Beth Van Duyne

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bruce Stacy of Colleyville, TX who served in the U.S. Army and received two silver stars in Vietnam. Over the weekend, I had the honor of awarding Bruce the 2021 Congressional Veteran Commendation. We honor Bruce for his courage and sacrifice in 1969, where he sustained serious wounds as he cleared many soldiers from an immediate area of assault by the enemy. He was later awarded two Purple Hearts after this conflict. Bruce has always put others first and continues to make a lasting impact on the lives around him. It is an honor to recognize the distinguished veterans of TX 24, like Bruce, and to preserve their stories for future generations of Americans through the Congressional Veteran Commendation. I thank Bruce for his service and the sacrifices he made to protect our great nation.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of three TX 24 high schools: Colleyville Heritage High School, Keller High School and Carroll High School and their band directors Gary Barnard, Mark McGahey and Ken Johnson. These three high school marching bands have excelled, in showmanship and technical ability this year. Last weekend, they advanced to the state championship, which will be held over the next two weeks. I thank our students for representing North Texas, and their dedication and years of hard work. I also thank their band directors who spend their careers teaching and enriching the lives of students. I wish them the best in their upcoming performance and congratulate them on all of their hard work paying off.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Divyesh K. Patel, an entrepreneur from Irving, Texas who was recently awarded the Presidential E-Star Award and E-Award for Excellence. Mr. Patel and Bespoke Group LLC are recognized for their outstanding contribution to the U.S. economy, growers, and work on the ``From U.S. Farms to World Market Program.'' Mr. Patel hails from a distinguished family with a great track record of contributing in many areas. His father, Kanchanbhai M. Patel, has been awarded the Glory of Gujarat, India award which demonstrates their deep commitment to the community in making a great difference from the individual to national level. Mr. Patel also had a great impact on small businesses and agricultural farming. Both strengthen our economy, create valuable jobs, and provide for communities across the nation. I thank Mr. Patel for his entrepreneurial spirit and contributions to international trade in Texas-24. We are grateful for the impact he has made on our community.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3110 imposes one-size-fits-all nursing accommodation requirements on different kinds of work environments, including those found in the airline, shipping, and agriculture industries. As a mother of two who nursed both children while working, I understand the importance of having these accommodations in the workplace. Under current law, the Fair Labor Standards Act provides hourly employees with access to accommodations while providing for certain industry and job specific exemptions. This approach includes special protections to include the smallest of farms, which are not proportionally impacted by regulatory mandates such as the one we are debating today. The mandate in H.R. 3110 would impose the same requirements on all 143 million employees covered under the FLSA. This would impose substantial compliance challenges and introduce safety concerns based on the nature of business operations in certain settings. For example, this would fail to account for the unique working conditions found in the aviation industry. H.R. 3110 requires that airline employees, who are currently exempt from FLSA breastfeeding accommodation requirements, have access to a space for pumping breast milk. This is despite the fact that aircraft designs are regulated by the FAA for safety and reliability purposes with limited ability to add additional private spaces. Modification of aircraft space would be prohibitively expensive and require the removal of airline seats. This requirement is even more challenging for smaller planes with fewer passenger seats that service regional airports. Additionally, pilot and flight attendant duties are heavily regulated by the FAA with few redundancies in duties among staff, complicating the ability of aviation businesses to maintain appropriate staffing levels and access to services when faced with inflexible government- mandated breaks. Democrats acknowledged this problem in their manager's amendment to H.R. 3110 but failed to mitigate the negative impacts the bill would have on critical passenger safety and security functions, both on the ground and during flight. Because workplaces are not one-size-fits-all, it is critical that any legislation in this area preserves flexibility for airline, shipping, and small farm employers to work with their employees to develop best practices in meeting individual workplace needs. Sweeping and overly prescriptive requirements that do not adequately address both the workplace environment and workplace needs will not lead to the best results for working mothers. Nursing mother accommodations should be encouraged, and the ongoing efforts of businessowners to ensure access for their workers are to be applauded and supported. I am going to offer this motion to recommit to ensure certain businesses have the flexibility to be able to develop nursing accommodations that meet the needs of their employees while accounting for unique working environments. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this motion to recommit.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, if we adopt the motion to recommit, we will instruct the Committee on Education and Labor to consider an amendment to exempt certain industries with unique workplace environments from the requirements in the underlying bill. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. First, things are reported and monitored, and then they are controlled. We cannot let Democrats push us down this dangerous and slippery slope.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are singularly focused on the happenings only within the walls of Capitol Hill, the rest of us, working families, are struggling with the consequences of this failed administration, including rising inflation; pending unemployment; border threats; increased drugs and violence in our neighborhoods; and an out-of-control, power-hungry administration. I cannot explain the chairman's and majority leader's absolute and unhealthy obsession with a former President, but I sincerely urge them to seek treatment so that they can focus on the insurmountable harms that are being caused by the current administration and how they are currently forcing them on all of the American people. I rise in opposition to the previous question so that the House can immediately consider H.R. 5586, legislation critical to stopping the Democrats' unending attempts to control every aspect of American lives. Now the left is in an unrelenting pursuit of tracking every penny you and your family personally earn and spend. If the price tag for their socialist policies weren't alarming enough, what is hidden inside the bill should truly horrify all Americans. If you pay rent, if you buy groceries, or pay a mortgage, you are going to be subject to surveillance. From the lowest income earners on up, every American will be checked. Thousands more IRS bureaucrats will be hired for their new surveillance program, with authority to monitor every transaction you make. Every account transaction would be traced and reported to the Federal Government, edging us closer and closer to a communist- controlled police state. Republicans are unified in our fight against this new surveillance program. My friend and ranking member, Kevin Brady, led the charge to stop this early on, but not a single Democrat stood up for Americans' financial privacy.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to include in the Record, the heartwarming story of Officer Rory Babineaux. A 16-year veteran of the Farmers Branch Police Department, Officer Baineaux was dispatched to a welfare concern call from the neighbor of an eighty- year-old resident concerned about the lady's health and safety. When Officer Babineaux arrived on the scene to find although she was in good health, her air conditioner and plumbing were not working. Instead of passing the case off to others, he took it upon himself to contact local businesses like Right Choice Heating and Air and Metro North Plumbing, who found it in their hearts to waive all costs. This story not only speaks volumes for the type of community Farmers Branch is, but more importantly the dedication Officer Babineaux has put into the people he has served over the last 16 years. I thank Officer Babineaux, his actions inspire me to serve TX-24 as he has.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn and his deputies. Earlier this month, Sheriff Waybourn announced the weeks-long investigation known as Operation Buyer Beware, which focused on the demand driving human trafficking. Together, Texas DPS, Fort Worth Police, Arlington Police and the Department of Homeland Security successfully arrested a total of 115 men over the course of 1 week, many of them repeat offenders. Those arrested were attempting to solicit sex from minors. With this operation, the Tarrant County Sheriff has sent a clear signal to offenders in the community that the safety and well-being of our children is paramount, and acts of harm and violence will not be tolerated. The sheriff's department stepped up to make use of the recent changes to State law that will increase jail time for solicitation. We applaud our law enforcement and those dedicated to keeping Texas- 24 safe. Madam Speaker, I thank Sheriff Bill Waybourn and Tarrant County law enforcement for executing this operation and making strides to protect our community.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris, Julia and Sophia Penny, our Texas 24 Hometown Heroes of the week. The spring of 2020 when COVID was starting to cause fear and doubt for all Americans, Chris Penny and his two daughters, Julia and Sophia, brought light and positivity to their community in Grapevine, Texas, where they collected painted rocks from all over the country to place along the Parr Park Rock Art Trail. It started with a few rocks painted and scattered by the Penny family, then they decided to create a Facebook post and share the idea with the rest of the community. They were on a mission to not only give back to their community, but lift spirits across the nation. As the Penny family began collecting works of art, their community and Parr Park Rock Art Trail were brightened with pieces from countless families and individuals wanting to spread the same happiness and positivity. Over the course of the pandemic, every family and child was looking for safe activities and ways to keep spirits high. The Penny Family showed such a great way to do just that. I thank Chris, Julia and Sophia Penny, for bringing light in our community that was so desperately needed during a time of stress and uncertainty.