[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1103-H1106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) is recognized
until 10 p.m. as the designee of the minority leader.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms.
Williams), my colleague.
Commemorating 56th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight as a daughter
of Alabama, as the Congresswoman representing Georgia's Fifth
Congressional District in the seat that was held by Congressman John
Lewis for over 30 years.
Mr. Speaker, Congressman John Lewis already laid the blueprint for
us. We are here as the Congressional Black Caucus to honor him 56 years
after Bloody Sunday. We have an obligation to get in good trouble and
continue Congressman Lewis' legacy.
As Congressman Lewis told us, when we see something that is not
right, when we see something that is not fair, when we see something
that is not just, we have an obligation to speak up, to stand up, to
find a way to get in the way. As we continue the work for the people on
this floor, we will do that in the legacy of John Robert Lewis. Thus,
our power, that is our message.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday,
the day my friend, mentor and predecessor, the late Congressman John
Lewis and hundreds of demonstrators nearly lost their lives attempting
to peacefully cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the interest of voting
rights.
The images of Black men, women being brutally beaten by police
officers wielding billy clubs and tear gas are still haunting. The
violence sent many of the activists to the hospital because of the
extent of their injuries. Congressman Lewis often remarked that he
``shed a little blood'' on that bridge that day, when his skull was
crack by state troopers--people who were supposed to protect and serve.
Why? Because, people who look like him, look like me, wanted the right
to vote, the right to have a voice in our democracy.
Bloody Sunday is still one of the darkest days in our nation's
history, but we commemorate it because the courage and the violence
Congressman Lewis and the over 600 marchers endured put the atrocities
of this nation centerstage for the world to see and served as a
catalyst for the Voting Rights Act being signed into law.
More than five decades later, after that horrific display of
intimidation and overt suppression and signing of the VRA, we are still
fighting for voting rights for communities of color. It is shameful,
that the same frustrations our ancestors felt--being denied at the
ballot box for failing a literacy test, having to travel far distances
to vote only to be told they were at the wrong polling location, having
to pay a poll tax just to vote--are the same frustrations with our
democratic process that people of color are experiencing today. These
tactics are once again rearing their ugly head and it is disheartening
that some of the same forces are trying to impose barriers to the
ballot box using old tactics, new tricks.
In Georgia, legislators just passed a bill that restricts access to
absentee ballots, restricts ballot dropbox locations and early voting
hours. We saw in the 2020 election how poll closures created long lines
in Georgia. And, now, to add insult to injury, Georgia lawmakers are
proposing making it a crime to give people food and water while they
stand hours in line to vote--food and water! It is shameful and
inhumane.
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Congressman
Lewis. We all miss him dearly. This year, the Bloody Sunday Jubilee
weekend was not the same without him. However, it is bittersweet that
he is not here to witness the country he loved, the country he had such
high hopes for still making it harder--not easier--for people to vote.
But as the first Black woman to represent Georgia's 5th District, a
seat formally held by Congressman Lewis and Ambassador Andrew Young, I
came to Congress to assure my constituents and the American people I
will not let the trauma suffered on March 7, 1965 or battles fought for
the sake for voting rights since then be in vain. The spirit of
Congressman Lewis lives in all of us and we will protect his legacy.
With our power, our message.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, in the weeks since President Biden took
office, we have seen a dramatic reversal from the America First
policies that we saw under President Trump.
Mr. Speaker, after 4 years of policies that empowered middle-class
Americans to prosper, the working class is now getting the shaft under
Joe Biden. And it is all happening through heavy-handed executive
orders, not through legislation that reflects the voice of the people's
representatives.
On day one, he acted recklessly to cancel the Keystone Pipeline,
which provided thousands of good-paying energy jobs to the American
people. From there, it was only worse.
Rejoining the Paris climate agreement, reentering the communist-
compromised World Health Organization, and reducing security on our
southern border were all executive actions that will make America less
safe and prosperous. The President's radical proposal to grant amnesty
to 11 million illegal immigrants, while 11 million Americans are
unemployed, is the definition of putting Americans last.
As it relates to immigration, this administration's reckless policies
know no bounds. Due to President Biden's loosening of security on our
southern border, we are sending a message to the world that our
immigration laws can be violated without consequence.
Stopping construction of the wall and weakening enforcement,
especially during a pandemic, is a huge national security and health
risk to the American people. The Biden administration, specifically the
Department of Homeland Security, must answer questions the Committee on
Oversight and Reform has asked about how they plan to keep the American
people safe as they incentivize illegal immigration.
Rather than focus on the unity outlined in his inaugural speech,
President Biden has issued divisive executive orders and hurt the
safety of the American people.
Mr. Speaker, it is time for this President to work in a bipartisan
way to take his duties seriously and enforce our immigration laws. It
is also long past time to reopen schools and get Americans back to
work. These are the things the American people expect us to be working
on, not engaging in excessive partisanship.
If we continue to see an approach to governing focused on pandering
to our
[[Page H1104]]
far-left base rather than putting America first, American jobs,
national security, and energy independence will suffer greatly.
Congratulating Graves County High School JROTC
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Graves County High
School JROTC for their first-place finish in the All-Service Raider
National Competition, Co-Ed Division, in Molena, Georgia.
The cadets, led by Lieutenant Jason Caldwell, competed against 12
other schools, including military prep schools, in various physical
activities. They should be proud of this outstanding achievement.
Over the summer, many competitions were canceled due to COVID-19,
leaving each cadet to train individually to prepare for the
competition. This victory is a testament to the hard work and
dedication of each of these students under unusual circumstances.
Graves County was very well-represented by this talented group. The
Junior ROTC program at Graves County High School cultivates leadership
and service skills in its cadets that will benefit their local
community, the First District of Kentucky, and our Nation for many
years to come.
Once again, congratulations to the Graves County High School Junior
ROTC for their victory in this very prestigious competition.
Honoring Allen County Jailer Larry Piper
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my good friend and a
political powerhouse, Larry Piper, of Allen County, Kentucky, who
recently retired after serving as Allen County jailer since 2007. At
the end of January, Larry stepped aside after faithfully serving his
community for years in this important role.
During his time in public office, Larry was known for always
performing his duties well, treating everyone with respect, and doing
what was asked of him. These traits are the hallmark of a good and
honest public servant and describe Larry to a tee.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my friend, Larry Piper, on a successful
career, and I wish him and his wife, Patricia, the very best in a well-
earned retirement.
Election System Concerns
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk a little bit about H.R. 1,
which passed the House of Representatives last week.
Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats made clear what their top priority
in this new Congress would be: a swamp takeover of America's elections.
At its heart, this radical legislation is a massive Federal takeover
that enables ballot harvesting, requires mass mail-in voting, and uses
taxpayer money to fund political campaigns. This bill, mistakenly named
the ``For the People Act,'' is targeted toward helping politicians, not
the people. At a time when the American people are struggling, why is
helping politicians, like herself, Speaker Pelosi's top priority?
Whenever Washington gets involved, chaos and dysfunction follow
closely behind. If somehow signed into law, H.R. 1 will follow in that
familiar pattern.
Mr. Speaker, 2020 brought to light serious concerns with our election
system. We saw dramatic delays, uncertainty, and chaos from policies
like universal mail-in voting and allowing votes to be counted for days
after the election--and in the case of New York, weeks and months after
the election.
These concerns are real and present the need for fundamental reforms,
but these reforms should be addressed by States, not Congress. And they
should be the exact opposite of the disastrous H.R. 1.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation sanctions the very practices that
created chaos and uncertainty in the 2020 election and sowed widespread
voter distrust. Banning voter ID laws and taking other actions to
prevent States from promoting a safe and secure election is a massive
Washington power grab.
The legislation allows absentee ballots to come in up to 10 days--10
days--after the election date. Does anyone in this body think that is a
good idea?
Mr. Speaker, I would invite anyone in America to come to my home
community of Monroe County, Kentucky, and come down on election night
in 2022--the primary election because it is a pretty Republican county,
91 percent Republican, to be exact. I would invite anyone to come to my
community on election day when all the people who voted in person,
which would be about 95 percent of the voters, voted. Let's say a
magistrate, a constable, or a jailer candidate gets the most votes on
that primary election day. Then, 10 days later, a wad of absentees
comes in the mail to the clerk, and lo and behold, that person loses.
I would invite anyone in America to come tell that magistrate
candidate, constable candidate, or jailer candidate, ``I am sorry. I
know you won on election day, but 10 days later, these ballots came in
and you lost.''
That is what H.R. 1 would do. It makes no sense. This bill is nothing
but a Democrat attempt to consolidate power. It places Washington in
control of elections and enables voter fraud. And like every other
priority bill we have seen from this body, it is a disgrace for the
taxpayers.
Mr. Speaker, I proudly voted against H.R. 1, as did every Republican
in this body. Let's hope, when that bill makes its way to the Senate,
that there are some Senators with some common sense on the Democrat
side, like Joe Manchin, who will stand up for not just the American
taxpayer but the American citizen and reject H.R. 1.
{time} 2130
Honoring Paducah Community Kitchen
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paducah Community
Kitchen for the outsized role they have played in helping the city of
Paducah weather some of our storms of this past year.
This Christ-centered nonprofit provides crucial services, like free
meals and housing, along with laundry and shower services. Their
efforts to care for the needy have been instrumental in helping
individuals and families facing hardships. In 2020 alone, they
dramatically increased the number of meals served daily, a critical
need due to the economic fallout from the COVID pandemic.
The Paducah Community Kitchen would not be what it is without the
caring and dedicated volunteers who spend a significant amount of time
serving their community. These humble volunteers share love and
compassion by lending a helping hand to their friends and neighbors.
The Paducah Community Kitchen's volunteers, sponsors, and donors should
be commended for all they have done to support their friends and
neighbors.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of everyone in Kentucky's First Congressional
District, I want to thank them for all of their compassionate work to
help so many families in need.
Anti-Gun Control
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about something very important
to the people of Kentucky, and that is the Second Amendment.
With President Biden taking office, there are renewed concerns with
the safety of Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and
Americans. Given his longtime record of pushing extreme gun control
measures through Congress, and given his stated intent to enact those
very policies, my constituents have every right to be concerned.
This is especially true given that House Democrats are putting bills
on the floor this week that are the first step in rolling back our
basic constitutional rights. These proposals come in addition to the
bills which implement new registration requirements for firearms and
ammunition, and disallow adults under 21 from owning firearms.
So you can join the United States military and fight, and even die on
the battlefield when you are 18, but you can't own firearms until you
are 21. Seriously?
These radical proposals coming from the Democrat majority infringe on
the basic rights and privacy of gun owners, and should be stopped in
their tracks.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose these measures, which are extremely
radical and the opposite of what Kentuckians sent me to Congress to do.
Instead, I will continue to work to support and promote legislation
that upholds the fundamental rights found in the Second Amendment.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the law-abiding gun owners in
Kentucky, whose continued advocacy makes a real difference in the fight
against gun control.
[[Page H1105]]
Recognizing Sarah Bridges
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Sarah Bridges of
Reidland, Kentucky, a Marshal County High School student who is using
her talent at sewing to provide swaddling blankets for infants at the
ICU.
According to recent reporting from the Paducah Sun, Sarah has been
busy crafting swaddling blankets for Baptist Health Paducah's neonatal
intensive care unit. She rose to this challenge and produced over 20
blankets in the last 2 months, which are used by nurses at Baptist
Health Paducah to meet the comfort needs of local infants.
Sarah's drive to use her talents to fill a vital need reflect her
high character and desire to positively impact her community and
region. Given her extensive track record of community service and
school involvement, it is no surprise that she is now giving back in
this admirable way.
On behalf of the entire First Congressional District of Kentucky, I
thank Sarah Bridges for this outstanding and caring project she has
taken on.
Honoring Ocie Key on her 100th Birthday
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Ocie Key of the
First District of Kentucky, who is turning 100 years old on March 18.
Mrs. Key was born in Burkesville, Kentucky, and continues to reside
in Cumberland County.
In 1939, Mrs. Key married Paul, and together they have three
daughters, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
She is a lover of quilting, sewing, and basket-making, and enjoys
spending time with family and friends.
Mrs. Key is a woman of faith and a member of the Christian Chapel
Church of Christ in Burkesville, Kentucky. She is also the queen of the
Cumberland County Red Hat Society and has been a member of the
Cumberland County Homemakers for over 50 years.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent Mrs. Ocie Key, and I join with
everyone in Cumberland County and throughout the Commonwealth in
wishing her a very happy 100th birthday.
Need for Transparency in Spending
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about transparency in
government spending. That is one of the main objectives of the House
Oversight and Reform Committee. Not only do we ensure the prevention of
waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government, we also want and
expect government transparency, just like the people who send us here
to be their voice in Washington.
There is no greater disgrace to the taxpayers than the nearly $28
trillion in debt we are facing as a nation. But instead of taking this
burden we are leaving to our children and grandchildren seriously,
Democrats are barreling through a partisan $2 trillion package through
Congress, $2 trillion of deficit spending.
Congress has already spent $4 trillion to fight the coronavirus in a
bipartisan manner. And $1 trillion of that $4 trillion we have already
appropriated is unspent. That is why I introduced a resolution with
Budget Committee Ranking Member Jason Smith requiring President Biden
to provide this body with information about the $1 trillion in unspent
funds.
Congress should have the information before we spend more taxpayer
money. The American people must have transparency and accountability
for how their money is spent.
People find that hard to believe, that 25 percent of the last COVID
relief bill hasn't been spent, and we don't have a full accounting of
where that money is, where the unspent funds are, where it is going,
why it hasn't been spent.
But we are going to appropriate another $2 trillion?
We are not. You all are. Two trillion dollars more of deficit
spending.
Transparency and responsibility weren't on the minds of the House
last week when the Democrats passed in a partisan manner $2 trillion
additional deficit spending.
This is not responsible governing, especially in light of concerns
from economists that the Democrats' massive spending bill most likely
will cause an economic crash. It is definitely causing inflation.
If you have gone to fill up gas, if you have gone to Lowe's or Home
Depot or anywhere for home improvements, or if you tried to buy any
commodities, you have gone to refinance your house, you are starting to
see inflation.
And with the $2 trillion in that fund, along with the $1 trillion
that still hasn't been spent, you are going to create the kind of
inflation that I studied about in the 1970s.
This bill wasn't about relief for Americans. I have supported
targeted relief, including the direct stimulus checks supported by
President Trump. I voted for the $2,000. I was one of the few
Republicans that voted for the $2,000 in direct stimulus to the
individuals who qualified economically. That is called targeted relief.
I also support funding to help with vaccine distribution and actually
win the fight against COVID-19, but only 9 percent of Nancy Pelosi's
and Joe Biden's so-called relief bill went toward fighting COVID, and
less than 1 percent went towards vaccines. Instead, the focus was on
satisfying the far left political agenda.
This relief measure inserted unrelated pork projects in Nancy
Pelosi's backyard and bailed out blue States, which chose lockdowns
over recovery. In other words, that COVID bill rewarded the States that
kept their economies locked down, the States that have the highest
unemployment rate, and they got rewarded with this blue State bailout
bill.
The no-strings attached, $350 billion in State bailout money comes at
a time when, collectively, State revenues have hardly budged.
For example, California has a $15 billion budget surplus. We played a
video in the House Oversight Committee where California Governor Gavin
Newsom was bragging about his $10 billion budget surplus. But you want
to send more money to California.
My home State of Kentucky saw a higher tax revenue during the
pandemic months of 2020 than they did during the same period of 2019.
That is because we had a strong economy. If you take COVID away, it was
the strongest economy in my lifetime. The biggest impediment to the
economy over the past year has been mayors and governors who have
locked their cities and States down.
The truth is, Congress has already provided States with funding for
COVID expenses through the CARES Act. Now we must look out for our
taxpayers. This includes our senior citizens. Instead of helping our
citizens who are most vulnerable to the virus, Biden's bailout bill
smacks Kentucky seniors with a $6.4 billion Medicare cut over the next
10 years. That is not an America-first proposal.
Before Democrats even attempt to spend another dime of taxpayer
dollars, Congress needs to act to prevent government waste, fraud, and
abuse; and we need to refocus our attention on actually helping the
American people.
I hope to see the United States Senate exercise the due diligence
that taxpayers deserve, and that the House did not provide, in only
passing funding that is targeted directly to the pandemic.
Honoring Veteran Thomas Bruzan
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy
of Thomas Bruzan, who passed away in December at his home in Cadiz,
Kentucky, at the age of 71, after a lifetime of service to his country.
Tom was a decorated Marine Corps veteran, who received a Purple Heart
for his service in Operation Meade during the Vietnam war. After his
military service, Tom assisted combat veterans as a volunteer at
Pennyroyal Veterans Center in Christian County.
Tom was also a member of the American Legion and a charitable giver
to Nonnie's Place, a nonprofit in Lyon County, Kentucky, which supports
women and mothers going through hard times.
Mr. Speaker, I join Tom's family, friends, and all impacted by his
sacrifice, in celebrating his life of devoted service to our country
and the First Congressional District of Kentucky. Tom was a true
American patriot, and his bravery and kindness will not be forgotten.
{time} 2145
Earmarks
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude my remarks with mentioning
an issue that will be debated by my colleagues over the next few days.
I want to make clear to the people I represent, not just in the First
Congressional District but the entire State of Kentucky and America,
for that
[[Page H1106]]
matter, where I stand on this issue, and that is the issue of earmarks
and whether or not to end the ban on congressional earmarks.
I am opposed to that for many reasons. First of all, I have learned
this over the 4 years I have served in Congress: Congress is not a
democratic place, especially when it comes to money. We are going to
have a debate--and it is going to be in the press--about whether or not
to bring back earmarks.
But, in fact, there have always been earmarks. This last COVID bill
had earmarks in there for Speaker Pelosi. The CARES Act had earmarks
for legislative leaders on both sides, Democrats and Republicans.
Bringing back earmarks will only give certain people the ability to
spend more money at the expense of a majority of Members, and I can't
believe that Republicans would put a whole lot of consideration into
supporting the bringing back of congressional earmarks.
Another reason why I oppose earmarks is common sense. We have to get
serious about deficit spending. We are $28 trillion in Federal debt.
Congress has to set the example. And the example is standing up and
saying that we are going to do more earmarks, bring earmarks back,
bring back pork?
More pork?
That is a terrible example, and somebody has to stand up for the
American taxpayer. Somebody has to stand up for the children and
grandchildren who are going to inherit this $28 trillion in debt, and I
want to stand up for those people and oppose earmarks.
Lastly, as the top Republican on the House Oversight and Reform
Committee, one thing I have studied in oversight, not just in Congress,
but in my time in the Kentucky General Assembly and in my study of
history and American politics, is that there is always a direct
correlation between earmarks and corruption.
I said that to some Members, and they said: Oh, no, my earmarks won't
be corrupt, they are going to go to building projects.
The corruption is seldom with the municipalities. The corruption is
with the contractors and the subcontractors in the pork projects. There
is usually a direct correlation between earmarks and campaign
contributions.
At a time when we have got too many special interests with their paws
in the pot in Washington, bringing back earmarks is a bad idea.
I want everyone in Kentucky to know exactly where I stand on that
issue.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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