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THREE MAJOR CRISES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, during my time tonight, my colleagues and I will address three major crises happening here at home, happening close to home at our southern border; and happening to our closest ally in the Middle East, and that is Israel.
Each of these issues that my colleagues will discuss tonight can and should be addressed in a bipartisan way. We should all want Americans to get back to work. We should all want to end the humanitarian crisis at our border, and we should all want to support one of our closest allies from terrorism.
It is time for President Biden and our Democrat colleagues to work with Republicans to solve these problems for the American people and for our allies.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee's Sixth District
(Mr. Rose).
Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my steadfast support for the nation of Israel, our closest and greatest ally in the Middle East.
Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, has been targeting civilians by firing thousands of rockets on Israeli cities. These attacks are both tragic and unacceptable, and Israel undeniably has the right to continue to defend itself.
As Hamas continues these attacks, the United States must show its unwavering support for Israel, condemn this aggression by Hamas, and sanction those who fund terrorism, such as Iran. That is why I am a cosponsor of the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act introduced by Representative Brian Mast. America does not tolerate those who fund terrorists, and this legislation would put in place sanctions on governments and individuals that do.
The nation of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and the relationship we share is indispensable. With the world watching, we must send a clear message to Hamas, Islamic jihadists, and those that fund them that the United States stands with Israel.
I unequivocally support our friend, Israel, and recognize its right to self-defense in the face of these horrific assaults by Hamas. I pray for peace in Jerusalem and for the safety of all Israelis.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those remarks on Israel. We do stand strong with them.
Mr. Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from Arkansas' Second District (Mr. Hill).
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I commend my friend from Louisiana for bringing our Members to the floor tonight to talk about something that is so essential to American life, our careers, our work, our independence, our ability to pursue happiness.
This pandemic has thrown many off track for that, and it is House Republicans that want to make sure we pursue policies that get people back to work, back to opportunity, back to independence.
Our small businesses in my home State of Arkansas and local economies across our country are recovering from the devastation of the pandemic. They now face a threat that has resulted from President Biden and House Democrats' inflated and fiscally irresponsible approach to unemployment benefits.
The Wall Street Journal reports there are over 8 million job openings, Mr. Speaker, in the United States right now. That is almost more jobs open than every person currently out of work.
Instead of encouraging these positions to be filled, my friends on the other side of the aisle have disincentivized going back to work and have made these benefits so appealing that it has disrupted labor markets across the country, particularly in Arkansas, particularly lower-income labor markets.
Medical workers, small businesses, and restaurants all tell me that this is creating problems for them. It has hurt States so much that a handful of individual States are now rejecting participating in Federal unemployment benefits.
This is not the direction we need to go, and it does not take an economist to understand this is not a permanent solution. We cannot keep tying policies back to a once-in-a-century pandemic that will systematically change our country forever.
The solution is simple, and it is what House Republicans are advocating and have been advocating for months. We need policies that encourage Americans to get back to work, not policies that encourage reliance on the Federal Government.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield next to the gentlewoman from Illinois' 15th District (Mrs. Miller).
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Johnson for hosting this Special Order on so many important issues that our country is facing.
I stand for peace, and a lasting one. Side by side, the American and Israeli people have stood for freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarian aggression. Side by side, the American and Israeli people have stood for justice with restraint in the face of reckless violence. Side by side, the American and Israeli people have stood for peace through self-defense in the face of terrorism.
President Trump was working with various Islamic nation-states in the Middle East to adopt the Abraham Accords in order to foster better diplomatic relations with the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, Joe Biden has brought this peace process to a screeching halt.
We know Hamas is a terrorist organization, and they are funded by Iran. The Biden administration continues to negotiate with Iran to get them back in the Iran deal. Iran is a funder of terrorists, and the Iran deal would make it easier for them to commit and fund terror. Iran has provided money to Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations. These groups' intention is to destroy Israel and the Jewish state.
The ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians show why America must act immediately to support Israel, condemn Hamas, and sanction those who fund terrorism.
My family and I will continue to pray for the peace and safety and for the people of Israel as they combat terrorism.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, we are admonished even by Scripture to pray for the peace of Israel, and we will.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota's Seventh District (Mrs. Fischbach).
Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for organizing the Special Order this evening.
Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in solidarity with the State of Israel. As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel is among our greatest allies and friends.
Since the beginning, Israel has had two goals: to live as a Jewish state and to do so in peace.
This was true at its founding, and it remains true today.
