Austin Scott

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 55.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 50.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today to honor the life and legacy of an exemplary public servant and friend, Mr. Michael Joseph Reed, who passed away earlier this month. He spent nearly two decades advising my good friend and colleague, Mr. Sanford Bishop, until his retirement from public service. Michael was a shining example of dedication and service during his tenure on Capitol Hill, serving in many capacities to pass legislation and appropriations that benefited my great State and its citizens, as well as the United States of America. My wife, Vivien, and I extend our deepest sympathies to Michael's wife, Mrs. Diane Fields Reed, the entire Reed family, and the staff of Representative Bishop. Mr. Speaker, I will say this one last thing about Michael Reed. It didn't matter if you were a Democrat or Republican, especially a Democrat or Republican member of the staff. When you had a question about appropriations, it was Michael Reed that you called to get the straight answer. If he could help you, he would. He was one of the most dependable people I have met in my life.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of a devoted patriot and civil servant in Houston County, Georgia, Sheriff Cullen Talton. Mr. Talton's dedicated career in law enforcement has spanned over five decades, making him the longest-serving sheriff in the history of the State of Georgia. Born in 1932 in Bonaire, Georgia, Mr. Talton was a Houston County commissioner and a dairy farmer before being elected sheriff in 1972. When he first took office, Mr, Talton was responsible for a department of just 28 employees, which has grown to over 300 today. Additionally, Houston County had a population of 63,000 in 1972 and now boasts over 170,000 residents, which Mr. Talton has selflessly dedicated his career to protecting and serving. He is a shining example for all law enforcement officers to aspire to. Family and friends describe Sheriff Talton as a ``role model,'' a ``servant,'' and a ``peacekeeper.'' He has embodied the meaning of each of these words to their fullest during his time as Sheriff of Houston County. I wish Mr. Talton a long and healthy retirement, surrounded by the family and friends he has served tirelessly throughout his esteemed career. I would like to thank Sheriff Talton for his years of service to our community and our country. It is an honor to represent such outstanding constituents like him in the Eighth Congressional District of Georgia.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Bishop, for his courtesy and for leading this Special Order hour. We are here to honor the former First Lady of both Georgia and the United States, Rosalynn Carter. She was a great lady, an outstanding Georgian, a Navy spouse, and a distinguished humanitarian who dedicated her life to bettering her country and her community. The Carter name is synonymous with a faith in and love for Jesus Christ, and anybody in our part of the State--I lived about an hour from them--who knows the Carter family knows their legacy is that they continued to teach and be active in their church, and they were just wonderful people. They loved Georgia, they loved the United States of America, and specifically they loved rural Georgia and south Georgia. She would have been very proud to know that all five of the First Ladies were there to show respect to her at her memorial service in a bipartisan manner. She was born and raised in Plains, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southwestern College before she married the beloved farmer, Georgia Governor, and President Jimmy Carter. What you might not know is that she was first attracted to President Carter when she saw him in his naval uniform, as he was a graduate of the Naval Academy. She was his equivalent in every way when they served together, whether it was as First Lady of our great State from 1971 to 1975 or as First Lady of the United States of America. She was a long-term advocate of mental health in Georgia, aiming to increase mental health services and to stop the stigma that surrounds mental illness. She was appointed to serve on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped. She volunteered at the Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta and was an honorary chairperson for the Georgia Special Olympics. After her husband became President of the United States in 1977, it was Mrs. Carter who elevated the role of the First Lady for generations to come by continuing to work to improve mental health services across the United States. She actually sat in on Cabinet meetings. If I am not mistaken, she was the first of the First Ladies to sit in on Cabinet meetings. During her time in the White House, mental health care was one of her priorities to increase government assistance to the mentally ill. She later became an honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health. After leaving the White House, she cofounded The Carter Center alongside her husband in 1982 to advocate for democracy and peace across the globe and established mental health programs to collaborate on mental health policy. Her passion for mental health advocacy encouraged her to create the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, which addresses