Guy Reschenthaler

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me be clear about something. You can't be anti-China and pro-EV. You can't be anti-China and pro-Green New Deal. These things are completely incompatible. Let me explain. Throughout the Biden Presidency, his administration has been dead set on advancing the foolish, reckless, and extreme Green New Deal agenda. This path forward has propped up our adversaries such as China, which we now rely on for critical minerals to build the expensive EVs that liberals like to parade around in in their affluent suburban neighborhoods. Biden's officials openly acknowledge that fact. During an Appropriations subcommittee hearing earlier this year, the Interior Secretary admitted that the Biden administration's Green New Deal policies actually make our Nation more reliant on China. She admitted it at the hearing. Do you know what? She is right. China accounts for 63 percent of the world's rare earth mining, 85 percent of rare earth processing, and 92 percent of rare earth magnet production. This plays a massive role in producing 70 percent of the global EV battery supply. While Democrats cheer on these foreign green efforts, China is busy emitting more greenhouse gas than the U.S. and all other developed nations combined. It has never been more clear. When President Biden and Democrats push for their green agenda, what they are really doing is empowering the Chinese Communist Party, and they are doing it at the expense of the American worker. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy), my good friend and fellow member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is quite the intellectual yoga exercise to somehow say that Republicans are encouraging Russian gas. It is the exact opposite. Let's think about it. Do you know why there are Russian oil tankers in the harbor in Boston? It is because far-left radical activists, namely the entire Democratic Party, have decided to cancel a pipeline that should have been running from Philadelphia into New England called the Constitution Pipeline that would have brought clean natural gas from Pennsylvania into New England so the residents there have cheap, abundant natural gas and are not forced to buy dirty petroleum from Russian. Again, the intellectual gymnastics and yoga are quite amazing. Let's talk about some other far-left, radical policies of my friends across the aisle and how it has made us more dependent on Russia and more dependent on China. For one, they have a new list of regulations on coal-fired power plants, making it harder for us to burn our clean coal here in the United States and forcing coal producers to ship coal to places like China, where they don't use scrubbers, by the way. Liberals across the aisle ended the Keystone XL pipeline, coincidentally killing tens of thousands of union jobs that they purport to support. They also canceled Federal oil and gas leasing on Federal land. I ask you, which policies make us more dependent on Russia, ours or the radical left's? Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Talking more about the Democratic fascination with helping China, let's go back to 2022. In 2022, gas prices hit an all-time record high. Instead of reversing the failed policies of the Biden administration that actually led to gas prices increasing at that rate, instead of doing that, Biden sold 180 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to temporarily lower gas prices in a cheap political gimmick. What did this do? This drained our emergency energy supply to its lowest level since the 1980s, the lowest level since I was born. Who benefited the most from this? Well, it wasn't the American worker. It was China. According to the Department of Energy, China's state refining company bought 2 million barrels of Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil in 2022. Instead of powering China's economy, House Republicans are passing legislation this week that actually lowers energy costs, that ends radical Green New Deal programs, and restores our energy independence. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, it is clear, President Biden's energy policies benefit our foreign adversaries, not the American worker. The Biden administration has made our vehicle market heavily dependent on communist China. The administration has also cut deals with Iran. I might remind everybody that Iran is a state sponsor of terror. In fact, the Biden administration released $6 billion in oil revenue that will fund terrorist operations against the United States and our number one ally in the Middle East, Israel. Recently, the President drained our strategic oil reserve to the lowest levels. To what end? To fuel China's economy. Earlier this year, FERC Commissioner Mark Christie predicted in a Senate hearing that our energy grid is: ``. . . heading for a very catastrophic situation. . . . '' Why is this? It is because of the far left's rush to foolish green policies. This is the wrong path to go down. This is why I am proud to support the underlying legislation which restores the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. It also helps our national security mission, increases funding for our ports and inland waterways, like the locks and dams that run through my district, and it invests in our Nation's security. After the previous majority spent $3 trillion outside of the appropriations process, this legislation actually reins in billions of dollars to reduce our out-of-control national debt. Under House Republicans, we have passed legislation to lower energy costs for the American family, reformed our permitting process, allowed the Mountain Valley pipeline to finish construction, and preserved vehicle choice in the marketplace. This legislation before us keeps up that commitment to the American people. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 741 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler), for the purpose of rebuttal.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my good friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. House Resolution 741 provides for consideration of H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act, under a closed rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the underlying legislation, which fully funds programs for our Nation's veterans, servicemembers, and the Department of Homeland Security while reducing other discretionary spending. Additionally, H.R. 5525 secures our southern border by resuming construction of the wall, increases the number of Border Patrol agents, and reforms our asylum laws to disincentivize mass illegal immigration. Under the President's disastrous immigration policies, over 7 million illegal immigrants have entered our country, while nearly 50,000 pounds of fentanyl have flooded across our border. That is enough to kill every single person on the entire planet. This crisis must end. It will only end through efforts of House Republicans. Finally, this legislation includes an important provision authorized by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), which establishes a bipartisan fiscal commission that addresses our out-of-control debt. While the Senate figures out what type of clothes to wear, House Republicans have put forth a plan which averts a government shutdown, restores fiscal responsibility, and addresses the Biden border crisis. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, if my friend from Massachusetts is worried about energy prices in Boston, there is an easy solution. You can import liquefied natural gas from Pennsylvania, which is cheap and abundant. Unfortunately, Democrats in New England and New York have refused to build the Constitution Pipeline, which would actually bring LNG into New England. Instead, people in Boston are paying higher prices for the petroleum that is coming in from tankers from--guess where--Russia. Again, just complete circular logic from my friends across the aisle. Now, let's talk about not only the high energy prices that the middle and working class have to pay because of Democratic policies but also how real wages are down. Inflation-adjusted average hourly wages were $11.39 when Biden took office. They are now at $11.04, meaning that Americans have seen a 3.1 percent pay cut under Biden. You might think that it is only 3.1 percent, but let's talk about inflation. Prices have risen 17.4 percent since President Biden took office. That is roughly a 20 percent cut, so who is really working for the middle class and looking out for the working class? It is not President Biden. You also have another crisis, which is totally ignored, and that is the immigration crisis. Before I yield to my good friend from New York, let's just talk about New York. In New York, the immigration crisis has led to over 100,000 migrant arrivals in 2022, which the mayor says is destroying the city. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said: ``We are about to experience a financial tsunami that I don't think the city has ever experienced.'' The mayor also said: ``The national government has turned its back on New York City.'' Well, Mayor, it is not the national government that turned its back on you. It is the Democratic President and the Democrats in Congress. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Spartz), my good friend.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), my good friend.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, just remember that the Senate has passed zero appropriations bills. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Last week, our national debt reached a record high of--wait for it-- $33 trillion. This is a result of the White House and a result of the previous Democrat-controlled Congress spending trillions of dollars outside the appropriations process. Let's remember, under Democratic control, we saw the highest inflation in over 40 years, the highest interest rates in over 20 years, and a 17 percent increase in consumer prices. That is why this underlying legislation establishes a bipartisan fiscal commission to get our Nation on the right course. This is just one of the many manufactured crises caused by Democrats' far-left policies. Look at our southern border. At the southern border, President Biden's immigration policies caused a flood of illegal immigrants into our Nation and illicit fentanyl into our communities. Just last week, our Nation set an all-time record for illegal crossings in a single year. Over 25,000 pounds of fentanyl have also been trafficked across our southern border this year. To put that into perspective, this is enough to kill every single American citizen. Sadly, too many towns across my home State of Pennsylvania have felt the consequences of the Democrats' pro-open border agenda. In Pennsylvania alone, there were over 5,000 reported overdose deaths in 2022. Not only is the White House doing nothing to address this crisis, but the Democrats' pro-crime agenda actually encourages it. If you doubt me on that, let's just take a look at what happened in Pittsburgh recently. In Pittsburgh, law enforcement caught a drug trafficker with $2 million worth of fentanyl. To put that into perspective, that is enough to kill 35 percent of the population in Pennsylvania. Then, to make matters worse, a far-left, radical judge released that criminal on the streets the very next day, and he has since fled the State. This is absolutely ridiculous. House Republicans are the only leaders in Washington willing to do something about this. Thanks to Republicans and our Commitment to America, the underlying legislation will reduce our exploding national debt, avert a government shutdown, and secure our southern border. For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on its 240th anniversary and its place as an integral part of our community. Fayette County was founded on September 26, 1783, and named after Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero who served alongside President George Washington. The county was carved out of southern Westmoreland County on land with an already rich and storied heritage. Fayette County represented a new frontier for Pennsylvania and America in its early days. Its people persevered through the hardships of early frontier life to build a better life for themselves and their families. The county would also become a crucial point along the newly created National Road. The story of Fayette County and its people is an important and unique part of our region's history. The county served as an early steamboat manufacturing hub. The area quickly became one of the earliest industrial areas in America. After building the Pittsburgh Railroad, the local industry shifted from steamboat manufacturing and glass production to coal mining. Today, Fayette County is a regional agriculture hub, with over 23 percent of the county devoted to farmland. Additionally, attractions such as Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, and Ohiopyle State Park make Fayette County one of the best places to visit and live in Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the story of Fayette County, is distinctively American and important to Pennsylvania. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, I congratulate its citizens on this remarkable milestone and look forward to building on this storied history over the next 240 years.