Scott Perry

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, like I said, every single one of us wants to help. Every single one of our hearts breaks for people who are forcibly displaced. I would say, as well, that I question the numbers of forcibly displaced. There are people in this country saying that all the people coming illegally to this country are being forcibly displaced when that is obviously not true. By the way, maybe we would be more amenable to taking the taxpayers' hard-earned money and spending it overseas on these migrations if we would solve our problems here in the United States of America. How can we force them, how can we ask them, to spend their hard-earned tax dollars overseas when we refuse to solve the problems right here at home and force them to pay for that, as well? It is insult upon injury. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, this amendment reduces the amount of economic support funding from $2.9 billion to $1.8 billion. Like a few of my colleagues on this side of the aisle have said this week, this is a necessary haircut to a program that has ballooned massively just since two Presidents ago. In the 5 years from fiscal year 2018 to 2023, this account went from $1.8 billion to $4.3 billion. People wonder, how do we get $33 trillion in debt? You get it a billion at a time just adding up. Let's look at the use of these funds from the report of this bill. Cooperative projects, sustainability challenges relating to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage. That is interesting. Have you ever heard of Flint, Michigan? They are concerned about their water resources. Agriculture? Our farmers aren't allowed to buy fertilizer--or can't afford it in this country based on the policies of the administration. Energy storage? We are paying for batteries overseas. It is not enough that we force our own constituents to use unreliable power, now we are going to force the rest of the world to do it and pay for it. How about scientific research collaboration in the Middle East? That is awesome because other than our one ally there, there is not much scientific collaboration that I am interested in participating in-- certainly not with Iran. The Middle East partnership initiative, which according to the State Department supports governments and their citizens to achieve shared political economic and stability objectives, how much money are we going to throw in this money pit year after year after year, decade after decade? In the administration's budget request they will say the use of funds to foster economic resilience in Greenland. Are they in peril in Greenland? Strengthen transparent governance and promote civil society and independent media in South Asia and provide rapid, flexible support and assistance to government and civil society in Africa. These are all laudable things. The question is can you afford them, and we cannot. I remind everybody we are simply borrowing from China to pay for these things--all of these things. Reasonable people can disagree about whether the American taxpayer dollars need to promote civil society or scientific collaboration abroad; however, the fact remains we must find places to save, and this reverts a highly inflated item--highly inflated. Again, $1.8 billion to $4.3 billion in 5 years. I would just ask what is the metric we use to determine whether this is successful or does anything at all to support the American people? Mr. Chair, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman from the other side of the aisle. We should be countering China. If we are going to use USAID to do that, well, that is all well and good, too, but let's enumerate how we are actually going to use this money to counter China. What we are expected to believe is that they need this money, and we are going to counter China somewhere in Eastern Europe. Maybe we are, but let's make the case. What you are asking is the American people to borrow money from China to then somehow counter China and just give all these folks that are smarter than all the rest of us all the money, and I am sure they will figure it out. I don't know if you are keeping up with current events, but China is eating our lunch right now while we are spending all this money that we are borrowing from China. I think the case makes itself. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, when everyday Americans, like the folks I have the honor to represent in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, have too many expenses, they are simply forced to cut back. They don't have any choice. That is what they had to do in this high inflation, high cost of living, Biden economy where gas, food--seemingly everything. I don't know that anything has gone down. For sure, food, gas, electricity prices are just going up and up. So what do folks do at home? They don't go out to eat as often. They don't have a meal out with their family. They might have to cancel a few subscriptions, put off some repairs around the house, put off buying a new pair of shoes, you name it. The point is that they pare back their spending sometimes to the bare bones because they have to keep a roof over their head and food in their bellies. Now, the paring back that I just discussed is something that this body, this institution has been unwilling, unable, and simply refused to do now for decades. Decades, $33 trillion worth of that. Many of my colleagues on this side of the aisle have highlighted via amendment the wasteful, bloated spending that this place has perpetuated, especially during the pandemic; unbelievable amounts during the pandemic. I appreciate the work of the chairman. He has worked diligently to bring this thing back closer in line with some reality, but there are still places we can cut. This amendment reduces the amount of international disaster assistance from $3.9 billion to zero. Now, everybody is going to take a gasp. Zero international disaster assistance? Ladies and gentlemen, in our country, the International Disaster Assistance account is zero. It has dried up. The good gentleman from Florida, his State just suffered a hurricane. There isn't any disaster money for them. What about the folks in Hawaii? What about the folks all across the country dealing with floods and fires? There isn't any money in the United States of America for them, but heaven forbid, we have to make sure we are all around the globe helping all those folks at the expense of the people in America. I am not trying--and no one is trying--to be punitive or cruel here. The fact is that this process is broken and the results of it are broken, and the American people are tired of being broke from what we do here in Washington. This is a nearly $4 billion line item that we simply can't afford. We want to be helpful. Every single one of us wants to help, but we are using the money that other people earn to help other people overseas while the people that earn the money are struggling, and that is immoral and unacceptable. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment, which eliminates $230,599,000--a lot of money whether you are in Arizona, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C.--in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development, funds appropriated to the President capital investment fund. I once again bring up the amendment to address the massive spending that is appropriated to USAID. The capital investment fund is for expenses for overseas construction and related costs and for the procurement and enhancement of information technology and related capital investments. We all want a new office. We all want a new computer. We all want a new phone. We have massive debt right now. We are going to run $2.2 trillion behind this year alone. I don't know who at home when they can't pay their bills, when they are literally borrowing money from their enemy, goes out and spends more. We are not even talking about spending more on our own home or our own phone or our own computer. We are talking about spending more on somebody else's and, quite honestly, in many cases in places where they don't even like America. Mr. Chairman, our country is now $33 trillion in debt. How in good conscience can we continue with this spending? This is the time to invest in the United States of America and our constituents who are struggling to pay for their groceries, to pay for gasoline, to pay for their ever-rising electricity bill, and it is going to keep on rising. Your gas prices are going to keep going up, and so are your food prices because of the policies of this administration. Mr. Chairman, we don't have any more money to spend on things that might be great to have, might be nice to have, might make us feel good. We don't have the money. When you don't have the money, you don't spend it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk as the designee of the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. PERRY

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

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Mr. Alton Russel Heimbach on the auspicious occasion of his 100th Birthday on August 7, 2023. Mr. Heimbach enlisted in the U.S. Army at 19 years old. Earning the rank of Sergeant (SGT), he served in Company C, 157th Combat Engineers and fought with ``The Greatest Generation'' on the Atlantic front, He served in General George Patton's 3rd U.S. Army, which marched across Northern France. SGT Heimbach's platoon landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on June 25, 1944. He was instrumental in keeping the 3rd Army moving by building bridges and repairing roads that were destroyed by the Germans. Most significantly, he helped to build the first Bailey Bridge, implemented primarily to help our Troops cross the Seine River, but served many thereafter, these bridges were critical to our mission of pursuing the retreating Axis forces. When Patton's 3rd Army moved into Paris, the 157th Engineers were among the first Soldiers to enter the city. SGT Heimbach went on to serve in Rhineland, Germany, Austria, and other areas in Central Europe, until his return to the United States upon the end of World War II in December 1945. After military service, Mr Heimbach had a successful and varied career ranging from heavy machine equipment operator to superintendent. He remains dedicated to the Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren, and his wife, Maria and their 3 children, Alton, Mary, and Brian. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to commemorate Alton Russel Heimbach on his 100th Birthday, but also for his distinguished, tireless, and selfless service to our Nation. He sets the standard by which we all should be judged. I wish him Godspeed, and many more years of great health, prosperity, and happiness.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, we were promised that this year would be different, that we would run all 12 spending bills individually and actually find some savings for the American people. Yet, this is another year where the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars are just squandered. Congress has passed all required spending bills only four times in about the 50 years since we have been under the current system. The last time Congress actually passed all the bills was 1996, when the U.S. national debt was a staggering $5.2 trillion. Just last week the debt hit $33 trillion. This is a cycle of perpetual failure, and, yes, our citizens are sick of it. The American people have lost faith in our ability to handle the country's fiscal issues. Madam Speaker, the other side talks about how efficiently they moved through things. Yeah, they moved through things. In 1996, we were $5 trillion in debt. Now we are $33 trillion in debt. They have efficiently spent us into bankruptcy because there is no amount of money, Madam Speaker, there is zero amount of money that they won't spend. They will spend as much as the American people make and then so much more. The cost of living is tied to the spending, Madam Speaker. Our citizens--my bosses and their bosses--can't afford their groceries, gasoline, or electricity because this town continues to spend like there is no tomorrow. Madam Speaker, we should pass this rule so we can pass the 12 bills and so we can reject the nongermane Senate bill that hooks the FAA with Ukraine spending. Maybe both of those are important, Madam Speaker, but tell me why I have got to vote to keep airplanes flying in the United States and also vote to spend money in a war 8,000 miles away. The American people are sick of that failure theater, Madam Speaker.