Austin Scott

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bishop for yielding. Charles Hatcher was a good man. He was a good Representative, and my family supported him in his last election. I remember him on the farm with my Uncle Dan Raines and with many of our friends and colleagues. He was good for agriculture. He was from Doerun, Georgia, right down the road from where I live. He joined the State bar, and he practiced law in Albany, Georgia. I will just tell you, he was just a good, solid man, and he was also replaced by a good, solid man. I honor the life and the legacy of Charles Hatcher, and my condolences go out to his family.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the first thing I will do is thank Chairman Smith and his staff for working with me to get this piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank the many bipartisan cosponsors of the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. Mr. Speaker, I want Americans to know how this piece of legislation originated. I was taking a young man, a marine, hunting several years ago. That marine stepped on a pressure plate and lost both legs. We were having a discussion as we were in the vehicle headed to the farm that we were going to hunt, and I asked him if there were things that we could help him with. We had a candid conversation. He said that he wanted to go back to work. He worked at the local auto parts store and wanted to work more hours, but if he made $1 more than, at that time, the $1,100 a month, he would lose 100 percent of his Social Security benefits. Here, we have a young, combat-wounded man who lost both legs and wants to work. Let me tell you something: If you want to help a disabled veteran, let them get out of the house and go back to work. Let them. This doesn't force anybody to do anything. It is voluntary. The idea that if a combat-wounded veteran wants to go back to work and they make $1 more than some imaginary number, then their family has less money at the end of the month than if they didn't work is ridiculous. So we wrote the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. I have had broad bipartisan support for that bill, but I have not been able to get it through and signed into law. We went back, under Chairman Smith's leadership and with his team, and looked at other ways to do this. This authority was there, up to and until 2022, I believe. President Biden had it and could have done it. Other Presidents have had the ability to do it. We are simply asking that we do the same thing, give the same authority that we have had in the past so that we can do pilot projects. It doesn't force anybody to do anything. It gives people who are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits the ability to go back to work if they voluntarily choose to, in order to have a little more money at the end of the month instead of less. That is what it does. I don't understand the objection from the other side in allowing people to go back to work and not lose 100 percent of their government benefits. It is something that we, as Republicans, have pressed for across a wide range of benefits, and that is to get rid of the cliff. We are not trying to force anybody to do anything. We are simply giving people the ability to go back to work, not lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits, and have more money left over at the end of the month. After my conversation with that young man, that young marine, that warrior, I honestly couldn't believe it. I came to D.C., and I met with the lawyers. I said, this can't be right. This defies logic. We went through the law. The lawyers told me he was right, and we wrote the bill. I am going to tell you, I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues are taking the position on the floor that they have with this. We want people to be able to go back to work. This originated with a marine who stepped on a pressure plate, lost both legs, and wants to go back to work. If they go back to work, they lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits if they make $1 more than this imaginary threshold, which is not enough for them to live on. I think this is a wonderful piece of legislation. I thank the chairman and his staff for helping us find a way to solve this problem. I think the President will do a pilot project--if you give him the authority--that will be very close to the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. Purple Heart Day is coming up August 7. It will be wonderful for us to get this across the finish line and be able to do it on that day for them. I hope my colleagues, in a very bipartisan manner, will support H.R. 8884 and help us remove the barriers to work for disabled Americans. The same things that will work for our wounded warriors will also work for other Americans, if they choose, if they want, if they volunteer, if they voluntarily want to go back to work and make a little extra money, and not lose 100 percent of their Social Security benefits. The Purple Heart Freedom to Work, I think it will work for a lot of Americans. We, as Republicans, believe work is good. We know there are a lot of people that are on Social Security disability that want to go back to work. It is voluntary. They will always have more money. They will not have any less money if this is done. Again, I hope my colleagues, in a very bipartisan manner, will support H.R. 8884.