Tim Walberg

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, at the appropriate time I will offer an amendment to recommit H.R. 5129 and ask to have my amendment to restore current law protections for faith-based organizations included in the Record. Madam Speaker, religious liberty is foundational to America. It is enshrined as the First Amendment to our Constitution. Given this Nation's dedication to religious liberty, it is so appalling that H.R. 5129 strikes current law protections for faith-based organizations that participate in the CSBG program. Faith-based providers have a history of leading America's fight to help those in need. From the Salvation Army to Catholic Charities, religious organizations formed the front line in assisting people in poverty. They did so not out of a desire for selfish gain or recognition but because they truly believe it is a calling. That faith allows them to help those in need in unique ways that the government cannot. But instead of honoring these organizations for their long history of service, this bill suggests that religious organizations should leave their faith behind when they want to serve those in need. This is ridiculous. More than that, it is un-American. I would also argue it directly contradicts our Constitution. Madam Speaker, we must give faith-based organizations and providers the same opportunity to serve low-income Americans through the CSBG program that we would give any other organization. We must also guarantee faith-based providers' rights to live out and express their faith through their work. I include in the Record a letter from a coalition of religious providers, led by the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, which discusses the importance of maintaining current law protections for faith-based organizations--protections, I might add, that President Biden himself supported when he was a Member of the Senate. May 10, 2022. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: As leaders of faith-based service organizations, religious freedom advocates, and people of faith, we strongly implore you and your colleagues to retain the Charitable Choice provisions when reauthorizing the Community Services Block Grant [CSBG]. The current language of H.R. 5129, the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2021, would replace the detailed Charitable Choice provisions with a bare sentence. This would be a negative change that creates a harmful precedent. We ask the House instead to reaffirm Charitable Choice in the CSBG program by retaining the Charitable Choice provisions currently in the CSBG statute. The Charitable Choice provisions (42 U.S. Code 9920) give faith-based organizations an equal opportunity to compete for CSBG funding and safeguard their religious character while also protecting beneficiary rights by prohibiting the use of CSBG grant funds for explicitly religious activities. The presence of this detailed language in the statute is a billboard announcing a welcome for faith-based organizations to compete for funding. The provisions were added to the CSBG program in 1998 in a reauthorization bill co-sponsored by Republican Senators Dan Coats (IN) and Jim Jeffords (VT) and Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy (MA) and Christopher Dodd (CT). They sought to improve the effectiveness of CSBG spending by prohibiting local governments and Community Action Agencies [CAAs] from marginalizing faith-based organizations. Protecting participation in CSBG funding by faith-based providers and houses of worship ensures that the procurement process is competitive and that CAAs utilize the most effective and accountable service providers. The Charitable Choice provisions extend to faith-based organizations no novel or unconstitutional rights. Its principles are codified in the Equal Treatment regulations that apply to Department of Health and Human Services funding programs (45 CFR 87), but only partially to CSBG. CSBG has its own regulations, similar but distinct. If Charitable Choice is taken out of the CSBG statute, CAAs would have no guarantee that they will be afforded the same rights and protections due to other faith-based organizations under the Equal Treatment regulations. It would be better to retain the CSBG statutory language and the accompanying regulations. Statutory language provides more certainty over time to Community Action Agencies and to faith-based organizations interested in partnering with them in service. Some in the CAA movement claim that the Charitable Choice language is dispensable because, despite its presence, few faith-based organizations receive CSBG funding. If participation is truly low, then the remedy is action by Congress and the Office of Community Services in HHS to remove the non-statutory barriers that inhibit more extensive partnerships, not to remove the protections that enable the participation of those few. The addition of Charitable Choice in 1998 to the CSBG program was the second time that Congress and the Clinton administration added such language to a federal program (Charitable Choice was first added to the TANF program in 1996). These actions launched the faith-based or partnership initiative. The four succeeding administrations of both parties (Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden) have worked with energy to ensure that federal social programs are maximally effective because they partner with the best non-government organizations, including faith-based organizations, with full protection for the religious freedom of the ultimate beneficiaries. Senators Coats, Jeffords, Kennedy, and Dodd were right to add Charitable Choice to the CSBG program. Removing it will be detrimental to the participation of faith-based organizations, when it is their greater involvement that will most benefit the communities that CSBG funding is intended to serve. Removing it will create a terrible precedent by signaling that Congress is no longer as boldly committed to equal opportunity for service organizations of every faith or none. We ask the House to reaffirm Charitable Choice in the CSBG program by amending H.R. 5129 to restore this language before the reauthorization moves forward. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Signed, [University professors sign in their personal capacities only. Their employing universities take no position on this bill, and are listed only to help identify the individual signers.] Stanley Carlson-Thies, Senior Director, Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, Washington, DC; Stephanie Summers, CEO, Center for Public Justice, Washington, DC; His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, Chairman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, Washington, DC; Rev. Dr. Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals, Columbia, MD; Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director, Agudath Israel of America, Washington, DC; Melissa Reid, Director of Government Affairs, Seventh-day Adventist Church--North American Division, Columbia, MD; Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church, Fishers, IN; Yaakov Menken, Managing Director, Coalition for Jewish Values, Baltimore, MD. Shirley V. Hoogstra, President, CCCU--Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Washington, DC; Robert C. Andringa, Ph.D. President Emeritus, CCCU, Washington, DC; P. George Tryfiates, Vice President for Public Policy & Legal Affairs, Association of Christian Schools International, Washington, DC; Jedd Medefind, President, Christian Alliance for Orphans, Falls Church, VA; Ronald L. Sider, Founder, Christians for Social Action, Lansdale, PA; Gary W. Blackard, President & CEO, Adult & Teen Challenge USA, Ozark, MO; Ryan Jay VerWys, CEO, ICCF Community Homes, Grand Rapids, MI; Jonathan Bradford, President and CEO Emeritus, ICCF Community Homes, Grand Rapids, MI; Douglas Laycock, Professor of Law, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Carl H. Esbeck, R.B. Price Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Phillip L. McIntosh, Professor of Law, Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, MS; Paul Marshall, Professor, Baylor University, Washington, DC; Robert Osburn, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Wilberforce International Institute, Roseville, MN; Joseph M. Knippenberg, Professor of Politics, Oglethorpe University, Brookhaven, GA; Abby M. Foreman, Professor, Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA; Ryan T. Anderson, President, The Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC; Charles Leslie Glenn Jr., Professor emeritus of Educational Policy, Boston University, Boston, MA; Gail Frances Jansen, Retired Attorney, Former Trustee Center for Public Justice, Tucson, AZ; James W. Skillen, President (retired), Center for Public Justice, Birmingham, AL; Marc Andreas, Professor, Kuyper College, Grand Rapids, MI; Michelle C. Kirtley, Fellow, Center for Public Justice, Chapel Hill, NC; Chelsea Langston Bombino, Fellow, Center for Public Justice, Catonsville, MD; Bruce Rowell, Chief Clinical Officer, Lawndale Christian Health Center, Chicago, IL; Rev. Girien R. Salazar, Minister, Ciudad de Esperanza, Farmers Branch, TX; Rev. Marian Edmonds- Allen, Executive Director, Parity, New York, NY; Mr. Roger Metcalf, Chairman Board of Trustee, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Gresham, OR; Michael Kozlarek, City Director, The Navigators, San Diego, CA; Mark Rodgers, Principal, Clapham Group, Burke, VA; James B. Bolds, Lead Pastor, Victory Church, Yorktown, VA; Joyce Campbell, Concerned community member, Christian Reformed Church, Greenbelt, MD; Randall Kroll, Executive Consultant, Platinum Group, Minneapolis, MN; Kathryn Vaselkiv, Not for profit board member, St Moses Church, Baltimore, MD. Deanna Stacy, Former Associate Director, HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Alexandria, VA; Ashley Weiss, Staff, Youth with A Mission, Lakeside, MT; Greg Enas, Venture Catalyst, Innovatov LLC, Indianapolis, IN; Jerry S. Herbert, Elder, Washington Community Fellowship, Washington, DC; Karyl Savageau, Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, Washington, DC; Clarke Cochran, Deacon, St. Peter Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC; Carol Veldman Rudie, Board member, Association for Public Justice, Minneapolis, MN; Dr. Paul Wrobbel, Head of School, Trinity Oaks Christian Academy, Cary, IL; Bethany Schuttinga, Ph.D., President, Avail Academy, Minneapolis, MN; Steven Groen, Principal, Avail Academy, Edina, MN; Andrew Ryskamp, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids, MI; Perry Recker, Librarian emeritus and Ruling Elder, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA; Rev. Dr. Steven J. Koster, Pastor of Congregational Life, Grace Church, Grand Rapids, MI; David E. Campbell, Christian Reformed Church of Washington, DC., Washington, DC; Henry G. Gunnink, Regional Pastor, Classis Lake Superior of the Christian Reformed Church of North America, Inver Grove Heights, MN; Randall Hedman, Donor Relations, World Renew, Bloomington, MN.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague. And thank you, Madam Speaker, for your statements. I agree wholeheartedly with you. America is having a fight undertaken for us by the Ukrainian forces. Ukraine is fighting for liberty around the world. It is fighting for freedom-loving countries that want to push back against aggression from any nation, whether it be Russia or China or any other that would attempt to take away liberties from free citizens. I just returned from Ukraine Tuesday night. I spent the Easter weekend in Ukraine. I had the unbelievable privilege of speaking in two churches. Irpin, where the city had been impacted by missiles and bombs, homes blown up, lives taken; and a church that had not met since the beginning of war met on Easter, Resurrection Sunday. And I looked at the faces of the people thinking, How do I speak to them? An American Member of Congress, who lives freely, without nations trying to take our freedom away. And I could only respond to them from the one who gave freedom, His words, Jesus himself. And I looked at the faces of the people, and there was resolve there, and there was a joy that they were doing what was necessary to promote freedom for their land. I spoke in another church in Kyiv that afternoon. The same viewpoint on the faces of those citizens. And yet, a great appreciation for America, for their Western allies, for what we have done, thus far, to stand with them. They are fighting for us as well as for themselves. Later that afternoon, I went out to the Bucha region, and I saw the site of a massive undertaking by Russia to cross the river to bring their tanks in to take over Kyiv. And the amazing forces of the citizens themselves fought back. One hundred Ukrainian lives were lost; 500 Russian lives. I saw a boot laying there of a Russian soldier with the foot still in it. And I came to understand that Ukrainians aren't killing Russians, Putin is. America needs to stand. I was in Odesa, and I saw the missile strike on an apartment that took the lives of a grandmother, her daughter, and a little baby, the 3-month-old daughter of that young lady. I talked to the mayor of Odesa. They are standing firm. The blockade that is on there must be taken away so they can feed the world. In my pocket I carry an emblem, military emblem that was given to me at Hostomel airfield that the brave forces took on Russia, trying to take that airfield to become a hopping off point for all of their action. They held back Russia's troops; their elite troops; their elite marines. The Russian troops took out the largest aircraft in the world that was only used for humanitarian reasons. This bill is necessary. I express appreciation to my colleagues for moving it forward. I express appreciation to our Speaker for moving it forward. It needs to be done. Stand with Ukraine. They have stood with us. God bless Ukraine. God bless America.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 336 and, once again, call on the Russian Government to release American citizen, Paul Whelan. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, for her undying leadership in fighting this travesty--and it is a travesty. It has now been over 3 years since Paul Whelan--a marine veteran, a Michigan resident, and, most importantly, an American citizen--was imprisoned in Russia without proper evidence or a fair trial. It was a sham trial; that is the messaging Paul wanted to convey to the world as an unjust Russian judicial system handed out a ridiculous sentence. Throughout his detainment, he has also been denied access to proper medical treatment, despite a sharp decline in his health. Just this week, I returned from Ukraine where Russian atrocities have been on display to the entire world. Make no mistake about that. We saw heartbreaking devastation that has impacted so many lives. But tragically, Vladimir Putin's barbaric behavior is not new. He has no concern for even the most basic of human rights. Today, the House must send an unequivocal message to the Kremlin: It is time to end the maltreatment of Paul Whelan. We just learned the good news that Trevor Reed, another American detained in Russia, was released from prison. We are calling for Paul to be next. I want to close with a message to Paul's dear parents, Rosemary and Ed, who live in my district in Manchester, Michigan; and to Paul's siblings, Elizabeth, David, and Andrew. I know this has been an incredibly trying time for your family. I admire your resolve in the face of adversity. I grieve with you. I pray for you. And I continue to stand with you. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Paul Whelan to come home to Michigan.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from a trip to Ukraine with my colleague, Representative Spartz, last night. We were invited by Ukrainian officials to see firsthand their immediate needs. The destruction and loss of life was heartbreaking. Everywhere we went, we saw the evidence of Putin's war crimes. One stop we made was at a residential building in Odesa that had been hit by Russian missiles the day before. A grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter's baby were killed in that same apartment. They were among 18 other innocent victims killed in the attacks. Yet, in the face of such evil actions, the Ukrainian spirit remains strong. To aid their fight for freedom, more must be done by both the United States and the international community. Advanced weaponry, humanitarian supplies, and much more can and should be ramped up. The Ukrainians are brave people, and they will win the war against Russia's invasion if they have the tools and the resources to do so in hand. God bless Ukraine.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the first vote in the series on April 7, 2022. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 122.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the career of Ms. Karole White, who served as president and CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for over 36 incredible years. Karole has dedicated her career to organizations that have bettered Michigan communities and businesses. Under her leadership, MAB grew from a group with minimal resources, to one of the most respected and robust trade associations in the state. Karole's leadership helped the MAB integrate into all areas of the broadcasting industry. Her advocacy extended from the smallest high school newsroom to the largest radio stations in the state. Currently, nearly 90 percent of individuals, companies, and organizations affiliated with broadcasting in Michigan have joined the MAB. Karole's expertise has made her an essential part of the broadcasting industry, and she has built strong relationships across the field, not just in our state but around the country. When she announced her retirement in January, we knew that the industry was losing one of its greatest advocates. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating her and wishing her well in her retirement. After decades of service, she surely deserves it, and I will always count it a privilege to call her my friend.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act. As an entire generation moves closer to retirement, we must ensure our laws are up to date to help Americans achieve their retirement goals. Last Congress, we passed the SECURE Act, which made significant improvements to our Nation's retirement policies. Today, we are building upon that success to ensure Americans can live their golden years with dignity. I would like to highlight one provision of this bill, which incorporates a bipartisan policy I have long championed with my colleague, Representative Sablan. Our provision will reduce the administrative costs for employers sponsoring retirement plans for their employees. Businesses often cite limited financial resources as a key reason for not offering retirement benefits. The Retirement Plan Modernization Act would ease the administrative burdens on employers, especially small businesses, enabling more small businesses to offer retirement benefits and ensure employees are not needlessly paying higher fees. I thank both the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Ways and Means for including text from our bill in H.R. 2954. Madam Speaker, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act will enhance opportunities for Americans to save for retirement. I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, today, Michigan's average fuel prices are mere cents away from the all-time high in the Motor State--not seen since the middle of the Great Recession. On Thursday, Triple A (AAA) data showed that Michigan had seen the highest State-wide average increase over the last week of any State in the Union. Today, a gallon of regular unleaded gas costs 61 cents more than it did just one week prior. Diesel, which helps fuel our State's thriving agricultural industry, has increased even more. Since this time last year, the cost of diesel is up 58 percent. In 2022, the price of natural gas is expected to reach an 8-year high. Not only does this increase families' costs to heat their homes, but it also further raises the already-inflated price of essential fertilizers that help grow Michigan crops. Clearly, President Biden's war on American energy independence has created an energy crisis and made us more dependent on adversaries like Vladimir Putin, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The crisis continues to hit our homes, our farms, and our businesses, and it grows in severity week after week. Recently, I sat down with some farmers in my home State. They lamented how the rising prices of energy and overall production costs is hurting their livelihoods and trickling down to Michigan consumers. The data shows the same U.S. farm income is expected to drop 8 percent this year, all while prices at the supermarket reach historic highs. If we don't unleash American energy, this cost will continue to reverberate in our agricultural industry and at Michiganders' kitchen tables for years to come. Madam Speaker, I implore the Biden administration to take the necessary steps to increase our energy production at home. We have the capacity, we have the drive, we have the capability and tools to do so--for the sake of consumers in Michigan and around the world.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend, Al Glick, who recently passed away at the age of 95. Very few have meant as much to the Jackson, Michigan, community as Al Glick. Alro Steel, a company founded nearly 75 years ago, embodies the hardworking ethos of his hometown. Over the years, under Al's leadership, the company grew to 3,000 employees in over a dozen States. Al always exhibited a tireless work ethic but spent the time to talk to and to know each of his employees. When asked about his retirement, he said: ``I have slowed down to working part-time, I only work 12 hours a day.'' Even still, he always found time to get involved in just about every effort under the sun. Al supported skilled education programs, nonprofits, and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, just to name a few. Name a sport and Al likely sponsored a team or league in the Jackson area. Al's generosity was felt throughout the Jackson community, often taking shape through his unwavering support of Jackson High School. A Michigan man through and through, Al got to see his beloved Wolverines take down Ohio State on a snowy day this past November and then win the Big Ten Championship. Al wasn't just a staple of the Jackson community; he was a steel pillar. While we mourn Al's passing, we celebrate his remarkable life and the legacy that will live on for generations to come. We wish his family great joy in that legacy and thank them for sharing Al with us.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, each year, too many lives are cut short because of drug overdoses. And fentanyl and its analogs, most of which originate from China, are making this crisis even worse. Sadly, under the Biden administration's porous border policies, many of these deadly drugs are flooding across the southern border and devastating communities across the country. We need to use every available resource to fight back, including giving law enforcement the flexibility to go after drug traffickers who flout the law. Unless we take action, an important tool--the DEA's emergency scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances--will expire this very month. It is past time to make this scheduling classification permanent, and I am proud to cosponsor the HALT Fentanyl Act to do just that. Mr. Speaker, let's pass this bill, secure the border, and stem the tide of the growing fentanyl crisis.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, having done this many times over the course of the past 14 years, to speak on behalf of life itself. It is the first and foremost gift that is given to us, and I think of the over 60 million children who have been taken out of that opportunity. It is my hope that we will never have to march again for the repeal of Roe v. Wade after the Supreme Court decides but, rather, that we stand and continue to march for life and the freedom of opportunities for individuals to not only grow and be benefited by the greatness of this country but also to bring the greatness of this country. Life is a gift of God. It can only be sustained by people who understand that same gift, and I just pray that the Supreme Court and, ultimately, Congress and the legislatures of our land will stand for life.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, today, we are here to take a stand against President Biden's unconstitutional vaccine mandate on private businesses and their employees. And in the end, I think it is clear that we need to make sure we understand this is unconstitutional, this goes against the American way and the American ideals. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, we are taking an important step to protect the liberties of millions of Americans in the workforce, and more importantly, to protect American ideals and the freedoms that we expect. In his first year as President, President Biden has led a lackluster economic recovery plagued by record inflation, supply chain backlogs, and workforce shortages. The President's coercive mandate will only worsen issues within the workforce as millions could face termination-- wrongly and unnecessarily. I have heard from many constituents concerned about their livelihoods. Small businesses concerned about keeping their doors open. Rural healthcare providers concerned about meeting staffing demands and even staying in business. While I am encouraged to see the early court rulings on this issue, and OSHA's step to back up a little bit today, Congress must not stand on the sidelines. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for his leadership in introducing this legislation, and I am proud to be a cosponsor. We have had enough topdown mandates.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, shortly, this body will begin debating the most radical and expensive spending bill in our Nation's history. Shockingly, Democrats are intent on moving forward without the CBO's final cost analysis. But independent estimates put the bill's price tag around $4 trillion, twice what Democrats claim. This level of reckless and unpaid-for spending is unsustainable. On top of that, the problematic provisions in this bill are a mile long. It will heighten the border crisis, undermine American energy, and worsen the inflation crisis. It will raise taxes on hardworking families and calls for hiring 87,000 new IRS agents. Unbelievably, one of the biggest parts of this bill is a special tax break for the wealthy. The list of problems goes on and on, but the bottom line is this massive bill represents cradle-to-grave socialism. That is not what America stands for. Madam Speaker, please join me and reject this radical legislation.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, with Veterans Day approaching, I am pleased to join my good friend from Michigan, General Jack Bergman, and all of my colleagues tonight in paying tribute to those who served. What we say tonight will be totally inadequate to express what needs to be expressed, but we must say it anyway. Veterans Day is a moment to pause and say thank you to the men and women who chose to defend American's freedoms and the families who supported them from home. We have an obligation to display our deepest gratitude and make sure we care for the physical and mental health of those who served. In Congress, we have advanced a number of bipartisan initiatives. Last year, the Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act was signed into law to help ensure no veteran slips through the cracks. More support will be available through the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of- Living Adjustment Act, which helps veterans and their families keep up with ever-increasing inflation. These laws, and many others like them, are important steps forward, taken by a grateful Nation. But the work must carry on so that we continue to keep our promises to those who have heroically served. That is why this week I will be introducing a bipartisan piece of legislation, Prisoner of War Priority Care Act, that will assign the highest priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans who are former prisoners of war. For the wounds both seen and unseen, we owe an eternal debt of gratitude to our veterans. We say it with profound sincerity. We can't make up for the cost, but we can support, as the days go by. Today, just like every day, we thank you. God bless our Nation's veterans.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, the cost of living keeps getting more expensive, and we are reminded of that every time we fill up our cars and trucks. Gasoline prices, at a 7-year high, are putting a strain on family budgets. When asked about surging gas prices, President Biden said, ``I don't have a near-term solution.'' Well, Republicans do, with bills languishing in committee. His lack of solutions is of little comfort to struggling families. Meanwhile, the President's $5 trillion tax-and-spending plan advances extreme policies that will increase consumer costs and undermine American energy. That includes imposing a new tax on home heating bills, as well as an arbitrary drilling moratorium on Federal lands. Banning domestic energy production will only increase reliance on foreign energy sources, and motorists everywhere will pay with higher prices at the pump. Let's stop this reckless spending spree and attack on American energy before it is too late.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Ohio for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4067, the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council Act. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Slotkin and Schrader, for joining me in leading on this important legislation. Though we don't agree on every issue, I am proud of our bipartisan record when it comes to securing our Nation's communications networks and maintaining our leadership in next-generation wireless technology. H.R. 4067 codifies an existing FCC council advisory council, the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council, better known as CSRIC. First established in 1992 under its previous name as the Network Reliability Council, CSRIC makes key recommendations to the FCC on a range of public safety and national security issues--everything from deploying next-generation 911 systems to emergency alerting during storms and disasters, to addressing threats from foreign adversaries. At a legislative hearing earlier this year, we heard from cybersecurity experts who said that CSRIC is one of the ``crown jewels'' of our Government and that there would be tremendous, long- term value in backing it up statutorily while retaining its flexibility to tackle the new challenges of the day. Another former CSRIC panel member spoke to how other countries around the world look to this body to implement best communications and security practices. He said--and I agree with him--that CSRIC is one of the unique platforms which enables the U.S. to lead the rest of the world in 5G, 6G, and beyond. As the world becomes increasingly digital and our communications systems advance toward open-source software platforms, cyberattacks and threats are only going to increase. We have to be prepared as a nation to meet this moment, and CSRIC helps us do that. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4067.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, this is a consequential week for the country that we love and its future. House Democrats are preparing to ram through the most expensive spending package this institution has ever seen, with a combined price tag of $5.5 trillion. $5.5 trillion, let that astronomical figure sink in. This package contains a $2.1 trillion tax increase on hardworking families and job creators, the largest in history. It bypasses needed infrastructure priorities in favor of Green New Deal pet projects, and it adds mountains of debt burden to our kids' and grandkids' future. Meanwhile, all of this reckless spending comes at a time when inflation is already sky-high, and it will only make the cost of daily necessities continue to go up and up. There is simply no justification for a package so expansive, so excessive, and so extreme. For the sake of America's future, we need to stop this socialist spending spree in its tracks.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that Russia is now the number two oil importer to the U.S.-- let that sink in--behind only Canada. Russian oil imports increased by 23 percent in May to nearly 850,000 barrels a day from the previous month. Up until the Biden administration took over, we were energy secure and no longer dependent upon Middle East oil. Now President Biden is asking OPEC to pump more oil while he shuts down domestic production, putting America last. The message is clear, President Biden is pro-Russia and OPEC energy, but anti-American energy. He is pro-Russian pipelines, but anti- American pipelines. In January, President Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline. He then withdrew sanctions the Trump administration put in place, enabling Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to transfer natural gas to Germany without navigating its way through Ukraine. We know pipelines are the safest and most efficient way to transport energy products. Even Energy Secretary Granholm admitted this in the wake of the Colonial cyberattack. And yet, we are witnessing attacks from the left on energy infrastructure in every corner of the Nation. In Michigan, Governor Whitmer has ordered the shutdown of Line 5, despite it earning all of the necessary permits and environmental reviews at both the State and the Federal level. Line 5 carries 540,000 barrels a day of crude oil and natural gas and serves more than 50 percent of Michigan's propane needs. Shutting it down would threaten thousands of jobs, billions in economic output, and the safe supply of resources necessary to meet Michigan families' most basic needs. Make no mistake: there are consequences to these actions. We saw what happened earlier this year when just one pipeline shut down. What will happen when Democrats shut down all of the pipelines, ban oil and natural gas, and make us 100 percent dependent on renewables sourced from China? This is a stark vision for our future, and even more so for our grandchildren's future. So I would ask my Democratic colleagues to stop placating the radical green lobby, and instead, work with us in a bipartisan manner to develop real, long-term solutions that deploy more clean energy and reduce emissions through innovation and technology. This all makes sense, and it is American. American ingenuity during the shale revolution enabled us to become the world's energy leader. We must not surrender this role to adversaries by hamstringing ourselves with Green New Deal mandates that make no sense, will not work, and that will devastate our great Nation while doing nothing, nothing to improve our global air quality.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill, and with great compassion for the women being lied to by the deceptively named Women's Health Protection Act. Madam Speaker, let's be clear, this bill is not about healthcare. It is an extreme bill that would impose abortion on demand nationwide up until birth and override commonsense pro-life laws at the State level, laws like those intended to prevent abortion discrimination based upon a child's sex or based on whether the child has Down syndrome, laws that provide parental notification for minor girls, informed consent for patients, and health and safety protections specific to abortion facilities. All would be banned under this bill. The bill before us would ban virtually all conscience protections for medical personnel and enable the use of taxpayer money to fund abortion procedures, violating sincerely held beliefs of millions of Americans on the sanctity of human life. The abortion on demand act ignores the humanity of the baby and the health of the mother. It ignores the reality that life is sacred. It is a precious, God-given gift that must be cherished and protected. While it is comforting to know that God is loving, He is also just. We destroy innocent life at our own peril. What God condemns, we must not condone. May God heal our land.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, across my district, Michigan families are having to pay more for gas, for groceries, for cars. You name it, there is sticker shock everywhere you look. In fact, inflation attacks on everyone increased every month since President Biden took office. As Americans are struggling to pay for skyrocketing costs of daily necessities, we should be doing something to address these pocketbook challenges. Instead, this week, we are considering another round of massive spending bills that will make matters worse on top of massive spending bills that we have already expended. Unparalleled and unchecked government spending is not the solution. It is a root cause of rising inflation--and did I mention that is a tax on everyone? Again, this reckless spending and subsequent inflation are effectively attacks on the American people, their families, their workplaces, and, in fact, their livelihoods. We can't afford to continue down this path. It is hurting too many families and their financial security. It is time we return to proven economic policies that create jobs, increase wages, and do not prolong an inflationary crisis that--did I mention?--is a tax on everyone.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to division A, which provides critical funding for the Office of Labor- Management Standards, OLMS, at the Department of Labor. OLMS is vital to protecting the rights of workers in the workplace and ensuring labor-management transparency and financial integrity in our Nation's labor unions. Unfortunately, House Democrats have chosen to underfund the agency since taking the majority, resulting in diminished staffing levels and significantly impacting the types of work accomplished in the field and throughout the agency. Sadly, the appropriations package we are considering today continues this trend by once again underfunding the office. My amendment would simply increase the funding to be in line with President Biden's budget request. In the President's request, the Department noted that funding was necessary to restore OLMS' ability to provide unionized workers with the protections they are entitled under LMRDA. Protecting the paychecks of hardworking union members is my priority, and I hope it is the priority of my colleagues as well. Additionally, I rise to support my amendment to division E, which addresses two of the most serious public health concerns affecting Michigan and the Great Lakes States. PFAS contamination and harmful algal blooms have wreaked serious damage in our rivers, streams, lakes, and, ultimately, drinking water. Many States like mine have been aggressively testing, tracking, and working to combat PFAS for years. But there is still much more we don't know about these chemicals, and it will take collaboration from Federal, State, and local officials to prevent future exposure, protect the public health, and ensure the safety of our drinking water. At the same time, harmful algal blooms, HABs, affect marine, coastal, estuarine, and freshwater systems in all 50 States and are particularly prevalent in the Great Lakes. These toxic blooms harm human health and cause several billion dollars in economic losses each year. My amendment supports investments in science, research, and management to increase our capacity to detect and prevent HABs and PFAS throughout the country. I urge my colleagues to support these important amendments.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I have been working to combat PFAS in the Great Lakes State that, truthfully, led the Nation in PFAS efforts for many years, including with my Michigan colleagues and sponsors of this bill. Back in 2017, we hosted EPA staff at several contaminated sites in southeast Michigan so they could see firsthand the extent of the problem. We formed the Congressional PFAS Task Force and pushed for essential resources for PFAS research and cleanup efforts. Many of our efforts have, actually, been enacted into law during the last administration and countless cleanup efforts are currently ongoing at all levels of government. In fact, over half of the provisions in this bill are already underway at EPA. Unfortunately, other provisions in this bill would require the EPA to take a misguided approach by considering the group of more than 600 PFAS currently on the market, and the thousands of other unknown potential PFAS chemistries as if they were all the same. Make no mistake, I believe this is a serious problem and it deserves serious solutions, but the bill before us today, although sincerely well-intended, goes too far. H.R. 2467 is so expansive that the CBO was unable to assign it a budgetary score, underscoring the untold cost and liability that it will impose on thousands, if not millions of manufacturers and consumers alike. H.R. 2467 represents the largest expansion of regulatory authority at the EPA or perhaps any Federal agency in decades. But even more so, this bill will hamstring our small businesses, manufacturers, and water utilities by forcing them to take on so much cost and liability that they will be unable to comply or forced to raise prices and hire armies of attorneys all because Congress decided to substitute its political agenda for objective scientific judgment. The Great Lakes Water Authority recently wrote to me regarding their concerns about the bill. A leading drinking water and wastewater treatment provider for southeast Michigan communities, Great Lakes Water Authority provides clean drinking water to nearly 40 percent of Michiganders. They told me this bill could likely cause them to be liable for trying to dispose of PFAS even if they are using current best practices. As many would say, we ought to follow the science by letting the experts at EPA do their jobs and refrain from prejudging outcomes, overhauling existing regulatory structures, and most importantly, crippling our economy. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''