But just as it has been throughout history, Israel again finds itself under attack, this time by Hamas terrorists, who, with the help of Iran, are bent on destroying the only Jewish state in the world.
Does Israel not have a right to defend itself?
Make no mistake, Hamas is not interested in peace. They want to destroy Israel and its people, and are willing to use women, children, and journalists as human shields to do so.
Some, including Members of this body, have taken to propaganda to paint Israel as the aggressor, but that is nothing more than cheap gaslighting. Israel is not now, nor have they ever been, an aggressor state. Its only actions have been in its own defense.
There is simply no moral equivalence between a nation defending itself and those who would use terrorism to annihilate the Jewish people. In fact, defeating this terrorism is a prerequisite for peace.
Mr. Speaker, these ongoing attacks are exactly why the United States must stand with our Israeli allies, condemn Hamas terrorists, and sanction those who provide them support. I call on all Members of this distinguished body to continue our long history of support for our Israeli allies.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls), a former sheriff.
Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, it is time to get Americans back to work. The vaccine is available for all. Cases are down across the country. Businesses have openings they need to fill.
Using COVID as an excuse to stay home and collect unemployment insurance is not healthy for our economy or workers. We should be encouraging folks to take control of their lives and get back to work, but the multitrillion-dollar proposals out of the Biden administration and the continued COVID Federal unemployment insurance payments of $300 per week are encouraging folks to stay home.
We just saw the Democrats and the Biden administration deliver 266,000 new jobs in the month of May, when the Dow Jones predicted 1 million jobs would be added.
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Why this incredible underachievement? Because the policies of the Democrats and the Biden administration are failing our economy, failing our business owners, and failing the American people.
Gas prices are skyrocketing across the country. The per-pound cost of copper is more than double what it was just 12 months ago. And the price of homes is rising. The annual inflation rate is triple what it was in 2020 and the highest it has been in over a decade.
These are the consequences of spending trillions of dollars on COVID relief and continuing to pay people not to work. The swamp continues to waste taxpayer dollars on failed policies they say we can fix by continuing to spend trillions more. When is enough enough? When are we going to let the free market flourish?
That is the path back to our historic economy pre-COVID. The sooner we decide to get back to lower taxes, less regulation, and more economic freedom, the quicker we can get the American people back to work and the economy back to health.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida's 26th District (Mr. Gimenez).
Mr. GIMENEZ. Mr. Speaker, one thing has been made absolutely clear in last's month abysmal jobs report: More government spending, bigger mandates and regulations, incentivizing people to stay on unemployment, and punishing States that encourage small mom and pops to reopen is not the way to Build Back Better. It is time for us to pursue policies that put Americans back to work.
All the so-called experts and economic forecasters wanted to believe so hard that the massive $1.9 trillion spending package that the Speaker and President Biden rammed through Congress was going to be the answer. But the truth always prevails. That is why, for the first time in Congress, Democrats actually joined Republicans on a major piece of legislation in voting against that sham of a bill. But it passed anyway.
When Republicans stood up on this floor to explain line item by line item what was wrong with that bill and why this was the wrong approach, we got attacked by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle for everything imaginable. But once again, we were proven right. The Speaker and President Biden were proven wrong.
Now, they are wanting to do this all over again with infrastructure. The current infrastructure proposal being put forward not only adds trillions of dollars in spending on top of the $1.9 trillion Congress has already approved to be spent in the previous spending spree, but now the solution is paying for it by raising taxes. Once again, the American people are being lied to about who is actually going to be affected by those tax hikes.
The spinmasters are trying to paint a picture that equates the big evil word ``corporation'' as big-box players and tech behemoths such as Amazon, Netflix, and Facebook. But here is the truth, the term
``corporation'' is really only a tax designation for a business entity. Corporations include your local mom-and-pop restaurant. It includes the local corner street pharmacy. It includes the farms that supply the local farmers markets. It is the local fishermen, the family-run dance studio, the store that sells football uniforms to the local high school team, the music instructor helping prepare kids for the next concert, and the guy who scraped together his earnings and started a plumbing business.
While the progressive left wants to take swipes at major billionaire companies through extreme taxation, they are bringing all of us along with them. We are all going to be paying more.
At a time when our economy has continued to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, we should be encouraging small businesses to reopen, rehire workers, and spur our local economies, not punishing them with more taxes and more regulations.
America's small businesses and our middle-class workers deserve much better than this. I know we can and will do better if my colleagues across the aisle choose to work with us in earnest. Let's stop this political grandstanding for the majority and get to work.