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., to congratulate Don Koehler on his remarkable career and to extend our appreciation for his decades of dedicated service to Georgia's agriculture community. Since 1986, Don has served as Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission. Throughout his distinguished career, he has provided exceptional leadership to organizations including the Southern Peanut Growers, the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation the U.S. Peanut Federation, the American Peanut Council, and the American Peanut Shellers Association. As Chairman of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee, he has also helped shape U.S. agricultural trade policy by advising both the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Don's leadership has strengthened Georgia's peanut industry, expanded opportunities for producers, and elevated the voice of American agriculture at home and abroad. His lasting contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including being named one of Georgia Trend's 500 Most Influential Georgians for three consecutive years and his induction into the Georgia Peanut Commission Hall of Fame earlier this year. The mark that Don has left on this industry will not be forgotten. On behalf of Georgia's 8th and 2nd Congressional Districts, and a grateful agricultural community, we thank him for his remarkable service and wish him and Cheryl every happiness in retirement. May his next chapter be filled with good health, cherished time with his children and four grandchildren, and the many blessings he has so richly earned.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

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

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I know that you were talking about the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, who has done something that will probably never be done again in the history of the country. He has been elected in 2016 and 2024. I want to say this as we talk about healthcare and health insurance and the other things. This side of the aisle recognizes there are problems, and this side of the aisle recognizes that the only way to fix those problems is to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Now, the other side of the aisle thinks that they did a perfect job. Now, let me tell you something, Mr. Speaker. Before the Affordable Care Act went into place, UnitedHealth Group was trending at $28 a share. Today it is $415 a share, and that is after about a $140-a-share drop. The only thing the Affordable Care Act did was make a bunch of health insurance executives rich. They are not paying their claims today. One thing we could do, and I wish we would do, is to give the State insurance commissioners the authority to step in and make them pay their claims. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, my local hospital has about $15 million outstanding with the UnitedHealth Group. It is a small hospital, $15 million; a big company, a small hospital. I don't know if my hospital will ever get paid. That is not what this one is about, Mr. Speaker. This week the House can advance four pieces of legislation under this rule. It is about H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027. It authorizes a historic $1.15 trillion to rebuild the American defense industrial base and arsenal. This act implements the Peace Through Strength agenda and restores lethality to our armed forces by investing in modernization and multiyear procurement for weapons systems production to deter our adversaries. It also makes a significant investment in the quality of life of our servicemembers and retention opportunities. The fiscal year 2027 NDAA reforms key programs and saves taxpayer dollars resulting in a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force. This legislation will deter China and counter Russia, North Korea, Iran, and foreign terrorist organizations while leveraging our alliances across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Finally, this act strengthens our nuclear deterrence, prioritizes the Golden Dome, and grows our Nation's strategic space capabilities. This is bipartisan, must-pass legislation that every one of my colleagues should support. Additionally, H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 delivers on an America First foreign policy agenda. This protects our allies, confronts our adversaries, cuts waste, and puts American national interests first. It strengthens embassy security, fights fentanyl, defunds radical programs, and ensures every dollar advances American security and prosperity. Further, H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled American Act, allows the Social Security Administration to test new approaches on a voluntary basis and without impacting the participants' overall income to ensure Americans with disabilities are not punished for returning to the workforce. Finally, H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts, highlights the largest tax reform passed by Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts passed under the first Trump administration, and ensuring a tax cut for over 140 million Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act created a system where the major insurance carriers are not answerable to anybody. You did this to the American citizens. It is your responsibility. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to address a couple of issues. One is he said healthcare providers can't afford their benefits. Well, that is because you turned the whole system over to a select few extremely large health insurance companies that are accountable to nobody, and they are not paying their claims. They are not. My father was a surgeon. A lot of my friends are in the healthcare business. Let me tell you something: When you gave UnitedHealthcare and the other multibillion dollar corporations control over all aspects of our lives, you did a lot of damage, and you did that in your so-called Affordable Care Act. If the Affordable Care Act had worked, we wouldn't be having this discussion. You want to talk about the problems in the healthcare system, you need to look in the mirror because you all wrote the bill, and now those big insurance companies aren't accountable to anybody. They own the PBMs. They own the pharmacies. They own the doctors' offices. They own the hospitals. They are huge, huge oligopolies that cater to nobody other than their shareholders. Look at the share price of the large health insurance companies. Look who you made rich with the Affordable Care Act. It was the shareholders and the executives of all of those major health insurance companies. When I talk about the economy, yes, I realize that the American citizens are paying more. Inflation, which started because of the so-called American Rescue Plan--I think that is what you all called it--and your so-called Inflation Reduction Act--why did you name a bill the Inflation Reduction Act? It was because you started the inflation with the American Rescue Plan, and then you turned around and passed the so- called Inflation Reduction Act that just exponentially escalated the amount of inflation that the American citizens were having to deal with on a regular basis. My point with the economy is this: Real GDP grew. Real GDP grew at a 2.2 percent annual rate for the full year of 2025. That beat the baseline expectations. Yes, American citizens are having challenges. One of the reasons they are having challenges is the cost of energy. Do you know what? I will admit, after Donald Trump tried to end the Iranian jihadist control over what was happening around the world--and he has done a pretty good job with it--and let me tell you this: Donald Trump, the President of the United States, knows exactly what he is doing with Iran. He knows exactly what he is doing with Iran, and if you would get the briefings, you would understand why. In fact, I would point out that a U.S. Senator who doesn't like the President had a few things to say, and as soon as he went and got the briefing, he turned around and reversed his position. Instead of blaming everything on Donald Trump, you should get the facts. However, the cost of energy is embedded in every single thing that we do and that we buy. When the Democratic Party does things like canceling the Keystone pipeline, like stopping the development of nuclear power plants, like stopping oil and gas developments inside the United States of America, it hurts the American citizens. It hurts the American citizens, and it leads to inflation. I am sorry that we are having to deal with the inflation that the Democrats started with the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act and the pain that has come from that, and I am sorry the American citizens are dealing with the pain of the Affordable Care Act. I wish we could repeal that horrible bill, but we didn't get it done. We didn't get it done. Healthcare providers who can't afford their benefits, they can't afford their benefits because the insurance companies that you turned the system over to aren't paying the claims. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I don't have any additional speakers, am prepared to close. I have listened a lot today, and I want to get back to the heart of this matter, which is the National Defense Authorization Act. That is what this rule is about. It is about H.R. 8884 and allowing--in the case of the legislation that I had--Purple Heart recipients, people who are wounded in combat totally and permanently having the ability to go back to work and not worrying about losing their Social Security benefits, at least for a period of time. It is about the appropriations act for our State Department and things that we do around the world. There is a lot in this rule, Mr. Speaker, and this rule needs to pass. Yes, the SAVE America Act will be attached to the legislation when it goes across because, yes, we do think you all are letting noncitizens vote in elections. We know you are doing it at the local level, and we think that places like California ought to get their ballots counted before the end of the night, not before the end of the week. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman is prepared to close.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. A couple of things, Mr. Speaker: One is that Federal tax revenues are actually up this fiscal year over last fiscal year, and that is because the economy is doing pretty good under President Donald Trump. Again, tax revenues are up 5 percent over the last year. I want to mention one other thing. People under the age of 18 were exempt from the changes we made in the SNAP benefits. Under 18, they were exempt. Yet, they still stand up and say we kicked children off of SNAP. Read the law. If you are under 18, you are exempt from the changes we made. I will speak, Mr. Speaker, about one thing that is in this piece of legislation, in this rule, that is wrong that I have tried to correct for many years. If we get the chance to vote on it, I hope we will get it corrected. I will tell you, several years ago, I went to Bethesda, and a young man I represented had stepped on a pressure plate and lost both legs in Afghanistan. I stayed in touch with the young man. A couple of years later, I was taking him hunting. I remember exactly where I was on 475 in central Georgia. He told me: I work at O'Reilly Auto Parts, but I have to be careful--at the time, it was $1,100 a month--to make sure that I don't make more than $1,100 a month or my family loses the Social Security benefits. We talked a little while about this. I told him: When I get back to DC, I am going to meet with the lawyers because that just doesn't sound right. When I came to D.C., I scheduled a meeting with the attorneys up here who deal with Social Security. I met with them, and I had the discussion with them. They told me that that is actually the law, that that is correct. Here we have this young man who is combat wounded, totally and permanently disabled, who wants to go back to work. I am a firm believer that the number one thing we can do for our veterans, especially when it comes to veteran suicide and their mental health, is to get them back to work as soon as possible. So, I wrote a piece of legislation that has had multiple cosponsors from both parties, from all spectrums of the political divide, conservative, liberal, Democrat, Republican, moderate. We haven't been able to get it through because of some of the budget rules that plague this place on good ideas. Now, we have H.R. 8884. If it is passed, I am confident that the concept of the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act will be put in place as a pilot project. What it would allow people to do is, for people who are combat wounded, totally and permanently disabled, it will allow them to go back to work and keep their Social Security benefits. It shouldn't take as long as it has taken to do this and to get this passed. If this rule passes, I am confident that H.R. 8884 will pass. If we can get it through the Senate--and that is a big ``if'' with getting anything through the Senate--then, hopefully, our combat- wounded, totally and permanently disabled veterans can go back to work and not be afraid of going back to work because they would lose their Social Security benefits. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one of the key provisions of this rule is the National Defense Authorization Act. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation that has passed every year for the last several decades and passed out of committee with a strong bipartisan vote. I encourage the American citizens to understand this with regard to our national security and our national defense and how important this piece of legislation is. Up until 2022, in order to launch a satellite, the United States was buying rockets from Russia. Mr. Speaker, 2022 is the last time we purchased rockets from Russia to launch satellites, and 2024 is the last time we actually used a Russian rocket to launch a satellite. We have to invest in our defense industrial base so that we are not dependent on the enemies of the United States of America to provide for the security of the American citizens. The National Defense Authorization Act, in a very bipartisan manner, does exactly that. Mr. Speaker, this rule needs to pass. We need to ensure that we are not dependent on our adversaries for our national security, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, no doubt the Democrat socialists of America believe everything that the gentleman from Massachusetts just said, but the majority of Americans are smart enough to know that those things are simply not true. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1398, providing for consideration of four measures: H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and makes 312 amendments in order. H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and makes 29 amendments in order. H.R. 8884, Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees and provides for one motion to recommit. H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees. Additionally, the rule provides that H. Res. 1377 is laid on the table and, once the NDAA is passed, the Clerk shall add the text of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it, once again, to the United States Senate. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to debate a rule on four measures. First, H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith, one of the top priorities of the bipartisan fiscal year 2027 NDAA is to rebuild our arsenal of freedom. As President Reagan reminded the Nation more than four decades ago: ``It is not just immoral but unforgivable to ask the sons and daughters of America to protect this country with aging equipment and bargain- basement weapons.'' That conviction remains as true now as it was then. This year's NDAA continues our commitment to ensuring the United States maintains the most capable, lethal, and ready fighting force in the world. This is made possible through a top-line that supports an investment consistent with rebuilding the American arsenal and revitalizing our defense industrial base. Since the 1990s, we have seen a lack of competition in the defense sector that has reduced resiliency in supply chains, stifled innovation, and, ultimately, has increased costs for the taxpayers while decreasing readiness. This bill aims to change that. The fiscal year 2027 NDAA strengthens America's security by expanding domestic production capacity, mobilizing private-sector investment, accelerating innovative defense entrants, cutting unnecessary regulatory barriers, and creating thousands of high-skill American jobs. To reduce costs, this bill expands the multiyear procurement authority for critical platforms such as the F-35, F-15EX, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and many other weapon systems. This enables the defense industrial base to expand and accelerate domestic production, leading to decreased costs, increased capacity, and increased jobs. A country that cannot make its own ammunition and weapons cannot deter a war, Mr. Speaker. In addition, the fiscal year 2027 NDAA makes another major stride in strengthening servicemembers' quality of life and revitalizing our recruitment efforts. It authorizes a 5 to 7 percent pay raise; improves military housing, education, and childcare options for military families; and invests in support systems that keep our force resilient. The bill also tackles the Nation's pilot shortage head-on by issuing targeted aviation bonuses, expanding the training pipeline capacity, and accelerating pathways to produce and retain the next generation of military aviators. Implementing the Peace Through Strength agenda, the fiscal year 2027 NDAA rebuilds depleted stockpiles and accelerates game-changing technologies, like quantum computing, hypersonics, and autonomous systems, while sustaining legacy platforms until future replacements become operational. Platforms such as the F-22, F-18, A-10, and MQ-9 have been instrumental in the operations against Venezuela and the Iranian regime. Sustaining these platforms will eliminate the capability gaps created by prematurely divesting legacy platforms without a replacement platform being operational. Peace Through Strength starts with a factory floor