Steven Palazzo

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Carter for those wonderful remarks. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Cline so much for his remarks. At this time, I would like to introduce Congressman Carter from Georgia's First Congressional District, where they host eight major commands in his State and over 16,000 patriotic guardsmen.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, at this time I recognize a colleague of mine from Virginia's Sixth District. He has seven major commands and over 9,000 guardsmen. I would like to note he serves on the Appropriations Committee. Ninety-two percent of all funding that guardsmen receive comes from the Federal Government through his committee. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline).

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma's First Congressional District (Mr. Hern), my good friend. He has five major commands and over 10,000 guardsmen. From his actions and deeds, he is truly supportive of not just our Active Duty but our Guard and Reserve components. Thank you for being here tonight.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas' Sixth Congressional District (Mr. Ellzey). Congressman Ellzey is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and flew 860 helicopters, F-14 Tomcats, FA-18 Hornets, and Super Hornets, and served five combat tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. If I may just note, since you are a graduate of the Naval Academy, I actually happen to serve on the Board of Visitors for the Naval Academy. My best experience was in 2011 when a little team called Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was able to travel up to Annapolis and put a beatdown on the Naval Academy. It only happened once, but once in a lifetime is good for me.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia's Ninth District (Mr. Clyde). Congressman Clyde has served as a U.S. Navy officer for over 28 years, with three combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. We appreciate him being here to support our National Guard and Reserve components.

Mr. PALAZZO. General Bergman, being over the 4th Marine Division gives you insight that many people don't understand. Being able to connect the relationships between the actual serving member, their family, and their employer is extremely important. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from the great State of Mississippi (Mr. Guest). He represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Michael also serves as the vice ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, so he definitely takes homeland security and national security very seriously. He loves the Guard so much, he even hired a retired Adjutant General to serve on his staff. Thank you for being here.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), who is from Michigan's First Congressional District. Representative Bergman was a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi. He is also, notably, the highest-ranking combat veteran to have ever served in the House of Representatives.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Carey. I know the State is very proud of his support of the Ohio National Guard and all the military services that he has. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens). Burgess Owens represents Utah's Fourth Congressional District, a State that has 11 major commands and over 7,500 guardsmen. Fortunately, Representative Owens serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, so I know he appreciates our guardsmen and servicemembers, and he is looking out after the homeland.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin for his service not only in the military but also in the U.S. House of Representatives. Also I thank him for what the Texas National Guard is doing to try to secure our border in Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey). Representative Carey also is a former Army Guard officer. He represents 18,000 guardsmen. Actually, Ohio has 18,000 guardsmen and nine major commands Army and Air. So I thank my friend for his service and for his participation tonight.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Kelly for his remarks and his service. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who is a former Texas Army Guard and U.S. Army Reserve officer. He has over seven major commands and over 25,000 guardsmen in his great State. I know he is a huge supporter of them.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my cochair, Representative Kahele, for his remarks. Also to be noted, the Representative is an Air Force veteran, and he is also a current Air National Guardsman. He has served in multiple theaters including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. So we appreciate his service to the Nation not just as a Representative but also as a veteran. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the State of Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), who has spent 36 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard. He currently serves as a major general throughout his deployments. He has also earned two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge, and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury Medals for his service. He also serves on the Armed Services Committee where he is a huge asset for our Nation.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand here to recognize and honor the servicemembers of the National Guard and Reserve components. Over the last few years, our National Guard soldiers have been more in the spotlight than ever before. These men and women proved true to their motto of ``Always Ready, Always There,'' as they face some of our Nation's toughest times. We have seen guardsmen from all over the country help in ways we never thought would be needed or possible: a 5-month deployment to defend the U.S. Capitol; to assist in an attempt to secure the southern border; to aiding our healthcare workers in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations and other COVID-related assignments. These men and women leave behind their loved ones and livelihoods to assist all Americans when we most need it. Today is an opportunity for Members of the House to thank these brave soldiers for the tremendous work and sacrifice our Guard and Reserve servicemembers have endured since the first muster of militia forces to present day. There are a lot of issues that divide our Nation and Congress, but I know for certain that support for our National Guard and Reserve continues to be bipartisan. I am proud of the work we are doing to assist these soldiers, their families, and the mission. Not all Members have a military base, but almost everyone has a National Guard Armory and National Guardsmen in their district. I look forward to hearing from more of my colleagues today as we take this moment to thank them for their service. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Kahele), the co-chair of the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus.

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the homecoming of World War II Private Andrew Ladner, whose remains finally came home 80 years after being killed in action. Private Ladner was assigned to the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On November 30, 1942, during a blockade to prevent a Japanese assault on the island of New Guinea, he was killed during the initial wave and was reportedly buried 26 yards west of the road the unit was blockading. After the war, his remains could not be found and eventually were declared nonrecoverable. However, between a little luck and the never- quit Army attitude and exhaustive research, they located his remains in 2016. Now Private Ladner can be laid to rest in a way he deserves. I know his family takes comfort in his example of a life well lived and the legacy he left behind all those years ago. Private Ladner was part of the Greatest Generation of Americans. His family can find solace in knowing his legacy will never die but lives on with every American who puts on the uniform of the United States military. On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Mississippi, we honor the memory of Private Andrew Ladner, who gave his life for his family and the country he so dearly loved. Private Ladner, may you rest in peace. God bless you, and Semper Fidelis.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, last year I introduced H.R. 6176, with the goal of preventing the Secretary of Energy and the President from doing exactly what they announced this week, tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve without issuing a plan for American energy independence. Now, several months after living under President Biden's failed energy policies and decisions, he has announced the largest release of oil reserves in history, putting one million additional barrels on the market per day on average every day for the next 6 months. Biden's anti-American energy agenda jeopardizes our national security once again. Tapping the SPR at the levels announced this week by this administration is a dangerous move. Drawing down our strategic reserves by over 25 percent poses a huge national security risk, a risk that America would not be in the place to take if Biden would end the Federal freeze on all new oil and gas projects and stop the regulatory assault on U.S. energy development and financing. Tapping the SPR will not lower gas prices. Today is April Fools' Day, but with Biden in office you would think every day is April Fools' Day. However, he is not pulling innocent pranks on the American people, but he is personally harming the safety, security, and prosperity of America.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Our country is facing a national security crisis, an energy crisis, a border crisis, and an economic crisis, but here we are, voting on cannabis legislation. How is this helping our constituents who are paying sky-high prices at the gas pump? How does this strengthen our military and help secure America? How does this address Biden's record-breaking surge of illegal immigrants at our southern border? How does this help us to leave a stronger, safer, more secure America for our children and our children's children? Simple answer: It doesn't. We are here today to vote to get America high. In States with legalized marijuana, there are more marijuana-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations than any other category. Patients in a study using marijuana to treat pain, anxiety, and depression failed to report improved symptoms, and the continued use of marijuana brought risk of addiction known as cannabis abuse disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that about 30 percent of marijuana users have some form of use disorder. In Colorado, the Speaker's home State and the leading State for legalizing marijuana, there was a 25 percent increase in CUD among 12- to 17-year-olds. These are our children. Allowing children, who don't know how to rationalize long-term effects of drugs, to use a gateway drug for recreational or medicinal purposes is reckless, negligent, careless, and irresponsible. The MORE Act does not responsibly end Federal prohibition of cannabis. The MORE Act does not end the war on drugs. All it does is poison our children and weaken our society. This flawed legislation is not time sensitive, does not require consideration this week, and should not take priority over the various serious issues our country currently faces. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and put our children first, not the dope dealers.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chief Wayne H. Payne's accomplished career and outstanding service to law enforcement in the State of Mississippi. Chief Wayne Payne is a native and lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from Gulfport High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1991. Chief Payne and his wife, Paula, have been married since 1974 and have two sons, Wayne and Joey, both law enforcement officers. They also are blessed with three grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Kimberly and, Haily. Chief Payne is an accomplished public servant and Law Enforcement Executive with nearly 50 years of public service. In 1976, Chief Payne transitioned from his position as a firefighter for the Gulfport Fire Department to the Gulfport Police Department, where he started as a patrol officer and quickly rose through the ranks. Notably, Chief Payne has served as the Chief of Police for the City of Long Beach, the Major of Operations for the Gulfport Police Department, and the Chief of Police for the City of Gulfport. Chief Payne served a total of 30 years with the City of Gulf-port before retiring in 2004. After his initial retirement, Chief Payne decided to continue his public service as the Major of Operations for the Harrison County Sheriff's Department. In 2007, Chief Payne was selected as the first Chief of Police for the City of D'Iberville Police Department. As D'Iberville' s first Chief of Police, Chief Payne has utilized his years of professional expertise and experience to build out his department and guide the next generation of police officers who serve and protect the State of Mississippi. The City of D'Iberville's Police Department motto is ``Serving our citizens with Dignity, Honor, and Integrity'' and there is no doubt that Chief Payne has exemplified this saying throughout his many years of dedicated service. Chief Payne is among many brave Mississippians who understood the risks of the profession, and still chose to serve our communities as law enforcement officers. The sacrifices that Chief Payne and his family have made over the years have not gone unnoticed. On behalf of Mississippi's fourth congressional district, as his Congressman I thank him and his family for their immense sacrifice and his service.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address President Biden's attack on American energy independence. From day one, the Biden administration has opposed domestic energy production in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore. The drastic reduction in domestic energy production has made the U.S. even more reliant on foreign energy. Since President Biden took office, the U.S. has imported around 228 million barrels of oil from Russia alone. That adds up to $17.5 billion in 2021 to help fuel Putin's war on Ukraine and jeopardize our national security. Instead of increasing the amount of domestic energy production to help ease the high fuel price, the President is now looking to Venezuela and Iran to help supply the U.S. with even more foreign oil and gas. We cannot allow the United States to cut funding from one tyrant to hand it out to another. The United States has the world's largest oil and gas reserves. We can produce energy resources more cleanly and efficiently than anywhere else in the world, and we should produce them. As a former offshore oil worker, and now a Member of Congress, an energy-independent United States is one of my top priorities in Congress. Our country must cut back its reliance on foreign oil. American oil, natural gas, or clean coal, the method is flexible, but the reason is not. We must increase our domestic production of energy. Our national security depends on it.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, due to an emergency landing and the necessary cleanup at the airport, my flight to D.C. was significantly delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 58 and YEA on Roll Call No. 59.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the official renaming of the Gulfport Fitness Center in honor of Builder Chief Petty Officer Raymond Border. Raymond Border was born on July 22, 1980, in Coshocton, Ohio. He enlisted in the Navy on September 22, 1999. Upon completion of Builder A-school Gulfport, MS BUC Border completed successful tours deploying twice with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE. His daughter, Shelva Border and son Donavan Border currently still live in Gulfport. His father Craig Border and mother Julie Border live in West Lafayette, Ohio. A few months after returning home from deployment in 2011 to Afghanistan's Helmand Province with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 BUC Border volunteered for an Individual Augmentee billet on a Provincial Reconstruction Team and returned to Afghanistan, where he lost his life in the line of duty. For his outstanding service, BUC Border was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star (with combat V), Purple Heart, and Combat Action Ribbon. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal during his previous naval service. Traditionally Seabee facilities are named after Seabees that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. BUC Border was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was executing a road assessment for a convoy in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, on October 19, 2011. BUC Border perfectly embodies what it means to be a true American hero and I can think of no better fit than BUC Raymond J. Border the first Seabee, and first Chief Petty Officer from the Seabee Fleet Concentration Area in Gulfport to receive this distinct honor. His memory proudly represents all Seabees that deployed to Afghanistan and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Our military servicemembers deserve to be recognized for their commitment to our great nation and I am grateful for his unwavering dedication to our country. The naming of the Fitness Center will allow the Seabees to be able to permanently remember and honor one of their fallen Seabees and Chief Petty Officers.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, today we celebrate the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is a state-of-the-art facility that represents the University of Southern Mississippi's commitment to honor our nation's heroes. The dedication ceremony will honor Joe Quinlan, USM alumnus and lead benefactor for the Hall of Honor, as well as U.S. Army Major General (Retired) Jeff Hammond, USM alumnus and former Golden Eagles Football Team Captain and Quarterback. These two gentlemen have earned this recognition for their service to the Golden Eagle community. The University's Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families provides guidance and support to Student-Veterans in their academic and professional pursuits. Major General Jeff Hammond, who serves as the Center's Director, has led the University of Southern Mississippi to earn numerous prestigious recognitions, including the top Military Caring University across the State of Mississippi, designation as a Purple Heart Institution, and ranking No. 1 in the Southeast by Military Times in its ``Best for Vets: Colleges 2021 Rankings.'' The new Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor will provide more than 1,700 USM Military Students and Student-Veterans with a home of their own that is commensurate with the honor of which they are deserving. Today is a special day. The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor symbolizes the University of Southern Mississippi's continued commitment and gratitude to our nation's heroes for their unwavering dedication to our country. As a Marine veteran and USM alumnus, I want to thank the University's Administration, the USM Foundation, and the more than 150 USM alumni donors who made the construction of the new Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor possible for their commitment to honor those who serve. SMTTT. Semper Fidelis.

Mr. PALAZZO

Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, today, we celebrate the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is a state-of-the-art facility that represents the University of Southern Mississippi's commitment to honor our nation's heroes. The dedication ceremony will honor Joe Quinlan, USM alumnus and lead benefactor for the Hall of Honor, as well as U.S. Army Major General (Retired) Jeff Hammond, USM alumnus and former Golden Eagles Football Team Captain and Quarterback. These two gentlemen have earned this recognition for their service to the Golden Eagle community. The University's Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families provides guidance and support to Student-Veterans in their academic and professional pursuits. Major General Jeff Hammond; who serves as the Center's Director, has led the University of Southern Mississippi to earn numerous prestigious recognitions, including the top Military Caring University across the State of Mississippi, designation as a Purple Heart Institution, and ranking No. 1 in the Southeast by Military Times in its ``Best for Vets: Colleges 2021 Rankings.'' The new Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor will provide more than 1,700 USM Military Students and Student-Veterans with a home of their own that is commensurate with the honor of which they are deserving. Today is a special day. The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor symbolizes the University of Southern Mississippi's continued commitment and gratitude to our nation's heroes for their unwavering dedication to our country. As a veteran and USM alumnus, I want to thank the University's Administration, the USM Foundation, and the more than 150 USM alumni donors who made the construction of the new Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor possible for their commitment to honor those who serve. SMTTT. Semper Fidelis.