Republicans are waiting, and we are willing.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, there are three major crises we are talking about again tonight: the economic crisis here at home, the crisis happening close to home at our southern border, and what is happening to our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania's 12th District (Mr. Keller).
Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding.
The current economic crisis facing our Nation is troubling but not surprising. Skyrocketing inflation, rising gas prices, and growing unemployment are the results of a White House that fundamentally believes more government is the solution.
To be clear, President Biden's massive tax-and-spend policies constitute a losing formula, which will drag our Nation deeper into debt and government dependency. The April jobs report is a testament to this.
A record 8 million jobs are available. However, only 266,000 were filled last month because Biden is promoting government control rather than the sustainable income of a job.
Job creators across Pennsylvania, in the hospitality, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and many other industries, say the same thing: They are struggling to find workers.
Biden's policies are detrimental to our economic recovery and are the last thing America needs. Even more frustrating, the solution to get us back on track has been present all along: reopen the economy, stop piling debt on our children, and get Americans back to work.
It is time that President Biden recognizes that Big Government is the problem, and only the ingenuity and resilience of the American people will lead us to prosperity.
Now more than ever, our government needs to get out of the way and allow Americans to reclaim control of their lives and their government.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia's 12th District (Mr. Allen).
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson for yielding and for holding this Special Order this evening.
Thanks to the success of Operation Warp Speed, we have been able to get millions of Americans vaccinated.
Georgia has led the Nation in COVID-19 economic recovery, and I am proud to say that Georgia's economy has reached prepandemic levels.
Now that the CDC has rolled back mask recommendations, we are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
But there is a lot of work to be done to get this great American economy, the greatest economy in the world, growing again. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is asleep at the wheel when it comes to what needs to be done to spur economic growth.
As of March, U.S. job-makers reported 8.1 million available jobs, a record high. But I am hearing from small businesses that they can't get their employees to go back to work. That is because President Biden and congressional Democrats are paying people more money to stay home than to go to work.
I am grateful that, starting next month, our Governor, Governor Kemp, is ending the extra $300 in Federal weekly jobless payments. It is time for all States to opt out of this Federal job supplement and quit wasting taxpayers' money.
Let's get Americans back to work and focus on rebuilding our economy.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), who knows quite a bit about handling a crisis. He is the highest-ranking military officer ever elected to the United States Congress and also my friend.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is not only my friend and colleague but also not well enough acknowledged as the largely singular author of the Commitment to Civility by the bipartisan freshman classes in 2017. That document, unfortunately, is too well hidden. I thank you again for all the work you did because you laid it out, and it is more applicable today than it was back 4\1/2\ years ago.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for getting America back to work. That support, if I spoke as loud as the support that I gave, you would probably have to tone down the microphone system.
As we look toward the future and to getting our economy back on track, I am increasingly concerned with the Federal Government's indiscriminate, uncalculated interference.
In April, we saw the unemployment rate increase to 6.1 percent at a time when you have more ``help wanted'' signs out than you can imagine. Frankly, as I drive across my district in the beautiful part of northern Michigan where summer has just now thought about arriving, and I see all those ``help wanted'' signs hanging in the windows of countless small businesses. That number, unfortunately, comes as no surprise, given the current administration's policies.
We in Congress should be thoroughly angered that with so many businesses looking for help, we instead advance policies that encourage people to stay unemployed.
The expanded unemployment benefits served a positive and caring purpose when businesses were being forced to close in response to the pandemic a year ago. However, as more Americans get vaccinated, and we return to a more normal life, the need is not the same as it was in March 2020.
Instead, the extra $300 a week President Biden and the Democrats gave in their latest relief bill to those who stay unemployed does little but distort the job market, disrupt our supply chains, and encourage many to simply stay home instead of finding a job.
Meanwhile, the backbone of our economy, small businesses across the country, are struggling to find enough workers, despite offering competitive wages, benefits, and, in many cases, hiring bonuses.
To start addressing this problem, States like Michigan should immediately end their participation in the enhanced supplemental unemployment program.
The only way for us as a country to fully recover from this pandemic is by having the Federal Government stop sabotaging our economy and instead encourage Americans to get back to work.
The dignity of work, of a job well done, cannot be underestimated when it comes to bolstering our citizens with a sense of faith in the future and faith in our country.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee's Eighth District (Mr. Kustoff).
Mr. KUSTOFF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I would like to recognize my friend and colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), a great leader. I thank him for organizing this evening.
