimir Putin is acting now because he senses an environment of weakness. Weakness from this administration in the approach to energy, in their countless failures, including the most tragic of all, the Afghanistan evacuation, and then the lack of overall commitment to law and order, which can be seen so many places, including our southern border. All these failures have created this environment of weakness that Putin is now acting on. To make matters worse, European countries are completely beholden and dependent upon Russia for their energy. Over 40 percent of the energy flow is coming from Russia. Ukrainian officials told me directly that without Nord Stream II, Russia would not be acting out today. This was told to a bipartisan codel that heard this, both Republicans and Democrats alike. Since the President took office, every policy failure he has steered our country into has signaled not strength but weakness. The President now promises to impose severe sanctions on Russia should they invade the Ukraine. This is not the way that deterrence works. Deterrence happens every day; it happens in every policy action. It doesn't happen after the fact. Why would Russia expect the Biden administration to respect the borders of the Ukraine when we refuse to secure our own borders here at home? President Zelensky said this, ``Border security matters. I will defend the Ukrainian borders.'' We need a President who is strong, who will not only protect the United States, but also will send a clear message to our allies and partners abroad that law and order will stand, that sovereign borders will be protected. We need an administration that is capable of standing up to our adversaries. As I said before in this Chamber, we need a President who will choose Midland over Moscow. If President Biden is not going to take action, Congress must. I will be working to impose strong sanctions on the Nord Stream pipeline. Energy security is national security. The Ukrainian people understand this, the European continent understands this, and the Russians now have a stranglehold on Europe by imposing their will with the Nord Stream projects. We need Democrats and Republicans alike. We were unified on this codel. Mr. Speaker, I am asking my Democrat colleagues to understand the severity of this problem. In 2022, we have a sovereign country that could be invaded by an aggressor, that aggressor who has been emboldened by an environment of weakness. We must stand strong. So many people, including myself, have served overseas and have done the hard work. It is well past time that we end these crises, that we show strength in the face of an aggressor who would impose their will on the rest of the world and change world order that that greatest generation 80 years ago fought for. Now is not the time to back down. As Putin goes to China and stands side-by-side with Xi Jinping in these Olympic Games and asks for his blessing to invade a sovereign country, it is time for all of us to not identify by our parties but to identify as Americans, to come together and be strong on our actions. Honoring Diana Jones

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences to a public servant of Cresson, Texas. In August 2020, the city of Cresson lost one of its bravest servants, Diana Jones. Diana was an EMT, a member of the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 5 years, and often traveled to California, to the West Coast, to offer her skills in firefighting. Tragically, Diana passed away during one of these firefights. Last month, the Cresson community voted to name the volunteer fire department's training center the Diana Jones Memorial Training Center. Now all who step foot through that door will feel the sacrifice and the leadership that she has done in honoring her memory. The Diana Jones Memorial Training Center will forever remind the community of the example she set--learning to better one's self to serve others. Her legacy is continued through her sons as well as the Cresson community. We are proud to honor the life that she dedicated to serving her community.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American patriot, a true American hero. Ms. Mary Lou Hand just turned 100 years old on January 15, 2022. She is from Wall, Texas. Mary Lou served this country as a nurse in the Army in World War II. After first being stationed in Maryland and Mississippi, she was sent to England, where she provided critical care for the wounded; and, more importantly, she raised soldiers' spirits by spreading laughter. It was during her service in England that she met her husband, Bob. The two had six children together and lived in three countries and subsequently seven States. Ms. Mary Lou Hand has 6 children, 13 grandchildren, 25 great- grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She has cultivated a life of love and family, filled with gratitude. Throughout her century of life, she has dedicated her time to helping others. Her selfless dedication has played out through her commitment to her family as well as her impressive career serving our country and caring for others. Mary Lou, thank you for your service and happy birthday. Recognizing the Career of John ``J.B.'' Byers, Sr.

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to tell you about another patriot. You know, we have patriots, and we have leaders, servant leaders throughout our entire country. This is a special one that I would like to talk about in the community of Staten Island, Mr. John ``J.B.'' Byers, Sr. A New Jersey native, Mr. Byers began his remarkable 40-year career delivering letters for the U.S. Postal Service at the USPS Mariners Harbor Post Office and subsequently served 18 years at the Port Richmond office. During his four decades of exemplary service, John has become a fixture of the community. He has become beloved by those he happily served for so many years on his daily route. The best measure of John's success was not how efficient he was at his job, but it was the undeniable impact he had on his neighbors in the communities that he served so well. He went above and beyond in his duties, taking time to engage in the community, the lives and the livelihoods of the people he served every single day. His influence is evident by the meaningful and positive impact he made on those who knew him best, his neighbors, his colleagues, and his friends. Story after story from coworkers and community members alike show J.B.'s generosity, kindness, and work ethic. So much so that on John's last day at the U.S. Postal Service, those on his route threw him a surprise party to demonstrate how much the service that he did for them meant to them and their lives. John dedicated his life to his community through his career, and he became a trusted friend and familiar face to all. But even with his tenured and successful career, I know the greatest joy for him today stems from the beautiful family he and his wife, Kathleen, have raised. As he enters retirement, John and Kathleen are celebrating the birth of their first grandchild, Madison Patricia Byers, who was born on December 23, 2021. More than a mailman, J.B. has brought great joy and integrity to countless families and neighborhoods, and we thank him for his service to his community. Honoring Mrs. Pam Burke

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Pam Burke of San Angelo, Texas. Mrs. Burke runs the Wesley Soup Kitchen, a wonderful ministry that has been providing meals, along with love and care, to all those in need since 1948. Mrs. Burke has been at the Wesley Soup Kitchen for the past 12 years, preparing over 200 meals a day. In addition to feeding the homeless and those less fortunate, this ministry provides holiday meals and has been a consistent combatant of malnutrition and hunger throughout the community. Mrs. Burke is a wonderful example of God's calling in John, chapter 21 to feed His sheep. For no monetary gain of her own, Mrs. Burke dedicates her time and her energy to opening her arms and caring for the community. I know I am not alone in saying that I am grateful for the mission of the Wesley Soup Kitchen and am honored to know that wonderfully impassioned individuals like Mrs. Pam Burke are working throughout each of our communities.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding. Madam Speaker, it is hard to pick the crisis to talk about because there are so many. I would like to talk about unity. I was at the inauguration last year. I heard the President's speech. I heard him campaign. His message was centered on restoring unity to an angry Nation. He promised to bring us together. Well, he has brought the American people together, that is for sure, because everyone now understands the full magnitude of the crises that we are going through. He has united the country in that fact alone. One year ago, I want everyone to remember, we were not experiencing the inflation that we are, the highest rate in 40 years. We did not have foreign adversaries who were treading over our policies and looking at us as weak. Right now, we have a border that is in complete chaos and complete crisis. It has only been 1 year under President Biden's reign, and our Nation is directionless from the masthead in the midst of chaos, not to mention that our international reputation and our influence have been squandered through policy failure after policy failure. When you look at this poster right here, look at the energy crisis that we are dealing with, and Ukraine right now is in the midst of not knowing whether or not they are going to be invaded by the Russians. What a terrible position to be in. The President has green-lighted Nord Stream. He failed to sanction the Nord Stream pipeline. The energy crisis that is going on in Eastern Europe right now, the fact that we are not strong around the world in our messaging to deter our enemies and to help our allies, is directly leading to this issue that we see in Ukraine right now. And do you know who is watching? China. China is watching this, and they are wondering whether or not Taiwan is going to be next. We have to get back to a strong, firm understanding of law and order, the same discussion that we just had on the border crisis. We have to reassert our leadership to make sure that our country, the greatest Nation that this world has ever known, will choose to follow law and order.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with an incredible and inspirational story to congratulate San Angelo's Donald Huisenga on receiving his high school diploma after nearly 80 years of waiting. Although originally in the class of 1943, he was drafted into World War II just 3 months before graduation was scheduled. His service with the U.S. Army Special Forces took Mr. Huisenga behind enemy lines and to the front of the D-day charge. Recently, after Ms. Tess Gooding of San Angelo's VA clinic met with Mr. Huisenga and heard him mention always wanting to receive his diploma and graduate from high school, she got the ball rolling, and she went above and beyond the call of duty. And so did Mr. Huisenga's original high school district, East Sac County. Last Wednesday, alongside friends and family, Mr. Huisenga was awarded his high school diploma at the ripe age of 98 years old. It is touching to hear this story of service. I want to honor not only Mrs. Gooding for her work in the community, for her compassion, and for going above and beyond, but I would also like to honor Mr. Huisenga for his sacrifice to our country in World War II and for his continued desire to learn, teaching us an important lesson that it is never too late in life to learn. I thank everyone who helped Mr. Huisenga earn his diploma. They have all made us very proud. Congratulations on this incredible achievement.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Minnesota for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am glad that it was brought up tonight, those who have served and been willing to give their lives for this country. If we are going to talk about numbers, let's talk about the numbers in 2020. More people voted in 2020 than ever in the history of this country before, yet we are talking about suppression. Well, under Democratic leadership, our country is breaking records: record-high inflation, record-high illegal border crossings, historic levels of drug and human trafficking across the border, skyrocketing energy prices, surging crime rates, and countless empty shelves in grocery stores across the country. Americans are watching the dollar of their paycheck literally shrink before their eyes in real time as inflation spikes to the highest levels that we have seen in 40 years. The border is an absolute disaster. I was there last week. Illegal border crossings are, again, the highest ever, with close to 2 million illegal apprehensions under President Biden's watch. Fentanyl has crossed our southern border at levels that we have never seen before, and it is the leading killer of young adults in this country--100,000- plus lives in 2021. Instead of bolstering American energy security, the White House is spending their time lobbying for a Russian pipeline that will most certainly be used as a weapon against our allies in Eastern Europe. The policies of this administration and the Democratic Congress have led us into a record-breaking season of crises. But instead of working to fix these issues, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are attempting to distract the American people. Do we really think that Americans aren't paying attention?

Mr. PFLUGER. Tonight, Democrats are twisting the rules to pass a bill to nationalize our election system, allowing for hard-earned taxpayer dollars to finance political campaigns and handing control of congressional district boundaries to the powers that be in Washington, requiring States to allow felons to vote, and overriding wildly popular voter ID laws. To reference the President's disappointing speech yesterday, supporting voter ID or opposing this Washington power grab does not make you George Wallace or Jefferson Davis. That is nonsense. Americans deserve a President and a government that will lead us out of crises, not create them.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to defeat the previous question. I love this righteous discussion about law and order. It has been nearly 1 year of one-party rule for this country, and I speak for my constituents--I rise as a Texan--and countless others across the Nation who have whiplash from being tossed from one crisis to another crisis to yet another crisis caused by the policies, the misguided policies of this administration. We are not changing the subject here. We are actually staying focused on the issues that matter to most Americans, the complete breakdown of respect for law enforcement and the rule of law. Since we are talking about the rule of law, the breakdown of the rule of law has crime running rampant. We have heard about fentanyl; we have heard about the rising crime in communities like mine because of the open border that we have. You know who doesn't show up for court orders? 99.9 percent of the illegal immigrants who are served those papers, they are the ones who don't show up, since we are talking about the rule of law. We have Americans, as a matter of fact, that are still stranded behind enemy lines after President Biden's Afghanistan catastrophe. Communist China is enjoying their free pass after unleashing COVID-19 on the world and committing literal genocide on Uyghur Muslims in China. Millions of Americans are at risk of losing their jobs if they don't comply with the tyrannical mask mandate, a crippling national debt, an impending energy crisis, and an all-out humanitarian disaster on our border; those are the issues that we are not changing the subject on, we are actually focusing on. But today, instead of addressing these crises, Democrats have recycled their old tricks and are wasting time trying to punish, yet again, President Trump. You can only beat the same dead horse so many times. Republicans are here to work, and it is long past time that action is taken to quell these crises. We are urging our Democratic colleagues to look at the crisis at hand. When is the last time that one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle visited the border and can speak with any sort of authority that we don't have a crisis? We need to stop illegal immigration. We need to finish the wall. We have got to secure this border.