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I'm here today to recognize North Texas' own Colleyville Police Department, which won two prestigious International Association of Chiefs of Police awards this year. Colleyville is an amazing city in TX-24, and the brave men and women of their department brought down a worldwide sex trafficking website, saving a 13-year old girl in the process. This mission earned them the IACP's Sex Trafficking Case Award. In the same year they went on to solve an international fraud ring stemming from Nigeria. These actions gave them the Elder Fraud Case Award. The International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has over 31,000 members across 165 countries, hands out 15 awards each year to officers and agencies who exhibit leadership, excellence, and professionalism. I am immensely proud to represent these officers in Texas' 24th District--they have not only made our community a safer place to Jive, but the entire world.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of the city of Keller in becoming the most family-friendly city in the State of Texas. This community of over 45,000 residents sits in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and prides itself on pairing big city comforts with small town charm. Its history is rooted in the perseverance of frontier settlers in the golden age of railroads. That spirit lives on today in a community of incredible entrepreneurs and small business owners, beautiful parks and trails, excellent schools, and award-winning city facilities and programs. Often listed among the safest and best places to live in America, this city strives to serve its citizens at every stage of life, from young families buying their first homes to empty nesters who could not imagine living anywhere else. In that effort, Keller City Council recognizes the importance of fighting on behalf of taxpayers, attracting exceptional economic development, prioritizing the community's roads and sidewalks, and ensuring public safety by supporting its unparalleled first responders. Madam Speaker, I congratulate the city of Keller and their shared vision of becoming Texas' most family-friendly city. I look forward to seeing the incredible progress that this community will see working together.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, years ago, I, like many women, suffered a miscarriage. I should have been able to hold my son in my arms, but that was not God's plan. Years later, I still grieve that loss--and not the loss of a generic cluster of cells, but an actual baby who would have been about this size. My son had his own unique set of DNA, fingerprints, blood type, and a heartbeat--every marker that we use to identify a human being. Pregnancy is difficult on a policy and personal level, but to deny that a child growing inside a woman is nothing more than an inconvenience is to ignore the value of life. Losing a child changed who I was, and it is the same for most women. We can't pretend that this loss doesn't have lifelong consequences. Instead of promoting ways for women to end their pregnancies, we should be helping expectant mothers find the medical, emotional, and financial support they need. But that has never been the Democrats' focus. The party that claims to protect women is actively supporting policies that devalue the lives of women and children across the globe. Their policies have turned the human trafficking of children into a multibillion dollar industry and supported a terrorist regime since Afghanistan's takeover that went from educating and valuing the contribution of women to whipping them in the streets. This bill is called the Women's Health Protection Act. But make no mistake, Madam Speaker, no woman is protected under this bill. Rather, it authorizes killing for the sake of convenience. Innocent human lives are either valued or they are not. This bill is merely another example of the dehumanizing policy platform the Democrats have adopted. America is founded on the protection of life. Madam Speaker, as a Texas woman, a mother, and an American, I encourage the Chamber to reject this barbaric bill and embrace life.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this en bloc, which includes my friend and colleague Representative Dean Phillips' amendment, which directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the effects of the Department of Defense's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework on small business. Recognizing the increased cyber vulnerabilities of small contractors, the DOD initiated a new cybersecurity assessment framework called the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification to assess contractor implementation of cybersecurity requirements. While no one disputes the Federal Government's need to address the growing cybersecurity risks facing our Nation, I am concerned that the CMMC has created another hurdle to keep small businesses from competing effectively in the defense marketplace. There is no question our military relies heavily on the many small businesses that make up our defense contracting network, and their voices should be heard throughout this process. Strong national security and cybersecurity in a thriving defense