Matthew Rosendale

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor retired Marine Burton Ray Gigoux for his selfless dedication to our country and his lifelong commitment to serving communities across Montana. On December 23, 2023, Burt, as his friends called him, went home to his Lord and Savior after a courageous battle with cancer. However, this extraordinary Montanan left a legacy that continues to inspire all of us today. Since graduating High School, Burt has lived a life dedicated to public service, which led him to bravely answer the call of duty to serve in the United States Marine Corps. Following his courageous service in the Marine Corps, Burt married Anita, who became his lifelong partner in all his endeavors. After marrying, they both moved to Billings, Montana, where they had their son, David. Since moving to Billings, Burt, and Anita dedicated their time to serving veterans across the Treasure State. Burt's dream was to have a national veteran's cemetery in Yellowstone County, a land he found fitting as a final resting place for our Nation's finest men and women. After persuading the county commissioners to join in his efforts, legislation was introduced in the Montana Legislature to establish the Yellowstone County Veteran's Cemetery, and it was approved. Burt's determination was enough to give the veterans of Yellowstone County a rightful resting place deserving of their accomplishments. However, Burt kept pushing to make it a national cemetery. After nearly a decade of convincing the VA, with all the odds stacked against him, his efforts were rewarded on Memorial Day in 2014, when the U.S. Undersecretary of the VA dedicated the Yellowstone County Veteran's Cemetery to national status. Thanks to Burt, Yellowstone National Cemetery is now the resting place of our Nation's finest heroes in Montana. In addition, Burt proudly assisted 750 WWII veterans in visiting their national monument here in Washington, D.C. Through these actions and more, Burton Ray Gigoux left a lasting legacy and serves as an example to us all. May God bless the Gigoux family as they mourn the passing of this true hero. It is a privilege to recognize his accomplishments and his lifelong service to our country in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the recent retirement of a remarkable Montanan, Mr. Milford Wearley, who served his community and dedicated years of his life to training and teaching future farmers and ranchers across Montana. After graduating from Choteau High School in 1971, Mr. Wearley attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where he later graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science and a Master's degree in Agricultural Education. Upon graduation, Mr. Wearley chose to pursue his career in training and educating students about Agriculture as he served as an FFA Advisor at Malta High School in 1981. Since then, Mr. Wearley's passion for teaching and training the next generation of farmers in Montana flourished. After three years in Malta, Mr. Wearley moved to Choteau to continue his career and passion for teaching, where he stayed until recently retiring. Agriculture isn't just an industry in Montana, it's our way of life, and thanks to Mr. Wearley's lifelong dedication to training, teaching, and advising aspiring farmers, ranchers, and students, our state is stronger, and our agricultural industry is more resilient. It is a privilege to recognize Mr. Wearley's 40 years of service and his impact while instructing the next generation of farmers and ranchers across the Treasure State.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman and Congressman Curtis for leading the charge on stopping this disastrous Biden administration rule. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the WEST Act. This legislation will prohibit the BLM's Conservation and Landscape Health rule from going into effect. Our past speaker just described very well the difference between rule and law. The BLM-proposed rule will lock up large swaths of public land across the country for Federal conservation leases that would limit recreational activities, timber production, animal grazing, and important energy development on public land. The rule is unconstitutional, it is unpopular, and it will devastate rural communities. Article I, Section 1, of the United States Constitution makes it clear that Congress writes the law, not the executive branch. In 1934 and 1976, Congress passed the Taylor Grazing Act and the Federal Land Policy Management Act. Both require a multiple use policy on public lands. This rule is unconstitutional because it circumvents both laws Congress passed to enforce an executive branch policy. When collecting limited public input on this rule over a limited 75- day period, the BLM only allowed five public forums in exclusively urban city centers. This deliberate dodging of stakeholders whose land they are attempting to commandeer shows how little this administration cares about their scathing disapproval in rural America. Lastly, this move will irreparably impede sustainable and productive grazing practices in Montana and devastate rural communities throughout the country by requiring ranchers to compete with coastal corporations for the limited number of available leases. I am sick and tired of the American farmer, who creates food security, being trampled by radical environmentalists who think their soy burgers magically appear on grocery store shelves. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition and celebration of both National and Montana Ag Weeks. Food security is national security, and across the Treasure State and the country, farmers work tirelessly to keep food supplies safe and plentiful so we don't have to rely on foreign nations to sustain our population. Agriculture isn't just an industry in Montana. It is our way of life. It contributes an average of $5.2 billion a year to the economy. Producers' hard work, dedication, and resilience play an essential role in feeding our communities, sustaining our economy, and managing our land. While ag production is a vital industry, it doesn't come without its challenges. Congress must first secure a strong crop insurance program that gives producers certainty and, secondly, pass my Land and National Defense Act, which would prohibit the Chinese Communist Party from buying farmland in our country. Both initiatives can be included in this year's farm bill to show producers that folks here in Washington haven't forgotten about them and have their backs in times of need. Ag producers deserve recognition for the work they do to take care of our great Nation.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Nathan Keane, a remarkable Montanan, who has dedicated his life to serving and advocating for grain growers throughout the Treasure State and across our country. From farming with his father-in-law on their fourth generation family farm in Loma, Montana, to advocating for policies that benefit Montana farmers, Nathan has had the ability to truly represent and protect our way of life. As past President of the Montana Grain Growers Association, Nathan has served as a board member, chair of the Domestic Policy Committee, and chair of the 2022 Annual Convention and Trade Show. Nathan was elected to serve as secretary to the National Association of Wheat Growers, expanding his reach and amplifying his voice. He proved himself to be an effective leader in shaping policy here on Capitol Hill and advocating for Montana grain growers. I have had the unique opportunity to get to know Nathan and his passion for agriculture, and I have no doubt the National Association of Wheat Growers will thrive with Nathan as their new secretary.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate this week as Invest in Veterans Week as proclaimed by Montana Governor Gianforte. Currently, nearly 9 percent of the Treasure State's population is made up of veterans. There are over 78,000 veterans in Montana, the fifth highest population of veterans per capita of any State. It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent a State so deeply rooted in military history. Businesses owned by veterans employ over 5 million people and generate over $1 trillion in revenue annually. Whether that be through starting their own farm, ranch, or small business, many of our Nation's heroes come home to their families and communities ready and eager to find ways they can continue to benefit and serve our communities. By investing in our veterans, we are able to provide them with the resources that they need to continue to use their exceptional talents and skills that benefit all of us. Investing in our veterans should not be limited to just this week, but it should be our mission all year round.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic actions of Montana Highway Patrol Trooper, Mr. Lewis Johnson. Through his time serving the Treasure State, Trooper Johnson has demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience despite enduring life-threatening challenges. Born in 1987, Trooper Johnson grew up in Chester, Montana. After graduating from The Montana Law Enforcement Academy in 2014, Trooper Johnson and his wife Kate chose to dedicate their lives to protecting and serving the people of Montana as State Troopers. Both stationed in Eureka, Montana, Trooper Johnson is known by his community as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a friend to many. Unfortunately, on February 16, 2023, Trooper Johnson was severely injured in a tragic accident involving a fleeing suspect. Trooper Johnson experienced numerous injuries, including a punctured lung, damaged liver, head injury, broken ribs, broken arm, broken leg, and severe spinal trauma. Despite sustaining severe life-threatening injuries, Trooper Johnson's remarkable endurance and unwavering support from his family and loved ones has led him down the path to recovery. After many months in the hospital, countless hours of rehabilitation, and medical treatments, Montana celebrates his successful recovery and his reunification with his wife, children, and community. Trooper Johnson has demonstrated unwavering courage and continues to embody Montana values as he encourages and inspires Montanans and Americans across the country through his story. It is a privilege to recognize and honor Trooper Johnson's selfless commitment to protecting the people of Montana and his remarkable journey toward recovery today.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, in July, the House Republicans passed the most conservative NDAA in history that ended Biden's taxpayer- funded abortion travel fund, stopped taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries, and prevented American citizens from being indefinitely detained without charge or trial. I was proud to vote for that legislation. I understood that this bill would change in the Senate and knew that compromise was inevitable. However, I cannot support a bill written by the D.C. uniparty that removes all of the reforms and watch as leadership once again suspends the rules we fought to restore, preventing Members from even amending this flawed legislation. Even worse, this legislation includes a clean extension of FISA section 702, which has allowed the FBI to spy on U.S. citizens more than 278,000 times without a warrant. The FBI, under President Biden, has been weaponized against the American people, and major reform is needed. FISA should not be combined with our national defense, and it is unacceptable that leadership is bypassing regular order to jam Members by forcing them to vote on two unrelated bills with one vote. Make no mistake about this, folks: This one vote will allow the United States Government to spy on you and the United States military to lock you up in Guantanamo Bay without representation.