Mr. Speaker, I want to address two different fronts of President Biden's policies, both of which are failing the American people.
The April jobs report showed that the economy added less than 270,000 new jobs. That is disappointing, and it was an underperformance from the 1 million jobs that economists expected.
It really should be no surprise to anyone because the enhanced unemployment benefits that were approved by Congress, against all of our objections, under President Biden's initiative have truly disincentivized people from going back to work.
Then, on the second front, we have seen over the past week or so Hamas continue to launch thousands of rockets at Israel, aiming to kill as many innocent lives as possible.
Let me be clear: I strongly condemn these attacks. Everybody on this side of the aisle strongly condemns those attacks. We fully support Israel's unequivocal right to defend herself and her citizens.
Yet, President Biden has taken a weak approach, demonstrating to terrorist organizations that his administration won't stand up for one of our greatest nations, greatest friends, and greatest allies, and that is Israel.
America's support of our strongest ally in the Middle East, it should never be quiet. That sends a terrible message to the rest of the world.
Ultimately, we need a government that is more efficient, more effective, and accountable.
We need to get people back to work. We must reopen our economy, lower taxes, and get our children back in school.
Lastly, we have to show the rest of the world that our support for Israel will never waver, that we stand strong in defending the Jewish state together as one.
You know, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once said, and I will paraphrase: If Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no Israel. I think that pretty much sums it up.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, that does sum it up. It is a very real crisis we face.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas' First District (Mr. Gohmert).
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Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, here is an article by Tristan Justice:
``April job numbers are so bad, CNBC thought it was a typo.''
Another article: ``New stimulus package: Unemployment benefits, $300 per week extended till September.''
``America's Vanishing Workforce,'' article by Megan Cassella and Rebecca Rainey.
And this one, The Hill: ``It is time for States to take the lead in getting Americans back to work,'' by Anthony Hughes.
Why is that? It is because we have an administration that is doing everything it can in conjunction with the Democrats in Congress to keep people from going back to work.
Now, when I was between my sophomore and junior year at Texas A&M, I was accepted on an exchange program for the summer to the Soviet Union. And at one point, being out at a collective farm many miles outside of Kiev, I couldn't tell what was cultivated and what wasn't. It looked brown. It didn't look good. But all the farmers in the middle of the morning--10, 10:30--they are sitting out under a tree in the shade, and they are visiting.
And I tried to have a smile and use my best Russian. And I asked,
``When do you work out in the field?'' Because I had stood there for a while. And they all laughed, and I thought maybe I didn't say it right in Russian.
And finally one of them said, ``I make the same number of rubles if I am out there in the sun as I do in the shade, so I stay in the shade.''
I got a message from one of my friends, a lady, that says her yard guy says he can't get people to come back to work. He has got 125 yards. And her hairdresser's kids, they are not working, all because of this big bonus if you don't work. It is time to get people back to work, having them earn their money. America will be better for it.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik), our newly elected conference chairwoman.
Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, Americans across this country are facing crisis after crisis.
Just think, just over a year ago, in early 2020, our economy was booming, our standing in the world was strong, we had just rebuilt our Nation's military, and our communities and families were thriving.
Here we are, a little over one year later, in just over 100 days, President Biden and Speaker Pelosi have dismantled that foundation, and the American people are paying the price.
Americans are suffering under four crises from the far-left radical socialist policies of President Biden and Speaker Pelosi.
First, American families are facing an economic crisis, fueled by trillions of dollars in uncontrolled spending, rampant inflation, and unemployment benefits that incentivize workers to stay home while businesses are desperate to hire employees.
We just experienced one of the worst jobs reports in over 20 years, with unemployment rising, cost of living increasing every single day, and small businesses unable to hire. This impacts every hardworking American family, and it is a crisis with no end in sight, except the trillions and trillions of dollars in new taxes proposed by President Biden and Speaker Pelosi.
Second, American families are facing an energy crisis. This is the first time my generation is experiencing widespread gas lines and stations with no gas. If we do find gas, Americans are paying more at the pump than they have in 7 years. This is unacceptable, and it is unaffordable for every American family.
Third, President Biden and Speaker Pelosi have single-handedly created a historic border crisis leading to rampant human trafficking, an influx of criminals and dangerous drugs, like fentanyl, rushing across the border.
And make no mistake, this does not just affect our border States along the southern border, every State in this country is a border State and every city is a border city experiencing the consequences of this border crisis.
Fourth, the world is watching in horror as we are facing a national security crisis in the Middle East and a resurgent Russia and China. Israel is under attack by Iranian-backed terrorists, and our radical socialist Democrat colleagues across the aisle cannot decide whose side they are on.
Let me be clear, my colleagues, the Republicans, we stand with Israel. More importantly, the American people stand with Israel. And these four crises are impacting every American family across this Nation. In my district, in New York's 21st District, small businesses have more ``Help Wanted'' signs than they have workers. Restaurants, like Ted's Fish Fry in Upstate New York, have been forced to close one day a week, just as we are heading into summer, because they are unable to hire workers.
Families are bearing the brunt of the abrupt tax hikes caused by skyrocketing gas prices. Border patrol agents that should be securing our northern border have been sent to the southern border, leaving hundreds of miles of border in my district exposed to drug traffickers and criminals.
And people are struggling to grasp the unthinkable. How is the Biden administration negotiating with Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terror, who has targeted our friends, neighbors, and the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division in my home district.
Republicans and the American people are united in rallying against the destructive, radical far-left policies of Biden and Pelosi, causing crisis after crisis in our country every day.
We will continue to stand strongly with American workers, American families, small businesses, as well as our allies around the world. And we will fight back against these policies that have led to the devastation and destruction across this country.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank our conference chair from the great State of New York, and we will go across the country to the other coast to the State of California, the 25th District represented by Mr. Garcia.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia).
Mr. GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in direct support of our most critical ally, Israel.
Rarely in history has the strategic alliance between two nations been more meaningful and necessary to the pursuit of worldwide stability than the modern partnership between the United States and Israel.
I believe the recipe for a lasting relationship between our two nations and achieving stability in the region in pursuit of peace, is comprised of the following key tenets.
Number one, maximum foreign military funds from the U.S. to Israel with a focus on providing Israel a qualitative military edge.
Number two, an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Number three, the Golan Heights must remain under the control of Israel.
Number four, the worldwide elimination of boycott divestment and sanctions against Israel and Jewish communities here in the U.S. Such practices are blatantly anti-Semitic.
Number five, prosecution of and defense against mutual threats to Israel in the United States. Any threats to Israel should be treated as a threat to the United States.
Number six, we cannot allow a nuclear-capable Iran, and we should not reenter the JCPOA nuclear deal.
Mr. Speaker, I have seen war firsthand. War is an ugly thing, but failing to unequivocally support an ally as critical as Israel in pursuit of worldwide stability is the ugliest of things, especially at a time like this when stability worldwide is eroding in front of us.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Congress and this administration to fully support Israel.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from California, and I move to the great State of Texas next, the 36th District.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson).
Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today with one clear message for the American people: Bad policies have bad consequences.
Not that many weeks ago, we had a thriving and stable economy. We were energy-independent. We were a sovereign Nation with a secure border. Now, roughly 100 days into Joe Biden's presidency, we are living in what feels like the twilight zone with gas shortages, 2008 levels of inflation, rampant and out-of-control spending, high unemployment rates, destruction in the Middle East, political correctness and wokeness, winning the war on common sense, and worst of all, a massive border crisis.
These things didn't just happen, folks. They are the direct result of the left's conscious policy decisions--or rather delusions. Is this the America they really wanted?
Unfortunately, the mainstream media wants to distract you from the colossal failures of America's weakest President and his administration. In fact, the liberal media dedicated approximately zero minutes of airtime to the April illegal border crossing numbers, which were the worst in our Nation's history.
But I am here to tell you the truth. Biden's foolhardy policies have created a disaster on America's southern border. He has failed us. He has failed you and your family. And most importantly, he has failed to maintain the sovereignty of our beloved Nation.
We cannot begin to comprehend the lasting impact that Biden's border crisis will have on the sanctity and security of this Nation. And as I wade through the anarchic waters of living in Joe Biden and the Democrat's America, I am reminded of the words of Alexander the Great, when he said, ``I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.''
My friends, leadership is everything. And sadly, right now, our country is in desperate need of a real leader.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for that great reminder.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice), my friend from Georgia's 8th District.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding his time.
Mr. Speaker, we are all seeing gas prices soar--35 percent since January, since this administration took office. Whereas, what this administration inherited, under President Trump, was low and affordable energy costs and our Nation had actually achieved energy independence. There was record low unemployment numbers across all demographics. And prior to COVID, the average hourly wage earnings rose at the fastest rate in decades.