industrial base shouldn't be mutually exclusively goals, and I hope this amendment will set a clear path forward for our smaller contractors. I would also like to rise today in support of the following amendments en bloc, which includes my supply chain-focused amendment that I was proud to introduce with my main colleague, Mr. Golden. Now, more than ever, we must ensure our supply chains are protected, and with every business I meet, I continue to hear how they are experiencing firsthand impacts of supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19. And to prevent further disruptions, we must act now to identify vulnerabilities. Protecting our supply chain is more than just business, it is a matter now of national security. My amendment will begin this process by directing the DNI and the CIA to identify those critical supply chains to our national security, economic security, and public health, as well as recommend necessary actions. It is my goal, along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, that this amendment will prevent another grave supply chain crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of these two amendments.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Wanda Riddle of Irving, Texas, who passed on August 5, 2021. She was a great friend and faithful supporter of our community for over 35 years. Wanda was known as the mayor of south Irving and had a heart for public service. We have been fortunate to hear stories from her family over the past few weeks, which painted a picture of her life. Wanda and her late husband, Jim, started a family and raised their sons Rick, Ron, and Rod in Irving. They left a lasting impact on their community through the Jim and Wanda Riddle Memorial Scholarship, which is set to award a student-athlete from Nimitz High School a $1,000 scholarship annually. Wanda's passing was a great loss for Irving and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Our community would not be the same without Wanda's guidance, friendship, and support. May God continue to bless the community and the Riddle family at this difficult time.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I wish I could say I was rising in support of this legislation but, again, we are being asked to vote on a bill that represents a missed opportunity on the backs of our constituents. I am pleased I was able to secure needed improvement for DFW Airport in the appropriations legislation. These projects would not only improve my district but the whole region. I have held roundtables and formed a working group with local leaders and stakeholders who know what is best for my community and what I heard from them and fought to include in legislation funding our government is, sadly, not what we are debating today. Instead of working to craft bipartisan legislation which Members on both sides of the aisle can support, the Senate can pass, and the President can sign into law, we are, instead, debating monstrous appropriations bills that are based on unrealistic, irresponsible funding levels and include partisan policy provisions that will only delay funding and passage. These political games only serve to impede badly needed infrastructure projects. No, the Democrats didn't shut down the government, they just tried to shut down the rest of the country. I would love to be able to work on legislation that we can work on together that will actually advance what we are trying to do in this country. I urge opposition to this rule.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the gentleman's comments on increasing traffic and increasing congestion, what I would remind him is that this is going to be looked at by local elected officials. And if those local elected officials deem that this is an unused lane, which is what we are seeing on Highway 75, we will actually be opening up and relieving congestion by allowing those elected officials to be able to say we are going to open this back up, which will have much more response to alleviating traffic, alleviating problems with congestion, allowing many more people to be able to drive on that lane, as opposed to paying money to create more congestion, more carbon emissions, and less efficiency. Again, these cities would be paying back those dollars which could be used for necessary future transportation costs.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, my amendment would fix an ongoing problem that I see back home and in other areas of the country which highlights the need for local control to be able to fix local problems. One example is U.S. Highway 75, just across my district line in Dallas. The highway received funds over 10 years ago to install HOV lanes to help alleviate congestion in the area. Unfortunately, 10 years later, these lanes are not being used and are actually creating more congestion. Due to Federal DOT regulations, these lanes cannot be removed even if the funds are repaid for the cost of installation. This amendment would allow for increased flexibility to local elected officials to properly manage traffic flow as patterns change. Because these funds would be repaid to the DOT, these funds could be used to fund more and essential future transportation projects. Unfortunately, this bill further limits local government control. Local leaders know better than bureaucrats in Washington how to solve problems, and my amendment would provide the relief needed to local governments without any Federal cost. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment. The American people overwhelmingly have been telling us that Congress must pass an infrastructure bill which focuses on true infrastructure and not superficial projects perpetuating frivolous spending. We have crumbling roads and bridges on the verge of collapse across the country, and my Democrat colleagues with a straight face are prioritizing road art over actual roads. This amendment would maintain the current probation on defining infrastructure as art. It is, once again, clear where the priority of the majority is, and it is not on transportation, roads, and bridges. The fact that we even have to have this debate on this amendment shows how out of touch some of my colleagues are. The INVEST in America Act does little to streamline permitting and get relative costs in order. In California 40 percent of the cost of building a new home is related to government fees. In Texas it is 20 percent. Mr. Speaker, you can expect similar costs when it comes to other infrastructure projects. My amendment included in the en bloc ensures States, such as California, can choose if they want to have exuberant costs--just not at the cost of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, this amendment would encourage States to right size their permit costs and not award high-permit-cost States with a Federal bailout, and I urge adoption.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, there are very few issues that we work on that have such an impact on every single person's daily life as an infrastructure bill. It is what moves people. It is what moves goods. That is why we need a bill that makes us globally competitive. We need a bill that builds roads and bridges. We need a bill that decreases traffic and improves people's quality of life. Doing so, by the way, would decrease carbon emissions. But this bill actually bans new roads by stripping States of their ability to prioritize building new roads or bridges. We need a bill that makes it more efficient to move products from place to place, and we need a bill that takes control out of the hands of bureaucrats and empowers local leaders because they know best what their community needs. Unfortunately, this bill does none of those things. What it does do is increase inflation, cost, and debt. There are zero proposals to pay for this bill. It is not a serious attempt to legislate. It is another partisan wish list and, sadly, another missed opportunity to uplift the everyday lives of Americans. This misguided legislation is not what the American people need. I hope calmer heads will prevail, and we see that a real bipartisan effort to get this important work done actually happens. Mr. Speaker, I urge opposition.

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, I would argue that this is an opportunity to be able to get money back from cities that have found that the HOV lanes have not had the impact, have not had the necessary effect on creating less congestion, but what they found is they have actually created more congestion. So in areas where traffic patterns may have changed, where additional highways or other roads may have alleviated those conditions, where 10 years prior HOV lanes were necessary, they are no longer necessary, instead of keeping them closed, we will actually be able to open them up and provide the help that these funds were initially used for. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VAN DUYNE

Ms. VAN DUYNE. Madam Speaker, I ran for Congress, like many of my colleagues, to make change, to represent my district well, and to work hard with my colleagues in a bipartisan way to deliver the solutions that the American people expect from us. Unfortunately, we are again here today using the taxpayers' time to play a part in more political theater. January 6 was a terrible day for this institution, for the Capitol Police, the Members and the staff serving here, and the country. That is why the Senate Rules Committee conducted a thorough investigation into the events that day and publicly released their findings. That is why there are still investigations going on at Federal agencies. That is why the House Committee on Appropriations, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Judiciary, and Oversight and Reform are still conducting investigations. The redundancy of another committee is not only unnecessary, but it is a distraction. It is a distraction meant to mask humanitarian failures at the border, massive spikes in crime in cities across the country, and absolute inept leadership in confronting our foreign adversaries. The Speaker's obsession with dominating this investigation is concerning. Her puppet committee has no prohibition on interfering with ongoing law enforcement investigations, potentially distracting from putting those responsible behind bars, because it is clear that this is not the priority here. The only priority here is a self-serving agenda to put D.C. politicians first and give them their cable news talking points. If we are going to spend time and resources on investigations, we should be doing many things in this House that have been ignored by the Democrats, like investigating the origins of COVID to hold China accountable, cleaning up a humanitarian crisis at the border created by Democrat policies. But there is no outrage on the left for half a million people who died of COVID, for the countless children who have been harmed at our border. I will be voting ``no'' on this select committee.