issues in caregiving not just in the United States, but internationally. She was also the sponsor of the USS Jimmy Carter, one of the most distinguished submarines in the history of the United States Navy. A sponsor is named by the Secretary of the Navy, and the sponsor's role is an important one. Mrs. Carter participated in many of the milestones in the life of her ship, including smashing the bottle against the bow of the submarine and bestowing its name in 2004. The following year, the USS Jimmy Carter was commissioned and entered the fleet after she said in her role as sponsor: ``Man our ship and bring her to life.'' Rosalynn Carter's dedication to public service made her an inspiration to everyone. Our Nation is thankful for her grace and bipartisanship as First Lady. Our prayers are with President Jimmy Carter and the Carter family. May we continue to carry her patriotic legacy as we serve the people of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Bishop, for leading this hour, and I thank the Carter family for their service to this country.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 676, and YEA on Roll Call No. 677.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 678 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 679.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, before I speak to the issue of Ukraine, I thought I might read the American citizens the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. ``No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.'' If you are watching this--I am sorry that you don't have something better to do on a Saturday--but you need to know who is telling you the truth and who is not telling you the truth. Recently, you heard my colleague from Connecticut tell you that the Republican bill has a pay raise for Members of Congress. It is simply not true. And if it did, it would be unconstitutional. If the Senate bill changes the compensation for Members of Congress then it, too, is unconstitutional. Again, the 27th Amendment word for word: ``No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.'' They are simply grasping at straws. They have intended to shut down the government from the start. With regard to Ukraine funding, I am on the Armed Services Committee, I also happen to be on the Intelligence Committee, and I support the mission in Ukraine. It is not a U.S.-led mission. It is a mission that the United States is participating in, and this continuing resolution will not do anything to hinder what the United States is doing with regard to Ukraine. We need to vote for this continuing resolution. We need to keep the United States Government open. We need to keep the DOD funded and our soldiers funded, and disregard totally what you are hearing from the other side. They are grasping at straws, making excuses, and telling flat-out lies about Member compensation as an excuse to vote against this piece of legislation. Let's keep the government open. Vote for this bill.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thought I would go ahead and respond because I know as soon as I sit down, the gentlewoman from Connecticut is going to talk about the schoolteachers in Georgia, and my sister is one of them. She gets her check from the county, in case you didn't know it. It kind of bothers me that you seem to think that they get a check from the Federal Government. They actually get paid by the county, as do our sheriff's deputies. How did we get here? I have heard the left talk about the chaos caucus that we have, candidly, as Republicans and what gives them the power. It only takes five of them to create a disruption. How do five get the power? The five in our party get the power because the 212 of you on the Democratic side are going to vote with them to shut down the government. Now, a continuing resolution is a 30-day piece of legislation that I will admit is not perfect, but it is better than a shutdown or the chaos that comes with a shutdown. The idea that we as Republicans and the American citizens have to eat a $2 trillion deficit or else you are going to shut down the government is absolutely ridiculous. We are not at war. We are not in a recession. We are in no health emergency. Show a little responsibility.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tifton, Georgia's ``Queen of Arts,'' Syd Blackmarr, who recently passed at the age of 89. Her commitment to promoting the arts in Georgia has left a great mark on the cultural landscape of Georgia's Eighth District. Her legacy will be remembered in the cultural heritage she helped build, from the main stage at Fulwood Park that is named in her honor, to the former Tifton Museum of Arts & Heritage that was renamed the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center to recognize her contributions to our community. She also founded the Art Experiment Station at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 1976, which fostered the creation of 8 local arts councils. It was Georgia's first rural arts consortium, and her work paved the way for collaborations across South Georgia, leading to the growth of arts organizations and public art installations throughout our state. She envisioned arts affirming cultural diversity and helped initiate the Arts in Black Festival and the Fiesta del Pueblo. Syd's accolades and recognitions, such as the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities and the Selina Roberts Ottum Award for Arts Leadership, are a testament to her unwavering dedication and the immense impact she had on the arts community. Syd's impact in Georgia's Eighth District will be felt for generations to come.