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the horrific genocide that Communist China is committing against Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities. Right now, over one million Uyghurs are enslaved by the People's Republic of China in the Xinjiang region, where they are subjected to horrific human rights atrocities like forced sterilization and abortions, slave labor, and even execution. Communist China is actively attempting to wipe out an entire people group, and the United States must not allow it. A few months ago, I--and other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee--heard directly from Ms. Tursunay Ziyawudun, a survivor of a CCP's concentration camp. She told us harrowing stories of the horrific atrocities she suffered through. It was absolutely heartbreaking. I cannot imagine my wife or daughters being subjected to an environment like that. Today's resolution sends the message directly from the United States to the Chinese government, that they must immediately end their ongoing crimes. I applaud Republican Leader McCaul and Chairman Meeks for their work to address this heartbreaking atrocity.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer sympathy and prayer to the community of Andrews, as well as the families of Darin Johns and Marc Boswell, who were tragically killed in a bus crash while traveling with the Andrews High School Band to a Mustangs playoff game two weeks ago. Darin Johns was the beloved band director for Andrews High School. In the weeks since the accident, we have seen an outpouring of testimonies about Mr. Johns from former students, friends, colleagues, and other band directors across the entire state of Texas. As I learn more about the life that Mr. Johns led, I am continually encouraged by the quality of service that he gave to his community and the quantity of people whose lives he touched. Mr. Johns was an active member of the Andrews community who dedicated his life to his faith, loved his wife Karen and family and friends deeply, and invested in his natural talent and deep love of music. He was a gifted musician who could play almost any instrument he touched. In his free time, he played in a Christian band and directed the church praise band as an active member of the Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Johns deepest passion was encouraging the younger generations. For over 30 years, he taught others to love music as a high school band director. Over his impressive tenure, Mr. Johns led three different high school marching bands to the State Marching Contest. He lent all his time and energy to building up the dreams and talents of those around him. I also want to recognize Marc Boswell, a humble and beloved Andrews public servant, who also tragically passed away in the bus crash. Marc devoted his life to Andrews--as a high school math teacher, employee of the Andrews school district, involved community leader, and beloved friend, father, husband, and son. After retiring, Mr. Boswell stayed busy running stats for the Andrews football team, timing the swim team meets, and driving buses for Andrews ISD sports and extra- curricular activities. He was known for his servant heart, incredible work ethic, infectious smiles, and deep love for his wife Carol and his children and grandchildren. Andrews ISD and our communities across West Texas are mourning the loss of these two incredible men. Camille and I are sending our support and prayers to Andrews, to the families of Mr. Johns and Mr. Boswell, as well as the loved ones of Nathan Haile, who was also killed in the crash.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer sympathy and prayer to the community of Andrews, as well as the family of Darin Johns, who was tragically killed in a bus crash while traveling with the Andrews High School Band to a Mustangs playoff game two weeks ago. Darin Johns was the beloved band director for Andrews High School. In the weeks since the accident, we have seen an outpouring of testimonies about Mr. Johns from former students, friends, colleagues, and other band directors across the entire state of Texas. As I learn more about the life that Mr. Johns led, I am continually encouraged by the quality of service that he gave to his community and the quantity of people whose lives he touched. Mr. Johns was an active member of the Andrews community who dedicated his life to his faith, loved his wife Karen and family and friends deeply, and invested in his natural talent and deep love of music. He was a gifted musician who could play almost any instrument he touched. In his free time, he played in a Christian band and directed the church praise band as an active member of the Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Johns deepest passion was encouraging the younger generations. For over 30 years, he taught others to love music as a high school band director. Over his impressive tenure, Mr. Johns led three different high school marching bands to the State Marching Contest. He lent all his time and energy to building up the dreams and talents of those around him. Andrews ISD and our communities across West Texas are mourning the loss of Mr. Johns. Camille and I are sending our support and prayers to Andrews and Mr. Johns' family.