John Rose

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for yielding and for claiming the time this evening to acknowledge and honor our Nation's 83rd National Bible Week. I rise today the week before we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ to celebrate and honor the book that reveals His life, His teachings, and His promise to save us if only we will accept and follow Him. This amazing book is, of course, the Bible. You see, Mr. Speaker, there are many stories in the Bible, none arguably more important than the miracle of Jesus Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. However, the Bible also teaches us the story of God creating the Heavens and the Earth, of Adam and Eve, the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, as well as recounting many fantastical miracles. Eighty-three years ago, our country was reeling following the devastating attacks on Pearl Harbor, an attack unfathomable at the time. In the immediate aftermath, our country came together to worship and celebrate our first-ever National Bible Week held December 8-14, 1941. It is no surprise that following those devastating days in the creation of the first National Bible Week, 83 years later, we still celebrate it every year. It is because even on our darkest days, Mr. Speaker, the Bible will always be there for us. Look no further than Philippians 4:4, which says: ``Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.'' We are reminded that joy is constant and takes place at all times with the Lord. Psalms 118:24 which says: ``This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.'' A reminder that the Lord gives us today and every day, and we should celebrate it as a gift from God. Mr. Speaker, I could go on about the number of Bible verses that have inspired me from the time I learned them in Sunday school until this very day when I pass those inspiring words onto my two young sons. There is no doubt that the Bible has had a tremendous impact on my life and will continue to do so. That is why I feel so deeply about the continued importance of teaching the Lord's Word. At a time in our country when it seems we are straying from the Lord, we must lean in and encourage the teachings in the Bible. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Tennesseans to join me in studying the good word in the Bible, passing its lessons down to our children, and living our lives according to Bible teaching. After all, there is no better way to celebrate and honor National Bible Week than by reading or teaching the Bible and living according to its Word.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, today, the House passed the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, otherwise known as the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA. The Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA will improve the quality of life for every servicemember who serves our great country. It restores the focus of our military on lethality, not woke ideology. It improves the military's ability to recruit and train our fighting forces to be able to deter China and our other adversaries. It also increases oversight and requires accountability of the Biden administration and the Department of Defense. All of these tremendous accomplishments are why we are here tonight, Mr. Speaker. To speak in support of this recently passed bill that will make our military great again, I am grateful for the Members who join me this evening to discuss this important bill to protect our country and restore our national security. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the State of Missouri (Mr. Alford).

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for that heartfelt tribute and for his important remarks concerning the issue regarding the National Defense Authorization Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Pacific Deterrence Initiative

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) for sharing his thoughts on these important issues tonight, and I appreciate his remarks. Mr. Speaker, I will close by reiterating our support of our servicemen and -women who defend our great country. Many of us have highlighted the improvement in the quality of life they will receive from the passage of this bill and it being signed into law by the President. However, I would like to take a moment to highlight the impact it will have on Tennesseans serving in the armed services. According to the House Armed Services Committee, this bill will provide a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and an average 4\1/2\ percent pay raise for Tennessee's 19,500 servicemembers. It also expands the program to help Tennessee's 1,500 military spouses attain and retain employment. Lastly, it expands access to childcare for the 2,800 children of military families in Tennessee. These important provisions to increase servicemembers' pay, expand childcare services, and bolster efforts to assist military spouses are much-needed and well-deserved. Servicemembers' families sacrifice a lot so that their loved ones can keep us safe. I am proud to support these provisions, and I am glad that they have been included in the final passage of the NDAA. When Americans elected President Donald Trump to serve as the 47th President of the United States, they sent a clear message: We must deter our adversaries, eliminate our enemies, protect the homeland, and support our troops. That is exactly what this National Defense Authorization Act seeks to do. We are proud to see it pass and encourage the Senate to join us in passing this important legislation so that it can be sent to the President's desk to be signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone who has joined me this evening, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank our vice chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, for the last several weeks, I listened to countless concerns from literally hundreds of Tennesseans whom I have the honor to represent here in Congress. I heard from families still struggling to make ends meet because of rampant inflation. They are paying more for housing, groceries, energy, and just about everything else you can think of because of Bidenomics. I listened to constituents who are worried about crime, fentanyl, and, yes, the overrun U.S.