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the congregation of Tent Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as it celebrates the church's 250th anniversary. Tent Presbyterian is an important institution in the Uniontown community, where its members bring the service and testimony of God into thousands of lives. Originally formed in 1773, the church was first led by Reverend James Powers, who inspired the congregation to have faith even when faced with the immense difficulties of early colonial life. Reverend Powers originally preached under a tent in the western Pennsylvania woods until the physical building was constructed 18 years after the church's founding. Two hundred and fifty years later, Tent Presbyterian is currently led by Reverend Jeff Smith, who continues the legacy of service and faith started by Reverend Powers and built upon by many others. Reverend Smith has led his congregation faithfully over the past 4 years, dutifully bringing the Gospel's message into Fayette County. The church's work strengthens and enriches the community, providing spiritual guidance to many searching hearts. Mr. Speaker, Tent Presbyterian Church is an important part of our region's heritage and history. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, I congratulate its leadership and congregation on their 250th anniversary and thank them for their service to southwestern Pennsylvania.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the city of Monessen, Pennsylvania, in celebration of its 125th anniversary. Prior to its founding, the area consisted of 8 farms. However, Civil War veteran James M. Schoonmaker and other great Americans, saw the promise of an industrial city on the Monongahela River. Thus, Schoonmaker convinced famed industrialist William Donner to set up a tin plate mill within the new community. Thanks to the American Tin Plate Company's success, the community grew rapidly, and the borough of Monessen became incorporated on September 3, 1898. Throughout the early 20th century, Monessen's community played active roles in the suffrage and labor movements, events surrounding Prohibition, and in the industrial efforts powering American operations in World War I and World War II. In 1921, the city also had a multitude of nationalities and mirrored the ethnicities of the Pittsburgh region, serving as a microcosm of America as a whole. At its peak, the city's population reached over 20,000 residents. Today, the town is still an important part of the southwestern Pennsylvania community. Its residents exemplify the values of hard work, dedication to one's community, and good citizenship. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, I congratulate the City of Monessen on its 125th anniversary and applaud their determination to build a better community for themselves and their children. I am confident that Monessen's people will strive for and achieve an even more successful next 125 years.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the congregation of the Monongahela Church of the Nazarene in Monongahela, Pennsylvania for 100 years of service to God and the surrounding community. The Monongahela Church of the Nazarene was originally organized with 24 members on July 25, 1923, the small group of members sought God's will for their lives. The congregation held tent meetings until the physical church was built and established nearly a decade later. Rev. Frank Strickler from the California Church of the Nazarene, aided by David Mitchell, became the Church's first Pastor. Throughout the years, the church was blessed with the spiritual leadership of nine Pastors. In 2000, Reverend Raymond DiCamillo became the current Pastor of the church. Under his leadership, the Monongahela Church of the Nazarene remains committed to reaching the lost, helping those in need, and loving those they meet. With the Holy Spirit guiding them, they look forward to building on this storied history for the next 100 years. Mr. Speaker, the Monongahela Church of the Nazarene's story is deeply rooted in our great Nation's origins. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, I congratulate them on their 100th anniversary and thank them for their service to southwestern Pennsylvania's faith community.

Mr. RESCHENTHALER

Mr. RESCHENTHALER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. House Resolution 614 provides for consideration of three measures: H.R. 4366, S.J. Res. 9, and S.J. Res. 24. The rule provides for H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 to be considered under a structured rule with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member on the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit. The rule makes in order 41 amendments. Additionally, the rule provides for consideration S.J. Res. 9, a resolution of congressional disapproval related to the lesser prairie- chicken under a closed rule with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their designees, and provides one motion to commit. Finally, the resolution provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 24, a resolution of congressional disapproval related to the northern long- eared bat under a closed rule with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their designees, and provides one motion to commit. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4366 fulfills our commitment to America's veterans by fully funding their healthcare programs and benefits, providing robust funding for mental health services, and rejecting the Biden administration's efforts to insert far-left policies into the VA. As a Navy veteran, I am proud that this bill improves the quality of life for servicemembers by investing more than $17.6 billion in military construction and family housing for our heroes. This includes critical investments in childcare development centers, upgrades to barrack housing, and billions to counter China in the Indo- Pacific. Additionally, H.R. 4366 includes a provision prohibiting the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and also prohibiting the use of funds to build detainee facilities on U.S. soil. As a veteran of the global war on terror and someone who prosecuted terrorists in the Iraqi court system, I saw firsthand the destruction and chaos caused by these radical extremists. Bringing these terrorists to U.S. soil is unthinkable to me, and many of these terrorists were directly involved in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Speaker, the underlying legislation also provides important congressional oversight of the Biden administration. S.J. Res. 9 and S.J. Res. 24 utilize the Congressional Review Act to nullify the Department of the Interior's rules related to the lesser prairie-chicken and the northern long-eared bat. In both instances, bureaucrats from the Biden administration are placing red tape on economic development and private land use, and without warrant. These rules expose farmers to litigation and lawsuits for routine farming activities, shut down existing conservation efforts from private industry, and impose new restrictions on farmers and ranchers. This is just another example, another instance, of far-left, extreme Democrats in Washington, D.C., making it more costly for Americans to make a living, put food on the table, and develop our rural communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.