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my deepest condolences and prayers to the families of Darin Johns and Marc Boswell, who were tragically killed in a bus crash while traveling with the Andrews High School band. Darin Johns, the beloved band director, was an active member of the Andrews community who dedicated his life to his faith and his beloved wife, Karen, and their family and friends, and who invested in younger generations as a band director for over 30 years. He lent all of his time and energy to building up the dreams and talents of those around him. I also want to recognize Marc Boswell, a humble and beloved Andrews public servant. Marc devoted his life to Andrews as a high school math teacher, was an employee of the Andrews school district, and was involved in the community as a leader and as a friend. He was known for his servant heart, his incredible work ethic, his infectious smile, and his deep love for his wife, Carol, and their children and grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, Camille and I are sending our support and our prayers, not only to the families of those who were tragically killed, but also to the entire community and Andrews High School.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the unborn. Babies deserve the right to live, and we have a responsibility to defend that right. Today, the Supreme Court is considering the most critical abortion case since Roe v. Wade was tragically decided 50 years ago. It has been 50 years too long, 50 years of abortions, 50 years of abandoning the defenseless, and 50 years of Federal laws that violate the conscience of the vast majority of Americans, Americans who support life and who are opposed to their hard-earned taxpayer dollars funding abortion. But today, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to protect that right to life. It is an opportunity that the State of Texas is championing. Since the passing of the heartbeat bill in Texas on September 1, almost 10,000 Texan babies have been saved, and now pregnancy help centers and other women's health clinics outnumber abortion clinics 20 to 1. The State now spends $100 million on abortion alternative services, including medical care and counseling. I want to put this in perspective. As somebody who served in the military, most countries ascribe to the law of armed conflict. When an enemy combatant asks for mercy and asks for their life to be saved, it is the law of armed conflict that directs combatants to save that life. Yet, in America, we are not saving the lives of innocent babies. I am urging the Supreme Court to make the right decision. I am praying for those Justices to save the lives of the unborn.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address a very important issue in our country. Crisis after crisis after crisis that we see, including last week where the President gathered with world leaders to discuss a fairytale climate agenda that will literally dismantle America's national security based on disinformation. If we continue down this path, all Americans should worry about one thing: Where is our energy going to come from? We are told that we must dismantle the American oil and gas production to save the planet, but in 2019, U.S. harmful emissions were 13 percent less than they were in 2005. No other country has cut their footprint more in that short amount of time. And what is responsible for this? Well, it is not electric vehicles. It is not unreliable energy sources. It's the American shale revolution. Clean-burning natural gas is critical in allowing us to achieve affordable, reliable energy supply without the harmful emissions and the increases like we see from major polluters like Russia and China. But instead of building on that progress, President Biden and Democrats are crippling the American energy sector and emboldening our foreign adversaries. I am proud to represent the men and women of the Permian Basin and the job that they do to keep the lights on to make sure that we have that affordable, reliable energy, and that it is running every single day. It is time to put Midland over Moscow. Any vote for reconciliation might as well be a vote for Russia. I am urging my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), my colleague. Madam Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the outrageous overreaching vaccine mandate that is devastating the lives of Americans, including those that I represent. Everywhere I go in my district, I hear from workers across all sectors who are facing the prospect of being fired. And why? Simply because Joe Biden and the White House think that they know better, that they have made a different medical decision than the powers that be in the White House. A few examples of calls that I have received just this week: A soon- to-be-mother who doesn't want to take the vaccine until after she gives birth is facing termination. The countless healthcare workers who have sacrificed so much for the last year-and-a-half-plus to save the lives of all of us to be there to serve us, and now they are facing termination. A married couple recently moved to San Angelo during the pandemic in search of freedom and personal liberty that Texas so desperately promises the rest of the country. And now the husband, an Air Force veteran and a Border Patrol agent, faces termination due to President Biden's egregious Federal overreach. It is about control. This is about control. This vaccine mandate is another example of Democrats' belief that the government should control every aspect of our lives. America, wake up. The message is the same: That the President thinks he knows better for you than you know for yourself. We must strike down Biden's unconstitutional vaccine mandate now.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of U.S. Air Force veteran and San Angelo native Barney Brooks who passed away on November 7, 2021, at the age of 92. Mr. Brooks was a born pilot and often joked that he knew he was meant to fly even before the stork dropped him off. In the Air Force, Barney served as a lieutenant colonel and combat pilot completing over 100 missions in the Korean war and 50 in the Vietnam war. Over his 23-year career, he served in Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, and he was stationed at multiple bases around the United States and throughout the world. Our country owes a debt of gratitude to Barney who was brave enough to don the uniform and put his life on the line many times, as well as his family, including his beloved wife, Nancy, and five children who supported him and empowered him to charge forward in the fight for freedom. Mr. Speaker, I thank Barney for his noble service. Recognizing Philip Parks

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Philip Parks of Odessa, Texas, who passed away on October 29, 2021, at the age of 76. Mr. Parks was a devoted Christian, husband, father, and grandfather who was dedicated to the service of his family, his community, his church, and many other things, including his country. Philip served our country valiantly in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam war as a linguist in Taiwan. He was a schoolteacher for over 30 years, a principal for many schools throughout the area, and an extremely active member of the First Baptist Church and other organizations, including the Rotary Club and VFW--even serving as a volunteer firefighter. We will never know the number of lives he impacted over the course of his own life. I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Parks right here in Washington, D.C., on his last flight when he traveled here with the Permian Basin Honor Flight. What an honor it was to see the service, the dedication, and the leadership. I am sending my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Lois, who shared 52 years of marriage, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Parks for his service. Southern Border

Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask a simple question: When will this administration recognize the crisis at our southern border? Late last night Customs and Border Protection released their record- shattering border crisis numbers. Once again, in the month of October, more than 164,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended. This is the worst October in DHS history, and these are only the numbers of those who were apprehended, not to mention the got-aways. Drug trafficking and human trafficking is surging. It is confirmed that MS-13 gang members are crossing into the United States and hundreds of thousands--in fact, over 2.1 million--have entered this country illegally with more advancing towards our southern border right now. Meanwhile, the administration is considering nearly half a million dollars in payments to illegal immigrants who broke the law while they are not paying contractors to build the wall and they are leaving already paid for materials in the field to rot. All this is made worse by the fact that the President is forcing our brave Border Patrol officers who are woefully understaffed and lacking the resources they need to choose between their livelihoods and a vaccine mandate. We have seen reporting by the Border Patrol that nearly half of its agents could be fired in less than a week due to the administration's November 22 COVID-19 vaccine deadline. It has never been more clear. The President has abandoned Texas and every other border State, and he is cutting his own Border Patrol agents off at the knees. It is long past time to admit that there is a crisis at our southern border and that the men and women of the United States Border Patrol are overwhelmed and they need their Commander in Chief to support them. This crisis is not slowing down. Mr. President, we urge you to secure the border, to not abandon Texas, and to come to our rescue.

Mr. PFLUGER

Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding. Madam Speaker, transparency, the American people deserve transparency, and they resoundingly rejected the bad policies proposed by the Democratic Party this week. Yet, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doubling down to pass legislation that will radically change our country for the worse. We are talking about transparency. We need transparency right now to understand the tax increases on all Americans; the outsourcing of energy and manufacturing jobs outside this country; and a half a trillion dollars to misguided, new green policies that will, no doubt, bankrupt this country and saddle our children and grandchildren with more debt. The misprioritized placating of green special interests that this administration has rushed to are unbelievable. It is Midland over Moscow; it is Odessa over OPEC; it is the Permian Basin over Putin, not the opposite. But blue State millionaires and journalists and those purchasing electric vehicles now, apparently--in the 2,000-plus pages-- are going to get a handout. I am voting ``no'' on this radical legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.