MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Virginia Foxx

Republican NC 22 statements translated

Foxx is laser-focused on stopping boycotts of Israel, especially in academia. She brings it up every chance she gets, argues the government should intervene to protect students and taxpayers from them, and seems pretty personally offended that anyone would boycott Israel or Jewish people. Not much else seems to get her going quite like this issue.

House of Representatives

Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026

2026-09-03

“I want to stop boycotts of Israel. Some groups boycott Israel. I don't like that. I think it's bad and mean. I want a law to stop them. I want taxpayers' money to not go to groups that boycott Israel. I want Congress to pass my bill. I say we need to act now. I don't like that groups boycott Israel.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, in 2013, the American Studies Association, the largest academic group in the United States, adopted a policy endorsing an academic boycott of Israel. In 2014, six taxpayer-supported NRC directors signed a letter endorsing an academic boycott of Israel. These academic boycotts contravene the purposes of the title VI funding they received. Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on, but now is not the time for talk. The facts are evident. Now is the time for action. This Congress needs to codify this preventive measure to protect students and taxpayers from this disgusting discrimination. Again, I thank Chairman Walberg and Representative Gottheimer for their work on this bipartisan legislation. I urge the Chamber to draw a line in the sand against these harmful campaigns against the State of Israel, Israelis, and our Jewish students at home.

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“I want this bill to pass. It will stop people from boycotting Israel. I think boycotts are bad and mean.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4795, bipartisan legislation to combat anti-Semitic, discriminatory commercial and academic boycotts of Israel. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for yielding me time, and I thank him for advancing this critical bill out of committee. I also thank Ranking Member Scott for his vote in committee to advance the bill on a bipartisan basis. In addition, I also thank the coauthor of this bill, Representative Gottheimer of New Jersey, for his tireless work on this bipartisan achievement. I thank the groups that we worked with and those that support this legislation, the American Jewish Committee and the Combat Antisemitism Movement, for their steadfast support. Mr. Speaker, for decades now, the State of Israel, Israelis, and the people of Jewish faith have been internationally subjected to deplorable boycotts of their identity, their livelihoods, and their vitality. As others have stated, these boycotts are anti-Semitic in their design and discriminatory in their effect, and after October 7, universities have become the epicenters of these campaigns. Let me just quote the cofounder of the modern BDS movement, Omar Barghouti, emphasis mine: ``The ending of Israeli control in the territories is but the first stage of the road to fulfilling the vision of the dismantling of Israel.'' You heard that correctly, ``the dismantling of Israel,'' as stated by the founder of this deplorable movement. I want every Member of the House that is about to vote on this measure to reckon with this fact: the very founder of the BDS movement wants to dismantle the Jewish state. That is why the American Jewish Committee has characterized BDS leadership as seeking nothing less than the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. Every Member here should let that sink in and every Member should understand that this bill represents the House's opportunity to stop this anti-Semitic, discriminatory, and inhuman campaign from being fueled by American taxpayers and stop it in its tracks. Commercial and academic boycotts like the ones we see, when fueled by taxpayer funds, represent concrete discrimination against the people's national origin. They are discriminating against people of the Jewish faith. They result in discrimination against and marginalizing of Israeli students. No matter how you slice it, these anti-Semitic boycotts should have no place in higher education and deserve zero intersection with the Federal Government. Now, let me speak to the chief argument from opponents of this bill: that these boycotts are illusionary, nonevents, or they haven't yet been actualized by administrators, so there is no reason to address possible taxpayer funding. These boycotts are manifest. They are coordinated. They are real. They marginalize Jewish students. They harm Israel, Israelis, and Jewish students economically. Case in point, the Evergreen State College in Washington, at the administrative level, reached an agreement to address divestment from companies that profit from the ``occupation of Palestinian territories.'' You can read this commitment to boycott and divest from Israel online as we speak. The Committee on Education and Workforce's investigation last Congress revealed that faculty members and Northwestern's provost-- administrators, mind you--were openly willing to appease encampment organizers in their efforts to demand that the university boycott Sabra hummus. These demands were only rejected after Congress threw its full weight and investigative power against such appeasements. The lack of successful commercial boycotts isn't due to a lack of trying. During the 2023-2024 academic year, at least 86 BDS resolutions were considered across graduate, undergraduate, and professional student organizations and faculty unions. Academic boycotts have a record of taxpayer support. Keep in mind, they can be stealthily executed at the programmatic level and can be accomplished without the expressed support from university administrators. One leading professor at Georgetown's Title VI supported National Resource Center has actively pursued a full academic boycott of Israel. In 2013, the American Studies Association, the largest academic--

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House of Representatives

Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1501, Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 9436, Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026; Providing for Consideration...

2026-09-01

“I want to talk about socialism. I don't like it. The other side likes it. I think that is bad. Their ideas are bad. I think people should look at the manifesto. It has bad ideas. I don't want those ideas. I think those ideas are dangerous. I want people to vote for my bill. My bill is good. It will help people.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are saying we are wasting our time here when we talk about all that we have accomplished in this session of Congress. They especially don't like it when we talk about socialism. I encourage the American people to go online and look at this manifesto from the Democratic Socialists of America. It is out there for all the world to see. This is an expanded version from the first one that I saw that looked like it was written by a seventh grader. This one really fills out what these people want to do, and it is why we are bringing one measure today, under this rule, to condemn what these people want to do. It is abhorrent to all Americans. Its goals are repugnant to the principles that form the foundation for American constitutional liberties that benefit all Americans. There is simply no way to reconcile what the DSA envisions for America with the Constitution that protects us all. For example, the DSA's stated long-term goals, to completely replace the Presidency and the Supreme Court, threaten the foundation of separation of powers and the stability of American democracy. The DSA seeks to centralize State power. We all know that expanding State control crowds out civil society and individual choice. Even under a ``Democratic'' banner, hyper-centralized authority diminishes opportunities for dissenting views and personal freedoms. The DSA seeks to abolish national boundaries. Think about that. The chaos we experienced when President Biden allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the U.S. will seem like child's play in comparison. We know of the security risks caused by President Biden's open borders. Murderers, child rapists, and other criminals were granted carte blanche to terrorize American communities. Think about the implications of a permanent absence of borders. We know the financial costs caused by President Biden's open borders. In one sanctuary State alone, emergency housing for illegal immigrants surpassed $1 billion in FY 2025. Providing such services on a permanent, ongoing basis would bankrupt every State. Let me just quote from a few pages of this manifesto. They want to have ``publicly owned energy and transit infrastructure. Phase out the use of fossil fuels. Reclaim and repair our Earth's resources for all.'' This sounds like free buses in New York that have been promised. ``Feminism for All: Socialist feminism fights for queer liberation and the freedoms for all working-class women.'' ``Healthcare for All: Guarantee universal healthcare at no cost to individuals, including complete access to reproductive and gender- affirming care.'' What does that mean, Mr. Speaker? That means abortions at any point in the child's life. They want housing for all: ``Build new, publicly owned social housing, strictly regulate investment properties, establish universal rent control, and guarantee right to counsel for all tenants.'' Mr. Speaker, this is dangerous. There are people who are going to be in this Congress in the next session who support these programs. Again, I encourage the American people to look at this manifesto from the DSA. They are called Democratic Socialists of America. That is what they are called. That is what is asked for here, Mr. Speaker. As I said at the outset of the debate, we have a solid slate of bills contained under this rule. They are substantive, impactful, and address pertinent issues occurring across the Nation like this manifesto. We can and should pass this rule and each of the underlying bills to continue our work in service to the Nation and to the American people. 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. 1499 Offered by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts

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“We passed a lot of bills. I like them all. We made it harder to be an immigrant. We made it easier to deport people. We stopped fentanyl. That's good. We stopped people from coming here. We saved money. We stopped sex trafficking. I don't like gender-affirming care. I want you to know that's bad. We also protected kids online. We did a lot in Congress. I want you to know that.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, in order not to allow Americans to be misled by statements being made here on the floor, I am going to continue to list items among the dozens that were in H.R. 1 that could have been stand-alone bills but for efficiency's sake were included in H.R. 1. We permanently secured our Nation's borders, funded the construction of the border wall, and provided funding for additional Customs officers and Border Patrol agents. However, in addition to that, we passed the Laken Riley Act as a stand-alone to require detention of illegal aliens who commit theft. The Working Families Tax Cuts included provisions that make illegal immigrants who are convicted of or who have admitted to sex offenses or domestic violence inadmissible and deportable. The Working Families Tax Cuts creates a new criminal offense for operating a vehicle within 100 miles of the southern border while fleeing Border Patrol agents. The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act makes driving while intoxicated or impaired grounds for deporting an illegal alien. The Kayla Hamilton Act requires background checks for criminal history or gang affiliation before unaccompanied alien children are placed in American communities. Not a single illegal alien has been released into the U.S. in 16 months. Four hundred thousand illegals who were charged with and convicted of a crime have been deported. Emergency rooms have reported significant reductions in illegal immigrant visits, freeing up critical resources to better serve American citizens in need of urgent medical care. Fentanyl trafficking at the southern border has been reduced by 56 percent in FY 2025. The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently schedules fentanyl and fentanyl analogues as schedule I drugs. More than 146 migrant children have been rescued from sex trafficking and child labor. We hear about this every week on the news. Another act, the SUPPORT Act, reauthorizes support and treatment programs for opioid use disorders and other substance abuse disorders. We lowered costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in our country. We protected children by passing legislation that would end gender- affirming care--gender-affirming care, what a distortion of the American language--for minors, and we banned biological males from girls' and women's sports. Mr. Speaker, if we have done nothing else, that is a huge accomplishment, but we have done so many other things. We passed the KIDS Act that protects children online by holding Big Tech accountable and requiring stronger safeguards to protect kids from predators, exploitation, and harmful online contents. Again, we could go on and on, and I will, to correct the record of what we have done in this Congress. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to talk about all the good things my party has done. We passed a big tax cut. That was good. We did many other things. We expanded accounts. We helped farmers. We helped small businesses. We gave money to seniors. We changed the child tax credit. We changed many taxes. We ended some taxes. We repealed some subsidies. All of these things are good. There are too many good things to list. My party did a lot to help people.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will continue to talk about the accomplishments of the 119th Congress. House Republicans, so far in the 119th Congress, have passed the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which delivered the largest middle- and working-class tax cuts in U.S. history. That cannot be refuted, Mr. Speaker. It cannot. Anyone who tries to do that is themselves living in an alternate universe. We expanded 529 education accounts. We saved American farms by allowing farmers to spread tax payments on sales over 4 years if the land continues to be used for agriculture purposes. We doubled the small business expensing limit. We permanently extended the small business deduction. We delivered a $6,000 bonus deduction to seniors on Social Security. We eliminated the tax on auto loan interest for American-made cars. We permanently increased the child tax credit to $2,200. We eliminated the tax on overtime. We eliminated the tax on tips. We created Trump accounts to help children begin saving for their future. We permanently allowed businesses to immediately deduct domestic R&D expenses. We permanently doubled the death tax exemption. We permanently increased the standard deduction. We ended taxation of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. We repealed the green corporate welfare subsidies. Mr. Speaker, we don't have enough time in the time allotted for this rule debate today to list all of the wonderful things that this House of Representatives and this Congress have done to improve the lives of the American people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to talk about our government spending your money. I like our policies. These policies will help young Americans. Our government will pay businesses to train young workers. We will give more money to students so they can borrow more. Our government will spend money on housing and food for children. Families will pay less for some things. This is good for the economy. 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. This plan will be good for Americans.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in the 119th Congress, the House has been the most aggressive, successful, and productive since the 80th Congress in 1949. Total measures passed by the House are 899. Tax relief was $82 billion across all filers this tax season with 97 percent of all tax filers receiving a tax cut last year, and the 3 percent who didn't were the highest earners in the country. Regulations lifted by Congress are 23. When you place these three points within historical context, they reveal that this Congress is the most successful and productive since 1949. Now, obviously, the House cannot control the actions of the Senate. The statistics demonstrated by the House of Representatives this Congress are truly historic. I would put them up against the abysmal record of sleepy Joe Biden and his enablers every day. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want the government to condemn socialism. I want the government to ensure secure elections for American citizens only. I want the government to support domestic mining. I want the government to prohibit colleges from boycotting Israel if they receive taxpayer money. I want the government to protect whales and fishing communities. I worked on this legislation. I want these bills to pass. I think these bills are good for America.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Committee on Rules met and produced the rule, House Resolution 1499, providing for the House's consideration of four measures: H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, H. Res. 1490, and H.R. 4795. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025, and H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026, under closed rules. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate on each bill, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their respective designees and provides each bill one motion to recommit. The rule further provides for consideration of H. Res. 1490, providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms, and for other purposes, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration or their respective designees. The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and Workforce or their respective designees and provides one motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, we have a strong slate of bills contained under this rule here today, bills that are as substantive as they are impactful. H. Res. 1490 makes clear the House's strong disapproval of socialism and reaffirms our ironclad support for free, fair, and secure elections that the American people can trust. These are issues of monumental importance, Mr. Speaker. We have all seen how socialism continues to encroach upon our society, our constitutional Republic. It is not some sort of ominous figure on the horizon. It is a threat standing directly upon America's doorstep. Some will argue that socialism is a good thing and that it is steeped in benevolence, fairness, and righteousness. Tell that to the millions of men, women, and children throughout history who have died because of socialism. Tell that to the people who lost their freedoms under socialism, the people who lost everything. History reminds us that socialism has always been used as a cudgel against free people, as a cudgel against individual liberty and prosperity. It must be denounced by this body in the strongest terms. This resolution also makes clear that our system of elections here in America should remain secure, and participation should be limited to only American citizens. Noncitizens have no right whatsoever to cast a vote in our elections. We saw the failures uncovered in New Jersey, where thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote in that State. Votes cast by noncitizens negate legal votes cast by Americans who exercise their civic duty at the ballot box. Why in the world would we ignore this issue? This is an issue that the American people care deeply about. They deserve the utmost confidence that their votes count and that our system of elections remains as secure as it could possibly be. H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025, would work to preserve streamlined permitting eligibility for domestic mineral production right here in the United States. We are blessed to live in a country that is teeming with resources that we can harness and use to our benefit. Energy security and the resilience of our Nation's supply chain will always be issues that we can make good progress on and build upon. We can do so by passing this legislation and adding to the progress that we have made thus far in this Congress. H.R. 4795, the bipartisan Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, prohibits institutions that distribute hardworking taxpayers' dollars to students in colleges and universities from engaging in nonexpressive commercial boycotts of Israel. To be crystal clear, this legislation does not dictate viewpoints, and it does not prohibit anyone from expressing their opinions. Individuals remain free to advocate, protest, or engage in political speech protected by the First Amendment. Students can still choose to abstain from products made in Israel if they so choose. This legislation extends deference to the First Amendment by applying a successful model established by the State of Arkansas that has been validated by the Federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. What Congress cannot and should not tolerate is taxpayer money being used to marginalize Jewish people and undermine Israel's major strategic partner status enshrined in law. This bill addresses conduct that is unacceptable to a majority of Americans and sends a simple message: American taxpayers should support institutions that foster academic opportunity and international collaboration and not institutions that erect barriers and engage in discriminatory boycotts. I am proud to author this legislation and to have worked in a strong spirit of bipartisanship alongside my colleagues to help it come to fruition. Confronting anti-Semitism is an issue of our time, and we cannot afford to place it on the back burner for even a second. Finally, H.R. 9436 would allow for a more thorough review of protections for one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. It would allow scientists, fishermen, and government agencies the necessary time to study and refine protections for the North Atlantic right whale that could better protect fishing communities and the vitality of the species. I will note that this is an issue that has received bipartisan support here in the people's House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to give my time to the other side so we can debate. I'm yielding 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts for debate only.”

House of Representatives

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...

2026-07-21

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

“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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“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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“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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“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.”

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

House of Representatives

The Wonderful Mccourt Family

2026-07-21

“I want to talk about a report by a group called ACTA. They say colleges should teach students about American values and history. I agree with that. I think being an informed citizen is very important. It is not old-fashioned. I want people to learn about America's founding principles. I think that will make our country better. I think colleges should do more to teach students about America's heritage. I like what Thomas Jefferson said about ignorance and freedom. I support this report and its recommendations.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight a very insightful and pertinent report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, ACTA, titled: ``A Broadside for the Nation, Preparing College Students for Informed Citizenship.'' ACTA is a wonderful, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability through the trustees at America's colleges and universities as well as informing and engaging the general public. The broadside is reminiscent of the many broadsides published during the revolutionary period that were so important in informing the people along with getting their support for the revolution. Being an informed citizen isn't passe. It is one of our most sacred responsibilities as Americans and one we cannot afford to abandon or ignore. As the report's authors lay out: ``True patriotism includes a commitment to and appreciation of American values and principles. Since the founding of our Nation, our greatest leaders have recognized that our freedom and our prosperity depend on informed and engaged citizens.'' We just celebrated 250 years of American greatness, Mr. Speaker, and we ought to do all that we can to learn of and espouse the values and principles that make America the greatest country in the world. Michael Poliakoff, the president of ACTA, captured this sentiment perfectly in this report: ``The birth of America 250 years ago amazed the world, and our founding documents have inspired the search for freedom and human rights throughout the world. The colleges and universities built and maintained by the vision and generosity of generations of Americans owe it to the Nation to ensure that every student they graduate understands the precious heritage we share.'' Let us not forget the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson who once opined on this very issue: ``If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.'' I commend ACTA and the many authors who contributed to this report for calling attention to this issue. It is one that we all would do well to wholeheartedly support.

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“I want to praise a business owner in my district. He makes equipment. He came from Ireland. Now he has a big business in the United States. Many people in his family work there. They have many employees. His business is a success. I think that is good for the economy.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize John McCourt and his wonderful wife, Eileen, who are the epitome of the American Dream. John began his career in 1970 in County Tyrone, Ireland, in the screening equipment business on the factory assembly line for Powerscreen International Limited. After building his reputation and business acumen across Europe, he and his wife, Eileen, relocated their family to the United States, and he soon established his own distributorship in Texas. Fast-forward to today, and the McCourt family runs a highly successful equipment business with a reputation and a track record that is steeped in high quality and unparalleled commitment. Their business is family owned and family operated with over 500 years of experience in the industry and over 150 employees. I was fortunate to meet members of the McCourt family recently in Washington through Associated Equipment Distributors. They are a wonderful group of dedicated people. The wonderful story of their parents, John and Eileen, as well as the story and success of their entire family, is something to marvel at, Mr. Speaker. We should all take the time to recognize the impeccable, business- driven and value-driven people in our communities and across the Nation like the McCourt family for all they do in supporting our great American economy.

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House of Representatives

Providing for Consideration of (H.R. 139) Sunshine Protection Act of 2025; Providing for Consideration of (H.R. 8595) National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act...

2026-07-14

“I want this bill to pass. I say the other side is bad. They are communists. They don't make things better. A vote against my bill is a vote against good things. I want you to vote yes on my bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I said at the outset of this debate, Mr. Speaker, we have a lot of business to attend to this week. Our work in service to the American people continues. We are not in chaos, Mr. Speaker. The four underlying measures of this rule meet the priorities of President Trump, the administration, and the American people. We are focused on commonsense measures. As we have seen across our country in recent weeks and months, the Democratic Party is being taken over by communists, and we know that communists have never made the world a better place to live. A vote against this rule and its underlying measures is a vote to deny the priorities of all three of the entities I have mentioned and to deny positive progress. We would all do well to remember that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.

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“I respect veterans groups. Veterans made America great. Many veterans groups support this bill. They say it will help veterans and their families. I agree with them. I think we should pass this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have great affection and respect for VFW members. In fact, I have great respect and admiration for every organization that represents veterans. It is because of veterans that we speak English here today and that we are the greatest country in the world. I would like to set the record straight about which veteran organizations are supporting this legislation. We have The American Legion, and I am not going to read the entire quote, but there is a quote here from Daniel Wiley, American Legion national commander, who said: ``For over a century, The American Legion has been the leading veterans service organization advocating for passage of nearly all major expansions or reforms to healthcare and benefits that benefit veterans and their families.'' ``After thorough consideration of the legislative and regulatory environment, which included conversations with legislators who both agree and disagree with the bill, we believe TCAVA is the best path forward to get these crucial bills enacted into law.'' ``The Take Care of America's Veterans Act represents our Nation's sacred promise to those who serve and those they leave behind,'' said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. The Military Officers Association of America has supported this legislation. The Wounded Warrior Project and 16 other groups support the legislation before us today. Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, is quoted here: ``This legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand with the veterans, caregivers, and survivors who have sacrificed so much for our country.'' Mr. Speaker, I have page after page after page of quotes from these various organizations that support this legislation. I believe they are correct in supporting the veterans legislation which is a part of this rule. I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to blame Democrats for not supporting veterans. I say they don't really care. I say they just want to spend more money. I say their solutions are bad. I say Democrats are misleading people. I say Republicans have real solutions. I say the Republican bill will spend less. I say Democrats won't fix the VA. I say Democrats won't help with mental health or slash bureaucracy. I say Democrats just want to throw money at the problem. I say Democrats don't care about improving veterans' lives. I say Democrats lie to people. I say Republicans really care about veterans. I say Republicans want to fix the VA. I say most Republicans on the committee are veterans. I say Republicans are fighting for veterans. I say Democrats are bloviating. I am angry. I want people to support the Republican bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the American people need to take note of the amount of rhetorical smog emanating from the other side of the Chamber, because it is obscene. Our Democratic colleagues continue to weave together an entirely disingenuous and deceptive narrative that Democrats are the ones standing at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to supporting our Nation's veterans. That has never been the case and will never be the case. If Democrats truly cared enough about veterans, they would spend their time supporting Chairman Bost's bill and not coming up with hack job, so-called solutions that do nothing to reform the VA and deliver high-quality care and service to those who have served this Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is sad that our colleagues across the aisle have chosen this position. It is sad that they can gin up misleading narratives and hawk them around like someone delivering newspapers on a bike. The bill before us ensures that combat-disabled servicemembers who were medically retired through no fault of their own receive the benefits they earned while maintaining equity across retiree populations. This is what happens when personalities of the day and political gamesmanship subvert actual legislating, like what Chairman Bost and Republicans have been doing the entire time. The former doesn't deliver for veterans. It treats them like second-class citizens. Their solution is spending more money while delivering fewer outcomes. Wow, color us shocked. It is a story as old as time. Instead, the bill before us today would reduce net direct spending by approximately $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. In an era of growing deficits and debt, H.R. 9237 demonstrates that Congress can advance significant veterans' priorities while remaining fiscally responsible and reducing overall Federal spending. Republicans are focused on targeted relief. This is targeted relief that focuses on combat-disabled veterans, includes additional fairness safeguards, and does not throw money at a problem with the meager hope of things fixing themselves by osmosis. Let's run through what else you will not find in the cobbled- together, so-called solutions that Democrats are throwing their weight behind. You won't find a unified Democratic effort to reform the VA's outdated construction and leasing processes that delay the opening of clinics and facilities across the country. In Chairman Bost's bill, Republicans are doing just that. You won't find the Democratic commitment to ensure that veterans can continue to access the mental health care support services in the communities where they live nationwide. In Chairman Bost's bill, it is there. You won't find Democratic solutions to slash government bureaucracy that hinders veterans from accessing the care they deserve and earned. In Chairman Bost's bill, they are there. Mr. Speaker, that is the difference here. All Democrats see is another government program to funnel money into without any commitment whatsoever to improving the lives of those the program serves. They will contort the language they use and the policy gimmicks they cook up to mislead people and organizations into believing mistruths. VSOs, the purpose-driven organizations that are dedicated to advocating for veterans, have been led to believe that Republicans somehow want to rob veterans of their benefits, but that is entirely untrue. As is evidenced by President Trump's efforts, the efforts of Secretary Collins at the VA, and the veteran-driven legislation here in Congress, Republicans see veterans and meet them where they are. Republicans see and understand the problems that veterans face every day and want to ensure that the VA is nimble, responsive, and rightsized so that veterans are not left in the dark and to fend for themselves. Here is a final little nugget that I will leave you with, Mr. Speaker: The majority of our Republican members on the Veterans' Affairs Committee are indeed veterans. There is only one Democrat on that committee who is a veteran. I trust veterans to know and understand what veterans need and deserve. People are actually attuned to issues veterans face as opposed to those who simply haven't the slightest clue. Republicans are the ones with actual solutions here. We are not bloviating like so many have chosen to do. We are fighting for veterans, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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