Mr. ROSENDALE

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on this National Miners Day, I rise to recognize all miners across Montana who work tirelessly to keep our lights on and our country safe. It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent the State of Montana in Congress--a State whose founding history lies in the hardworking hands of miners. It is no coincidence that Montana is nicknamed the ``Treasure State.'' As seen on our State's great seal and State flag: a pick, a shovel, and a plow along with the words ``Oro y Plata,'' ``Gold and Silver,'' in Spanish, are depicted front and center, symbolizing our State's diverse natural resources and our rich history of farming and mining. Earlier this year, I led an energy tour and brought several Members of Congress to Montana to visit the Stillwater Mine in Columbus and the Rosebud Mine in Colstrip so they could see firsthand the work our miners do and how critical they are to our national security and powering America. On this day and every day, I thank Montana miners for their indispensable role in the production of domestic energy that keeps America safe, thriving, and powered.

Mr. ROSENDALE

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

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 33 prohibits funding for the John E. Fogarty International Center saving approximately $95 million. Our Nation is over $33 trillion in debt, with an expected annual deficit this year of nearly $2 trillion. We need to find innovative ways to reduce spending. While many would consider this small potatoes, we must begin with the most blatant violations of the public trust, and that is what we consider this. My amendment builds off of President Trump's first budget request, which called for eliminating the Fogarty International Center. According to their website, the Fogarty International Center is dedicated to advancing the mission of the National Institutes of Health by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by the U.S. However, the center emphasizes a perverted view of ``global health equity'' and partners with the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization is a corrupt organization that worked with the Chinese Communist Party to cover up the origins of the COVID- 19 pandemic. The Fogarty Center should not be working with the World Health Organization. Moreover, a large amount of the grants funded by the Fogarty International Center are counterproductive to our interests. One such egregious project that received funds in the Philippines is titled: Stigma Reduction and Gender Affirmation to Promote HIV Prevention/Testing in Trans Women. That is what your tax dollars are being used for. The project is a joint partnership between Brown University and the University of the Philippines Manila. There are biological women and biological males, as stressed by the other side of the aisle in the previous amendment. They have finally recognized that. I find it ironic that we are funding projects in the name of science that ignores basic biology. Funding these woke, ridiculous projects hurt our standing in the Philippines and globally. Christianity is the dominant faith in the Philippines, making up approximately 90 percent of the population. This project is a slap in the face to anyone in the Philippines who holds traditional Christian beliefs. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, if we are going to send funds overseas, they should project our values. I agree with the overwhelming majority of Americans and Montanans stating this center doesn't project our values. A grant that received funds through the Fogarty International Center in Uganda is titled: ``HIV Self Testing to Empower Prevention Choices in Sex Workers.'' If you want to protect men and women from drug abuse and sex crimes, my colleagues should begin by helping me and my colleagues on this side of the aisle by securing the southern border and helping us to locate the approximately 100,000 children who have been released into our country and most likely condemned to a life of sex slavery. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, again, if we are going to invest funds overseas and here domestically, we should make sure that it projects our values. Another grant that received funds through the Fogarty International Center in Ukraine, where we have seen billions of dollars squandered, was titled: ``Using latent class analysis to understand the role of layered stigma on engagement in care among HIV positive women who use drugs in Ukraine.'' They have a battle going on. They have a war in Ukraine. We hear about it daily. Yet, the Fogarty International Center is not going to try to figure out a way to bring those parties to the table to achieve peace. They want to find out about drugs being used by women who participate in the sex trade. Mr. Chair, again, for this and many reasons, I hope my colleagues can support this amendment. We need to protect our values oversees, and the Fogarty International Center does not do so. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE

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

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

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chairman, my amendment No. 133 would prohibit funds made available by this act from conducting or supporting any gain-of-function research involving a potential pandemic pathogen by the Rocky Mountain Laboratories. We have heard a lot of conversations and debate about gain-of- function research as we went through the pandemic, and we are going to hear a little bit more about it this evening. I am pleased that the base text of this legislation has a provision that prevents dangerous gain-of-function research in any country determined to be a foreign adversary. However, gain-of-function research can potentially be dangerous no matter where the research is conducted. My amendment would ensure that this dangerous research does not take place at the laboratory located in Hamilton, Montana. Evidence points out that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely caused by gain-of-function research that took place at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. During his tenure as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci expanded Rocky Mountain Laboratories to include a biosafety level 4 laboratory for research and experiments on deadly pathogens with pandemic potential. The laboratory spent millions to infect bats with a coronavirus obtained directly from the Wuhan lab 1 year before COVID. Specifically, under Dr. Fauci's tenure, Rocky Mountain Laboratories infected Egyptian fruit bats with coronavirus obtained from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology. Gain-of-function research is a broad area of scientific inquiry where an organism gains a new property or an existing property is altered. Many experts warn these practices could lead to widespread community infections and death, which is exactly what we saw during the 2020 pandemic. Taxpayers in Montana and across the Nation should not be funding unnecessarily dangerous animal research that can spark another pandemic. My amendment would undo some of the damage done by Anthony Fauci by defunding NIH research programs he supported that put public health and national security at risk. Mr. Chair, I appreciate everyone supporting this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chairman, my amendment No. 134 reduces the salary of Vincent Munster, chief of the Virus Ecology Section of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to $1. This is going to be on the same subject matter and, actually, in the same location, unfortunately. Specifically, he was the lead researcher on the 2018 project to infect Egyptian fruit bats with a coronavirus obtained from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology. He also actively collaborates on projects with the disgraced EcoHealth Alliance. I am pleased that the base text of this legislation prohibits any funds from going toward the EcoHealth Alliance. EcoHealth was first investigated for its involvement in mismanaging NIH-funded gain-of- function research. The Department of Health and Human Services inspector general confirmed that EcoHealth mismanaged the grant to the Wuhan laboratory, didn't properly report the gain-of-function experiments, and misspent taxpayer funds. Furthermore, Munster is trying to help EcoHealth establish a new bat lab in the United States with bats shipped from Asia. Specifically, on April 1, 2020, Munster wrote a letter of support for the Colorado State University bat research center. Munster showed a major lack of judgment in endorsing an EcoHealth-led project to import and experiment on bats when the entire world was learning that a bat virus from Asia caused COVID-19. Additionally, Vincent Munster has collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Shi Zhengli, commonly known as the bat lady. She led the team of researchers where the COVID-19 virus most likely emerged from. It is unacceptable that shoddy research practices by deep state bureaucrats shut down our country, closed our schools, forced businesses to close, and caused deaths and despair. Accountability is absolutely needed and demanded. While the vast majority of the employees at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories are committed to excellence, tax dollars should not go to an employee who was negligent and irresponsible in his duties. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chairman, no good deed goes unpunished. I will tell you; I have held the hands of crying widows when their husbands passed away and they were not allowed to visit them in the hospital because of all the mandates from COVID-19 that bureaucrats had put in place. Our public health experts, Mr. Chair, have been wrong about everything from the beginning on COVID-19. They told us that masks would work. They told us that vaccines would prevent transmission. They told us that shutting down our country was necessary in order to keep COVID-19 from spreading. They were all wrong. They were wrong for bringing the virus to our country and experimenting on gain of function anyway, so excuse me if I don't take the recommendations of the experts. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, the Representative from Connecticut spends a lot of time giving accolades to Anthony Fauci. I would like to tell you that we gladly would reduce his compensation to zero and I would have tens of millions of Americans join me in making sure that that happens, but he was smart enough to get out of town while the getting was good. He resigned. He retired. Unfortunately, we are going to be paying compensation to him for quite some time, but the subject this evening is the compensation of Vincent Munster, who acted in a negligent and reckless manner, and I would request the right to reduce his salary to zero with this amendment. Mr. Chair, I ask all my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 135 would prohibit funds from being used to implement the Office of Refugee Resettlement's proposed rule which allows for the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions for unaccompanied minors. This proposed rule is a flagrant violation of the Hyde amendment, which prohibits the use of Federal tax dollars from paying for abortions and completely ignores the crisis at our border. The southern border, under the Biden administration, is wide-open, with up to 10 million illegal aliens encountered at our borders in fiscal year 2023. Due to these failed policies, fentanyl deaths are up a staggering 1,425 percent from just 6 years ago in my home State of Montana. It is appalling that Joe Biden and his Department of Health and Human Services are demanding Americans fund abortions for migrant children. These are the kinds of policies being pushed by the Biden administration, instead of closing our border and providing relief to the countless communities ravaged by these disastrous open border policies. Regrettably, this President is far more concerned with advancing a far-left abortion agenda instead of securing our border and saving American lives. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, this is for Labor-HHS amendment No. 135, abortions for unaccompanied minors, disallowing taxpayer dollars to be used for abortions on unaccompanied minors.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, what we are saying is that none of the funds that are going to be allocated to the Office of Refugee Resettlement proposed rule would allow any of those dollars to be used for abortions for unaccompanied minors.

Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, apparently, we don't have good clarification here. Rather than to go on through this debate this evening, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment.