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Virginia Foxx

Republican 12:20 p.m.

“I yield 30 minutes to the other side's debater. I reserve my own time to speak.”

Virginia Foxx

Republican 12:20 p.m.

“I want these six bills to pass. The bills would spend money on defense, help disabled people work, stop insider trading, help small businesses, and keep funding the government. Democrats are saying bad things about these bills. I don't like that. Republicans are doing a good job.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. Yesterday, the Committee on Rules met and produced the rule, H. Res. 1438, providing for the House's consideration of H. Con. Res. 113, H.R. 9770, H.R. 8800, H.R. 8884, H.R. 7008, and H.R. 6955. This rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8800, the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, under a structured rule and makes in order 320 amendments. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees, and one motion to recommit. Additionally, the rule provides that upon House passage of H.R. 8800, the Clerk shall add the text of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it to the Senate as one bill. The bill further provides for consideration of H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective designees and one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of H. Con. Res. 113, establishing the congressional budget for fiscal year 2027, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on the Budget or their respective designees. Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on House Administration or their respective designees and one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 6955, the Main Street Capital Access Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Financial Services or their respective designees and one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, under a closed rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on House Administration or their respective designees and one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, the rule and its six underlying measures are a direct reflection of our Republican majority's expressed commitments on multiple fronts. Contrary to the predictable and entirely incoherent hubbub that will reverberate from the other side of the Chamber during today's debate, Republicans remain at the helm, like we always have, and remain focused, as we always have. It is okay to tune out those on the other side of the aisle while they are blathering on, Mr. Speaker. Their fevered, political rhetoric does not carry an iota of substance. There is a great deal of business to attend to this week, Mr. Speaker. All of us understand that time indeed is of the essence here. Let's talk for a moment about that business. H. Con. Res. 113 begins the process to provide urgent, necessary resources for our Nation's firefighters, reinforce election integrity measures, and support the hardworking men and women of our agricultural community so that our Nation's food supply and food security remain as strong as they possibly can be. H.R. 9770 upholds Congress' explicit Article I duties to fund the Federal Government so that its operational continuity does not lapse or is subjected to the same disgraceful political subterfuge that our colleagues across the aisle engaged in last year. H.R. 8800, the keystone of Congress' mandate to provide for the common defense of the Nation, delivers for our Nation's servicemembers, allocates the resources necessary to maintain a strong posture of defense and deterrence, and confronts waste, fraud, and abuse head-on. H.R. 8884 allows disabled Americans, who want to join the workforce to better their own lives, to do so without having to worry about whether their disability benefits will disappear abruptly. H.R. 7008 prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, or dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks, while also implementing the requirement--that the American people overwhelmingly support--of requiring a photo ID to vote in Federal elections. It is entirely disingenuous for the other side to use fear-mongering tactics to scare people into believing that Republicans are trying to take away anyone's right to vote. That is downright false. Finally, H.R. 6955 makes life more affordable for Americans, while also empowering Main Street, by ensuring that community lenders are no longer burdened by ill-advised mandates that make it harder for them to serve families, small businesses, and local economies. That is the business at hand, Mr. Speaker. We are not here to entertain the ever-so-tired ranting and raving from our colleagues across the aisle that the sky is falling, the world is ending, or any kind of absurd political musings they may want to spout off. We are here to do the people's business, the business that makes America stronger, more secure, and more prosperous. As we celebrate the 250th year of the greatest country in the world, Republicans are working hard to strengthen America and help it endure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Virginia Foxx

Republican 12:30 p.m.

“You are wrong. Our priorities are good. Defense is important. That's the government's main job. I don't want to talk more about it.”

Clay Fuller

Republican 12:30 p.m.

“I want you to pass this bill. The government needs money to keep running. Democrats are stopping our government from working. That is bad. I want them to agree with me. I want money for clean up and programs for my district. Democrats should not try to stop programs that help my district. I want to support my district. I want what is best for the people in my district. I want my colleagues to support the bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule. This important legislation is required to allow Republicans in this House to advance important priorities for the American people, including funding legislation to keep our government operating. Unfortunately, it has become clear, as the House has considered appropriations legislation on the floor and in Chairman Cole's committee, that Democrats are trying to hold our government hostage. This legislation will make clear where Democrats stand. Will they vote against keeping the government working for the American people, or will they vote to keep us hostage? Will they vote with me to fund important priorities, such as the programs that will allow communities in my district and many others to clean up and recover from years of PFAS contamination, or will they vote to hold hostage programs that will make Appalachia communities, like mine, healthier all to score political points? I know where I stand. I know where leadership in this body stands. I promised my constituents that I would be a warrior for north Georgia, and I am proud to do that today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule.

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Virginia Foxx

Republican 12:40 p.m.

“I want to blame the other side. They are saying bad things. They should not say bad things. They are calling out individual Members. That is bad. Our bill will stop insider trading. It is called the Stop Insider Trading Act. Insider trading is already illegal. Some Members have been prosecuted. That is good. Our bill will make it more illegal. There are rules about stocks. Our bill has more rules. Members cannot buy stocks. They must tell the public before they sell stocks. There are penalties if they break the rules. I want the public to trust us. The other side is making people not trust us. Our bill will make people trust us again. The STOCK Act was not enough. Our bill will be more. The Stop Insider Trading Act will make things better. We are working for the people, not ourselves.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are skirting very closely to having their words taken down when they call out individual Members. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues sometimes ask who is to blame for the lack of trust of Members of Congress. It is Members of Congress and the press who call into question acts that are done by Members of Congress that are totally legal. We already have laws in place against insider trading. There have been a couple of Members of Congress who have been prosecuted for that, and that is appropriate, but the Stop Insider Trading Act will prevent that. I believe, and Republicans believe, that no lawmaker should profit off of insider information. I frankly don't know how people get the insider information, but the top line of the legislation we are bringing here, the Stop Insider Trading Act, led by Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, will ensure that lawmakers cannot use their positions to profit off insider information, if there is insider information. The Stop Insider Trading Act has a prohibition on stock purchasing. It bans Members, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing securities issued by publicly traded companies. It requires Members to file a public notice at least 7 days but no more than 14 days in advance for any intended stock sale with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate. Then, if a Member of Congress, spouse, or dependent child decides not to sell a covered investment, the Member must publicly withdraw the notice prior to its expiration. There are penalties, Mr. Speaker, for violators. They will be assessed a fine equal to $2,000 or 10 percent of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, and then any net gain realized from a transaction. This is designed to make sure that Members do not take advantage of any potential information or advantage that the Member has. Mr. Speaker, we want to restore public trust in this institution. Members are doing their jobs diligently. They do not want to be under a cloud. News outlets and social media accounts have garnered significant attention for aggregating the stock trades of Members of Congress. Under the STOCK Act of 2012, lawmakers are prohibited from using nonpublic information for their own financial benefit, but many Americans have become concerned that the STOCK Act is insufficient and stronger measures must be implemented. The Stop Insider Trading Act will increase transparency and reinforce to the American people that Members are working for them, not themselves. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Virginia Foxx

Republican 12:50 p.m.

“I want people to show photo ID to vote. My bill makes people show photo ID to vote. Some people say it's bad. But they are wrong. The Supreme Court says it's okay. You need ID to do many things. A study says it won't stop people voting. There is no problem with voter ID. Some people who shouldn't vote are voting. We need to stop that.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the voter ID provisions in this bill amend the Help America Vote Act to require States to obtain a photo ID from an individual to vote in person in a Federal election or to require a copy of the photo ID to be submitted with a ballot cast other than in person. These requirements do not apply to an absent uniformed services voter or an individual provided the right to vote other than in person by the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act. The bill permits voters to use several different forms of photo ID: a valid State-issued motor vehicle driver's license that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date, a valid State-issued identification card that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date issued by a State motor vehicle authority, a valid United States passport for the individual, a valid photo identification card for the individual issued by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a valid identification document issued by a Tribal government that includes a photo of the individual and an expiration date. While my friends across the aisle claim the bill will prevent individuals who cannot afford a photo ID from voting, this is nothing but false alarmism. The Supreme Court has held photo ID laws are constitutional only where the State provides a photo ID to those who do not have them. In other words, a photo ID requirement in the bill is not a barrier to voting for someone who cannot afford to pay the typical photo ID fee. The data supports that Democrats are being disingenuous when they claim this bill would suppress voting. The nonpartisan National Bureau of Economic Research tracked 1.6 billion data points over an 8-year period. This massive amount of data confirms strict voter ID laws have no statistically measurable negative impact on voter participation. This comprehensive, multiyear study found zero negative impact on overall registration or turnout, no drops in participation among minority or young voters, and an increase in Hispanic participation in some ID law States. Photo ID as a form of verification is a part of American life. Americans must show an ID to participate in a wide range of everyday activities, including boarding a plane, entering government buildings, cashing their checks, buying a gun, and enjoying Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta Bowl. Politico just announced that more than 6,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in New Jersey and have been voting since 2023. This is clearly an issue which must be addressed. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Virginia Foxx

Republican 1:00 p.m.

“I want to talk about our government spending your money. Our government will pay businesses to train young workers. We will give more money to students. Our government will spend money on housing and food for children. Families will pay less for some things. Our government has many plans to spend money. We need workers. Our country has many resources. Other countries want to buy them. We need more investments. Our government has a plan.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we live in the greatest country in the world. We just celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We have a lot more to be talking about, about the founding of this country, and I hope people will pay close attention to that. We do have a government that is on the side of the American people. We believe in capitalism. Our friends across the aisle constantly talk about how much people need to be paying more in taxes. We believe on the Republican side that the people have a right to what they have earned and not that the government should take their money and spend it the way the government wants to spend it. Let me remind our colleagues that just 1 year ago H.R. 1 delivered the largest middle- and working-class tax cut in U.S. history. Low- income workers realized the largest percentage reduction in their tax liability. Yes, we indeed care about the American people and the fruits of their labor. Nearly 40 percent of taxpayers have claimed one of President Donald Trump's signature cuts this year. This tax season over 7.5 million filers claimed no tax on tips, with an average deduction of over $7,000. Over 29 million filers claimed no tax on overtime with an average deduction of over $3,100, and over 35 million seniors have claimed the enhanced deduction for seniors with an average deduction of over $7,500. We do, indeed, care for the American people in allowing them to keep the fruits of their labor. More than 5.5 million Trump Accounts have been opened with 1.4 million eligible for the $1,000 pilot program contribution. Nearly 40 million families have claimed the enhanced child tax credit, and over 127 million filers, or 90 percent of all tax filers, have claimed the permanently doubled standard deduction. We do, indeed, care for American taxpayers. I am not at all surprised by the recent rant from our colleague when one-half of the Democrats could not vote for a resolution against socialism. Mr. Speaker, it is really no secret that this is a week of monumental importance in the people's House. The rule and six underlying measures carry with them a commitment to deliver upon the priorities of the President, the Nation, and the American people. Some are quick to write off the progress that this Republican majority has made thus far, and they are dead wrong in doing so. This week, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to build upon that progress in just the one issue I discussed, H.R. 1. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows: An Amendment To H. Res. 1438 Offered By Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts

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Virginia Foxx

Republican 1:10 p.m.

“I want this bill to pass so the government can claim it is helping families. I don't like that opponents slow it down.”

What they said. What they meant.

Recent debates

Providing for Consideration of H.R. 8800, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 8884, Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act...

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