So what has changed? Well, what has changed is a reversal of those policies that work. Unfortunately, President Biden has proved that he is far more concerned with appeasing the fringe left-wing environmental extremists in his party than he is in helping the average American by lowering energy costs and creating good-paying jobs.
So with prices continuing to soar and massive labor shortages, it only makes sense that we should be doing the right kinds of things to get people back to work. And make no mistake, Biden's reckless energy policies have consequences.
I know I hear all the time from veterans in my district who literally are having to make the choice between driving 45-plus miles to a veteran's clinic or trying to have enough money to survive.
However, on day one, President Biden celebrated the canceling of the Keystone Pipeline and eliminated tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars for our economy. And yet, yesterday, the Biden administration gave the green light to finishing Russia's pipeline going down to Germany.
This is the height of hypocrisy. Are you kidding me? That we are not going to allow our own country to have a pipeline, but we are going to approve it for Russia? That pipeline with Russia is literally going to give billions of revenue to the Putin regime, and the completion thereof is going to cause our allies in Europe to have to rely more heavily on Russian oil. We are the ones who ought to be selling American oil to Europe, not enabling their reliance upon the Kremlin.
Under President Trump, we had a policy where America was first. It appears under this current administration that America is last. And I will just repeat this: This is what we have:
Under President Biden, sanctions against Russia are canceled and they build a pipeline. Under President Biden, he cripples our own economy by canceling Keystone.
It is time for us to get back to work.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 20\1/2\ minutes remaining.
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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his leadership tonight and for hosting this Special Order.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because it is time to get Americans back to work. At the beginning of the pandemic, industries of all types were desperately trying to keep their doors open and thousands of Americans lost their jobs. Since then, Congress has passed measures aimed to aid individuals and businesses, including five bipartisan relief bills, which I supported.
Today, we are starting to return to normal. Businesses across the country are opening their doors to pre-COVID operation levels. However, these industries are facing a new challenge: Getting qualified employees to return to work.
This is abundantly apparent in my district. The number one need of businesses, both manufacturing and service industries, is qualified and trained workers.
This past April, Clarion County held their annual career fair. Employers from numerous sectors gathered and hoped to find employees of all skill levels, great paying, family sustaining jobs available. Sadly, the career fair lacked individuals ready to rejoin the workforce.
Stories like this are, unfortunately, not unique. Right now, there are more job openings in the United States than any point in our Nation's history.
Mr. Speaker, as we continue to return to normal and more restrictions are lifted, we must continue to follow the science and encourage Americans to reenter the workforce. It is time to fully reopen America for business and put Americans back to work.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden says America is on the move again. But to me, folks, it looks like Americans are still at home. There are a record 8 million job openings in America right now. Eight million, folks. That is the population of the great State of Tennessee, where I come from.
We are hurting small business recovery and the economic growth. We have got to get our country back to work, Mr. Speaker. Joe Biden and the Democrat policies are not helping our recovery. The $15 minimum wage makes it harder on the very small businesses. The McDonald's restaurants in the district that I represent are now starting folks off at $15 an hour, and some are offering health benefits as well.
Bonus unemployment benefits that we are paying Americans to stay at home is just not working. The job-killing regulations that are directed at industries, like our energy sector, as well. The Green New Deal and more of this push to the left is only hurting us further.
Worst of all, we are pushing tax increases during an economic recovery. This is totally backwards, Mr. Speaker, and this is keeping Americans dependent on Big Government, which I am not so certain is not the ultimate goal.
Instead, we need to be encouraging the private sector to invest in recovery areas. My Opportunity Extension Act does just that, giving investors more time to use the highly successful Opportunity Zones program.
Opportunities Zones are in areas that are hit hardest by COVID economic fallout. These Opportunity Zones represent areas such as our rural areas and our inner cities, areas which I am proud to represent.
Our Opportunity Zones were responsible for $52 billion--$52 billion, Mr. Speaker--in new investment, and a half a million new jobs in our underserved areas before COVID hit.
This bill renews investment in these communities. It spurs economic growth. It attracts business. It is creating good-paying jobs, a much better alternative than the Federal Government handouts being pushed by many of my colleagues across the aisle.
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to discuss my bill further with anyone who is interested.
I thank the vice chairman for yielding to me. I appreciate you for organizing this event, brother.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his important comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, just like that, America faces four simultaneous crises: loss of control of the border, energy supply disruption, a sudden spurt of stagflation, and a key ally under assault.
Why is all this happening at once on the eve of the 4-month anniversary of Inauguration Day?