at Scranton, a shipyard in Newport News, a welder in Pascagoula, and our skilled workforce at Robins Air Force Base. A stronger, more resilient defense industrial base is what turns American manufacturing capacity into credible military power. This credible military power is what convinces our adversaries that today is not the day to test the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the House Armed Services Committee staff for all of the work that went into creating this strong, bipartisan legislation that should pass with overwhelming support. Second, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027. H.R. 8595 advances the America First policy agenda and restores accountability to how taxpayer dollars are spent abroad. This year's legislation provides $47.32 billion, 6 percent below the fiscal year 2026 enacted level, while still supporting a foreign policy agenda that supports our allies and counters our adversaries. This bill restores fiscal sanity by reducing duplication, streamlining operations, and prioritizing core diplomatic functions. Additionally it codifies President Trump's executive orders to eliminate wasteful programs in spending, strengthen oversight of foreign assistance, and ensure no funds flow to organizations that refuse to cooperate with the United States. Further, this legislation funds efforts to counter malign influence from the People's Republic of China, denying the CCP access to U.S. factory sources and prohibiting countries from using U.S. aid to repay debts owed to Communist China. It deserves bipartisan support, and I look forward to its passage. Third, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for the consideration of H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act. This is a simple bill with an important goal: to make sure Americans with disabilities are not punished for wanting to go to work. For too long our disability policies have been built around outdated assumptions, assumptions that treat work as a risk rather than an opportunity. H.R. 8884 gives the Social Security Administration the tools it needs to test new approaches, gather real data, and design policies that support work instead of discouraging it. This bill extends the Social Security Administration demonstration authority through 2030. Participation is voluntary and will not result in a decreased overall income for any member that elects to participate in the program. This demonstration authority will be a gateway for the Social Security Administration to run scoped test programs which could help disabled Americans work, earn, and maintain stability without risking harm to beneficiaries. This is commonsense legislation that everyone should support. I look forward to passing it in the House and sending it over to the Senate. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Nearly 1 year ago today, House and Senate Republicans delivered on President Trump's promise to cut taxes, deliver affordability, and strengthen our economy for everyday hardworking Americans. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is the largest tax reform passed by Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts passed under the first Trump administration and ensuring a tax cut for over 140 million Americans. We saw over $324 billion in tax refunds for both individuals and families in 2025 and approximately 96 percent of the filers receiving a refund earn less than $200,000 in annual income. Further, crucial provisions in this legislation provided numerous deductions for overtime pay, service industry workers who rely on tips, as well as deductions for car loan interest and expansion of the enhanced child tax credit. American families and workers overwhelmingly benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and President Trump and congressional Republicans delivered for the American people by making these tax cuts permanent. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to consideration of these measures and urge passage of this rule. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), 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. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1398 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want the American citizens to know that, as was said earlier, April 17, with hundreds of people on the floor of the House of Representatives, we did, by UC, adopt a 1-week extension. That was true. We then did a 45-day extension, and now we are asking, yes, for 21- day extension. And sometimes things take longer than we would like for them to. I want to defend my friend Tulsi Gabbard, who was attacked by the gentleman from Maryland. Tulsi was the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She was the vice chair. She was elected unanimously to that position as the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She maintained friendships, because everybody knew she was a serious Member of Congress, up to and until she became an appointee of President Trump as DNI, and then, all of a sudden, everything I have heard from Democrats about her has been bad. She was elected unanimously to the vice chair position of the DNC. She is a good woman. She cares about this country, and you should show her a little more respect than you do. I want the American citizens, if you are watching this, to know, it is very simple. There is a lot going on in the world. Say what you want to about it with Iran. The bottom line is, the risks are elevated. The risks are elevated. Some of us think the President did the right thing. I realize some of you think he did the wrong thing, but the risks are elevated. We have got the World Cup that is about to happen. Thousands and thousands of people are coming into this country, some of which actually want to do us harm. Do you know who is going to be making sure that we keep the ones out of this country that want to do us harm? It is going to be Customs and Border Protection checking statuses when they come in through the border. I am glad that we got that funded. I want to leave you with this. If you are watching this, we, as the Republicans in the House, are also disappointed that we have not gotten to a resolution after the 1-week extension, after the 45-day extension. We are simply asking for another 21-day extension to make sure that this authority does not expire. Mr. Speaker, I would just ask that we abide by commonsense and the rule that we first do no harm by taking down a valuable national security tool that the United States of America needs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, again, this is uniformity of pesticide labeling. It has nothing to do with the actual chemical or the pesticide in the jug. Mr. Chairman, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), the chairman of the committee.