-Mexico border. Small business owners expressed the heavy burden of government regulations. Parents told me the many ways government overreach in schools keeps them up at night. It is not hyperbole to say that the results of this election were an answered prayer for those Tennesseans and millions more across this country. Throughout the 118th Congress, House Republicans fulfilled our Commitment to America. We passed bills to secure our borders, lower energy costs, curb Federal regulations, and restore fiscal sanity to our government, but unlike what we have seen for the last 2 years, the bills we pass in the 119th Congress will no longer be dead on arrival in the do-nothing Senate. The next Congress will also have a Commander in Chief who values family, common sense, and strength on the world stage. We will have a partner in the White House who is willing to roll back red tape rather than layer on more. We will have a President willing to sign legislation into law that will keep American workers and their families working, safe, and prosperous. But we are not waiting for January to deliver results, Mr. Speaker. This week, House Republicans will bring two commonsense pieces of legislation to the floor. The first prohibits the IRS from charging penalties and late fees to Americans who happen to be late on filing their taxes due to being wrongfully detained abroad. American families of hostages held by Hamas terrorists shouldn't incur tax penalties. I proudly voted for this bill when it came up under suspension and plan to do so again. The second bill aims to support our national security and energy independence by streamlining the permitting process for geothermal energy development. It requires the Interior Department to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales to every year rather than every 2 years. It also calls on the Department to hold a replacement sale, if needed, and creates deadlines for geothermal permit applicants. Geothermal energy is a clean, dependable, renewable energy source that supports my commitment to an all-of-the-above energy approach needed for the 21st century. After month after month of record-breaking price increases and illegal border crossings, the American people are anxious to see their country made great again.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a name--and voice-- known to countless Tennesseans. Philip Gibbons is celebrating 50 years in radio, most of which having been spent as host of the midday show on 94.7 The Country Giant. The station reaches more than 120,000 listeners across 19 counties, spanning Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. That's a lot of people who look forward to hearing him day after day. His broadcast career started at 15-years-old, before he was old enough to drive. The year was 1974 and the gig was part-time janitor and disc jockey for WPTN in Cookeville, Tenn. Fifty years later, Gibbons is a member of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. He's been selected as a regular stage host at the CMA Music Fest and a guest announcer at the Grand Ole Opry many times in recent years. In 2020, Philip was awarded Small Market Personality of the Year by Country Aircheck, the leading trade publication for the industry. Philip was also nominated by the Academy of Country Music for Small Market Personality of the Year. When asked why he never left Cookeville behind for a larger radio market, he responded, ``this is where my heart is. This is my community.'' He not only spent his entire career in that community, but he also gives back to it every chance he gets. Since 1983, he's served as the public address announcer for Tennessee Tech University football and basketball games. He's also volunteered his time and used his platform to support many causes over the years, including Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Alzheimer's Tennessee, and the American Cancer Society. Gibbons is known by some as the `pink tie guy' in the Upper Cumberland for his dedication to bringing awareness in the fight against breast cancer through wearing a pink tie. Following the devastation from Hurricane Michael, Philip used his airtime to ask listeners to fill an 18-wheeler with supplies to help the folks of Panama City Beach recover. From interviewing up-and-coming artists to the legends, Philip has built a name for himself in Cookeville, in Music City, and throughout the County Music family. He's seen a lot of change in the business throughout his career. Today, automation and pre-recorded announcements are commonplace in radio, but Philip remembers well the days of live- only broadcasts and actual turn tables. I want to congratulate Philip on 50 years in radio and wish him many more years of success ahead.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a Tennessee hero who has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the members of his community: Van Buren County Sheriff Michael Brock. Sheriff Brock has shown outstanding loyalty to and performed exemplary service for his community. He should be recognized for his selfless actions, which go beyond his duties as sheriff. The people of Van Buren County, Tennessee, know their sheriff to be hardworking, compassionate, and sincere. Sheriff Brock does everything he can to protect his community under any and all conditions. For example, when Sheriff Brock learned that two of his townspeople were in danger due to knee-deep snow and subzero temperatures plaguing the Tennessee area of Van Buren County last January, he immediately set out to protect and assist them in any way possible. The first was a gentleman with a medical condition who had wandered towards the woods away from his mother's home on the night of January 15. He was reported missing on the 16th, and Sheriff Brock immediately organized a search from the residence, tracking footsteps and working late into the night, only calling off the search when it became too dangerous for the search team to continue their efforts. Sheriff Brock demonstrated kindness and empathy as he personally updated the family through every effort, working closely with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the nearby State park officials. Devastatingly, the missing gentleman who was rescued from falling off a 700-foot drop in the forest, later succumbed to his injuries. Even after the search, Sheriff Brock was the first to console the family, moving from protecting them physically to fortifying their hearts. As the winter storm raged on, Sheriff Brock soon learned that a citizen on the outskirts of town needed critical medication. She had just undergone numerous back surgeries and spent over 1 month in the hospital. However, icy roads near her home had stranded her nurse and prevented her from getting the needed medications. Sheriff Brock saw that she was taken care of, driving across multiple counties to retrieve the medication. The roads were so hazardous that the trip took four times the normal period to make that journey. Time was not a concern to Sheriff Brock, but her safety and health certainly were. Sheriff Brock's actions and timely rescue meant she was safe from further medical complications and readmission to the hospital. Madam Speaker, Sheriff Brock is a blessing and a credit to his department, community, and people. His actions and tireless protections of his community have left people with a sincere sense of security knowing that they have him and his department watching out for them. He expects no praise, no credit, and no notice of his tireless selflessness. However, today I rise to recognize him. His leadership and heroism serve as an example to us all.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroics of Kevin Wolverton, Sr., who recently stepped up in harrowing circumstances to rescue a 3-year-old girl who had fallen into a quarry full of water. Mr. Wolverton, a Nashville native who works at a nearby auto dealership in Lebanon, Tennessee, found the little girl floating on her side when he pulled her onto the rocks nearby and performed CPR. Madam Speaker, there is no doubt he saved this young girl's life. She was later able to thank him for doing so after a full recovery just a few days later. A grandfather himself, Kevin Wolverton, Sr., stepped up to save the day. We couldn't be prouder of his lifesaving actions. Madam Speaker, I hope all Members will join me in recognizing and thanking Mr. Wolverton for his tremendous display of bravery.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my friend from Michigan, for yielding me time to speak in support of this legislative package that includes my bill, H.R. 4657. Mr. Speaker, under the Biden-Harris administration, economic growth has been sacrificed to pursue a woke agenda detrimental to Tennesseans. This is one of the many reasons I rise in support of my Michigan colleague's legislation, H.R. 4790. The Tennesseans I represent can be assured that I will continue to prioritize working families over the woke socialist agenda known as ESG that far-left progressives are inserting into retirement accounts. My bill that is included in this package, would protect retail investors and retirement savings from leftwing, activist shareholders and socially directed investment funds from abusing the shareholder process to advance their progressive political agendas. Activist investors that force companies to take social positions on issues like abortion and climate change shouldn't be making business decisions. My bill would offer companies respite from these harmful and extremist shareholder proposals, which is why my bill is referred to as the RESPITE Act in the Senate. Tennesseans know firsthand how woke priorities don't align with our values or our financial interests. That is why we stood up to Tractor Supply Company and forced them to care about people again and not politics. When the Securities and Exchange Commission came after our farmers to collect ESG-related information, the Tennessee Attorney General's office sued the SEC to remind them that they were overstepping by engaging in environmental policy. Tennessee is proud to lead the charge against the woke agenda championed by the Biden-Harris administration. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 4790, so that we can turn the focus back on promoting economic growth and not social wokeness.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding tonight. Mr. Speaker, Vice President Kamala Harris' tenure as border czar has been a complete and absolute failure. For the folks who claim she was never in charge of the border, I will read President Biden's own words from March of 2021. He specifically assigned Vice President Harris with the task of ``stemming the migration to our southern border.'' I understand the White House would like to rewrite that bit of history, but a simple Google search will show that it isn't just House Republicans calling her the border czar. She was widely referred to as such by the mainstream media at the time. Since her appointment, Harris has gone to the border only once. Even worse, she never spoke to either of the past two chiefs of Border Patrol. While the Vice President was failing to meet her new responsibility, our Commander in Chief was busy undoing the successful border policies of President Trump. Here is where that has gotten us. More than 10 million people have tried to cross into the United States illegally in less than 4 years. More than 52,000 illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds have tried to enter our Nation illegally. Those are just the ones we know about. Keep in mind more than 2 million people managed to evade Border Patrol under this administration. That is more got-aways under Biden- Harris than in the previous decade combined. This is a direct result of open-border policies and a refusal to uphold the immigration laws already on the books. In July alone, there was a daily average of 3,300 encounters at the border. Former President Obama's DHS Secretary noted a few years ago that any more than 1,000 encounters per day overwhelms the system. Mr. Speaker, the border crisis is far from over, and it continues to threaten our national security. In the last 2 years, Border Patrol officials have seized an average of 2,000 pounds of fentanyl every month coming across the border, enough to kill 458 million people. The real question is: How much fentanyl did they fail to seize that is currently killing our citizens? More than 350 people who are on the terror watch list have been stopped trying to cross the southern border. A recent report revealed that 99 of them were released into the country after being stopped at the border. It was also widely reported this summer that more than 50 illegal immigrants with ties to ISIS were on the loose after being released from custody, all of this on Vice President Kamala Harris' watch. This week, House Republicans will bring to the floor two pieces of critical legislation. The first is a bill to ensure that any illegal immigrant who is convicted of a sex offense or crimes involving stalking, child abuse, and neglect are deported. The second is a piece of legislation that claims to end the free hotels, healthcare, and cash given to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants being housed in our Nation's major cities. It is well past time to stop incentivizing illegal immigration. It is time to support what the American people overwhelmingly support, immigration done the legal way.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a recent report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General putting the Biden-Harris two-tiered justice system on full display. The recent report reveals that the FBI inadequately handled sensitive and classified materials. I repeat: the FBI mishandled classified documents according to their own inspector general report. According to the memo: ``Electronic storage media slated for disposal are not physically secured. Nonaccountable assets slated for destruction were stored on pallets without sufficient internal physical security for an extended period of time. For example, a pallet containing extracted internal hard drives marked nonaccountable had been stored for 21 months and had wrapping that was torn and left open.'' This you can see on the poster, Madam Speaker. The report continues: ``This facility is shared with other FBI operations, such as logistics, mail, and information technology equipment fulfillment, and had almost 400 persons with access as of May 2024, including 28 task force officers and 63 contractors from at least 17 companies. Both the FBI supervisor and contractor confirmed that they would not be aware if someone was to take hard drives from the pallets because these assets are not accounted for or tracked.'' Madam Speaker, think about that last line. An FBI supervisor admitted that if someone took a hard drive containing classified information from the pallet pictured in the poster next to me that almost 400 people had access to, no one would ever know. Pictured is a pallet full of sensitive electronic storage media which most likely includes hordes of classified information. It is hard to know because the FBI didn't bother to mark the media in this pallet with standard classification markings. If you look closely, this pallet is marked ``nonaccountable,'' which is a perfect metaphor for the Biden-Harris FBI: unaccountable. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the Biden-Harris two- tiered justice system. The FBI was giddy to rush to prosecute the former President for allegedly mishandling classified information. Yet, when the FBI is caught red-handed mishandling classified information by their own inspector general, there has yet to be a simple charge filed, leaving Americans wondering if there will ever be any accountability. Will the FBI agents responsible for mishandling classified material be criminally prosecuted? Will anyone hold senior leadership at the FBI accountable for allowing for the widespread mishandling of classified information? ``Rules for thee, but not for me'' seems to be the motto at the J. Edgar Hoover Building these days. As a result of these troubling revelations, I have sent a letter to FBI Director Wray highlighting the hypocrisy of the FBI's swift action against the former President, while individuals at the FBI have mishandled classified information with no accountability at all. Madam Speaker, I include in the Congressional Record the text of my letter to Director Wray. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 9, 2024. In re Mishandling of Classified Information by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC Dear Director Wray, I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the findings of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General's (DOJ OIG) Management Advisory Memorandum, which highlights the FBI's inadequate inventory management and disposition procedures for electronic storage media containing sensitive and classified information. The report's findings are alarming and suggest a lack of accountability and physical security over sensitive materials, including hard drives, thumb drives, and floppy disks. The fact that extracted internal hard drives are not tracked, and the FBI cannot confirm their proper destruction, is unacceptable. As you are undoubtedly aware, the Biden Administration and the FBI gleefully rushed to charge President Donald Trump with allegedly mishandling classified information. Now that individuals at the FBI have clearly mishandled classified information, surely each culpable individual will be criminally prosecuted, correct? You must realize that failing to prosecute each individual involved in this reckless and wanton disregard for safe handling of classified information procedures will further erode the already significantly diminished trust Americans have left in the FBI. I request that you provide answers to the following questions: 1. How did these inadequate procedures go undetected for so long? 2. What measures will be taken to ensure accountability for all electronic storage media containing sensitive and classified information? 3. How many individuals will be disciplined for their role in mishandling classified information? 4. Will any individuals face criminal prosecution for their actions? 5. What steps will be taken to improve physical security at FBI-secure controlled facilities? 6. How will the FBI ensure that all electronic storage media are properly labeled with classification markings? 7. What training will be provided to FBI personnel to address these deficiencies? 8. How will the FBI verify that all extracted internal hard drives have been properly destroyed? 9. What measures will be taken to limit access to sensitive materials at shared facilities? 10. What timeline can we expect for implementing the recommended improvements? 11. How will you ensure that accountability extends beyond lower-level employees and includes senior leadership, up to and including the Director's office, for the systemic failures identified in the report? The Tennesseans I represent, as well as all other Americans, deserve a prompt response to these questions, and as their representative in Congress, I expect to hear from you soon with regard to the actions you will take to address these serious concerns. Sincerely, Congressman John Rose.

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, it is time to end the two-tiered justice system in America exemplified by the FBI's prosecution of those considered political enemies by the Biden-Harris administration while the FBI has now been caught mishandling classified information in hordes. I hope that the relevant congressional committees will hold hearings on this matter, and I call on FBI Director Wray to respond back to my letter as quickly as possible addressing the issues that I have outlined. I am sorry to the American people for this abhorrent two-tiered justice system that we see on display from the Biden-Harris FBI and the Biden-Harris Justice Department.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, like many of the Tennesseans I represent, I was relieved to learn that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday. We all watched as she refused to answer very simple questions at a House Oversight hearing this week. She did, however, confirm what we already knew, that a significant operational failure occurred on July 13. Ms. Cheatle did not offer an explanation as to why the former President was allowed on stage after the agency was notified multiple times about a suspicious person. She did confirm that the roof from which the shooter acted was identified as a possible vulnerability days before the rally, yet failed to explain why it was not secured. I support a bipartisan task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. An armed, would-be assassin with a clear line of sight must never be allowed to get within 150 yards of a Presidential nominee or a former President ever again.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the majority of Tennesseans who stand in support of America's most important Middle Eastern ally, Israel. Unfortunately, radical, progressive Democrats have turned their back on Israel. Democrats have shown time and time again where their priorities truly lie, favoring an Army of IRS agents over security assistance when Israel was in its most dire need. Now progressive Democrats have chosen once again to turn their backs on our democratic ally in the Middle East by boycotting Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address before this body. History will not view these dark and dangerous decisions lightly. Let the record show progressive Democrats sided with the pro-Hamas base of their party. As a staunch supporter of Israel, I will be honored to be present in the House Chamber for Prime Minister Netanyahu's historic joint address. We must never waver, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, the American people continue to learn about the security failures leading up to the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. They deserve to know what happened and that this will never happen again. Yesterday, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testified in the House Oversight Committee after being subpoenaed. Her testimony should have been voluntary, as times such as these require transparency. Nevertheless, House Members, on a bipartisan basis, are committed to getting to the bottom of what happened that awful day in Pennsylvania. I commend the heroism exhibited by the agents working the President's security detail, yet the agency and its leadership for which they serve must be held accountable. With more than $3 billion in annual funding, a would-be assassin should never have been able to fire multiple rounds at a Presidential candidate from the top of a roof just 147 yards away. This is unacceptable.