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Crisp County Sheriff's Deputy Tyee Browne, who lost his life in the line of duty on July 10 at the age of 26. Deputy Browne was a graduate of Mary Persons High School in Monroe County, and he served the Crisp County community with the sheriff's department for less than a year before he was shot and killed in a traffic stop. Before serving Crisp County, he served our Nation in the Army National Guard and dedicated his life to protecting others. His service is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice our law enforcement officers make daily to keep our communities safe. To the family of Deputy Tyee Browne, I offer my deep condolences on behalf of Georgia's Eighth District. I thank Sheriff Billy Hancock and the Crisp County Sheriff's Department for their dedication to protecting our district and the people of Georgia.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ''nay'' on rollcall No. 337.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Ms. Linda C. Davis, also known as the ``First Lady of the 75th Ranger Regiment,'' for her many years of dedicated service to our country. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Ms. Davis worked as a clerk steno at Lawson Army Airfield in Georgia when she applied for a position at the 75th Ranger Regiment. On November 4, 1984, Ms. Davis was hired as the Regiment's Secretary to the Commander, just 31 days after the Regiment was founded at Fort Benning. On that day, Linda Davis found a place she says is a family. For more than 31 years, Ms. Davis has served as an unfailingly reliable and invaluable asset to the 75th Ranger Regiment, including leading the scheduling for the Regiment's command team travel, working with the 75th Ranger Regiment Alumni ``Ranger Graybeards,'' and providing guidance and assistance for Ranger Regiment Gold Star families. During her time with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ms. Davis has been recognized with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Order of St. Maurice-Civis for civilian service, two Commander's Awards for Excellence, and was awarded the Mr. Charles E. Pimble Special Operations Department of the Army Civilian Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2008, November 4 was designated as ``Linda Davis Day'' by former 75th Ranger Regiment Commander Col. Richard Clarke. Despite these accolades, Ms. Davis maintains the most honorable titles she has held in her career are being called `Ranger Sis' and `Ranger Mom' by those she serves and supports. Throughout her years of service and leadership, Linda Davis has demonstrated unwavering loyalty and dedication to our country and a commitment to supporting those who protect our freedom. On behalf of the House Armed Services Committee and the people of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District, I wish to thank Linda Davis for her service to our country.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Schweikert for yielding me the time as I rise to speak on some of the exact same things that he talked about. They are boring and uncomfortable, but they are necessary conversations that the country has to have, just like family has to have these conversations when things maybe aren't going so right. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak briefly about our national debt. Our national debt, as it is called, is the sum of our country's annual deficits over the course of time. Last year's deficit plus the prior year's deficit plus interest, and so on, have accumulated to over $30 trillion. This is a staggering number that exceeds the GDP of our country. If you simply put a 4 percent interest factor on that number, it is $1.2 trillion a year in interest alone. Now, how did we get into this current situation? Mr. Speaker, let me give you a couple of dates and numbers. On December 29, 2022, the day President Biden signed the 4,000-page omnibus bill increasing spending into law, the Daily Treasury Statement showed that our country, the United States of America, was at 99.8 percent of the statutory debt limit. I will say that again, Mr. Speaker: 99.8 percent of the statutory debt limit the day that President Biden signed the omnibus bill, December 29, 2022. Any responsible person, Mr. Speaker, would have addressed the debt limit before signing an omnibus bill to increase spending. Let's just remember and talk about that omnibus bill for a second. It was drafted without the input of House Republicans. Not a single House Republican voted for the bill. It was drafted by Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and President Joe Biden. Unfortunately, some Senate Republicans supported it, as well. Mr. Speaker, I was 3 years old when President Biden was first elected to public office. Together, all combined, President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, they have over 100 years of combined time in Washington, D.C. Don't you think they discussed that we were at 99.8 percent of the national debt limit when they passed the omnibus bill? Don't you think they discussed that they could have put one sentence