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Chair, as we listen to this debate, and no doubt as text messages and other things have been sent out about this piece of legislation, what I want the MAHA movement to know is that this has nothing to do with the actual pesticide in the jug-- absolutely nothing. This is uniformity of pesticide labeling requirements. There are people out there who want to raise the costs on farmers by requiring that Florida would have one set of labels and Georgia would have another. We are simply saying that when the EPA says this is the appropriate label and the proper label to put the warnings on the chemical, that is going to be uniform throughout the States. Others want to go so far as to allow every individual city or municipality to come up with their own labeling requirement. This is simply not feasible from the standpoint of the companies in actually getting a product to the consumer, like I just bought to kill the fire ants in my yard. By the way, the States, even with our amendment, maintain the ability to restrict the chemical from being used in their State. Again, Mr. Chair, I just want the people to know--especially the MAHA people who have been texting and calling--about the misrepresentation of this amendment. It has absolutely nothing to do with the pesticide in the jug. It is uniformity of pesticide labeling that they are trying to take away with this amendment. I represent Georgia. We are close to the Florida line. If the EPA says the label is good, I don't see why every State and municipality should have to have another label that would simply raise the price for the American consumer. Again, we are not talking about the pesticide in the jug, as has been misrepresented to American citizens and especially to the MAHA movement. We are talking about just the label on the jug. There is no liability shield for the pesticide in the jug. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Bentz and Mr. Westerman for their work on this issue. It is a very simple proposal and I think the most important thing for the forestry industry. The forestry industry is not healthy right now. It doesn't matter if its the logger or the person who drives the truck or the person who actually owns the land with the trees on it. It creates value from what otherwise would be waste. It is a good amendment. It is a simple amendment. I encourage the adoption of it. Again, I thank Mr. Bentz and Mr. Westerman for their work on this issue.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

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

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, Customs and Border Protection is an extremely important part of protecting the United States of America. While the Democrats might want to eliminate Customs and Border Protection so that they can make the borders wide open, the American citizens want those borders secure. This week, the House has the ability to advance five pieces of legislation, including the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, representing years of committee efforts and stakeholder engagement, strengthening rural America, improving conservation tools, and supporting American producers. The Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act reauthorizes section 702, with reforms, providing the continued ability to collect intelligence on foreign nationals overseas, who are reasonably believed to possess foreign intelligence information, in order to stop terrorist attacks on United States soil--again, stopping terrorist attacks on United States soil. We have no idea who the Democrats let into this country over the last several years. The Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act supports parents, strengthens transparency, and protects our children in educational environments. The budget resolution is an essential first step toward ending this Democrat-driven shutdown at DHS and strengthening our Nation's national security and keeping our borders secure, which is what Democrats' real opposition is to the Department of Homeland Security. Finally, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act allows the option to sell gasoline that is blended with 10 percent to 15 percent ethanol year-round and provides additional reforms to the Renewable Energy Standard. Together these measures advance our commitments to American families, American procedures, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Madam Speaker, in order to keep America's border secure, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I will just remind the gentlewoman that New Mexico has experienced a historic financial boom driven by what President Trump has done in unleashing America's domestic energy production. I think it was the Senate later that said they had more money than they could figure out how to spend in New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I, again, want to give great credit to Mr. Nunn and the Iowa delegation as well as many others for their work on the E15 issue and the farm bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.