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House passed the SAVE Act to prevent noncitizens from voting in American elections. Unfortunately, this has become a dire necessity to secure our elections after the President and his administration have allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter our country. Not only are our elections at risk of interference from this influx of illegal immigrants, but so is our national security. More than 350 individuals whose names appear on the terrorist watch list were found trying to cross our southern border. Surely there are many more who have successfully made their way through the border. Mr. Speaker, what will it take for the President, his administration, impeached Secretary Mayorkas, and congressional Democrats to wake up to this impending disaster? I hope it doesn't come to that. For the sake of all Tennesseans, I will stand firm to support policies that secure our borders.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, as much as the White House would like to move on from the terrible debate performance we saw less than 2 weeks ago, it is still on the minds of many Americans, including my own. Like many, I am not only concerned about who is in the Oval Office in 2025, but I am concerned about the weeks and months between now and Inauguration Day. The American people deserve to know their Commander in Chief can do the job. They deserve to know why he requires pictures of stages and podiums before he attends events. They deserve to have their many, many questions answered. Unfortunately, President Biden has decided that one recorded, in- person interview and a politically charged letter will suffice. We would be well served not to forget Special Counsel Robert Hur's report from February describing the President's memory as significantly limited. More importantly, we must not forget his conclusion that a potential trial over the President's apparently intentional illegal possession of classified documents would result in a jury essentially feeling bad for a forgetful old man. Following that frank and damning report, the President's chief of staff responded by saying: No one works harder and asks tougher questions than the President. In hindsight, it appears he was willing to surrender his personal credibility in an attempt to keep the President's cognitive maladies hidden. Mitch Landrieu, national co-chair of the Biden campaign, said of the President: ``He's on his game.'' Again, in hindsight, perhaps the game he was referring to might have been shuffleboard. Weeks before the debate, we saw the headline ``Biden Appears to Freeze,'' detailing an event from the White House. We have endured 3\1/ 2\ years of similar stories. Just days into his Presidency, The New York Times published a story titled: ``The Many Ways That Joe Biden Trips Over His Own Tongue.'' In May of 2022, The Washington Post published an article titled: ``Three theories on Biden's repeated Taiwan gaffes.'' The one I remember most is from Reuters 2 years ago which reads: ``Gaffe or insight? Deciphering Biden's unguarded answers.'' The American people should not have to decipher anything, Mr. Speaker. I, along with many of the Tennesseans I represent, believe we are still the shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan referenced. In this country, the First Amendment enables us to ask frank questions. In this country, we hold our elected officials to account. Many of us remember 2 months before the debate when the President literally read the words: ``Four more years. Pause'' at an event. We also recall this year when President Biden mistakenly claimed he was Vice President during the pandemic. I, along with many other Members of the House of Representatives on our side of the aisle, have expressed our serious concerns with what strongly appears to be a debilitating, cognitive decline for quite a while now. Yet, those concerns were dismissed by the mainstream media as rightwing propaganda for all these years, and Congressional Democrats made similar allegations or remained silent altogether. They all knew these concerns with the President's cognitive limitations were credible. Now, since the debate, the American people share these concerns, too. They are used to worrying about the consequences of the open-border policies of this administration and the crippling inflation that the administration's policies have produced, but now they are also concerned about whether he can even withstand the job itself. Since the debate, we have heard nothing but weak excuses: a cold, a lack of sleep, jet lag from travel that took place 15 days before. The list continues to grow. Those who have spread the notion that President Biden is as sharp as a tack and at the top of his game will have to answer for this big coverup. Indeed, they are complicit in the credible anxiety that the American people feel. If we suffer a major national security incident which our impaired President fails to handle properly, they will be complicit in something much worse. Mr. Speaker, it is past time for our President to pass the baton on to another and for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have helped to perpetuate this coverup to switch course and do the right thing.