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment cuts the Rural Business Program Account in half from last year's enacted budget amount of $43,125,000. The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, like a lot of Washington, D.C., programs, has a good name. It doesn't always do good things. Unfortunately, it continues the age-old government sin of picking winners and losers instead of just letting the market work. I ran a small business, and people would tell me that the government wants to be a good partner. I wasn't looking for a partner in my business. I was looking to run my business. If there was a partner, surely it wasn't the government, which had no idea about what I did in my business. What businesses need is for the government to get out of the way and stop making it difficult if they don't bend the knee to whatever the government demands of them. Let me just tell you what we are funding with this money. This comes right from the code cited in this appropriations bill: Loans for the purposes of reducing the reliance on nonrenewable energy sources by encouraging the development and construction of solar energy systems and other renewable energy systems. If you want to do that, you can get some of this money. If you don't want to do that, you can forget it. Mr. Chair, we have seen the government-mandated shift to green and oftentimes unreliable energy sources, and we have seen what it has done to the country. The Secretary of Energy tried to take a drive a little while ago in her battery-operated vehicle and didn't make it too far. We are not against these things, but the market should decide, not the government. The government is not the market, and it doesn't make the most efficient decisions. Even in places where the shift hasn't directly caused tragedy, every single one of our constituents is facing higher prices because of these policies. Because of these policies, we are literally building a grid on top of the grid that we already have, and the grid that we have, we are actually diminishing it at the very same time we are demanding more from that grid. Remember your healthcare costs, how they were going to go down when we socialized medicine with the Affordable Care Act, and now you can't afford medicine? Get ready because you are not going to be able to afford your electricity, either. This program supports that unaffordability, which is why it should end. This is only the tip of the iceberg. This very spending fight has highlighted the true amount of waste and duplication in the Federal Government the gentleman before me just spoke about. I offer a list of agencies that offer direct or indirect funding for this very thing: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, and Small Business Administration. My goodness. If every household and every business duplicated all the things the Federal Government did, they would be broke, too, because we sure are now. Again, I am more than supportive of small businesses and towns. That is where I got my start, picking fruit, baling hay, working in small businesses. The first business outside of agriculture was Ray's Exxon on Route 15. That is a small business. These businesses, like every other one and our consumers, have faced the record-high cost of living due to government-mandated shutdowns and harmful Biden policies. Every single one of these businesses and all individual taxpayers ought to keep more of their money that they earn instead of having it redistributed to whomever the government chooses to be the winner. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlemen from Maryland (Mr. Harris).

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding. He has a great amendment. Now, he doesn't have great hair right now--there is a little too much of it--but he has a great amendment. He is talking about the abuse of States. I come from Pennsylvania where these waivers are continually abused. Let's face it, Mr. Chair, they wouldn't have to be abused, they don't have to be abused at all. If my friends on the left would quit destroying the economies and the fabric of the household that makes a living and makes everything more expensive for them, none of this would be required. First, they destroy the house's income, and then they subsidize it and force them to do this. These waivers are indicative of this policy, Mr. Chair, and the gentleman from Louisiana makes a great point. This is a great amendment, and it should be adopted because these programs exist to help people but not to be abused by States that use them to push people further into poverty, which is what happens. They can never get out, and they are ever dependent. These waivers support that, and that is why they should end.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Tiffany for the amendment. I want, with him, to speak on behalf of parents and children, not on behalf of politicians and so-called scientists. This is what we know. We shouldn't even be having this conversation because we didn't enact this Federal Government to ban things from us. We want to make the decisions. Children want to make the decisions. Parents want to make the decisions. We know what is best for us. We don't need them to tell us. We will figure it out ourselves. Over the course of a couple hundred years, we have done pretty well here without scientists and politicians telling us and our children what is good or what is bad. Let me tell you what is good and what is bad. What is bad is school lunches today. Do you know how I know? Because kids don't want to eat them. All the nutrition they are getting? They are not getting it because they don't want them. The only time they are going to eat them is if it is the only thing they have to eat, and you are limiting that now. It is absurd. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for offering the amendment. I hope that we win this amendment, and kids and parents can finally make choices for themselves.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Ronald E. Myers, upon the auspicious occasion of his retirement on October 1, 2023 after 32 years of service as Director of Maintenance for the Graham Capitol Corporation. Mr. Myers enlisted in the Army on October 31, 1978, after graduating high school in Lower Dauphin. He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and became qualified as a helicopter mechanic at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Then-Sergeant Myers specialized in the UH-I/ Iroquois (``Huey'') aircraft (his favorite), the critical aircraft for troop and logistics transport, and direct combat gun support capabilities. Sergeant Myers' performance and duty as a mechanic of these premier and complex aircraft was critical to the Army mission. After his service in the active component Army, Sergeant Myers honorably served in the Pennsylvania National Guard, wherein he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) and continued to serve our Nation for 22 years. In May 1991, after his military retirement, he transitioned to the civilian/private sector, wherein he became Director of Maintenance for the Graham Capital Corporation flight department, now culminating his duties after 32 years on October 1, 2023. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I'm privileged to commend former Staff Sergeant Ronald E. Myers for his tireless and selfless service to our communities, Commonwealth, and Nation. I wish him Godspeed, and great health, prosperity, and happiness in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 390.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize the 112th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan). I join all those celebrating this Day, memorializing the beginning of the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911 that led to the collapse of the long-reigning imperial Qing Dynasty and foundation of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. Chinese Americans are a vital, valued, and vibrant community not only in my legislative district, but throughout our United States. I wish them and all observing this occasion, Godspeed, and a safe, happy, and momentous celebration. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, I'm privileged, humbled, and honored to commemorate the 112th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan). May the friendship between our two Free Nations remain robust.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Ronald E. Myers, upon the auspicious occasion of his retirement on October 1, 2023. Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army, Retired) Myers enlisted in the Army on October 31, 1978, after graduating from Lower Dauphin High School. He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and went on to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to become qualified as a helicopter mechanic. SSG Myers specialized in the UH-I/Iroquois (``Huey'') aircraft, which remains his favorite, as it was the critical aircraft for Troop and logistics transport, and direct combat gun support capability. Sergeant Myers' performance and duty as a mechanic of these premier and complex aircraft was critical to the Army mission. After his service in the active component Army, Sergeant Myers also honorably serviced in the Pennsylvania National Guard, where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) upon retirement. On May 1, 1991, he transitioned to the civilian/private sector, wherein he became Director of Maintenance for the Graham Capital Corporation flight department, in which he still serves after 32 years. Mr. Speaker, I'm privileged to commend Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army, Retired) Ronald E. Myers for his tireless and selfless service to our Country. On behalf of the 10th Congressional District, I wish him Godspeed on his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Mr. Richard T. Freistak on the amazing occasion of his 100th Birthday on September 6, 2023. Mr. Freistak graduated from Middletown High School in 1942, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. While selflessly serving our Nation from 1943 through 1946, he was deployed to the South Pacific theater in World War II. After his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Freistak studied architecture at the Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1951 with an Engineering Curriculum Architecture degree. While at Penn State, Mr. Freistak was a member of the Theta Kappa Phi fraternity, as well as the Nittany Lion Club that focused on providing scholarship and support to Penn State student athletes. Throughout his life, he attended Penn State football games as often as possible. Mr. Freistak's family owned and operated the iconic West Shore Theatre and Drive-in Theatre, the venture he also worked at and supported. Most importantly, he stayed close with his Mother, who blessed her family with her presence for 103 years. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I'm privileged and humbled to honor and commemorate Mr. Richard T. Freistak on the blessed occasion of his 100th Birthday, as well as his tireless service to our Nation and communities. As a true member of ``The Greatest Generation,'' he has set the standard by which we all should be judged. I wish him great health, prosperity, love, and Godspeed in his future adventures.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Greg and Carol Kupp upon the auspicious occasion of the 90th Anniversary of ``Kuppy's Diner'' on August 6, 2023. Kuppy's is located in the heart of Middletown, Pennsylvania, and has remained a beloved landmark since Percy Kupp founded the establishment in 1933, during the Great Depression. Kuppy's has been owned and operated by Fourth Generation Kupps (Greg and Carol) since 1991, with the Fifth Generation (Rachel) working alongside them daily, and even mentoring the Sixth Generation (Jackson) to take over someday. The Kupp Family is dedicated to continuing the tradition of their small, hometown, hardworking, friendly, and community-based establishment where all are welcome and treated like family. Kuppy's Diner has enjoyed and earned extraordinary success, due in no small part to Percy Kuppy's philosophy, ``if you serve good food at reasonable prices, people will be satisfied.'' But perhaps the most significant factor in Kuppy's longevity, popularity, and legacy is the Kupp Family's tireless dedication to and appreciation of their customers and community for nearly a century. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 10th Congressional District, and surrounding communities, I'm honored and humbled to commemorate Greg, Carol, and the entire Kupp Family upon the 90th Anniversary of Kuppy's Diner in Middletown, Pennsylvania. I wish them continued God's blessings for all they have built, achieved, and contributed, not only to the communities of Central Pennsylvania, but to the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Tech Sergeant Michael A. Bettis. Sergeant Bettis is retiring upon 20 years of tireless service to our Nation. His service in the U.S. Air Force as a Firefighter spanned from 2000 through 2004, during which he was twice deployed. During his deployment in the UAE, he was selected for Senior Airman below zone, and also earned the Air Force Achievement Medal. He then deployed to Qatar in 2004, before a brief return to civilian life. Tech Sergeant Bettis was called back to our Nation's service in the West Virginia Air National Guard, wherein he cross-trained into the Security Forces in 2008, and deployed a third time in 2010 to Saudi Arabia. He reenlisted in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, where he finished his storied and successful career. Mr. Speaker. I'm privileged to commend Tech Sergeant Michael Bettis on his tireless, selfless and loyal service to the United States, and I wish him Godspeed in his future.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend for his comments regarding our work in the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman.