that we provide them with the tools they need to defend their country among those things. we have been sending a lot of surplus of aircraft to park it in the middle of a desert. why aren't we sending that to countries like ukraine and taiwan? why can't we park them there where they can do some good? host: tom mcclintock, he has represented the important district of california for seven terms. thank you for being on the program, congressman. that will do it for "washington journal" this morning. we are back tomorrow morning at 7:00. the u.s. house coming in for legislative work. we will take you there next on c-span life. ve.

e in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms, washington, d.c. april 7, 2022. i hereby appoint the honorable mark desaulnier to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: this morning's prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. on this morning, lord, hear our

voices as we lift up our prayers to you from the depths of our hearts. we lay our requests before you. appeals that are both simple and serious. of both concern and calamity. known and unknown to the people around us. and we wait expectantly for your response. not knowing how or when that will come, but in faith we anticipate your answer and with faith we pray we are ready to receive it. and as you have listened to us, make us attentive to your wisdom. with ears to hear may we take note of y whispers and open ourselves to hear your divine voice breaking into our lives. we incline our hearts to you this day that you would grant us understanding in all that confound us. help us to receive your guidance as you lead us in the way we should go. and may we thrive on the depth of your compassion in all that

we do and say. in strength of your name we pray. amen. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 11-a of house resolution 188, the journal of the last day's proceedings is approved. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, ms. dean. ms. dean: i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain up to five requests for one-minute speeches on each side of the aisle. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute.

ms. dean: mr. speaker, montgomery county, philadelphia, and all of pennsylvania mourn the tragic loss of two state troopers. brandon siska and martin mack iii and a pedestrian, mr. rivera of allentown. all three were killed by an alleged drunk driver on i-95 near lincoln field on march 21. i want to take a moment to remember state troopers branden sisca and martin mack and their sphroord lives of service -- extraordinary lives of service from an early age they both had an incredible drive to search. branden 29, volunteered for the fire company from the age of 16 and rose to chief. he is survived by his wife and they are expecting a baby girl in july. martin mack just 33, first served as a member of the

national guard. he was a devoted husband to his wife and father to two daug daughters. it is heartbreaking to lose such extraordinary men so tragically so young. i pray for their families. god bless them. may their memories be a blessing. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield my time back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, thanks to president biden's disastrous tax and spend policies, the american people are now facing the highest levels of inflation in more than 40 years. americans have seen the effects of inflation in their paychecks, at the gas pumps, in the grocery stores ever since joe biden took office. mr. keller: the latest bloomberg report includes that the u.s. households will have to earn an extra $5,000 this year just to keep up with inflation. instead of scaling back wasteful

government spending, the president's budget calls for the highest sustained spending and taxes in american history. fanning the flames of inflation with more reckless spending only makes it harder for american families to afford essentials. instead, congress must work to eliminate waste and enable americans to reclaim control of their money and their lives. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without ms. garcia: mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize two area leaders, pastor david smith and his wife, lady linda smith. many strong community leaders go unnoticed. they serve silently every day and draw very little attention to themselves quietly doing

their work. yet their service reaches and improves the lives of everyone around them. pastor smith and lady smith are both quiet everyday heroes who put smiles on faces across the district, particularly in the jensen freeway community. through their fine work they spread -- faith-based work they spread work through houstonians. they are elite organizers of the houston area's annual jensen jubilee festival. you might say that pastor smith is more like the mayor of jensen east tech freeway area. pastor smith and lady linda smith embody the houston spirit of service, compassion, and volunteerism. i'm proud they are my constituents and i thank them for their selfless community service. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from west virginia

seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. mrs. miller: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to congratulate the huntington high school girls basketball team. the team won the championship title and they finished their season with a 24-1 record. they are the only team to win in the newly developed quad-a division. while there is no i in team, they were led by diona gray and coached by the legendary loni lucas who has devoted 54 years of his life coaching. congratulations for this outstanding accomplishment. thank you. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute.

ms. lee: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to honor one of my incredible constituents, mrs. daisy murray, who will be celebrating her 104th birthday on monday, april 11. mrs. murray has been a resident for more than 30 years and made many wonderful contributions to our east bay community. also daisy murray was born in 1919 to a family that was only a few again railingses removed from slavery. as her grandmother was the daughter of an enslaved person. mrs. murray's parents faced racism and violence living in the south and when they got married they relocated to ohio where miss daisy was born and raised. i think it was the mid 70's mrse sojourner truth manor, first affordable residency for assaults and seniors in the country created by a african-american businesswoman. i worked very hard on this when i was a student at mills college. i remember we called her miss dorothy. it's still a thriving community.

the affordable housing community. it's located in oakland on martin luther king way. it still exists to think this day and housed generations of adults and seniors. on behalf of the 13th congressional district of california, i want to thank mrsy good works and everything that she has done to enrich our east bay community. irish her a happy 104th birthday. happy birthday, miss daisy murray. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the body for one minute. and revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. americans are facing the worst inflation crisis in 40 years. because of the democrats' reckless spending agenda. including president biden's $2 trillion bailout bill. mr. smith: president biden's new budget deliberately doubles down

on the agenda. it spends $73 trillion over the next 10 years. a 66% increase. the president's budget assumes inflation will average 4.7% this year. right now inflation is 7.9%. to hit their target inflation would have to be 2% starting today every month for the next 10 years. despite ample warning that the president's agenda would fuel the inflation fire, inflation has now risen 8.9% since president biden took office. hardworking families have already paid a $3,500 inflation tax last year and expect to pay a $5,200 inflation tax this year. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. smith: people can't afford that. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the

gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i rise to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i stand here to recognize the service of marcus tuck of crew, virginia. ms. spanberger: during the korean war, he served in the united states army. he was part of e company. 223rd infantry regiment, 40th division. he served honorably and dutifully. for decades mr. tuck never received the medals he was owed and earned. this year my office worked with mr. tuck and fought to get him the medals he rightfully earned nearly 70 years ago. for his brave service to our country, mr. tuck earned the gold conduct medal, he earned the national defense service medal, he earned the korean service medal with two bronze service stars. he earned the combat infantry man badge first award. and he earned the united nations

service medal. on behalf of a grateful seventh district, the commonwealth of virginia, and our country i thank marcus tuck for his commitment to our beloved nation. i'm humbled to call him a constituent and honored to be able to deliver these physical reminders of his service thoim and his family. i also want to recognize the crew gold star memorial v.f.w. post 7189 for getting mr. tuck in touch with our office and for making sure he received the medals and the recognition that had long been deferred. as an american people, we are stronger when we honor our veterans, remember their stories, and carry on ward the torch of their leggacy thank you for your service, mr. tuck. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? >> ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today in memory of a great georgian, staunch conservative, and a lifelong patriot and dear friend, roy

robert sr. from walton county, georgia. he was born in atlanta, december 13, 1940. he was an incredible athlete. playing basketball for the university of kentucky where he was credited as being one of their all time best defensive players. mr. hice: while at kentucky he met suzanne polk and married in 1963 before putting their roots in monroe, georgia. roy was very active in his community. one of the biggest leaders in the republican party which was his passion. in fact, in 2001 he became the chairman of walton county republican party which he proudly held that position for 20 years. leading walton county's g.o.p. to become one of the leading counties in our state. he was famous for hosting an incredible barbecue every year that drew hundreds of people. and every candidate in the

republican party really had to be a part of that incredible event. georgia lost a giant last week. i and walton county lost a dear friend. we will miss roy roberts tremendously. to his family we extend our heartfelt prayers and love. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from colorado seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. without objection. mr. neguse: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor and remember the life and legacy of my dear friend and proud coloradoan, gloria tanner, who we lost earlier this week. in 1985 she became the second ever african-american representative elected to the colorado house of representatives and in 1994 she became the first african-american woman state

senator in colorado history. long before her passing, she was inducted into colorado's women's hall of fame and she was an incredibly accomplished leader. we have lost an extraordinary public servant. remarkable human being. and a loving and devoted friend. her commitment of advocacy benefited countless communities throughout the country and she had a profound impact on my own life. i have no doubt that her leadership and dedication will continue to inspire generations for years to come. mr. speaker, we all stand on the shoulders of giants, and gloria was one of those giants. we'll miss her deeply. my thoughts and prayers go out to her family. with that i yield back. . the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from iowa seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mrs. miller-meeks: i rise to address the ongoing crisis with our border with mexico. last week, the c.d.c. announced

they would officially rescind their title42 -- title 42 order. it is to help mitigate covid-19 and other infectious diseases. restrictions should be in place until we have border security and given the number of crossings we are seeing, we are far from having a secure border. c.b.p. is encountering more than 5,500 migrants daily. some reports indicate there could be upwards of 18,000 migrants per day encountered when title 42 is lifted next month. proim's -- proim's secretary -- president obama's secretary jae johnson said over 1,000 would be a bad day. i introduced the react act, which would test all migrants who cross our border for covid-19. we need to halt illegal drugs and human trafficking, support law enforcement and ensure the

safety of all of our communities. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from indiana seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i hereby remove myself as a co-sponsor from h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: the request is accepted. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? ms. velazquez: mr. speaker, pursuant to house reso resolution1033, i call up h.r. 3807 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the bill -- title of the bill.

the clerk: h.r. 3807, a bill act of 2021 to increase appropriations to the restaurant revitalization fund, and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house resolution 1033, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of rules committee print 117-39 modified by the amendment printed in house report 117-290 is adopted, and the bill, as amended, is considered as read. the bill, as amended, shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on small business or their respective designees. the gentlewoman from new york, ms. velazquez, and the gentleman from missouri, mr. luetkemeyer, each will control 30 minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentlelady from new york.

ms. velazquez: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. velazquez: i yield myself such time as i may consume. mr. speaker, i rise today in support of h.r. 3807, the relief for restaurants and other hard hit small businesss act -- businesses act of 2022. this bill will provide $42 billion to replenish the restaurant revitalization fund and allocate $13 billion to launch a new industry-neutral relief program for the small businesses most impacted by the pandemic. last year, congress created the program under the american

rescue plan to help struggling restaurants. it delivered aid to over 100,000 employers in communities across the country. this grant was a critical lifeline and allowed businesses to keep their lights on and continue to pay their employees. despite the program's success, approximately 177,000 small businesses are still awaiting relief. while these companies are disbursed without the country, they are united by a common message -- that small firms are still hurting and they are counting on congress for more support. that is why we must act to replenish the r.i.f. and deliver long-awaited aid to hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country. h.r. 3807 also takes the crucial step of creating a new $13 billion hard hit industry award

program, which will extend aid to businesses with the greatest revenue losses that were ineligible or unable to access relief through other means. rather than picking winners and losers, this industry-neutral program makes hard-hit companies the priority. this will be utilizing the pandemic relief programs. congress will take the money that was fraudulently obtained and put it in the hands of small businesses that need it the most. the s.b.a., o.i.g., pandemic response accountability committee and the department of justice are all working aggressively to investigate and prosecute instances of fraud and abuse. and this bill provides them with much-needed support. by allocating $30 million to

oversight funding, today's legislation ensures these offices have the resources needed to pursue bad actors and to reclaim money congress intended to help small businesses. small employers and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our communities and economy and they cannot be ignored. withouted too's legislation, our local communities risk losing this critical job -- these critical job creators. we simply cannot ignore them in their time of need. members on both sides of the aisle have come together numerous times throughout the pandemic to pass legislation to support small firms. today gives us the opportunity to do that once more. so i urge my colleagues to meet this moment and pass this bill so that these businesses can stop treading water and start looking to the future. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves.

the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in opposition to 3807 -- h.r. 3807, as amended. here we are today to discuss yet another spending bill that will add to our nation's debt and deficit and continue to spike inflation. another bill that creates a new government program without regard to the effectiveness or management of existing programs. another bill that's been rushed to the floor without a committee markup or a c.b.o. score. in fact, the latest draft of this legislation was sent out last friday night and has been amended since. this is not how we should legislate, mr. speaker. we must do a better job for our nation's small businesses that create two out of every three new jobs in america. i'm sure i'm not the only one who's experiencing deja vu by my colleagues' agenda to spend now

and think later. this agenda is not working for main street america. the small business and entrepreneur council conducted a recent poll of small business owners and found that only 5% of small business owners report congress' policies are helping the economy and small business like mine, just 5%. that means 95%, mr. speaker, don't like what's going on. and while we are sitting here in washington deciding whether to spend more money for certain industries, main street is experiencing price shocks that have not been felt in over 40 years. 40 years. inflation is burning through our nation at a rapid pace, from food and shelter, to gas and energy, prices in every category of life are increasing exponentially with no end in sight. the consumer price index stands at 7.9% annually and the producer price index, the wholesale price index is now at

10%. that makes the short-term inflation look pretty bleak from the standpoint for the wholesale producers price index is 10%. and the consumer price index is 7.9%. the american families are feeling the pain, mr. speaker. businesses feel this pain. our nation's smallest firms are suffering. in fact, small business owners are reporting that their number one problem is inflation. the second most pressing issue for small businesses is the price of gas. these price shocks hit them every single day. yet, today we're considering injecting more money into the system which will simply fuel the fire of inflation. there's no doubt the small businesses suffered from the pandemic and the lockdowns that shut down main street. it's been two years since the cares act was signed into law. since that time we have spent approximately $6 trillion as a nation to fight covid-19. small businesses alone have

received $1.2 trillion in forgivable loans and other grants. i'm proud of the bipartisan relief congress provided small businesses throughout this pandemic. including the paycheck protection program which supported many small businesses, including restaurants, in keeping their businesses afloat and employees on the payroll. the goal then was to quickly get dollars out the door to support our nation's job creators during this time of crisis. but now when our nations a a whole has learned much more about this pandemic, we've learned how to safely go about our lives. this bill is a disingenuous attempt to posture to small businesses by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. if democrats were serious about helping restaurants and small businesses, they would change the never-ending mandates and lockdowns. they would have accepted my amendment during committee to adequately fund this program from the start. they would have considered my bill, my bill when it was

introduced in july, the entree act, which responsibly refills the restaurant revitalization program and is fully paid for, which this bill today is not. when the government attempts to solve problems without the input of small businesses, they create more problems, mr. speaker. had my democrat counterparts on the other side ever ask a small business owner if they are now capable of opening and operating safely? have they asked them whether they can unlock their doors, turn on the lights and protect their workers? have they ever asked them if they are now able to welcome customers and community members back to their storefronts carefully? i have and the answer for small business owners is a resounding yes. small businesses are some of the most innovative and nimble enterprises in america. they can pivot quickly and most importantly, they can adapt to any situation with speed. they're the entrepreneurs of our cou country, the drivers of our country. they can figure out how to slice the bread thinner.

we saw this over the last two years. the small businesses need the freedom to operate independently without washington operating over them. we must end the covid economy of government handouts. furthermore, this bill creates another new grant program at the s.b.a. the s.b.a., in my judgment, is incapable of operating grant programs. let's briefly examine how they have performed over the last two years, mr. speaker. the economic injury disaster relief program is filled with fraud and identity theft issues. this is per the i.g., the inspector general, in his report. and the s.b.a. is a blackhole when it comes to answering questions for constituent businesses. we've all have businesses in our district struggling to get information for their grant application. this direct lending and direct grant program has been a disaster. 30% fraud rate in it. that's the i.g. report numbers. if the s.b.a. continues to defer idle payments. -- yet, the s.b.a. continues to defer idle payments. the sbog was signed into law in

december, 2020. t disappointingly and after long delays, the s.b.a. attempted to launch this program in april, four months later. my colleagues and i sent multiple letters to the s.b.a. regarding this delay. the night before it went live, s.b.a.'s inspector general sent out a warning signal. he said, s.b.a., you're not ready to do this. you are not up and running yet. did they listen? of course, not. they went ahead anyway. within hours the whole program crashed. the program took two more months to launch. this is unacceptable, mr. speaker. we have to do a better job than this. they have to do a better job than this. the last program was the restaurant revitalization fund. i'd like to remind everyone this program was woefully underfunded by my democrat colleagues. ever more shocking was the fact that congressional democrats, the biden administration, and the s.b.a. prioritized certain businesses over others. the r.r.f. program was fundamentally unfair. they picked winners and losers

with the american taxpayer dollars. it's so bad the sixth circuit court of appeals declared this program unconstitutional, mr. speaker. they declared the whole program unconstitutional. the court's majority opinion stated that the s.b.a. injected explicit racial and ethnic preferences into the priorities. enough is enough. if you judge the future by the past, as my dad once said, it's clear the s.b.a. is unable to properly and prudently manage grant programs and safeguard american taxpayer dollars. . not doanl do they have a disastrous pass on programs, bye any new dollars will add fuel to the fire. this bill is supposedly paid for by recovered fund. at best this is an i.o.u., mr. speaker. it is not a real or immediate offset. i agree we need to track down and hold fraudsters accountable. i applaud that process. i support it entirely. this process takes time. and it's not going to get all

those dollars back. for example, according to testimony provided by s.b.a.'s inspector general in january, the total recovered by this office in fiscal year 2021 was $4.2 billion. the same testimony in collaboration with secret service, it was reported another $1 billion. lastly again according to i.g., financial institutions have returned approximately $3.1 billion in financial fraud funding. that's not near enough to cover the $55 billion that this program wants to spend. now more than ever small businesses need to escape the overreaching -- overbearing reach of the federal government. if we want to help small businesses, we need to stop this out-of-control spending. we should prioritize lowering taxes so small business owners and their works can keep more of their hard-earned money and reduce regulation that is bog down businesses and paperwork with cliens costs. i would argue -- compliance costs. i would argue the 2017 tax cut

and job act is why we have the good economy today. we continue to allow business individuals to deep their hard-earned dollars and invest them they see fit. if we tax them they'll go out of the system and limit their ability to drive our economy. we simply need to move on from this covid economy. in my judgment this is irresponsible bill. urge my colleagues to oppose it. mr. speaker, this is about economic independence. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from is recognized. ms. velazquez: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the distinguished house majority leader, mr. hoyer of mar mad maryland. mr. hoyer: i thank gentlelady for yielding. i would respond. this bill is about economic resilience. you can't be independent if you go bankrupt. you can't be independent if you can't operate your business.

i have gone in to restaurant after restaurant in my district. and the owners of those restaurants have had thanks from me, for the congress, yes, for the administration, including donald trump who signed many of these bills. that at a time of extraordinary stress through no fault of their own but a pandemic that attacked all of us they were able to keep their heads above water, pay their employees, even if they couldn't be open, transfer to carry out, and do so many things that they were able to do to remain viable. which is, by the way, why almost every state has a surplus. why? because revenues did not fall as they were projected to fall. that is true in my state. i think it's true in almost every state. why didn't revenues fall? because we kept people above water.

now, in this particular program that passed in many respects with bipartisan support in 2020, and in 2020 but in december of 2020 as well, there were some 250,000-plus who were eligible upped the rules that we drafted and passed but only about 100,000 of them got relief. which means that we left behind 150,000 people who were eligible under the rules that we set. now some would say to those that were left behind, you're on your own. that's not what we are going to do today. we are not going to tell them you're on your own. we are going to tell them we understand how important you are

to the life of our country, to the economy of our country, to the people of our country. we enacted the american rescue plan it -- i want to make clear did not get any republican votes. we setaside $28.6 billion in emergency grants to help restaurants and bars experience significant revenue losses due to covid-19 restrictions. those restrictions were necessary, which is why hopefully we are coming out of not only the initial assault but the variants assault. the aim was to help them stay open to keep their employees on the payroll. i suggest if we had not done that it wouldn't be independence that they would have experienced, they would have experienced recession and perhaps depression. that funding quickly ran out.

however, with only a third of restaurants that applied for assistance ultimately receiving t the legislation before us today would repleppish the small business administration's restaurant revitalization fund with an additional $42 billion so the more than 150,000 restaurants still waiting in the queue can finally get the help they need. those applicants have been waiting since funding ran out last year. according to the independent restaurant coalition, 86%, mr. speaker, of owners indicated that they may close down if they aren't able to access these grants. more than 90,000 restaurants and bars are already have shut down in this pandemic. think about the impact of that on neighborhoods, communities, and local economies. congress should act and act quickly. i share the view of the gentleman who spoke before me that we need to make sure that we eliminate fraud. we eliminate abuse.

and that we claw back money that was received through fraud. all that does is hurt those who really need it. and what this legislation says is we are going to get back that money that was fraudulently received by individuals and give it to people who legitimate need it and qualify. such as restaurants, gyms, health clubs, salons, music venues, and other places where people hope to congregate but couldn't because of necessary pandemic restrictions. they'll get a life line as we all hope to get and i quote, back to normal. we all want to be back to normal. but we want to be back to normal with businesses that a still alive. still able to serve the public.

importantly that lifeline to keep legitimate small businesses afloat is paid for, as i said, by recapturing funds earlier disbursed to fraudulent applicants. we are going after bad actors and rewarding good actors. while this is an issue important to so many members of our caucus, i want to thank representative blumenauer for sponsoring this legislation as well as representative philips for his championing this cause over the past several months. i urge my colleagues to support this legislation. and the small businesses that it will help, and the thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of employees that it will help. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new york reserves. the gentleman from missouri. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, mr. speaker. i appreciate the majority leader's remarks. i think that i also support trying to help restaurants. that's the reason we are here

this morning. do i have a bill that -- i do have a bill that is paid for that this one does not do. i think that the preferences allowed that were unconstitutional is the reason we are here this morning to find a way found rest of those folks which i think is important for our communities. i agree and appreciate those remarks by the leader. with that, mr. speaker, i would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from texas, mr. williams, who is the vice ranking member of the committee on small business. small business champion in his own right. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. williams: thank you, mr. chairman. thank you, mr. speaker. it's been more than two years since covid-19 shut down the world and forced businesses to close for months. since the beginning of the pandemic congress has spent, we already talked about it, $6.6 trillion to help american businesses get back on track to financial recovery after enduring months of forced government closures.

at that time aid was critical for businesses to survive the pandemic, but we must now let the free market, the free market work and stop involving spending billions more in the name of covid-19. this attempt by democrats to spend billions of tax dollars is irresponsible and will only add to what we have today in the growing inflation crisis we have. americans are currently experiencing tough times right now trying to find out how to beat, frankly, the federal government. inflation and energy prices are the primary concerns for small businesses. i am a small business owner for 51 years, still employ hundreds of people. that's the concerns they have. more federal spending is only going to strain businesses further. it is simple. to lower costs for hardworking families and businesses and owners of those businesses, we

need to cut spending. we need to cut it. not spend more money that we don't have when you spend money you print, you don't have, it's called inflation. we should be focusing on getting control of the crisis at the southern border. lowering gas prices. managing supply chain disruptions. i'm in the car business. can i talk about that. that are leaving shelves empty and incentivizing to get back to work. not to work. in order to get back to the thriving economy we had prepandemic, under the trump administration, democrats must end this emergency so covid-19 spending charade. it's over. we are done with t let's move on. with it. let's move on. i always get a kick out of people that say they want to protect main street. well, it's funny because a lot of those people wanting to protect main street are bureaucrats that never signed the front of a check. they never met a payroll. they have been up here all their life. they want to help main street.

and the fact of the matter is we need to cut taxes. we need to cut regulations. so if it's so important to help main street, why do democrats and liberals want to raise taxes all the time? that doesn't help main street. i want to help main street but i want to raise taxes. that's the wrong way to go about it. so the bottom line is this. we have a better bill. and i urge all of my colleagues to oppose h.r. 3807. and reject democrats' false claims that this bill is fully paid for. it's fully paid for on the backs of main street america. ain got we trust. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri reserves. ms. velazquez: mr. speaker, i yield four minutes to the long-time champion of restaurant revitalization fund, the gentleman from oregon, mr. blumenauer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. blumenauer: i appreciate the gentlelady's courtesy as i

appreciate her tireless leadership on this issue. her committee has performed admirably. i am excited about the wide range of areas that you have enacted to be able to help the recovery that we have seen around the country. one of the reasons that we have had the largest increase in employment this last year in american history. i think what we have today is another chapter in that story. over two years ago i received countless late night texts, phone calls from the independent restaurants in my community, portland, oregon, is known for its restaurant scene. we set to work listening to them to come up with an approach that would meet their needs. the so-called paycheck protection program was not adequate. they didn't even know if they were going to be in business let

alone paying back a loan. we developed this grant program after consulting with independent restaurants all across the country. the neighborhood bars and restaurants were the hardest hit since the beginning of the pandemic. they were the first to shut down in march of 2020, and they accounted for a quarter of the job losses. 5.5 million workers in april, 2020 alone. and they have been the slowest to reopen. yes, they can pivot and adapt, but, frankly, the unemployment in the industry remains stubbornly slow to recover. and approximately 90,000 restaurants have already closed permanently since the start of the pandemic. there are a number of others that are just hanging on by their fingertips.

encouraged in part by the hope of the restaurant act fund being replenished. restaurants are the cornerstone of a livable community. they have employed nearly 60% of americans at some point in their career. myself included, and i know a number of people in this chamber identify with that. . they are a major source of employment for people of color. and they support a trillion dollar supply chain all across america. the federal government has provided some help to them through the restaurant revitalization fund based on my restaurants act that i first introduced in june of 2020. but the program fell short. it did not have enough money to meet all the applicants. there were 100,000 grants that were life changing for a number of them, but 177,000 hanging in the balance. the relief for restaurants and

other hard-hit small business act finishes the job and completes the promise. this legislation is simple. it funds restaurants that did not receive awards that they were otherwise entitled to. it helps other battered industries like live events, travel, hospitality, and fitness, and supports shuttered venues and it will be paid for with the fraudulent pandemic relief funds that is to be recovered. now, while the covid case numbers are low and the american public is ready to move beyond the pandemic, our small, independent restaurants and other businesses have not fully recovered. this is why the legislation is critical. it is a response to very real challenges. thinking about what they faced in terms of that brittle supply chain, what they faced in terms of changing regulations, the

public being deeply concerned in terms of health, this is -- this is time for us to finish the job that we started. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. blumenauer: it's time to finish the job that we started. we don't want any ruthless free market ideology getting in the way of these hardworking, innovative people who put their lives and careers on the line, investing everything, hoping they could have the promise of the restaurant revitalization fund fulfilled. this legislation does that, and i strongly urge its adoption. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm not sure what ruthless idiotic ideology that the

gentleman is talking about. i think capitalization is a great ideology to make an economy go. i think we saw the tax cuts and jobs act in 2017 did that. when they talk about the largest increase in employment history, it's pretty easy to have a low bar when we start talking during the pandemic. the bar is prior to the pa pandemic. with that it's exciting for me to introduce our next speaker, mr. meuser of pennsylvania, who's the ranking member of the small business committee on economic, tax growth. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. meuser: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank ranking member luetkemeyer for the great work that he does for small businesses. mr. speaker, when i speak to small businesses throughout my district, they tell me they're fraught by skyrocketing inflation, rising energy costs, workforce shortages, burdensome regulations, just regular

hassles coming from the type of regulations that have been imposed and the type of tax burdens and such. the biden administration continues, however, to push a policy agenda that is absolutely d detrimental to small business, there's no question about it, creating additional headwinds, including inflation. the excessive and unnecessary spending enacted by democrats in the last 14 months, exceeding $2 trillion, well over $2 trillion just in the rescue plan. almost $9 trillion over the course of the last couple of years have obviously contributed to the record levels of inflation. up nearly 8% since last year, just last year alone. the highest level since 1981. we look back on that as the most historic inflation ever. well, it's happening now. and yet, we're talking about exes a per ating it -- exes a

ber ating it. and the biden administration's blatant and deliberate detrimental policies on domestic energy production has caused prices at the pump to nearly double since last year, making it clearly more difficult for small business to get their goods to market, making it more difficult for customers to get to the small businesses. we must support our domestic energy production and make energy affordable again. it's almost that simple. let's talk about the workforce shortages. disincentives to work, extended by the american rescue plan, make it harder to recruit and retain workers. we should know that. go to any small business and they will tell you just that. sure, it's starting to come back, as it would once those incentives not to work were minimized or eliminated. that's what we need to do, create incentives to work, not discourage work. let's talk about tax increases. the persistent tax increase from

democrats in congress and the biden administration sent shivers down the spine of small businesses, creates enormous uncertainty while making it difficult for them to plan and invest in their businesses. let's talk about regulations. since taking office 14 months ago, the biden administration has instituted hundreds of new regulations, costing over $200 billion in real terms and burdening businesses what's been estimated as $130 -- 130 million hours of additional paperwork. instead of saddling our small businesses with burdensome and costly regulations, we should be trying to actually create an environment that breeds growth and success and allows owners to invest in their business and employees. the solution to the difficulties that american small businesses are facing is not to pump $55 billion of new unpaid spending into the economy. this will make it worse what i

went through. mr. speaker, there's no reason to criticize legislation without a solution. we have a solution. the entree act introduced by ranking member luetkemeyer is fully paid for and delivers $60 billion in aid to america's restaurants who were excluded by the previous democrats' unconstitutional and discriminatory r.r.f. rollout that was proven illegal. unlike the bill we're considering today, the entree act would replenish the restaurant revitalization fund by repurposing unused american rescue plan dollars and would not further contribute to the hyperinflation that all american small businesses and our deficit -- that all businesses are burdened by today and, again, the highest since -- in nearly 50 years. the real solution is a smart and responsible approach that provides targeted relief without making worse the crises that

many small businesses are facing today. every idea, mr. speaker, in this congress cannot be solved by spending billions of dollars more of taxpayer money, as stated earlier, over $10 trillion in excess over the last two years. it's got to stop somewhere sometime. we need to stop this out-of-control spending, reduce inflation, stop the assault on domestic energy production, lower energy costs, and create a business environment that's friendly to growth, not friendly to a tax, spend, and overregulatory big government. the solution, again, is not difficult. but it must be definitely not adding another $55 billion in spending. american job creators need for the most competitive in the world. we need to do what we can do to create an environment for that. the policies of the biden administration are -- and far too many democrats in this house

have made life more difficult for small businesses. this must change. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. ms. velazquez: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to the distinguished member of the small business committee, the gentleman from louisiana, mr. carter. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. carter: i thank the chair for yielding. i'm proud to represent southeast louisiana in congress, a region that's rightfully famous for its community, its culture, and its incredible food. around 9,000 restaurants in louisiana applied for the restaurant revitalization fund in the american rescue plan. less than 3,000 received funding. it is clear the need to replenish this legislation is great and must happen. today, we'll continue to fight for the help of small businesses and families during the pandemic. as we pass the restaurant revitalization fund replenishment act, providing an

additional $60 billion for the restaurant revitalization fund. louisiana thrives on tourism and hospitality and the restaurant sector is critical in the state's economy. i'm so grateful that this bill now includes provisions that i proposed in the bipartisan music act, which would include members of the entertainment industry like live event companies who have yet to have access to industry-specific economic relief funding. i am proud to vote for -- vote yes today and stand with small businesses that strengthen and enrich our local economies. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: mr. speaker, could i inquire we have left on each side? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri has 11 minutes. the gentlewoman from new york has 20. mr. luetkemeyer: ok. thank you very much. with that, i'd like to yield as much time as he may consume to

one of the newest members of the committee, the gentleman from florida, mr. donalds, who is on the committee, an exciting new member that we have. i yield as much time as he may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. donalds: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to thank the gentleman from missouri for giving me such latitude. $55 billion that we don't have, folks. $42 billion, you know, goes into, you know, this new -- the re-authorization of the restaurant revitalization fund -- excuse me. i love all the names and titles we throw out here in congress. another $13 billion going to target business owners who have less than 200 employees. i know that there are restaurant owners and small business owners in the united states who are looking for relief every single day. they're trying to find a way to make ends meet. how do i know this? because, in the beginning of my career, a lot of what i did was analyze the very business owners who are struggling in today's economy.

and in today's economy, they're struggling for a myriad of reasons. number one, are energy prices. when the price of oil shoots up so drastically, it impacts transportation. it impacts how they get the material they sell in their stores every single day. wage inflation, which is completely out of control in the united states. when wages go up, the cost of doing business goes up no matter what any politician on capitol hill says. so throwing more money at this situation, especially money that has not been appropriated, money that will come out of thin air, is not going to make matters better for small business owners. it's going to make them worse. the ranking member on small business, mr. luetkemeyer of missouri, has a bill, the entree act, that re-authorizes funds that have already been appropriated to be used to help small business owners who were caught in this lurch. money that they could use. it is paid for. it will not put more dollars in circulation which is one of the key issues we are having in our

economy with respect to the inflation that is stifling small business. it is stifling working families. it is stifling seniors who are on fixed incomes. but it's more than just money coming from capitol hill. it is the economic policy coming from 1600 pennsylvania avenue. when you have massive amounts of regulations that small business owners must comply with, two things occur. they spend more time devoted to compliance or they go out of business. or i'm sorry, there's a third. or they sell to a larger business. we want small business owners to thrive in the united states. we need them to thrive in the united states. but it's not just money, folks. it is the rules that we force them to comply with. and the last part. i started with energy. i'm going to end with energy. when energy costs go up in the united states, when they go up recklessly and woefully because of terrible economic and energy policy from the president of the united states, the lifeblood of

our economy, which is small business, are the ones who feel it the most. they are the ones who are affected. they are the ones who struggle with it. they are the ones that can't get the materials they need. they are the ones whose workers are struggling to figure out how to get to work because gas is now $4.20 a gallon versus $2.20 a gallon. we have to take a serious look about what we're doing from a complete economic perspective here on capitol hill. and it's not just about new money. new money sounds good. everybody likes getting new money. but new money rarely is the thing that fixes the problem. what really fixes the problem are sound policies that address our entire business economy. so that everybody can thrive. what really makes sense is having a sound and sensible energy policy where you have cheap and affordable, whether it's renewable or whether it's fossil fuels, that people can rely on. that's the lifeblood of every economy. and if we can ever get that stuff right, we might have

enough sense on capitol hill to actually handle our spending problems. but if we can't get basic economics right, there's no wonder that capitol hill always spends far more than it possibly takes in. we have a measure to actually help small business owners right now. it is called the entree act. small business owners will get the help that they need. . it will work and help us stop being reckless with money we don't have. which we frankly are borrowing from the revenues that small business owners have to pay in the future that they haven't even earned yet. don't pass this bill. it is not necessary. it's only more of the same. it's more of the problem. it's more inflation. it's a destruction of more purchasing power of the american people. we must say no today. we need to reverse course in the united states. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri reserves.

the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. ms. velazquez: i yield one minute to a senior member of the small base committee, the gentlelady from california, ms.chu. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms.chu: i rise in strong support of this legislation to fulfill our commitment to the small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic. like the many in my los angeles area district. the restaurant revitalization fund and the shuttered van eu operators grant program have been crucial interventions to protect the industry's most reliant on in-person, indoor crowds. these were some of the first businesses to close and among the last to return to full capacity. that's why we must pass this legislation to fund $42 billion in spending -- pending restaurant applications. give live venues and theaters more time and flexibility to use their funds. and create a new program for the hardest hit small businesses that still need help to keep their doors opened. and this bill would be paid for

by going after funds stolen by fraudsters, showing the american public that the u.s. will not tolerate those who use the pandemic to take advantage of small businesses in their most dire time of need. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new york reserves. the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, madam chair. we would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentlelady from texas, ms. van duyne, ranking member on the small business oversight investigation regular laces -- regulations. she's been leading the way in protecting small businesses. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized. mims. van duyne: madam speaker,i have a motion to recommit. my amendment affirms this chamber's commitment to being a proper steward of taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of s.b.a.'s programs. over two years ago congress enacted and activated numerous relief programs to rescue the

american economy from the covid-19 state and local shutdown orders that devastated small businesses across the country. speed was of the essence and congress focused on getting dollars out quickly before parts of the economy collapsed. however, criminal behavior took hold as many illegal applicants entered programs and scammed others to take advantage of this relief. according to the s.b.a. inspector general's estimates, over $80 billion of the economic injury disaster loan program payments in $4.6 billion of the paycheck protection program are potentially fraudulent. americar dollars that are on the line and they are being misused and stolen. and we must do everything in congress' power to stop this illegal behavior and ensure that the fraudsters are brought to justice. our oversight capabilities must be re-enforced and strengthened.

as ranking member of the oversight investigations and regulations subcommittee on the committee of small business, i stand ready to ensure that these programs are adequately built to deter this flawed lent behavior -- fraudulent behavior. we must also ensure that law enforcement has the tools at their disposal and enough time to complete the job. we must lengthen the statute of limitations for the loans and grants made during this emergency period and give the s.b.a.'s inspector general the secret service, and department of justice the necessary time to launch investigations and complete their process. five years is simply not enough. especially when the s.b.a. continues to defer payments on i.d.a. loans. my movement moves the statute of limitation from five years to 10 years to capture, recover, and seize fraudulent dollars within these covid-19 small business relief programs. criminals move quickly.

and they did so at a time when those folks who needed it the most were unable to get these dollars. they took advantage of an unprecedented worldwide epidemic. in due time our authorities will find them and recover the money that was meant to assist main street america during the covid-19 pandemic. but our economy is driven by america's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. and protecting those relief dollars dedicated to them should be a top priority for all members of congress. this amendment is a simple, commonsense, and necessary fix. i urge my colleagues to support t it will give the time necessary for law enforcement to recover our american taxpayer dollars. madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to include the text of the amendment in the record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman roifts.

reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. ms. velazquez: i yield one minute to the distinguished member of the small business committee, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. evans. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. evans: thank you, madam speaker. i thank the chair. i'm proud to co-sponsor this bill which is led by the ways and means colleague from oregon. the restaurant revitalization fund has been a lifeline for small businesses in philadelphia and across the country. we provide $28 billion to help more than 100,000 restaurants. unfortunately, the need has been far greater than the initial funding. this bill will extend the lifeline with another $42 billion to help our neighborhood restaurants and the people they employ as the pandemic continues. restaurants are a part of our small business backbone that help to keep our communities together. and our neighbors are employed.

i urge a yes vote and thank, madam speaker, thank you very much. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new york reserves. the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, madam speaker. i would like to inquire how much time we have. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman has three minutes remaining. mr. luetkemeyer: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. ms. velazquez: i would like to inquire of the chair how much time is remaining on our side. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman has 18 minutes remaining. ms. velazquez: madam speaker, i yield one minute to the chairwoman of the house appropriations committee, the gentlelady from connecticut, ms. delauro. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. delauro: madam speaker, restaurants and small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities. but the pandemic has cost them over $280 billion in sales and approximately 90,000 were forced to close. that is why we created the

restaurant revitalization fund. historic investment to increase aid to restaurants and bars hit hardest by the pandemic. but the funding has run out. and restaurants are still struggling. in connecticut the restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the pandemic. due to high demand, i heard from far too many of my constituents who applied on the very first day the r.r.f. funds were available and still unable to receive them. we must ensure small businesses receive the funding they need to survive and continue to serve our opportunities communities. the bill before us does just that. provides $42 billion to replenish the fund. $13 billion towards other businesses impacted by the pandemic. this bill is the certainty of our efforts to -- center of our efforts to help these ball smawl businesses survive and thrive. i look forward to voting in favor of this bill. i urge my colleagues to do the same. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from new york reserves. the gentleman from missouri.

mr. luetkemeyer: reserves. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized. ms. velazquez: madam speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. correa. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. correa: i thank the gentlelady for yielding. i also rise in strong support of this measure. this is about economic survival on main street. this is about helping our friends and neighbors that have plowed their life savings into a small business. just a couple days ago i got a phone call f from someone who hd a restaurant in my neighborhood for dozens of years. he told me, lou, for two years i have taken every penny i have to stay in business. i'm at the end of my rope. if i don't get help, i'm out of business and i'm going to lay off dozens and dozens of workers. he told me, lou, i don't want to hand out. i want a hand. i have paid my taxpayer dollars for years and years. and now i want you, the federal

government, to help me stay alive. i said, mr. antonello, we'll be there for you. we will get you that support. folks, today i ask you, please support this measure. please help our small businesses on main street stay alive. thank you. i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. does the gentleman from missouri continue to reserve. mr. luetkemeyer: reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota. >> i yield one minute to the gentlelady from michigan, mrs. dingell. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. mrs. dingell: thank you, madam speaker. i rise today in strong support of h.r. 3807, the relief for restaurants. and other hard hit small businesses act. as you are hearing from my colleagues the food service industry has been one of the hardest hit throughout this pandemic. with many restaurants temporarily closing the doors or for too many never opening them

again. dramatically limiting their capacity during the worst surges but still feeding their community. right now many more are looking to have to close their doors permanently if we don't give them help and live up to our commitment to support them through this unprecedented time. we have all heard stories from our districts of the small businesses seeking assistance. many who have been eligible but they can't get the funds. like my colleagues, the coney island that i have gone to for 35 years is looking at closing. the waitress who worked there more 35 years in total tears last week because she doesn't know what she's going to do. other restaurants throughout my district just needing help. this legislation provides critical funding it that we need to grant. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mrs. dingell: restaurants in our communities. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentlelady's time has expired. the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve.

mr. luetkemeyer: continue to reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. phillips: madam speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, mr. green. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. green: and still i rise. and still i rise to be grateful to the honorable nydia velazquez and earl blumenauer for what they have done to bring this bill to the floor. and still i rise for this job protections bill. this bill will not only protect jobs for restaurants, it also protects jobs in the $1 trillion supply chain. it will protect jobs for those distributors to restaurants. it will protect the jobs for those who transport to the distributors t protects jobs for the farmers who produce the produce that we have in the restaurants. there is a right time for all things. this is the right time. this is the right place. we are the right people to do

the right thing and protect small businesses. more importantly, to protect the jobs that fuel america. the engines of opportunity. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. phillips: i yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, ms. lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from california is recognized. ms. lee: thank you, madam speaker. thank you, mr. chairman. glad to be able to speak on behalf of h.r. 3807 which will deliver more funding to restaurants and small businesses which really deserve their representatives to speak up, stand up, and work for them. they desperately need our help. we must deliver on their behalf. let me thank speaker pelosi, chairwoman velazquez, and congressman blumenauer for their tremendous leadership in working so diligently in bringing this bill to the floor.

h.r. 3807 continues democrats' efforts to help our small businesses and restaurants recover from the economic costs of covid-19. these small businesses are the economic and cultural lifeblood of our communities. so we establish the restaurant revitalization fund and other support programs in the american rescue plan. the a.r.p. delivered billions of dollars to help people and businesses make it through this crisis. almost 600 restaurants and bars in my district alone received more than $212 million to keep their doors opened and to support their employees and families. however, we know that this crisis is still not over. and we must deliver more assistance. we must pass this bill today. i strongly urge my colleagues to vote aye. thank you again. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized mr. phillips: i yield one minute to the gentlelady from mississippi, mrs. trahan. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentlewoman from massachusetts is recognized. mrs. trahan: thank you, madam speaker. every member of this chamber has had the privilege of meeting with hardworking small business owners in their districts who overcame incredible challenges to stay opened during the pandemic. the stories that stick with me the most are the ones from family-owned establishments, community staples like simply kamai in lowell. these businesses access relief through the restaurant revitalization fund and helped them keep their doors opened and employees on staff. but for every simply kamai there are three or four other restaurants who applied but didn't get the relief they needed because the fund ran out of money. that's left many businesses hanging on by a thread pleading for help. passing the relief for rest rans and other hard hit small businesses act will answer those calls for aid. . there's simply no reason anyone in congress should oppose it.

i ask my colleagues to join us in passing this bill, and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. >> madam speaker, now i allocate time to the gentleman from california, mr. thompson. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. thompson: madam speaker, the covid-19 pandemic has hammered every section of our economy. small businesses have been hit the hardest, and among small businesses, restaurants have been crushed. an estimated 90,000 restaurants have permanently closed. these are cornerstones of our communities and the linchpin of our economy. if more restaurants close, more workers will be out of work, and transitioning to a new job will be a challenge for many of those workers. now is not the time to abandon our small businesses. i urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and i yield back the balance of my time.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. phillips: madam speaker, i now yield one minute to the gentlelady from michigan, mrs. lawrence. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from michigan is recognized. mrs. lawrence: madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 3807. last month, i held a roundtable in my district with small businesses, and their message was loud and clear. the restaurant industry is in a crisis. small businesses, they need us to understand and send relief. we know that this pandemic has disproportionately affected sm small businesses owned by women and people of color. our small businesses are the backbone of our communities and local economies. we're going -- if we're going to come back as a country, we must pass this must-needed

legislation. now is the time to take action. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota reserves. the gentleman from missouri continues to reserve. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. phillips: madam speaker, i have no further requests for time and would inquire through the chair if my colleague has any remaining speakers on their side. mr. luetkemeyer: we're ready to wrap up. mr. phillips: we reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. luetkemeyer: we discussed this bill thoroughly this morning and i think everybody understands that we have a $42 billion section of it that's wanting to help restaurants. i thoroughly support trying to get restaurants back onto their feet. in fact, it's been mentioned a number of times. we have an alternative bill called the entree act that fixes the constitutional problem. the restaurant revitalization fund was incorrectly structured. it prioritizes groups. it was declared unconstitutional. it was underfunded, which i tell

everybody at the time it came through committee that was the case, offered an amendment to try to fix it, was defeated. today, here we are trying to fix the bill i told you was not structured ride, wasn't funded right. i have a bill that's paid for. this bill suddenly has no chance because it never went to committee yet. we can't get a hearing on it. why? who knows. we've known for a long time we had this problem. and suddenly last friday this particular bill shows up and now all of a sudden we recognize we have a problem. we've said this for a long, long time, six months or more already. number two, we got a second part of this which hasn't been discussed very much this morning which is for the hardest hit industries. we have $13 billion there. i can guarantee you, madam speaker, this isn't going to come close to fixing that problem. if you open it up to every single business hard hit we'll wind up being back here, which is fine, but i'm telling you right now this is not going to fix it. you know, i think one of the promises made earlier about the economic -- this bill was about

economic resilience. i think our businesses are resilient. that's why our economy has continued to bounce back. but it's not going to be resilient if we strangle it with higher inflation, pouring more money into this, higher energy prices, more regulation. this is about freeing up the entrepreneurial spirit of our people and our small businesses that drive this country, take those burdens off, lower inflation, quit spending we don't have, get them the support they need instead of choking them off with all of these other sorts of things. we have a bill before us that we can fix this with if we allow it to come up, but we're not doing it this morning. instead, we have a bill that's poorly structured again. i guarantee it's not funded correctly either. we're trying to find a way to claw back money which we don't even know for sure we can. we have some so far but we don't have enough. so where else is it going to come from? it's going to be printed. that's not how we should operate

as a congress. that's not what the american people expect of us. they deserve better than this. madam speaker, let me just close by saying that enough's enough. whenever we don't let alternatives be heard, to be able to have the voice of the minority be able to be heard, we don't have a bipartisan atmosphere that this body should be operating under. when you have one-party rule, you throw bills on the floor without going through proper order, this is what you get, another bill that's poorly structured, that's going to not have a chance in the senate because nobody's worked together to find a way to solve a problem which we all recognize exists. with that, madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. mr. phillips: madam speaker, i yield myself the balance of the time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. phillips: and by the way, to my friend across the aisle, i concur. i'm eager to return to regular order. i hope we return to that. i want to thank you, madam speaker. thank you, chairwoman velazquez.

thank you to the staff of the small business committee, my staff, and so many in the capitol complex who have brought us to this day, representatives blumenauer and quigley. my good friend, brian fitzpatrick, across the aisle and so many other. in fact, 300 democrats and republicans are on bills to replenish the r.r.f. i want to thank them all for getting us today. i am a small business owner myself. i've been listening to this debate with open ears and open eyes. a long business career. now i own a couple coffee shops. used to have three. we had to close one during the pandemic. i know how hard it is, how hard it's been, and how hard it will be. but we didn't take p.p.p. we didn't take an eidl loan. we didn't take any of the government programs. i'm here to advocate for the 177,000 -- 177,000 small restaurants and cafes and many of -- millions of owners and operators in my district and yours who were approved for

r.r.f. funds and have been waiting for almost a full year for us to make good on a very simple promise. and i want to thank the thousands of other small entrepreneurs and enterprises in the fitness and live events and hospitality and other hard-hit sectors who have been waiting so patiently but desperately for support. you know, a singular principle, a singular principle has guided me in this eight-month journey to get to today, to see this bill become law. and it's the universal and core american principle of fairness. fairness. you see, we promised american entrepreneurs during the worst of covid that we would be there for them. we promised those who required financial support to survive that we would distribute it on a level playing field. we promised there would be no program just for the wealthy or the well-connected, and we promised them that their government, the united states of america, would not pick winners and losers. it's a theme i hear constantly from my friends across the

aisle, and i agree with it. but lo and behold, what did we do, we did just that picking winners and losers by woefully underfunding the r.r.f. and ignoring other small businesses dependent on public gathering that were ravaged by the pandemic. most of the 100,000 restaurants and cafes that received support weathered that storm because of the support. they kept their lights on and their people paid and they're returning to viability. i think we can all agree on that. but 177,000 restaurants and cafes, often next door to one another or across the street from one another, those who received r.r.f. support, they got nothing. one restaurant on one side of the street, full support. the other one applied, approved, got nothing. patently, grossly unfair. actually, let me correct myself. i shouldn't say they got nothing. they got nonforgivable bank loans. they took on credit card debt.

they mortgaged their homes. many lost hope and closed their doors. and yes, a number took their own lives. they lost hope and took their own lives. i've sat at roundtables with tears hearing those stories as their debts mounted and their dreams slipped away. so to my friends across the aisle who plan to vote against this measure, particularly those whose own businesses were recipients of covid aid, that was passed in this chamber, i ask a very simple question. how would you feel, how would you feel if you and your business were among the 177,000 that got nothing? how would you feel? and was it not wasteful spending or inflationary spending when you took the money? my goodness. today, we got one last opportunity. i do believe it is the last opportunity to make good on a very simple promise that we made at the outset of this pandemic

and best of all, we are going to convert the moneys recovered from the prosecution of fraud into fairness. that's right. from fraud to fairness. the money that was fraudulently obtained is rightfully supposed to go to those that we hope to ben benefit if we pass this bill today. now, we may not always agree on policy, but my goodness. i would like to think that democrats and republicans in the united states congress can agree on the basic principle of fairness. that's why i will not urge, rather, i will ask, that my colleagues vote yes on h.r. 3807, to vote yes for american sm small businesses and to vote yes for fairness. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. all time for debate has expired. pursuant to house resolution 1033, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended. the question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it.

third reading. the clerk: a bill american rescue plan act of 2021 to increase appropriations to the restaurant revitalization fund, and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition? ms. van duyne: madam speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the motion. the clerk: ms. van duyne of texas moves to recommit the bill h.r. 3807 to the committee on small business. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 2-b of rule 19, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the noes have it. ms. van duyne: madam speaker, i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. van duyne: i'm sorry. madam speaker, i ask the yeas and nays be recorded. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 3-s of house resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20,

this is a 15-minute vote. on the -- on the motion to recommit and will be followed by five-minute votes on passage of the bill h.r. 3807, if ordered. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mrs. harshbarger of tennessee, i inform the house that mrs. harshbarger will vote yea on the motion to recommit. thank you.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recog recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by representative kilmer of washington state, i inform the house that representative kilmer of washington state will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition?

>> madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. newman of illinois and mr. levin of michigan, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on -- no, will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition? ms. wexton: madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. frankel and ms. porter, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north dakota seek recognition? >> as the member designated, as the member designated by mr. gonzalez of ohio, i inform the house that mr. gonzalez will vote yes on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. price of north carolina, i inform the house that mr. price will vote no, he will vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? mr. evans: as the member as ther designated by the following members, mr. lawson of florida, mr. bowman of new york, mr. doyle of pennsylvania, and m mfume of maryland, they vote no on recommitting. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? mr. flieshman: madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. bilirakis of florida, mr. crawford of arkansas, and mr. long of missouri i inform the house that those members will vote yea on the motion to recommit. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from delaware seek recognition? ms. blunt rochester: madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. clark of massachusetts, mr. cleaver of

missouri i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by dr. gosar of arizona, mr. cawthorn of north carolina, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recog recognition? mr. correa: madam speaker, as the member designated by the following members, jim cooper, henry cuellar, joaquin castro t. harder, swawell, and cana i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. mccaul of texas, i inform the house that mr. mccaul will vote yes on the motion to recommit. and as the member designated by

mr. crenshaw of texas, i inform the house that mr. crenshaw will vote yes on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? mr. pallone: madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. albio sires, mr. donald payne, ms. lucille roybal-allard, mrs. ann kirkpatrick, mrs. bonnie watson coleman, and mr. josh gottheimer, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. baird of indiana, i inform the house that mr. baird will vote yes on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition? mr. stanton: madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. huffman, i inform the house that mr. huffman will vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does -- for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. jeffries: as the member designated by chairman gregory meeks, chairwoman eddie bernice johnson, chairman scott, carolyn maloney and mr. peters, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? mr. soto: madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. crist, mr. gomez, mr. cardenas, and ms. wasserman schultz, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition?

ms. tenney: as the member designated by mr. owens of utah, i inform the house that m mr. owens will vote yea on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. taylor of texas and pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. taylor will vote yes on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. louie gohmert from the great state of texas, i inform the house that mr. gohmert will vote yes on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. joe wilson from south carolina, i inform the house that mr. wilson will vote yea on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. joyce of ohio, i inform the house that mr. joyce will vote yea on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? mrs. cammack: yes, thank you. as the member designated by mr. dunn of florida -- ms. salazar: yes, thank you. as the member designated by mr. dunn of florida, i inform the house that mr. dunn will vote yes on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. katko of new york, i inform the house that mr. katko will vote yea on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. steube of florida, i inform the house that mr. steube will vote yes on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. kehele, i inform the house that member kehele will vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? mr. beyer: mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. ryan of ohio, mr. schiff of california, ms. bass of california, mr. suozzi of new york, and krishnamoorthi of illinois i inform the house that these five members vote no on the motion to recommit.

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 205, the nays are 219.

the motion is not adopted. the house will be in order. the house will be in order. the chair will receive a message from the senate. the secretary: mr. speakern: the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has passed s. 2991. an act to establish the department of homeland security center for countering human trafficking and for other purposes and wishes for the concurrence of the house is requested. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition?

mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, i ask to speak out of order for one minute for the purposes of -- the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hoyer: explaining to members the schedule. ladies and gentlemen, the senate has passed and we've just had read across the passage of h.r. 7108. which is suspending normal trading relations with belarus and russia act. that passed 100-0 in the united states senate. we expect at the end of this series of votes for that bill to be on the floor on suspension so there will be no break. we will continue to that. thereafter, and we expect the bill to be over to us that suspends energy imports from russia act, which we voted on overwhelmingly to be sent to us, that is currently 79-0 in the united states senate.

we are going to pass both of those bills in this house this, as soon as we get them. and it is my expectation that we'll splet -- that will complete the business for this week. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the question is on passage of h.r. 3807. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. for what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition? >> request the recorded yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 3-s of house resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. taylor of texas, i inform the house that mr. taylor will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? ms. velazquez: mr. speaker, as the member designated by the speaker, nancy pelosi, from california, i inform the house that that nancy pelosi will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? mr. gaetz: mr. speaker, as the member designated by dr. gosar of arizona and mr. cawthorn of north carolina, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the measure. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. huffman, i inform the house that mr. huffman will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. baird of

indiana, i inform the house that mr. baird will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. newman of illinois and mr. levin of michigan, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? ms. tenney: mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. owens of utah, i inform the house that mr. owens will vote nay on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from delaware seek recognition? ms. blunt rochester: mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. clark of massachusetts and mr. cleaver of missouri, i inform the house that these members will vote aye on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north dakota seek recognition? mr. armstrong: as the member designated by mr. gonzalez from ohio, i inform the house that mr. gonzalez will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition? ms. wexton: as the member designated by ms. frankel and

ms. porter, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. bilirakis of florida, mr. crawford of arkansas, mr. long of missouri, i inform the house that these members will vote nay on h.r. 3807. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? mr. correa: mr. speaker, as the member designated by jim cooper, henry cuellar, joaquin castro, josh harder, eric swalwell and ro khanna, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. harsh baggerrer of tennessee, i inform the house that mrs. harshbarger will vote nay. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by representative

kilmer of washington state, i inform the house that representative kilmer will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. joe wilson from south carolina, i inform the house that mr. wilson will vote nay on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? mr. evans: mr. speaker, the following members, mr. lawson of florida, mr. bowman of new york, mr. doyle of pennsylvania and mr. mfume of maryland vote yes on final passage. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. loui gohmert of the great state of texas, i inform the house that mr. gohmert will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. crist, mr. gomez, mr. cardenas and ms. wasserman schultz, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for

what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. mccaul and crenshaw, i inform the house that mr. mccaul and crenshaw will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? mr. mrvan: as the member designated by mr. kahele, i inform the house that mr. kahele will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. dunn of florida, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. dunn will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recog recognition? mr. pallone: mr. speaker, as the member designated by miss mikey sherrill, mr. sires, mr. payne, ms. roybal-allard, mrs. kirkpatrick, mrs. watson coleman, and mr. gottheimer i inform the house that these members will vote yes on h.r.

3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. katko from new york, i inform the house that mr. katko will vote yea on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. price of north carolina, i inform the house that mr. price will vote yes, mr. price will vote yes on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. joyce of ohio, i inform the house that mr. joyce will vote nay on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> as the member designated by chairman meeks, chairwoman eddie bernice johnson, chairman scott, and chairwoman carolyn maloney, as well as congressman scott peters, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on h.r. 3807.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. steube of florida, i inform the house that mr. steube will vote no on h.r. 3807. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? mr. beyer: mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. moulton of massachusetts, i inform the house that mr. moulton will vote yes on h.r. 3807.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. joe wilson from south carolina, i inform the house that mr. wilson will vote nay on h.r. 3807.

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 223, the nays are 203. the bill is passed. without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair will receive a message from the senate. the messenger: mr. speaker. a message from the senate. the secretary: mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: i have been directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has passed with an amendment h.r. 616 an act to prohibit importation of energy products if the russian federation in which the concurrence of the house is requested. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the house will resume

proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and concur in senate amendment h.r. 7108, the suspending normal trade relations with russia and belarus act. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 7108, an act to suspend normal trade relations treatment for the russian federation and the republic of belarus and for other purposes. senate amendment. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. neal and the gentleman from texas, mr. brady, each will control 20 minutes. the charry -- the chair now recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection.

mr. neal: i yield myself such time as i might consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. i am relieved that the senate has sent this measure back to us after the house initially advanced the legislation a month ago. we are now considering this important legislation to suspend normal trade relations with russia. the facts, the atrocities, and the emotions are all packaged in the american and congressional response in the coming moments. we will shortly consider this amendment to h.r. 6968 which will suspend russian oil imports so both measures may directly go to the president's desk. we have no time to waste and must immediately further punish vladimir putin. what we have witnessed in bucha over the course of the last 72 hours alone more than justifies the positions we have taken in the past and to be more even assertive and aggressive going into the future. in this -- innocent people are

being slaughteredded on the streets of ukraine even as we meet. and the denial that's taking place from the russian president is outrageous. these atrocities that are taking place in ukraine are unthinkable. the disinformation, the misinformation that's been generated from russia defies modern logic. but in this era, the world can see the devastation in near real time. president zelenskyy is an inspiration to the world. people bombed out of residential neighborhoods, refugees streaming across the borders to safety, indiscriminate killings of civilian, and of innocent children. congress must do whatever we can to end this brutality and support the ukrainian people. i want to thank mr. brady for his partnership in advancing this legislation to suspend normal trade relations with russia and its enabler, belarus.

the legislation to ban the import of russian energy makes enormous sense today. these actions will further isolate putin and inflict greater pressure on the kremlin to end its campaign of terror in ukraine and that's exactly what it is, a campaign of terror. we stand with nato, committed to democracy and to peace on the european continent. this legislation i know will receive broad support from our colleagues and i reserve the balance of our time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. brady: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. brady: the senate has finally taken action, now we can move forward on our bill to answer president zelenskyy's passionate plea to the united states and all free nations to stand with the brave people of ukraine against putin's deadly ambitions and heartbreaking genocide. putin's on slught has been relentless. beautiful town squares has been

leveled, families and children killed, families abused. the children -- the bill we send to the president today will stop american dollars from funding russia's blood letting. today, mr. speaker, we are leading. i thank chairman neal for his great leadership and work on this bipartisan provision to suspend russia's special trade status. i was proud to help lead this bipartisan effort of the ways and means and senate finance committees, both parties in congress came together, worked in good faith on a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to immediately ban purchases of russian energy and suspend our trading relationship with russia and belarus. we don't take these steps lightly, but russia's aggression requires this approach. russia will no longer enjoy the same special trade status with america as the country it is invading. so they will no longer be able to sell made in russia products in the united states as lower tariffs. combined with the energy import

ban which targets 60% that russia sells us, this bill targets the remain 40g%, hurting russia's economy and cutting off funding for its war effort. said another way, american dollars will no longer fund russia's war machine. this is another step in the right direction and includes further incentives for russia to end its aggression. this bill, by the way, includes tough by clear conditions to be met for restoring russia's trade status. the same conditions as we are requiring to reverse the import ban on russian energy products. going forward we must continue to work closely with our allies, inretes pressure on russia, ensure this is an effective global effort. neighboring canada has also taken serious action to do both of these and other nations have announced intentions to do the same. finally i'm glad the bill no longer includes changes to the global magnitsky act authority. instead it merely inclods a straight extension of the global

magnitsky authority. i'm thankful the senate shared our concerns and removed that provision. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman verves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. let me -- let me recognize the gentleman from texas for one minute, mr. doggett. mr. doggett: i thank you both for your bipartisan effort on this bill. six weeks ago today, putin began his aggression in ukraine. the next morning, representative blumenauer and i introduced legislation oto revoke normal trade relations with russia and revoke the trade agreement. on march 9, this house approved the trade prohibition, and then the house included the m magnity provisions. which the senate has weaken -- weakened.

it's taken six long weeks to approve this sanctions legislation but today it is finally done. we know that it will not immediately end the funding of the putin war machine but it is a step in the right direction. let us hope that the administration will move forward more expeditiously on getting the ukrainians every weapon they need to defend themselves, that it will mauve more fastly than this bill. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas yields back. the gentleman from massachusetts reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. brady: i'm proud to yield one minute to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. smith. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. smith: i rise today in support of h.r. 6968. i think it's been well laid out here that we could have done this some weeks ago. on march 9 when the bill originally passed. it's regrettable that speaker pelosi chose to try to add some controversial provisions that actually slowed it down.

it's high time that we come together in an action like this and i'm glad to say that as lead republican of the ways and means trade subcommittee i support this. i urge my colleagues to do the same. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: i'm prepared to close if the gentlelady -- if the gentleman is prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is is recognized. mr. brady: this bill has overwhelming support, it is time to act now. i urge passage. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. the gentleman's position was well stated. i think this legislation is power. in terms of the message it sends to the world. reinforces what we've done here over the course of the last six weeks. the house has been consistent on all of these measures from day one. and i would ask that there be a very strong and assertive vote today to send the message to a dictator in russia who is

killing innocent women and children in the streets of ukraine and at the moment he appears to be still unrestrained. with that, i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yield back. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended -- for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. brady: on that, i request the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house resolution 3-s of house resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. further proceedings are postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition? mr. neal: mr. speaker, i move to suspend the rules and concur in

senate amendment h.r. 6968, the suspending energy imports from russia act. the speaker pro tempore: we ask the clerk to report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 6968, an act to prohibit import of products from the russian federation and for other purposes, senate amendment. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. neal, and the gentleman from texas, mr. brady, each will control 20 minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. neal: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous neal theal thank you. i ask that -- mr. neal: thank you. i ask that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. neal: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. neal: i think that what we're doing here has certainly reassured ourselves on what the senate has done, which the house did originally. we strongly support the house taking swift action to concur in the senate amendment before us. so that the legislation to suspend energy imports from russia that we passed a month

ago now can move to the president's desk. we have no time to waste. as mr. brady and i have both indicated. we must immediately move to further punish vladimir putin, a ruthless dictator hell bent on destroying an independent nation that he purports to suggest doesn't really exist. that will come as a vast surprise to the civilized nations of the world. congress must do what we can to end this brutality and continue to support the ukrainian people. again, i thank kevin brady for his partnership in advancing this legislation to ban the import of russian energy, as well as our intent here, to suspend normal trade relations with russia and its enabler, belarus. these actions will further isolate putin and his regime and inflict greater pressure on the kremlin to end this campaign of terror. i know our legislation will receive broad support from our colleagues and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas is recognized.

mr. brady: yes, mr. speaker. i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. brady: mr. speaker, i join with chairman neal in urging the house to take the final legislative step only toeding the flow of -- to ending the flow of american dollars toward russian oil that acts as a treasury for russia's war machine. soon president biden will have a bill on his desk that demonstrates that we stand with the people of ukraine. as chairman neal pointed out, the ukrainian people have been waiting. the action we take today is long overdue but just as necessary. and since we first debated this bill, the horror of putin's war in ukraine has been on display for the world to see. today we will make sure this american -- make sure american dollars will no longer fund russia's war machine by blocking all russian energy imports. bill also strengthens the sanctions by ensuring that before the ban can be lifted, russia must meet try clear criteria. withdraw forces from ukraine, poses no military threat of aggression to nato and recognizes the right of the people of ukraine to

independently and freely choose their own government. this is an important bipartisan victory. there is still more we can do and should do. we should turn toward unleashing america's own ability to be energy independent, to replace russian oil with american sources, use our energy strength to wean the world from russian energy. with that, i would like to yield one minute of my time to the republican leader of the trade subcommittee, mr. smith. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from nebraska is recognized. mr. smith: thank you. i appreciate this opportunity that we can work together, the chairman, i appreciate your comments and certainly our ranking member. it's only appropriate that we move to use the key trade tools at our disposal to hold vladimir putin accountable for these atrocities that he has committed against ukraine because we know it is being felt around the world. in addition to what the people of ukraine are feeling. and i'm glad that we can act in this manner. i wish we would have done it sooner but i'm glad we can act today. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from nebraska yields back. the gentleman from texas

reserves. mr. brady: you know, yes, i do. but i would like to indicate we are prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from -- mr. neal: recognize the gentleman to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. brady: yes, mr. speaker. we strongly support that this is great bipartisan work from the house. thank you, chairman neal, and the ways and means democrats in working together with us in senate finance of the i urge strong passage -- finance. i urge strong passage in the house and with that i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized. mr. neal: thank you, mr. speaker. in. mr. ackerman: -- in acknowledgment to mr. brady and the members of the house who have stood with democrats on the unyielding position of support for the ukrainian people, on this occasion we send another message that civil ietzed people of the world are -- civilized people of the world are all ukrainians at this moment. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the question is will the house suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no.

in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, -- for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. brady: on that i request the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman requests the yeas and nays. pursuant to section 3-s of house resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings are postponed. proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed. votes will be taken in the following order. motion to suspend the rules with respect to the following, concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. and then concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20,

remaining electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. neal, to suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will please report the title. the clerk: h.r. 7108. an act to suspend normal trade relations treatment for the russian federation and the republic of belarus and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. harsh baggerrer of tennessee -- harshbarger of tennessee, i inform the house that mrs. harshbarger will vote yea on h.r. 7108. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for

what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. brooks of alabama, i inform the house that mr. brooks will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. tiffany of wisconsin, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. tiffany will vote aye on concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. gibbs of ohio, i inform the house that mr. gibbs will vote yea on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina rise? >> as the member designated by mr. wilson of south carolina, mr. wilson votes yes on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. jeffries: as the member designated by chairwoman johnson, chairman scott, chairman meeks, chairwoman maloney and representative peters, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> speaker tonko, as the member designated by mr. gohmert of the great state of texas, i inform the house that mr. gohmert will vote yea on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by representative norman from south carolina, i inform the house that mr. norman will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from georgia seek recognition? >> as the member designated by ms. clark of massachusetts and mr. cleaver of missouri, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on

concurring to the snalt amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north dakota seek recognition? mr. armstrong: thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by mr. gonzalez of ohio, i inform the house that mr. gonzalez will vote yes on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. granger, mr. mccaul, mr. crenshaw of texas, i inform the house that ms. granger, mr. mccaul, mr. crenshaw will vote yes on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition?

>> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. joyce of ohio, i inform the house that mr. joyce will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by representatives taylor, jackson, and sessions from texas, texas,

texas, i inform the house that that all of these members will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition? >> thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by mr. wenstrup from ohio, i inform the house that mr. wenstrup will vote yea on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. ryan of ohio, ms. bass of california, mr. schiff of california, mr. krishnamoorthi of illinois, and mr. suozzi of new york, i inform the house that these five members will vote yes on concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by representative kilmer of washington state i inform the house that representative kilmer will vote yes on the con -- on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. baird of indiana, i inform the house that mr. baird will vote yes on h.r.

7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. lawson of florida, mr. bowman of new york, mr. doyle of pennsylvania, and mr. mfume of maryland, vote yes on h.r. 7103. the speaker pro tempore: for

what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. barr of kentucky and mrs. wagner of missouri, they will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. huffman, i inform the house that mr. huffman will vote yes on the concurring amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by dr. gosar of arizona and mr. cawthorn of north carolina, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on the

measure. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. cardenas, mr. crist, mr. gomez, and ms. wasserman schultz, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on the concurring senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. jackson lee of texas, i inform the house that ms. jackson lee will vote yes on concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. loudermilk of georgia, mr. crawford of arkansas, mr. bilirakis of florida, mr. simpson of idaho,

mr. desjarlais of tennessee, and mr. long of missouri, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on h.r. 7108. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. kahele, i inform the house that mr. kahele will vote yes on concurring in the senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. price of north carolina, i inform the house that mr. price will vote yes, he will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. bishop of georgia, i inform the house that that the members will vote yes on the concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. mikeie sherrill, mr. donald norcross, mr. albio sires, mr. donald payne, ms. lucille roybal-allard, ms. ann

kirkpatrick, mrs. bonnie watson coleman and mr. josh gottheimer, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring to the senate amendment on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. steube of florida, i inform the house that mr. steube will vote yes on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? mr. correa: mr. speaker, as the member designated by jim cooper, henry cuellar, joaquin castro, josh harder, eric swalwell and ro khanna, i inform the house that these members vote yes on concurring on the senate amendments to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. letlow from louisiana and mr. katko from new york, i inform the house that ms. letlow and mr. katko will vote yea on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york rise? ms. velazquez: as the member designated by ms. pelosi, i

inform the house that speaker pelosi will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek re-- frompennsylvania rise? >> thank you. as the member designated by mr. thompson of pennsylvania, i inform the house that mr. thompson will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from new york rise? ms. tenney: madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. owens of utah and mr. jacobs of new york, i inform the house

that both mr. owens and mr. jacobs will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from virginia rise? ms. wexton: as the member designated by mr. mceachin, ms. porter and ms. frankel, i inform the house that these leb mebs will -- these members will vote yes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois rise? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. higgins, ms. stanberry, ms. newman and mr. levin, i hereby inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring on senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from florida rise? ms. salazar: as the member designated by mr. dunn of florida, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. dunn will vote yes on h.r. 7108. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. deutch of florida, i inform the house that mr. deutch will vote yes on the concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from oklahoma seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. van duyne, i inform the house that ms. van duyne will vote yea on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? mrs. cammack: thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by mrs. boebert of colorado, i inform the house that mrs. boebert will

vote yea on h.r. 7108.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. granger, mr. mccaul, mr. crenshaw of texas, those three members will vote yes on h.r. 7108. the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 420, the nays are 3.

2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the senate amendment is agreed to and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. neal, to suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment to h.r. 6968 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title. the clerk: h.r. 6968, an act to prohibit the importation of energy products of the russian federation and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman seek recognition? plebmen ms. pelosi, i inform the house that speaker pelosi will vote yes on concurring to the senate amendment on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. brooks of alabama, i inform the house that mr. brooks will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. huffman, i inform the house that mr. huffman will vote yes on the concurrent -- on the senate amendment to h.r. 696. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. harshbarger of tennessee, i inform the house that mrs. harshbarger will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. levin, ms. newman, mr. higgins and ms. stanberry, i inform the house that their vote

lk yes concurring on senate amendment h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition. >> thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by mr. g.t. thompson of pennsylvania, i inform the house that mr. thompson will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. mikeie sherrill, mr. donald norcross, mr. albio sires, mr. donald payne, ms. lucille roybal-allard, ms. ann kirkpatrick, ms. bonn mi watson coleman and mr. josh gottheimer, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring to the senate amendment on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. barr of kentucky, and mrs. wagner of missouri, they will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. frankel,

ms. porter and mr. mceach yip, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring to senate amendment h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition. >> as the member designated by mr. baird of indiana, i inform the house that mr. baird will vote yea on h.r. 696. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition. >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by jim cooper, henry cuellar, joaquin castro, josh harder, eric swalwell, and ro khanna, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring on senate amendments to h.r. 696. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. bilirakis of florida, mr. crawford of arkansas, mr. desjarlais of tennessee, mr. long of missouri, mr. loudermilk of georgia, and mr. simpson of idaho, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on h.r. 6968.

thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. deutch of florida, i inform the house that mr. coach will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. wilson of south carolina, mr. wilson will vote yea on h.r. 66968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from washington state seek recognition? >> as the member designated by representative kilmer of washington state, i inform the house that representative kilmer will vote yes on the -- on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. louie gohmert of the great state of texas, i inform the house that mr. gohmert will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, for the following members, mr. lawson of florida, mr. bowman of new york, mr. doyle of pennsylvania, and

mr. mfume of baltimore vote yes. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> yes, sir, mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. taylor, mr. jackson, mr. sessions of texas, and mr. norman of south carolina, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from georgia seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. cleaver of missouri, ms. clarke of -- ms. clark of massachusetts, ms. blunt rochester of delaware, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on concurring to the senate amendment on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek rein addition. >> as the member designated by mr. tiffany of wisconsin, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. toughny will vote aye on concurring to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition? >> pleb pleb mr. bishop of

georgia, i inform the house that mr. bishop will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. gibbs of ohio, i inform the house that mr. gibbs will vote yes on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. kahele, i inform the house that mr. kahele will vote yes on the "the conners" curing on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> thank you, mr. speaker. as the member designated by mrs. boebert of colorado, i inform the house that mrs. boebert will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition is. >> as the member designated by mr. price of north carolina, i inform the house that mr. price will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 696. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member

designated by mr. steube of florida, i hereby inform the house that mr. steube will vote yes on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. ms. jackson leaf texas, i inform the house that ms. jackson lee will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. granger, mr. mccaul and mr. crenshaw of texas, i inform the house that those three members will be voting yes on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. schiff of california, ms. bass of california, mr. krishnamoorthi of illinois, mr. suozzi of new york, mr. doggett of texas, i inform the house that these members will vote yes on con corning the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from oklahoma seek recognition?

>> mr. speaker, as the member designated by ms. van duyne, i inform the house that ms. van duyne will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. crist, mr. cardenas, mr. gomez and ms. wasserman schultz, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on the concurring with the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. dunn of florida, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. dunn will vote yes on h.r. 6968. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. ryan of ohio, i inform the house that mr. ryan will vote yes on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. cawthorn of north carolina, i inform the house that mr. cawthorn will vote yea on the measure. as the member designated by

dr. gosar of arizona, i inform the house that dr. gosar will vote nay on the measure. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> as the member designated by chairwoman eddie bernice johnson, chairman meeks, chairman scott, chairwoman maloney and representative scott peters, i inform the house that these members will vote yea on concurring on the senate amendment to h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. owens of utah, i inform the house that mr. owens will vote yea on h.r. 6968. and as the member designated by mr. jacobs of new york, i inform the house that mr. jacobs will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. joyce of ohio, i inform the house that mr. joyce will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. katko and

mr. curtis from new york and utah, and ms. let'slow from louisiana, i inform the house that all three will vote yea on h.r. 6968. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north dakota seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. gonzales of ohio, i inform the house that mr. gonzales will vote yes on h.r. 6968. e

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 413. the nays are 9. 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the senate amendment is agreed to and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask to have my

name removed as a co-sponsor of h.r. 1297. the speaker pro tempore: the request is accepted. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will now entertain

requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. langevin: madam speaker, this is an important week for the future of american diplomacy, especially as it relates to cyber security. an open, interoperable and secure internet is foundational to u.s. foreign policy and national security in the 21st century but this vision faces a greater challenge than ever before. cyber security absolutely must become a core foreign policy priority of the united states and this week we have take and major step forward in that regard. on monday, the bureau of -- the

department of state formally launched the bureau of cyberspace and digital policy. on the international stage this bureau will lead u.s. standards to uphold behaviors in cyberspace, shape digital standards that govern new technologies and protect digital freedoms around the world. i congratulate secretary blinken and deputy secretary sherman on this significant accomplishment. i look forward to working with my comeegs to ensure this new bureau receives the funding it needs to accomplish its mission. i also look forward to enshrining this in statute to ensure its long-term viability and the preservation of cyber security as a key foreign policy priority for coming decades. thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from mr. carter: i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized for one minute.

mr. carter: madam speaker i rise today to remember the life and service of a true patriot bill ramsar. bill attended baylor university in 1959 and graduated with majors in history and religion. upon graduation bill proceed to naval officer candidate school and assigned to an aircraft carrier. bill served as a radio officer in the communications department during his time aboard the ship. his ship was meeting his future wife. and obtained his master's agree and joined arthur andersen and company. bill worked as an accountant for 30 years before he and gloria relocated to st. simons island.

he was a member of the sons of the american revolution chapter and performed for thousands of local students and participated in the goalen isles. thank you, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recog recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> madam speaker, we have seen the horrific images coming out of bucha where civilians are left lying in the streets by russian forces. bucha recount family members being raped. but we know this horrific brutality is occurring

throughout ukraine in every region where the russian army is positioned. it is difficult to find words to express the unacceptable brutality that the videos from bucha has laid evidence of. president putin has cemented himself in history as an evil war criminal. i would like to have a brief moment of silence to remember these families and victims realizing that historically in this 21st century, this is the test of our time and the world is watching. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentlewoman is recognized

for one minute. ms. kaptur: i rise today to support congress' bipartisan approval of harsher sanctions on vad mere putin and vicious enablelers we all support suspending trade relations and destabilizing the russian economy. the nations of the free world have an obligation to stand up resolutely against the tyranny and murder being unleashed. let liberty lovers continue arming ukraine's defenders. let free nations send them the equipment they need and civil nations continue to isolate this criminal and rogue state. the murder of innocent men and women and children cannot be tolerated. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recog

recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> today we found out that weekly jobless claims are the lowest since 1968 and if you look at this month the unemployment claims are the lowest. president biden have done an amazing job on job cry eying. last 14 points, 7.4 million jobs were created. jobs are up, wages are up, growth is up and unemployment is down. what are republicans doing? i don't know, but last month, two republicans spoke at a white nationalist conference and today we learn that republican paul goes air is going to attend a

white nationalist bash to celebrate hitler's birthday and listed as a guest speaker at this bash. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does gentleman seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. >> it has been 41 days since putin's invasion on ukraine that means 2600 civilian casualties and four million scrambling to the aid of e.u. after watching bloodshed, the biden administration came to their senses and gave assi assistance. 25 days days of fear. this is 1, 81 ukranian citizens

no longer breathing. silence speaks louder than action. after striking down a deal with poland to add mig 21 planes, he has provided military assistance. president biden delayed sanctions on russian oil after much pressure from the house. therefore, it ruined any chances against putin's aggression. these actions have been shown on the world stage. we need to bring ukranian people the help they deserve. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> i want you to imagine a world where the republican that sounds

crazy, right? that is what happened when trump threaten to remove troops from saudi arabia unless they cut oil production. they are a function of global supply and demand and when the president pressures another country to slash supply, oil and profits surge. that is what happened in april of 2020. the g.o.p. praised trump approach, more than 50 wrote a letter to the saudi prince demanding he cut. they wanted higher oil company profits and forced a reduction in supply. those same republicans who pressured to cut prices are berating president biden for using the strategic petroleum reserve to boost supply.

why would a party that fought to raise oil prices fight to raise them again. given a choice between your wallet, they will take the subsidies. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. without objection. >> i rise in support of the restaurant rehave it lization fund that included an amendment to prohibit the funds going to business. this simple change will make sure that our valuable federal dollars are being used to support businesses who do right by their workers and not those who rip off their work and steal their labor.

a thriving restaurant industry is good for everyone. but the workers make the businesses who they are today and they made it through this awful and continued pandemic. we cannot leave those workers and we are making clear if you cheat or ex ploat your employees, the federal government will not do business with you. as i continue to end wage theft and expand the powers of our workers, i thank chairwoman velazquez and dean phillips. i urge the senate to take this bill up and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. >> madam speaker, restaurants are a driving force in florida's

tourism industry. the sales plummeted during the pandemic. the fund helped over 100,000 restaurants, bars and other small businesses and the food and bench services sector kept doors open and staff employed. this program's limited funding failed to support 2/3 of the eligible businesses that applied. yearly 200,000 small businesses have been left behind and now four out of five of these restaurants and bars are in danger of closing permanently. i urge my colleagues to vote in favor relief for restaurants and other hard-hit businesses of 2020. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair appoints the following conferees on h.r. 4521.

the clerk: committee on energy and commerce for consideration of the house bill and senate amendment, mr. pallone, mrs. eshoo, schakowsky, tonko, mr. soto, mrs. carter, duncan and from the committee on foreign affairs of the house bill and the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference messers. meeks, deutch, ms. bass, mrs. houlahan, jacobs of california, mr. kinzinger, mccaul, chabot and ms. kim from the committee on science base and technology consideration of the house bill and senate amendment and

modifications committed to conference, mrs. johnson of texas, mr. bera, ms. stevens, bowman, foster, babin and garcia of california. from the committee on ways and means for consideration of the house bill and senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, neal, blumenauer, davis of illinois, ms. delbene, kildee, gomez, buchanan, lahood and mrs. miller of west virginia. from the committee on agriculture for consideration of section # 10407, title 15 of division h and division p of the house bill and 22 and 2511 of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, mr. daiched scott of georgia, ms. opinion agree and mr. thompson of pennsylvania. for consideration of sections

10001, 20, 221, 711 zero four of house bill and secretaries 1002, 2118, 2217, 22402 of subject title c of title 1 of division d of the senate amendment and modifications, mr. norcross, mse committee on education and labor, title 13 and 14 of division 8 and titles 1 through 5 of division j of the house bill and sections 2507, 2509, 3138, subject title c of title 1 of division d and b and c of division f of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, mr. scott of virginia, morelle yes and ms. foxx.

for consideration of sections 10001, 302, division g, sections 110 and 110004 of the house bill and sections 1002, 313219e3405, 5103, 52 through 04 and 5212 of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference mrs. waters, ms. waters, forward see ya of texas and mr. barr. for homeland security of division f of the house bill and subtitle c of title 1, sections 4203, 4204, 4207, subtitle 2 of division d of the senate amendment modifications committed to conference,

ms. titus, mrs. demings and mr. guest. from the committee on the judiciary for consideration of sections 30001, 30-303, 30-306, 30-312, 30-318, 61403, 61411, 61414, 71102, 8102, 8103 and sections-6 of division e, section 90104 and sections 3302, 3304, 3313, 4492, 4494 through 96, 52-02 and title of division f of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, mr. nadler, ms. scanlon and mr. tiffany from the committee -- tiffany. from the committee of natural resources for consideration of

sections 70-101, section 71-111-118. titles 2-12 of division 8 and titles 15 through 19 of division eight of the house bill and sections 2507 and 2518 of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, mernses grijalva -- messrs. grijalva, raul. subtitle e of title 2 of division d, title 2 of division d. cube titles a and b, sections 4493, 5202 through 04 and 73003 of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, ms. carolyn b. maloney of new york, messrs. khanna hah in a and

comer. sections 5107 and division r of the house bill modifications committed to conference, ms. velazquez, davis of kansas and mr. fitzgerald. from the committee on transportation and infrastructure, for consideration of section 70-121 subtitle c of title 1 of division h, division hl and division s of the house bill and sections 25-07, 4114 and 4116 of the senate amount modifications committed to conference, messrsd crawford from the committee on veterans affairs for consideration of subtitle c of division d of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, messrs. the speaker pro tempore: the senate will be note noifd conferrees. the chair would inform the house that pursuant to house

resolution 1037, the speaker has cert fidded to the united states attorney the refusal of peter k. navarro and daniel scavino jr. for refusal to provide documents or appear before the committee as directed by subpoena. under the speaker's announced policy of january 4, 2021, the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. grothman is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mr. gratman -- mr. grothman: thank you, i'd like to yield my first five minutes to the gentleman from tennessee. >> i thank the gentleman for yielding. madam speaker, i rides today to honor the chattanooga bar association on reaching the milestone of its 125th anniversary. since 1897, the chattanooga bar association has made it its mission to work for the betterment of the legal profession and the

administration of justice, to take an active interest in governmental affairs, to stimulate a feeling of respect, esteem and good fellowship among members of the chattanooga bar association and to provide and promote legal education of the legal community and the public at large. mr. flishman: during its 125 years the chattanooga bar association has produced many outstanding members who have shaped the history of tennessee and our nation. j.b. frazier was a member of the board of directors during the first five dwhreefers c.b.a.'s existence and is the only that the knew embayen elected govern -- the only chute knew gayn elected governor of the state of tennessee. estes keyfar behr served as

president and vice president of the association before being elected to serve as the third district congressman, the seat which i presently hold. he then went on to the united states senate and made two bids for the democratic presidential nomination before being selected as adlai stephenson's voopt nominee during the 1956 presidential election. i'm extremely proud myself to have been a member of the chattanooga bar association since i began my law practice as a young man in 1986. in 1996, i became the youngest person to serve as the 99th president of the chat dmeu gay bar association and hon -- an honor that is still near and dear to my heart. through the its 125 years, the chattanooga bar association has showed our community, state, and the nation the best of what it means to be a lawyer, practice law, and pursue equal justice

for all. i am proud to recognize and honor the chattanooga bar association as they celebrate their 100 -- their 125th anniversary. i congratulate the c.b.a. and wish them much continued success in the future. thank you, madam speaker, i yield back. mr. grothman: thank you. thank you, i'd like to yield a half-hour to my friend from texas. >> i thank the gentleman from wisconsin for yielding time and will continue to engage in that and with the permission of the gentleman from wisconsin i'd like to ask that he would also yield time to the gentleman from virginia to engage in colloquy. mr. grothman: very good. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin controls the time.

mr. roy: understood. i appreciate the time from the gentleman from wisconsin and his commitment to fighting to change this town which unfortunately too many of our colleagues are unwilling to do. and glad to have the -- my friend from virginia here as well. you know, yesterday we had a -- we had a interesting exchange in the house judiciary committee and we had a number of different conversations about the issue of the ongoing threat at our border. i know that my friend from virginia also was down here on the floor of the house last night where he had a continued conversation about the ongoing threat at the southern board over the united states. i would imagine that -- i should use the microphone, i think that's what i imagine. i would imagine that the people that i represent and the people of the state of texas would be horrified if they all got to see

what i see every day in the exchange with my colleagues here in this body about what's actually happening at our border. what do i mean by that? yesterday i had an exchange with the chaim of the house judiciary committee because i was acknowledging in the context of a debate we were having about opening up visa waivers for the united states virgin islands that those kieppedz of waivers have been abused in guam and other territories of the united states. we were questioning, wait a second, why are we going to open up visa waivers while our border is wide open? i pointed out the abuses that are happening at our order, the abuses that are happening in texas. i specifically talked about the sexual abuses, the rape, the tragedy of what is occurring to little girls and people on the journey and in particular in texas. when they cross the southern border. because of the hands of the dangerous cartels. and the -- i said this at the time. that the committee chairman kind of scoffed. wasn't the first time i had seen

some of my colleagues scoff with respect to the perspectives that we are offering about what we see every day and the conversations we have with people on the ground. so what i think it merits conversation here on the floor of the house is on behalf of the american people, and i want to get the gentleman from virginia's perspective on this, on behalf of the american people that we represent, people of the commonwealth of virginia, people of the state of texas, the many people we represent, that we're trying to articulate for a body of representatives of those people that their lives are being impacted and harmed by virtue of the refusal of this administration and frackly many of the people of -- frankly many of the people of this chamber to secure the boarder of the united states. and in very short outline form,

that comes in the form of empowered cartels, dangerous individuals crossing our border, be they criminals or be they terrorists -- terrorist members, spokes from -- folks from state sponsors of terror. it comes in the form of dangerous fentanyl and narcs coming into our community, poisoning our family, poisoning our young, killing people in schools. it comes in the form of physical property damage to ranchers, business owners, people dealing with the dangerous flow coming across the border. it comes in the form of economic impacts and devastation. it comes that the form of, for example, the town of uvalde, texas, where you have 100 a day being dropped off, they have to deal with, what do we do? do we ship them to san antonio? what do we do with our school, with our hospitals? it comes in the form of danger because border patrol can't

monitor the border and people come in, known gotaway, and then it comes in the form of having criminals that exist in the united states that aren't being prosecuted because allegedly we don't have bed space but really we're not allowing i.c.e. to do its job. so you have for example 25,000 prosecutions last year as opposed to something like 250,000 at the peak of the trump administration. i could go on and on and on. my point is, there's a direct consequence and direct harm to the american people, dead americans, dead migrants, fentanyl pouring in, increased substance abuse, empowerment of cartel, empowerment of china, and this is happening on a daily basis and getting worse and finally now we're being told, even as the speaker of the house, the speaker of the house, has covid, and even as we're talking about look at the top

stories in politico, oh my gosh, everybody is running around, covid positive people in d.c., even as all that is occurring, even as the extension of the proxy voting fraud which it is occurring in the house of representatives, by fraud i mean that half of this body or more is signing up and sitting up at the podium every day saying i'm not voting because of covid, signing documentation, and we know the vast majority it has nothing to do with covid. >> so in addition to showing up here or not showing up here to do the job that your constituents sent you here to do, they're lying about the reason they're not here. mr. roy: the form -- i've never proxy voted. >> same here. mr. roy: there's some sort of form and you sign the form and in that language you say due to the covid emergency or something to that effect, i don't want to

misrepresent the exapt legal lag wag, due to the covid emergency i cannot be here to vote. so i'm allowing so and so colleague to vote for me. >> i've been tempted to interrupt to ame -- allow me to offer a prayer for the healing and recovery of the dozens of members of congress who are not at work and apparently too sick from covid to show up and do their job. mr. roy: given that we have lines and lynns of people voting by proxy, given that we have the speaker of the house having covid, given that politico is writing stories about covid's impacting the swamp, given that you have to wear a mask on airplanes, given that we're continuing to require members of our military to get a needle stuck in their arm opotentially lose their job -- or potentially lose their job, given that we're continue to require workers like border patrol that they get a need until their arm or lose their job, then comes along the

infinite wisdom of the c.d.c. director and head of h.h.s., secretary mayorkas, let's get rid to have title 42, the literal only thing actually being used to enforce the border and stop half the flow of people coming across our border. >> that's why we are getting rid of it, because it has been used to turn back illegal immigrants. mr. roy: is the scwhelt aware of this, >> al couple of months ago, biden town and haitian immigrants gathered under the bridge and thank you for leading that trip and thank you for allowing us to do this and congressman roy, but you had the 20,000 illegal haitian gathered in biden town under the bridge. they weren't concerned that they were coming into the country illegally but the image and

embarrassment under biden evilage there and wanted to distribute them as quickly as they could to -- remember at first they tried to keep the media from coming it and they bussed them. and few a flew back to haiti. i learned it that day there is 1,000 a day coming through that corridor. that is a fraction coming along arizona, new mexico, california and of course, texas, but this president's policies now, what's the response, double and triple that by rescinding title 42. mr. roy: does the gentleman remember that we stood at the river in del rio and we were there at the spot where many

thousands of haitians had crossed last september, the gentleman remember that? is the gentleman aware whether or not the secretary of homeland security or the white house secretary, jen psaki quickly environs route to a deal with msnbc, president biden or any member of the administration that went to the microphones and accused border patrol agents of whipping human beings in the river? are you aware of any of those individuals apologizing to them and ensuring they are reposted in their jobs? mr. good: matter of fact, the president and vice president tige have never been to the border to see what is happening. you led one of the trips.

i have been to the if border four times so i could see better and experience in person the crisis at the border to see the human toll, see the environmental toll and exactly see what that was happening with their border patrol officers who are on the front line trying to do their jobs despite the efforts of this administration, putting their lives literally at risk. the previous time i was in arizona, there was a shooting of a border patrol officer while i was there and we have the department ofhomeland security secretary smearing, demeaning his own employees knowing full well that's a lie and leading those horses that they do and trying to protect us, american citizens from what is happening at the border.

mr. roy: i think the gentleman is correct neither the president or the vice president have been at the border at spots where it matters. the vice president did take a trip where she hospitalized through el paso and met with a number of folks away from the border and went to the border for a quick photo and hospitalized on a plane. i believe that transpired sometime last year, never to del rio or meeting with people down on the river, never to laredo or talk to the people that are being affected, either neither the border czar and the secretary of homeland security has been there a couple of times and when attending, i do not believe was received particularly well by the line border patrol. mr. good: they say they want to

identify what the root causes are. the root causes of the massive surge across our border, the invasion at our border is the cessation of the trump policies that were working, enhancement of catch and release practice, it is stopping building the wall and it's promising amnesty in an open border. that's why they were coming with their biden t-shirts and not mandating e-verify. it's allowing individuals to be aapprehended and free health care education and to be flown wherever they want to go around the country with no specific court date to have their case heard. i want to compliment your

governor, i hope he will follow through on that, he announced yesterday that he is going to bus these illegal aliens to washington, d.c., so our democrat administration who is facilitating at our southern border can accommodate these illegal aliens. i call on my governor from virginia and other governors to do the same thing. mr. roy: i appreciate the observation by what the governor of tech as is having to do to stand up in order to protect texans in the absence of the federal government to do deal with immigration. i would note that the governor, the legislature has appropriated $3 billion. i don't know when we will get

bade back. we are border state. texas funded $3 billion and used that to take our d.p.s. agents and troopers and move them down to the border to back up border patrol and meeting with d.p.s. and has now been engaging in policy and building fences and other stuff and you have a policy shift where there is some action with respect to vehicle inspection at ports of environs try. i applaud that, i would support the governor shutting down i-35. i would shut down the port of environs try. my colleagues, you like your cheap goods from mexico while we have high inflation, guess what? i-35 is shut down. shut down until you secure the border of the united states.

i appreciate the governor's step is a step in that direction saying we are going to have vehicle inspection and i hope they are long and slow. i hope they cover every car from beginning to end. using boats and having some sort ability to deter crossing, some plan to do that. i hope it is sincere and robust and the third part of what you mentioned, taking some of those that are dumped off by border patrol putting them on a bus. i support that. a couple of caveats. there is one metric and one metric alone that i will hold everyone accountable to, the president of the united states accountable, stop the flow now. that is your job. that is your duty under the constitution. that is what the law requires you to do.

that is why we have we have laws on the books requiring you to follow the legal processes. do not allow the false name of the compassion as a rule to swallow the constitutional duty to secure the border and i would give the same speech to the governor and my colleagues to the legislature in texas, you have a duty to secure the border and under article 4, there is an invasion and the federal government not doing its job, you have a duty to hold the line. that is the actions of the united states. and i think the gentleman would agree. mr. good: i have never seen a democrat there. i have had border patrol from texas state police, sheriffs, law enforcement who is working there and arizona as well tell me they never see democrats at

the border. we only need 7 democrats to join our discharge petition to maintain title 42. but can't get one democrat, one majority member. one would hope texas, arizona, new mexico and california and just in the state of texas that we would get democrats to say don't mess with texas and going to join our fellow republicans and support texas' efforts and do what the federal government will not do and protect the state from invasion. mr. roy: i appreciate my friend from virginia pointing this out. we are sitting here on april 7 -- couple of good friends -- mr. good: happy birthday to my brother steve.

mr. roy: but i sit here on april 7, it was a year ago almost to the day and look at the date of the filing of our discharge petition that i filed on behalf of us who wanted to do and representative herrell to require title 42 that allows you to turn people away because of communicable diseases and had a bill she filed last february. a month into the administration, but we knew full well what was happening, because immigrants were showing up at the border with joe biden t-shirts and thank you, president biden t shirts. we knew that the members of this chamber and the administration would say, oh, well, i don't know if we need to use title 42

enforcement. because frankly we knew they would be fine with a flood across our border. so we filed a discharge petition of that bill. i want a little history here for one minute. we introduced that discharge petition and members like to fight for freedom and get on that discharge right away and then there was a slide for the better part of the of year. we tried it in the summer to get it to 75. went on "tucker carlson," suddenly that list grew to 125. we went back on "tucker" and suddenly that number grew to 160 and got it up to 195 and then stalled. two weeks ago when all of the title 40 news started breaking that the c.d.c. director and the

department ofhomeland security secretary, we aren't going to do title 42 anymore, i knew it was a thing a year ago. you have been to the border four times. i live 100 miles from the border, or my district is 100 miles. and now we got 210, give or take one or two signatures, all republicans, not one democratic colleague has set to sign it. yet there are four democratic senators, senator manchin, senator mark kelly, senator sinema and senator tester have said we shouldn't get rid of title 42. can you explain one member from a border state will not sign

that discharge petition? mr. good: use your imagination, if this president was doing everything else right and some of his policies were working, what he is allowing to happen at the border. never in the history of the country done more to intentionally to harm the united states. so it is no wonder that not one democrat will join us in standing up for border security. how did that become an issue. but as you know, i can share what i said. i asked him, what's the end game? here we're going to take it from 7,000 a day and estimated 18,000 a day, that means every three days you will have the equivalent population, 56,000 people in three days and have

that many illegal border crossings and in my hometown lynchburg virginia, we had a murder conviction of ms-13 who came across the border illegally that every town is a border town and every state is a border state. i appreciate you leading on this issue so consistently and specifically, you helped lead that letter that we sent to leadership of the house and the senate on the republican side, just two or three-weeks ago saying no republican, no republican should support any government funding that does not secure the border.what did we de potential leverage that was before us if all republicans would refuse to fund a government that doesn't secure the border? mr. roy: like any good

republican conference, we did nothing. we did nothing. we let the moments of leverage just pass right on by and did nothing. and yet i sat here on the floor while i had some of my republican leadership and colleagues saying we, got all this great stuff. can you believe what we got? we have the hyde amendment. you're supposed to get the hyde amendment. it's been law for 35 years. just because democrats say they're not going it use it, don't worry, we got the hyde amendment, and then you pat yourself on the back. >> $1.6 trillion. less than 1% of which was for ukraine's support. some of course justified their vote for that because it supported ukraine. so 99% of the bill had nothing to do with ukraine. and yet 54 republicans, 1/4 of our body, voted against that $1.6 trillion spending. with no leverage, no concessions, nothing really gained. we didn't secure the border. we didn't end the vaccine mandates we didn't unleash american energy independence. mr. roy: $100 billion of

plussed-up spending. $14 billion for ukraine without a single debate here on the floor of the house about how much money we should spend, what we should get out of it. no change to the mandate of vaccines being stuck in the arms of our men and women in uniform and border patrol or the requirements of health care workers no change on border security. none. no requirements whatsoever on border security. that's not getting a win. and now here we sit. the gentleman raising an important question. we got maybe five minutes to be respectful of our friend from wisconsin -- mr. good: who also didn't vote for that bad bill, by the way. mr. roy: correct. he understands what the swamp is all about i would just say the gentleman brought up the impact -- i think it's one of the most important things we can say here in closing. you brought up the impact in lynchburg, virginia. ok. people think this is just a border issue. i come down here because of texas. yeah, we're taking it on the chifnlt i have ranchers who are crying. i have -- chin. i have ranchers who are crying. i have people who are victims of crime. i have my grants in my district who have abused.

all because of the false theme of compassion of open borders. and we have to sit back and we have to find dead bodies of my grants on ranches, get a morgue brought down to put 115 dead bodies in one county. and my democratic colleagues are like, whatever. who cares. it's just some problem we just got to deal with. and that's the reality. but it stretches throughout the country. if the gentleman will oblige, if he agrees with these numbers, we're looking at about a million illegal encounters in just six months of this year. we have seen six times as many daily apprehensions since mayorkas took office. in march alone there were 97,000 southern border encounters. of those -- through half the month. of those, 51% were removed under title 42. so it tells you, half are being removed for title 42 and they're about to end it. mayorkas used a title 42 for the basis of almost every one of those removals. what will it look like this past year without title 42?

title 42 has been used, i think the gentleman will agree, more than 1.7 million times during this pandemic. mr. good: two years. mr. roy: under secretary mayorkas, d.h.s. received more than 2.2 million encounters and everyone who wasn't turned away under title 42 were released. 700,000 releases last year. now, what about this? in fiscal year 2001, border patrol encountered 10,700 criminal noncitizens. 3,662 have been arrested thus far in 2022. the combined time frames include roughly 85 convictions of manslaughter or homicide. 604 sexual offenses. almost 3,000 conviction of illegal drug possession. based on reports, at least 14 who were on the terrorist watch list. in just the first five months of fiscal 2022, border patrol encountered 525,000 people other than mexico. in just the first five months of

fiscal year 2022, border patrol encountered 421 chinese nationals. russia in just the first five months of fiscal year 2022 border patrol encountered 7,191 russians at the southwest border. i say all that to say this. when we don't secure our border when we turn border patrol into a processing organization, we leave our borders wide open forgotaways. and then -- for gotaways. then we have dangerous narcotics and fentanyl pouring into our communities and we have people dying and we have gangs. can the gentleman speak to the deaths and the gangs and the crime and the impact in virginia? 1,500 miles away from where we're even talking about. mr. good: the illegal drugs pouring in across the country, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs at record levels, is the reason why we had 100,000 overdose deaths a year ago in this country, 2021. number one cause of death for individuals between 18 and 45.

it was not covid. it was overdoses. as -- on the border trips i've been on, couple those with you, when you meet with the folks who live there, who live on the front lines and they talk about these illegals, they'll find the camos. once they get picked up by their crime cartel contact and picked up to go wherever they want to go here in the country, you find the carpet shoes and the camos left behind. you also find -- you'll have those folks who live there tell you they're coming onto their property, they're knocking on their door, they're threatening them, they're making demands of them. these folks who live on the border, again, they're finding dead bodies. in the previous trip i was on in arizona, they said they apprehended 30 chinese nationals on their property. to your point, 160 different countries. not just central and south america, as if that wasn't enough. but to your point, 160 different countries. every town is a board town, every state a border state.

it's a dereliction of duty on behalf of this president's administration and it's a threat to the national security of our country, to the sovereignty of our country, to the health security of our country. to the financial security of our country. and i appreciate your leadership on this issue. mr. roy: i thank the gentleman from virginia. i'm at just over 29 minutes so i'll tell the gentleman from wisconsin that i'm going to wind down here in the next minute. and appreciate his time, his leadership, his indulgence. i also want to thank the speaker and the staff for being here. while we're continuing to talk about this important topic. i'll just close by saying this is a massive national security issue. this is a massive issue of the most important relevance to the safety and well-being of the people that we represent. why this body is not engaged in just a complete and full and robust review, hearings, oversight and legislation to ensure that we protect the sovereignty of the united states and enforce the laws of the

united states is beyond me. the people's house has an obligation. article 1 has an obligation to check article 2 and to demand that those executing the laws actually do so. i would just respectfully submit to the speaker and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, when are we going to do our job? how many dead my grants found on ranches is enough? how many dead americans from fentanyl overdoses, fentanyl poisonings, to be more accurate, is enough? how much money flowing into the hands of dangerous cartel organizations, transnational organizations, turning mexico into a narco terrorist state, is enough? how much do we have to suffer as a people in this country, as a state in texas, but again, the migrants who seek to come here, getting sold into sex trafficking trade, getting abused and dying in the heat along the southern border. how much of that do we have to tolerate before my colleagues on

the other side of the aisle wake up? with that, i will yield back to the gentleman from wisconsin with great appreciation for all that he does in representing his constituents and for his indulgence. mr. grothman: thank you very much. i'd now like to address several issues today and maybe give it a little bit different spin or a little different observation than people are getting from some of the other congressmen. i was glad today to vote to suspend normal trade relations with russia. and hopefully to reduce the number of oil import we're getting from that country. every day you cannot help but be touched with reports from the ukraine and what is going on to the civilians there. nevertheless, i'm a little bit concerned of the public statements coming out of washington in that i believe we should all be working to end

this war and wind up with a free ukraine. nevertheless, to end this war we will eventually have get to the bargaining table -- have to get to the bargaining table and i'm afraid that statements being made by both sides will make it more difficult to reach an end result. and the sooner the war ends, the more lives of ukrainian choops will be saved, the more -- troops will be saved. the more lives of ukrainian civilians will be saved and, quite frankly, more lives of russian troops will be saved. to negotiate a final deal, both sides must realize or respect that deal and both sides must feel that they came out of the negotiation with something. it scarce me, i sure hope we're not in the current position we

are right now three or four months from now. so i would encourage all of my colleagues and also the president of the united states when he makes public statements to ask himself or themselves, are we getting closer to ending this war by my statements or are we not getting closer to ending this war? i sometimes feel and i spos politicians always think about -- spos politicians -- suppose politicians always think about political statements, but i feel like sometimes statements are made for effect rather than the serious goal of ending this conflict. i would also like to follow up on what's going on the border and the daing that are we may soon end -- danger that we may soon end title 42. while what's going on in seuk

important, the most important thing that goes on is at the border. we all know around the time president biden took office, about 20,000 people a month and sometimes well under 20,000 people a month were crossing the border. for a variety of reasons, the major one which i think the current administration isn't really thrilled about enforcing our laws, we've gone from having under 20,000 to 80,000 to 100,000 people a month cross our southern border. people who are not vetted. people we in many cases would not want people here under any circumstances. there is a danger that in may that in 80,000 to 100,000 figure is going to jump to 400,000 or 500,000 people a month. people not being vetted, people coming from all around the globe. i will be there next week and when you get down there and you

talk to the border patrol, you'll find people not only coming from mexico but more people from central america. people from the caribbean. people from south america. people from sub-saharan africa people from eastern europe. people from countries that are currently hostile to us being waved through after they get a minimum. a paperwork -- amount of paperwork. we do not need to increase that to 300,000 or 400,000 or 500,000 people a month. the last time i was down there i noticed that there were a lot of photo i.d.'s from people from central america, south america being thrown away before they checked in. what does that tell you? it means people don't want us to know about their past. they're running away from their past. as they enter our country. i remember the statement of john adams, our constitution is only fit for a moral and religious people. we have to make sure we're

getting a moral group of people crossing our southern border. not to mention we have to make sure we're getting people who respect our laws. we right now let in over -- or swear in over 800,000 people from around the world every year. that's fine. they're appropriately vetted. i encourage all citizens to watch as people come here legally and are sworn in. our economy cannot accept another 400,000 and we know a given number of these people perhaps have a criminal background and are not going to help our country. not to mention no country as successful as ours can accept an unlimited number of people. we are not prepared for them. they have not been adequately trained in the way of the american ideals, the importance of our constitution, why we have our constitution. furthermore, having been down there, the more people you let

in, the more it strengthens the mexican drug gangs and those gangs make $3,000 or $5,000 or $9,000 or $20,000 per person who comes across here. we are strengthening their power. we're makingle them -- making them wealthy. why would we want to expand the current fiasco south of the border? last time i was down there the border patrol last time i was down there they told us about gangs between mexican and chinese. how do they get here? they cross the border illegally. is it good to have warfare between mexican and chinese gangs? that's what we're getting more and more. our poor, underappreciated border patrol, more shots d directly at them. and what does the administration do? rather than strengthen the

border, we proposed legislation giving them free college, college that american citizens have to go $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 in debt to get. rather than hire more border patrol to enforce the border, we -- it's the same psychological problem that looks at, say, a city of milwaukee that's approaching 200 deaths a year, homicides a year, and say we have to investigate the police or we have to make it easier to sue the police. that same mind set at the southern border says we have 100,000 people here that shouldn't come here every month, i know what we'll do, we'll hire more people to investigate the border patrol to make sure they are not doing anything wrong. they think the border patrol is the bad people. another problem -- and i don't know if this occurred to

president biden or his advisors. i don't know if you wanted a war in ukraine but i don't believe that war would have started if we wouldn't have had an open border policy. how do you think countries like iran or china or russia make of us having an open border and not enforcing our border laws? normal countries don't do that. they think it's because we have such a weak president who will never do anything. it invites trouble. i felt for two years this policy -- year and a half, that the open borders policy was inviting mischief and that's what we have now, mischief that i don't believe would have happened had we tried to enforce our border laws. please, mr. president, keep title 42. fire the vice president from her position as border czar. that's another problem we have. you put somebody in charge of

the border who is almost an international joke -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will suspend momentarily. mr. grothman: sure. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house an enrolled bill. the clerk: h.r. 698, an act to prohibit the importation of energy products from russia and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman may proceed. mr. grothman: as mentioned, next week i will go and tour part of the border in san diego and yuma. i've been in many other parts in the past. but i go down there to learn more directly from the border patrol. as is common from all agencies, you learn a lot more from the people doing the work than the bureaucrats at the top. and i look forward to coming back and reporting whatever grim statistics i gather from talking about the border patrol and their suggestions to save our

country. i hope all americans listening and paying attention are contacting their representatives and senators about what's going on the border. i personally believe one of the reasons that president biden is threatening to remove title 42 is because the news is dominated with what's going on in the ukraine and now is the time you could get away with really opening the floodgates. but if we're going to save our country, we have to enforce the borders like we would in any normal country. by the way, an excuse for opening title 42 is saying that they feel that the covid is no longer a threat. if you look over 500 people a day on most days are dying of the covid. it is still a problem. they right now, at least last time i was down there, they didn't feel they had the legal

ability to test people as to whether or not they had the covid. so as long as that situation's out there, i beg you to keep title 42 in place. it's bad enough having 80,000 to 100,000 people crossing here every month who we have not vetted. the next crisis that i'd like to address today is an ongoing crisis. it's been a problem for -- in this country for 50 years but i think things keep getting worse. and that is the decline in what black lives matter would refer to as the western traditional family. again and again, bills are introduced around here to provide benefits and the traditional nuclear family is let out of those benefits. be it an increased in the earned income tax credit, be it flooding more money into the low-income housing, increases in food share, increases in pell

grants, increases in childcare, all of these programs -- i'd say an average -- not normal -- an average married couple are not eligible for because in the traditional family, at least one parent, and sometimes two are working. in order for it to be eligible for these programs, you have to put yourself in a position in which you are considered in poverty. and if you're in poverty, you're eligible for governmental assistance. i had a woman in my district who had two children who were both $30,000, $40,000 in debt from going to college complain why did her sister get free college for her kids while -- for their kids while her kids are stuck paying off their debt? she was proud of her children.

she was proud they were current on their student loans. but it didn't seem to her right that her niece, who was raised in a nontraditional family or what -- the black lives matter would consider a traditional family. her niece got free college paid for by the federal government where her kids had to work to pay off the student loans. i hope in the future, as we dole more money out of this place we stop discriminating against and shohei tread toward the -- show hatred toward the traditional american family. i hope they don't -- they could get benefits they wouldn't get if they got married. i'll put some statistics out on snap benefits. between 1996 and 2016, a 20-year

gap, the number of people on snap -- and these are both years in which the economy is doing well so i'm comparing apples to apples. the number of people on the snap jumped up from about 25,000 to 44,000. taking those two years, about a 50% to 60% increase in the number of people on snap. now, we have to make sure people can eat, and i realize all people can go through a tough time in their life. they're some people that may have mental problems and such that makes it very difficult to hold a job. but when you have a 50% to 60% increase in 20 years on the number of people who've arranged their life that they're eligible for snap, people better wake up. because we are destroying the traditional family in america.

and i hope in the future the majority party, as they put together more budgets or if the republicans ever get the majority, when they get the majority, that they begin to look at this problem. it's not a new problem that gets pressed like a surge at the border will get press or a disaster in kyiv will get press. but it's an ongoing problem as we eat away at the traditional nuclear family of this country. and it's being eaten away by the programs that are passed by this congress. and i hope, if the republicans take control, even it's not a sexy issue because it's an ongoing issue, i hope they do something about this hatred or discrimination against the traditional family. now, i'll make one more point. i make it as much as i can,

before i leave this podium today. one more time i'm going to talk about vitamin d. in part, i'm going to talk about it because there was an expert in vitamin d who i ran into last night from maryland who, again, brought up that he felt he had a cocktail which was about 100% successful in curing people from the covid if they get it. if any of the speakers' offices is paying attention, i'd be happy to give the name of this individual. maybe it's something that should be given to the speaker. but the new cocktail in part is based on substantial amounts of vitamin d. a week and a half ago, i talked to dr. drurer of israel who commented on the importance of being vitamin d sufficient.

in his israeli study with a small number of people he found that people who were vitamin d deficient were 11 times as likely to die of covid if they were hospitalized as people who are not vitamin d deficient. and he was using a very low threshold. 20 nanograms per milliliter. 11 times more likely to die if you were vitamin d deficient. i don't know what's wrong with our department of health on this. i talked to secretary becerra. it's something that should have been -- the american public should have been educated on. 18 months ago. i personally know of nine people that died of the covid. i always wonder how many of those would still be alive today if they had done half as much to push vitamin d as they did with all the other advertising.

pushing masks, pushing distancing, what have you. but with 500 people dying a day, it's still something that should be publicized. i have written a letter to secretary becerra, and 14 times less likely to wind up with serious covid once hospitalized. among people hospitalized, of the people who didn't have enough vitamin d under 20 nanograms, 25% died. if they had over 20 nanograms, 2.3% died. who wound up hospitalized in israel. kind of dramatic numbers, huh? so news you can use. but those are some of the comments or issues of the day that i think the press should be paying attention to. and i'd like to thank the indulgence of the staff for giving us the hour.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. mr. grothman: i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 11-b of house resolution 188, the house stands adjourned until 10:30

connectings.