Because a weak President signals a weak America. The President sets the tone, and, today, it is very different than the previous 4 years.
On the world's stage, our adversaries are newly emboldened, and our allies more vulnerable. After several years of creative Trump peace deals, Israel is already under attack.
Is that a coincidence?
No. Hamas and other terrorists knew that with Trump there would be consequences. They know with Biden there will be none.
At our southern border, we have plateaued at a 20-year high for illegal border crossings. It is not slowing down. The word is out: You can cross without consequences. In fact, Biden and his allies think progress is expanding the throughput.
Persons are also now experiencing gas shortages, last seen with Jimmy Carter. Even before, the price at the pump sky-rocketed.
Why?
Because this President doesn't value or fight for American energy independence, like the last one. Instead, he cancels our pipelines and green-lights Russia's. Now families have new worries about their fuel budgets, while being lectured to by this legislation on leftist green energy fiascos.
Perhaps, most pressing of all, our economy is not recovering as it should, while all the warning signs of inflation grow stronger. Practically every day I hear the same thing from North Carolina small businesses, that they cannot find workers. And after that last pathetic jobs report, it is clear that this isn't isolated to any home State.
Biden isn't fighting for jobs. He is paying more to not have one.
What we are seeing across the board is trickle-down weakness, and the adverse effects are clear. For the first time in 4 years, America has a President who backs down without a fight, and it is costing us. Biden is nowhere to be found on the issues that matter. In his absence, Republicans will keep fighting for the American people.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, we will keep fighting, indeed. I thank the gentleman for his comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, Americans are bewildered about what is happening in our Nation today. Americans who actually work have deep concerns about the future of our country. It is incredible to observe, from my perspective as a humble constitutionalist servant within this august body, exactly what is going on with my colleagues across the aisle and our newly inaugurated executive branch.
We have moved from policies out of our executive that put America first to policies out of the President's administration to put America last. We are facing $31 trillion in debt.
Let me help my American brothers and sisters who work very hard to earn their living and have portions of their income seized and sent to Washington, D.C., let me help them get their head wrapped around $31 trillion in debt.
If this body, which is responsible constitutionally for all Federal spending, were to run a $1 billion surplus in a fiscal year--meaning we spent $1 billion less in Federal expenditures than we took in Federal revenue, $1 billion--it would require 31,000 years of a $1 billion surplus to address a $31 trillion debt. A trillion is a thousand billion, and a billion is a thousand million.
It is insane what is being presented as fiscal responsibility out of the Biden administration's White House in their budget request.
President Biden shut down the Keystone pipeline, killed thousands of American jobs overnight with the stroke of his pen on his first day in office, and now has approved support for a Russian pipeline under the guise of ecological concern, which is why he shut down Keystone, which is done incredibly clean in America.
The oil and gas industry, the energy industry in America is the cleanest in the world. We are going to shut down an American pipeline and approve and authorize a Russian pipeline. It is absurd the direction we are going in.
Our border crisis. My sources, which are accurate, we have added at least 700,000 to 800,000 illegal crossings this year. Our vice president, alledgedly, has been put in charge of handling the border. She can't find her way to south Texas. We should send a map to the White House.
Israel. Could you imagine what our response should be as a nation if we received 6,000 to 8,000 rockets fired at our citizens?
We should be standing unwavering beside our ally, Israel. A nation that stands against Israel stands against itself.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for allowing me to address the House, and I thank my colleague for holding this important Special Order this evening.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud).
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, today, our prayers are with our faithful friend and ally, Israel. The country is under attack by Hamas, a terrorist organization that will stop at nothing to kill and destroy.
The world is watching and hoping that Iran-backed Hamas and the Palestinian Liberation Organization will cease their destructive and reckless attacks on Israel.
Recently, pre-COVID, I had an opportunity to visit Israel. I spoke with one mom who talked about the horrific decision they are faced with at times. When the alarm goes off, when the missiles are coming in Israel, they know they have about 13 seconds to make it to a shelter, and they are faced with the decision of: Which child on the playground do you take with you?
This has got to stop. Israel's actions are a clear example of a nation committed to duty and responsibility of protecting their citizens. We know that Israel will continue to need our support, even after this attack subsides.
While other nations fueled by anti-Semitism act to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel, the U.S. hopes for prosperity and flourishing for the Israeli people. As such, we support continued economic cooperation and bold security assistance that benefits Israelis and Americans alike.
We applaud and stand by the accomplishments of the Trump administration to improve peace in the Middle East. We recognize Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. We affirm Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. We celebrate the historic Abraham Accords, reestablishing diplomatic ties between Israel and their regional neighbors.
