[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEFENDING THE UNBORN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Pfluger) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of the precious 
lives of our unborn. Last week, my colleagues in the Appropriations 
Committee voted to authorize taxpayer-funded abortions by passing a 
spending bill that omits the Hyde amendment.
  The Hyde amendment prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used to fund 
abortions and it has saved an estimated 2.5 million lives. It has been 
included in every appropriations package since 1976 until now. The move 
to eliminate Hyde is another blatant attack on the sanctity of life, 
following this administration's budget proposal that has also failed to 
include the Hyde amendment and other pro-life policies in Federal 
programs.
  This is a crucial moment for all of us to uphold the inherent dignity 
of human life. Every unborn child should have the right to life. There 
are few greater priorities. I will continue to do everything in my 
power to protect the vulnerable, to safeguard taxpayer consciences, and 
to preserve the sanctity of life. We must protect the Hyde amendment.


                            Liberty for Cuba

  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advocate for liberty, for 
freedom. For over 60 years, the Cuban people have been oppressed by the 
worst impulses of a brutal regime and the failed promises of Communist 
propaganda. What we are seeing today is those people are saying 
``enough is enough.'' The Cuban people are shouting ``libertad'' for 
freedom, waving American flags and rising up to finally demand 
independence and autonomy over their own lives.
  Cuba is showing us in real time. In fact, they are showing the world 
in real time that massive government control over society simply does 
not work, and how its demise quickly spirals into deadly conditions of 
poverty, starvation, and hopelessness.
  I recently had the chance to speak to a Cuban American and a Cuban. 
Their stories are horrific about the atrocities that their own 
government is using, the violence, that they are using to control the 
society.
  This is causing enough desperation that Cubans will stare down their 
oppressors in the streets. They will risk their lives, crossing 
treacherous waters on homemade rafts to reach the shores of America, 
the shores of freedom.
  The truth is clear: The United States remains the beacon of freedom 
and democracy around the world. We must do everything in our power to 
keep it that way and valiantly support liberty at home and abroad.


                       Fleeing of Texas Democrats

  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express disappointment in 
the dereliction of duty of Texas Democrats who last week in the State 
legislature decided to flee the State to keep the Texas House from 
taking any action during the special session.
  This stunt, complete with private jets and plenty of congratulatory 
media coverage, slows the passage of initiatives including: family 
violence prevention, property tax relief; support for our teachers; and 
a widely supported bill to strengthen election integrity.
  The majority of Texans support safeguarding our elections. 
Unfortunately, colleagues in the Texas House are peddling lies about 
the election integrity bill. In reality, this measure merely disbands 
COVID-19 voting protocols that had never been used prior to 2020, while 
creating a more secure voting process.
  Showing ID, proving who you are in a State and Federal Government 
election allows thousands of people to enter illegally every single 
day, and ending voting at 4 o'clock in the morning. It is time for the 
media and the Washington elites who are cheering on this charade to see 
it for what it really is: political theater. Texans deserve better.

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