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, month after month, the American people endure higher utility bills and rising costs at the grocery store and the gas pump. Inflation has risen by more than 20 percent since President Biden took office. That is just an average. Every day, folks are actually paying 35 percent more for flour, 40 percent more for eggs, and 27 percent more for butter. That is on top of paying 29 percent more for electricity, about 55 percent more for a gallon of gas, and 21 percent more in monthly rent. It adds up to more than $1,000 a month for the same goods and services that American families were buying before these historic price increases. This is a direct result of the Biden administration's overspending and overregulation. While we hear White House officials continue to dismiss the sticker shock that Americans face every day, House Republicans are committed to reining in the reckless spending in Washington and restoring fiscal sanity.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the vice chairman for yielding me time tonight. Mr. Speaker, election officials from my home State of Tennessee are perplexed as to why they are not allowed to certify U.S. citizenship when registering individuals to vote. Oftentimes, they tell me it is against Federal law, and they have no idea why. That is why today the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act, which will update this archaic and idiotic impediment to securing our Nation's elections. Not only will it allow State election officials to ask prospective voters to certify their citizenship status, but it will require it by law. My friends on the left and in the mainstream media love to argue how voting in American elections as a noncitizen is already illegal. Well, Mr. Speaker, so is entering our country illegally through the southern border. That doesn't seem to stop progressive Democrats or the Biden administration from welcoming them into our communities with open arms. Additionally, in order to certify one's citizenship, the SAVE Act requires an individual to actually provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Again, my friends would argue that this isn't necessary because it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections. Well, how do we currently confirm people's citizenship status? We require would-be voters to swear but not prove that they are U.S. citizens. Democrats love to imagine a world that exists where no one, I repeat no one, is lying when filling out these applications because according to them, illegal immigrants don't vote in our elections. Give me a break. The SAVE Act is as common sense as it gets. It protects what is most sacred to Americans--their right to vote. It allows State officials to accept a wide variety of documents to make it easy to register, provide States with access to Federal databases so that they can remove noncitizens from their rolls, and it requires the Department of Homeland Security to notify a State chief election official whenever an individual has been naturalized to ensure that our newest citizens who come to America the right way can exercise their right to vote. I truly have no idea why anyone would be opposed to this bill, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps those opposed fear that with 100 percent secure and safe elections in the United States that they would not remain competitive in the next election. I truly can't think of any other reason to not vote for this bill. It is no secret, Mr. Speaker. The Democrats have started saying the quiet part out loud. Letting millions of illegal immigrants into our country and letting them vote--that is their plan. Republicans have a different plan for America--one built on honesty, safety, security, and accountability. I stand in support of the millions of Americans who feel like their priorities, their votes, are being thrown away by each illegal immigrant voting in American elections. That is why I rise in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the negative national security consequences of 3\1/2\ years of President Biden's open-border policies. While we hear President Biden and his allies boast about a so-called drop in illegal immigrant encounters in recent weeks, the number of national security threats resulting from this administration's policies continue to mount. According to the Department of Homeland Security's own threat assessment for this year, illegal drugs produced in Mexico and sold in the United States will take more American lives than any other threat we face. Further underscoring the threat our country faces due to the President's open-border policies, we learned 2 weeks ago that the Department of Homeland Security has identified more than 400 illegal immigrants that have entered the U.S. over the last 3 years as ``subjects of concern.'' They are subjects of concern because they were brought here by an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network, according to sources who spoke with NBC News. These unnamed officials report that 150 of these individuals have been arrested, but the whereabouts of many more are unknown. We also don't know whether the money earned in this human smuggling operation is funding ISIS activity. A couple of weeks prior to this story, NBC also reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested eight men from Tajikistan, also for suspected affiliation with ISIS, in three major U.S. cities. This turned out to be an entirely separate ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network. Mr. Speaker, these are just a couple of examples from recent weeks. We face many, many more national security threats that are a direct result of open borders and a refusal to uphold existing immigration laws in this country. More than 350 illegal immigrants who are on the terror watch list have attempted to cross into the United States since President Biden took office. More than 1.8 million people have successfully evaded Border Patrol. Hundreds of thousands of unknown individuals have been admitted into the U.S. on parole