We oppose efforts within the U.N. to undermine Israel on the global stage. We also oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions and call for the United States to withdraw from the Iran deal.
While the Washington left remains weak on Israel, the American people stand strongly in support of the Israeli people. It is time for Democrats to reject the extreme left, anti-American, anti-Israel, pro-
Marxist agenda. They need to work with Republicans to pass a bill to provide security aid to the Israeli Government.
{time} 2015
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Second District of Alabama (Mr. Moore).
Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Johnson for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, in the last few days, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad have fired 4,000 rockets targeting millions of Israeli civilians across the country. Thanks to Israel's Iron Dome, many of these rockets have been intercepted, saving thousands of lives. The Iron Dome is a byproduct of bipartisan support from Congress that provides critical missile defense and cooperation.
Tragically, not all of these rockets have been intercepted, resulting in senseless deaths of many innocent civilians, women and children among them.
These terrorist attacks against our strongest ally must stop, and Palestinian leaders have a responsibility to do all they can to stop it.
I commend my colleagues and our government leaders from both sides of the aisle who have condemned this violence, telling the world and our mutual enemies that America stands strong with Israel.
To those who blame Israel and accuse them of terrorism, I will say what I have always told my children: Don't be the first ones who start a fight, but you must be willing to finish it.
Israel has a right to defend their citizens and their nation's sovereignty.
The Lord told Abraham: I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless them that bless thee, and I will curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the Earth be blessed.
I am proud to stand firm with Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they be secure who love you.
Psalm 122.6.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Amen to that. I appreciate my friend and those great comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield next to the gentleman from the Sixth District of the great State of Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) with more thoughts about Israel.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, a tragedy is going on in Israel. Over 4,000 rockets have been shot from Gaza and a handful from Lebanon. Twelve Israelis and about 200 Gazans have died. This is entirely unprovoked on Israel's part. It may have something to do with a future election on the West Bank. Iran is showing support for Hamas and is giving them financial aid, so they are partly responsible.
Gaza, of course, could be a liveable, modern country. It used to be a vacation destination. And prior to 2005, when Israel turned it over, there were greenhouses for an agriculture sector. It is their own fault by collectively electing a government which not only declares a unilateral war, but chooses residential and commercial facilities as military locations, guaranteeing deaths of civilians, including children.
Israel is a strong country, and, of course, they will not be defeated militarily. There is a danger, however. As explained by James Burnham in his book, ``Suicide of the West''--now over 50 years old--a decadent West may blame themselves for the corruption and lack of caring for human life in Gaza.
Some Members of this body are already doing this.
The United States and Israel must not shirk from our responsibilities as moral leaders of the world. We support Israel in defending themselves from the attacks of the morally bankrupt government in Gaza. We encourage them to continue this fight for as long as necessary to make sure their citizens are not at risk in the future.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Ninth District of the great State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Louisiana, our Republican vice chair, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, since the onset of the pandemic, our small businesses have been faced with immeasurable challenges. Though our recovery from the pandemic is underway, businesses now face an unnecessary worker shortage due in part to enhanced unemployment compensation payments that disincentivize work.
Each week, I speak with small business owners from across my district who tell me they have open jobs, but can't fill them and compete with enhanced unemployment. One of the largest employers in my district, East Penn Manufacturing, is hosting weekly job fairs to fill hundreds of good-paying manufacturing jobs they have available and are going unfilled.
Enhanced unemployment compensation was never intended, Mr. Speaker, to be permanent, but it is now disrupting the labor market on the onset of what can be a strong recovery. As more Americans continue to get vaccinated and our COVID cases continue to decline, it is time for us to stop this disincentivizing work.
Unemployment assistance programs should be revised to target those unable to work, such as parents with children at home due to school closures or those not physically able. Those who can work and choose not to should not be able to receive generous unemployment compensation at a rate often more than $20 per hour.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports 8.1 million jobs were open in March, and there are plentiful well-paying jobs in every industry offering incentives for new hires across Pennsylvania. Despite this, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is even higher than the national average.
That is why last week I sent a letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania urging him to better target supplemental unemployment compensation to those who truly need it and reinstate work search requirements that were waived last year. Despite an abundant job market, our economy added only 266,000 jobs last week.
Mr. Speaker, as I close, businesses are creating new jobs every day. We owe it to them to at least create job seekers.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for participating tonight. I realize we are out of time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 87
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