in the omnibus bill, a sentence that simply read: The statutory debt limit of the United States is increased by the amount of funds necessary to fund this omnibus bill. One sentence in 4,000 pages--117 combined years of political experience. One sentence and we would not be having the debt limit discussions that we are having today. I promise you, they discussed it. They made a conscious decision not to include the debt limit on the omnibus bill because they wanted to create the very situation that we are in right now, a conscious decision to force the country to the edge of default so they could blame House Republicans for the mess they created. Over the past 28 months--that is, since President Biden was sworn into office--Democrats spent over $3 trillion without a single Republican vote, $3 trillion in a piece of legislation that they called the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act without a single Republican vote. This is outside and in addition to the normal appropriations process. They did this under the guise of reducing inflation and rescuing America. Where are we after one-party rule and severe government overspending? The debt on December 29, $31,326,000. The day that President Biden signed the omnibus bill, that is what it was. The day he was sworn into office, it was $27,751,000. Are you $3.5 trillion better off than you were 2 years ago, America? On April 26, House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, a bill that would prevent default and rein in spending, and sent it to the Senate. The Senate has done nothing. On April 27, President Biden reiterated that he still would not negotiate with House Republicans. Now, finally, less than 10 days prior to the estimated X date of a default, President Biden has agreed to negotiate. Mr. Speaker, we have a spending problem, a spending problem that has led to a deficit problem, a deficit problem that has led to a debt problem. Make no mistake about it, the current created crisis that we are facing with regard to the X date on the debt limit is a political crisis created intentionally by people who had over 100 years of political experience and knew exactly what they were doing when they intentionally omitted language from the omnibus bill that would have increased the debt limit to get us out of the current situation that we are in.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very significant date in the history of the national defense of our great Nation. On April 14th, the Air Force Reserve celebrated its 75th birthday. Its diamond anniversary is an occasion to reflect on the Air Force Reserve's proud heritage, recognize its history, and acknowledge its current contributions to national security as we look to the future. The legacy of the Air Force Reserve dates to the National Defense Act of 1916, when the need for a standby force led to the creation of the Federal Reserve. The Air Force Reserve was officially established on April 14, 1948, when President Truman transferred the Army Air Corps Reserve to the Air Force. Barely two years later, the Air Force Reserve would mobilize for the first time, activating nearly 147,000 Citizen Airmen during the Korean War. Since that date, the Air Force Reserve has provided essential capabilities and manpower in every major U.S. conflict and numerous smaller operations around the globe. Every day, Reserve Citizen Airmen are actively engaged in every Air Force mission set and are serving bravely and proudly to defend and protect American interests worldwide. Today, the Air Force flies in one formation. There is no distinction between active, guard, and reserve airmen. Our nation relies on the Air Force Reserve to provide strategic depth through surge capacity both at home and abroad. The Air Force Reserve has always been and will continue to be a ready now force that provides combat forces to fly, fight, and win. I am honored to have the privilege of representing the Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters, located at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. On behalf of the House Armed Services Committee and the people of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District, I thank the Citizen Airmen of the Air Force Reserve and wish the Air Force Reserve a very happy 75th birthday.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th birthday of a devoted patriot and civil servant in Houston County Georgia, Mr. Keath Morgan. On February l7, 1943, Mr. Morgan joined the United States Army in Salt Lake City, Utah. After basic training, he was sent to Fort Benning to attend Airborne School with the intent of becoming a paratrooper. Upon his completion of the program, Mr. Morgan was transferred to Europe and assigned to the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the ``Screaming Eagles.'' Mr. Morgan accompanied the 101st Airborne Division to Bastogne, the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Campaign, and finally to the ``Eagles Nest,'' the site of Hitler's residence in the Alps, in Berchtesgaden. After his service in the 101st Airborne Division, Mr. Morgan transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving an occupation duty in Austria until coming home on the Queen Mary and marching in the Victory Parade in New York City on January 12, 1946. Throughout his endeavors, Mr. Morgan served as a light machine gunner. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. I would like to thank Mr. Morgan for his years of service to our community and our country. It is an honor to represent such upstanding constituents like him in the Eighth Congressional District of Georgia.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 159.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, like millions of people around the world, in 2020, I tested positive for COVID. I was fortunate. After several days in the hospital and 14 days on oxygen, I was able to recover. Many were not. Americans and the rest of the world deserve to know exactly where this virus started and any details surrounding the origins of the virus that launched the globe into chaos. If the CCP was not fully transparent during these times, people need to know that, as well. How long did they cover it up? How long did they know that this virus had been unleashed? If we are going to defeat the Communist Chinese Party, our government has to be transparent about how malicious they have become. The U.S. and other freedom-loving Nations are going to have to join together to make sure that we expose their intent to the world. I believe that we all have the right to know about the origins of COVID-19, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify any of the information that we have on the origins of COVID and the CCP.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Grabowski, who is retiring after 38 years of honorable service to the State of Georgia and our Nation. Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Grabowski retires as the Assistant Adjutant General--Air, Georgia National Guard, and Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard. In his duties and responsibilities, he led the Georgia State Air Guard headquarters team while overseeing a command of more than 2,900 Georgia Air National Guard members serving in two flying wings, seven geographically separated units, and an Air Dominance Center. General Grabowski joined the Georgia Air National Guard in 1985 as an enlisted Telecommunications Specialist and quickly ascended through the ranks, becoming a commissioned officer in 1994. Over his career, he has commanded at the flight, squadron, and wing levels and closes out his distinguished career as the commanding general of all guard Airmen in the state. General Grabowski's aviation career includes more than 2,700 flying hours: including more than 1,700 combat hours in the E-8C JSTARS supporting Operations IRAQ1 and ENDURING FREEDOM. General Grabowski has spent the last 38 years embodying the Air Force's core values and the ideals of our Nation: Service before self, integrity first, and excellence in all we do. Although, his accomplishments have never overshadowed his humility. To this day, he wears hidden in his flight cap the insignia of the first rank he held in the military as a constant reminder of where he started. Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Grabowski is an exemplary leader, and I commend him for his service to the country and his commitment to the Georgia Air National Guard.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today because our veterans deserve access to care at every corner of the country as they have selflessly defended this country. After Express Scripts, who manages the TRICARE benefit on behalf of the DOD, instituted network changes that cut out thousands of community pharmacies last year, my office received dozens of calls from veterans who are unable to access their prescriptions. Our local pharmacies have the drugs these veterans need now, but unless there are changes from the DOD that provide access that is actually adequate, our veterans cannot access the medications they need from community pharmacies. While the DOD drags their feet, veterans are being refused lifesaving medicines and offered unacceptable alternatives to the care they used to be able to receive. Mr. Kimsey, a veteran from Warner Robins, Georgia, is one of the many patients in my district who this new rule affected. Mr. Kimsey is a cancer patient at Central Georgia Cancer Care and is taking a chemo drug. He has been on this medication for about a year and was told that TRICARE would no longer pay for the medication at the local pharmacy. He called my office after trying to fill his prescriptions and only had five pills left of this critical drug. The new DOD-approved pharmacy said they could mail the drug to him in 10 days, but he couldn't wait 10 days. This is just one example of why community pharmacists are so vital to patients, especially in rural areas.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise to talk a little bit about the national debt and accusations that have been made against my colleagues in the House Republican Conference. I have listened as a couple of my colleagues from the Democratic side have accused us of playing chicken and gambling, and have said they are glad that we are going to be educated on the impacts of a default on the debt. I will tell you, I agree with a lot of the consequences that have been outlined about the default. What I want my colleagues to recognize on the other side of the aisle is that 2 days before Christmas a bill passed this House, 4,126 pages, and spent $1.7 trillion dollars. That bill was negotiated among four people: Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, President Biden, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. When President Biden signed the bill on December 30, what I want my colleagues to know is that we had already hit the debt limit on December 30. I have the Daily Treasury Report dated December 30 of 2022. The national debt subject to the limit was $31,347 trillion. The statutory debt limit is $31,381 trillion. Now, technically, we were 99.89 percent of the way to the debt limit. For all practical purposes, if you spent 99.89 percent on your credit card, you are there. The four people who negotiated it had to know that we were less than one-tenth of 1 percent away from hitting the debt limit the day that legislation was signed. All they had to do in that 4,000-page omnibus bill was write one sentence to change the debt limit to what it would have taken to fund their omnibus bill. One sentence would have changed the debt limit in this country, and we wouldn't be having the discussions we are having today about default--but they didn't do that. January 19 was 20 days after that bill was signed, and now they are accusing House Republicans of being fiscally demented and not paying attention, playing chicken, and gambling with America's future. The four people that negotiated that deal had four choices. They could have passed a continuing resolution with a debt limit included. They could have passed a continuing resolution without the debt limit. They could have passed an omnibus bill and included the debt limit. They could have passed an omnibus bill and not included the debt limit. There was only one of those choices that would have led to the current situation where everybody points the finger at House Republicans and says you are gambling with. The one choice that led to the current situation is an omnibus bill without the debt limit included. Guess what those four, with 160 years of political experience, chose? They chose the one that would lead to the current situation. They could have included the debt limit in the piece of legislation that was adopted and signed on December 30. They chose not to. You don't need to point the finger at Republicans and say we are gambling and playing chicken. The fact of the matter is, the four people that negotiated the omnibus bill knew exactly what they were doing. This crisis was intentionally created, and it is something that we are going to have to work together to get out of. We have $32 trillion in debt. In 2019, we had $21 trillion. We can't keep running at a $2 trillion deficit every year.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of my good friend, Chairman Tommy Stalnaker, who is retiring after 50 years of service to Houston County, Georgia. Mr. Stalnaker began his public service in 1972 and worked in various local government positions for 38 years until he was elected as chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners in 2010. Mr. Stalnaker started serving as Houston County's Chief Elected Official the following year and served three consecutive terms as chairman for 12 years. During his tenure, Mr. Stalnaker was a champion for developing Houston County into the thriving community it is today and supporting the mission at Robins Air Force Base. While in office, he served on the Governing Council of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission and the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority. Mr. Stalnaker worked for and with 30 Houston County Commissioners during his extensive career and is proud to see Houston County in positive financial standing with no debt. I am honored to have the privilege of representing outstanding Georgians and servant leaders like Chairman Stalnaker. I thank him for his many years of service to our community, and I wish him the best in his well deserved retirement.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 302 on passage of H.R. 5271, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove myself as cosponsor of H.R. 8167.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant General Richard ``Rich'' Scobee for his retirement as Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, and to thank him for his many years of dedicated service to our country. After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986, Lt Gen Scobee earned his pilot wings as a distinguished graduate of Euro- NATO Joint Jet Pilot training. During his years of service, Lt Gen Scobee has served as an F-16 Fighting Falcon Pilot, Instructor Pilot, and Flight Examiner both domestically and overseas in Germany, South Korea, and Egypt. Lt Gen Scobee has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force, and deployed as Commander of an Air Expeditionary Group at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq. Lt Gen Scobee has also earned major decorations and awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Army Achievement Medal. As a career fighter pilot, Lt Gen Scobee is a command pilot with more than 3,800 hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon including 248 combat hours. Through his years of service and leadership, Lt Gen Scobee demonstrated his unwavering loyalty and dedication to our country and commitment to protecting our freedom. On behalf of the House Armed Services Committee and the people of Georgia's Eighth Congressional District, I would like to thank Lt Gen Scobee for his service and wish him the best in his retirement.