with no way of tracking many of these individuals. This widespread abuse of parole authority was a key factor in my vote to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. It has truly paved the way for countless instances of crime across this country. The President's recent executive order is far too little, far too late. It doesn't go far enough to treat these threats to our safety and security with the seriousness that they merit. The action, however, does prove what I have been saying and arguing for months, that the President has and has had the authority to end this crisis at our border. It also highlights the fact that our Commander in Chief waited 3\1/2\ years before taking any action to curb the unprecedented flow of illegal immigrants into this country. This isn't hyperbole. These are facts. As sobering as they may be, I fear they will persist as long as President Biden or whoever is making decisions at the White House is in the White House.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, only Americans should vote in American elections. That is why I rise in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act, introduced by my friend from Texas (Mr. Roy). This bill would require States to obtain proof of citizenship, in person, when registering an individual to vote and also requires States to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls. These proposals are as commonsense as it gets. Unfortunately, many on the other side disagree. While falsely alleging that the 2016 election was stolen due to foreign election interference, they ignore the very real threat of foreign election interference that currently exists. Maybe if President Biden didn't hold the door open for more than 9.5 million immigrants to enter our country illegally, this bill wouldn't be necessary. Because he did, it is essential to pass the SAVE Act to uphold the integrity of our elections.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve to know whether or not the President of the United States is fully capable of performing his duties. After his cringeworthy debate performance, numerous public appearances, and even small, private gatherings, many have concluded that he is not. However, the President's doctor stated in a routine physical assessment almost 5 months ago in February that President Biden `` . . . fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.'' Mr. Speaker, how can someone who needs pictures of what a podium and a stage are fully execute all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations? That is the question House Republicans are asking by calling on the President's doctor to participate in a transcribed interview before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Additionally, House Republicans are determined to receive the audiotapes from the President's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. Yes, this is the same interview where Special Counsel Hur decided not to charge the President for his mishandling of classified documents because they were worried the President would `` . . . present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.'' Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker. Our country is in serious danger. Our enemies are watching the President let in millions of illegal immigrants at our southern border. They are watching as he fumbles his way through interviews where the questions are written by his staff beforehand. This is a constitutional crisis. Each administration official, campaign staffer, congressional Democrat, or members of the press who have shielded the President's condition from the American public are complicit in a coverup that is causing our country great pain. Enough is enough. Mr. Speaker, it is time to restore accountability and respectability to this White House and the American people. It is the least the Tennesseans I serve back home deserve: A President of the United States capable of doing the job.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, President Biden is attempting to gaslight the American people by touting a 40 percent drop in daily illegal border crossings from the last couple of weeks. He even implied that the so-called drop shows a more secure border than the one he inherited from President Trump. That is a gross misrepresentation. No matter what the border numbers from June turn out to be, one month won't change the more than 9.6 million immigrant encounters under this President. Let's look at the facts. May marked 39 straight months of more illegal immigrant encounters than even the highest month under the Trump administration. President Biden simply cannot rewrite history. Each time the President boasts about a drop in encounters, he is acknowledging that he could have acted 3\1/2\ years ago but instead put our Nation at risk with his open-border policies.

Mr. ROSE

Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, Tennesseans celebrating America's independence will have to pay more for their Fourth of July barbecues thanks to President Biden's disastrous economic policies that have caused rampant inflation. According to the American Farm Bureau, the cost of a cookout has reached record highs, 30 percent higher than just 5 years ago or $71.22 for a 10-person barbecue. Madam Speaker, while the President attempts to take away our freedoms by implementing his burdensome and wrongheaded policy agenda through executive action and administrative rulings, he is also undermining our ability to celebrate our freedoms by making almost everything more and more unaffordable. Tennesseans have rightfully had enough and will have their voices heard this November. Until then, House Republicans are committed to holding the line on the Biden administration's desire to recklessly spend our country into oblivion.