[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3796-H3797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SERIOUS ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls) is recognized for 
60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. NEHLS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NEHLS. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great 
State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).
  Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, the Biden administration and Democrat 
House leadership want to cap off their first 6 months with an 
additional $3.5 trillion in massive bills which will be the largest 
expansion of government ever.
  Let's review the past 6 months. Prior to the Biden administration, on 
a bipartisan basis we here in this Congress allocated $3.7 trillion for 
COVID relief and recovery on a bipartisan basis.
  President Biden and the Democrats through a completely partisan 
spending bill spent $1.9 trillion, three times more than many thought 
was necessary, and many Democrat economists also felt that way, 
especially since GDP growth was hitting record levels, clearly 
indicating American recovery.

                              {time}  1615

  Now we are experiencing inflation at really historic levels. Milk, 
bread, fruit, gasoline, among other items, have seen price increases, 
taxing all Americans. Unemployment remains very high in States that 
continue to extend and enhanced unemployment insurance. Meanwhile, 
virtually all employers have a shortfall in their workforce and are 
looking for employees.
  Additionally, illegal immigration is at an all-time high. We see the 
mess at the border with no real corrections being made by the Biden 
administration or the Democrat-led House. Crime is hitting record 
levels in urban and suburban American. Oil imports from Russia are at 
an all-time high while we restrict energy production here at home, and 
China's economy is roaring.
  We receive no cooperation from the CCP or the WHO, regarding 
investigations into the origins of COVID-19. Additionally, cyberattacks 
originating from China and Russia have presented a huge threat to 
American businesses large and small, yet, we have little to no response 
from the Biden administration or from our Democratic leadership here in 
the House.
  Now the Democrats are putting a bipartisan transportation 
infrastructure bill in jeopardy that was agreed upon because they 
insist on spending $3.5 trillion-plus for all kinds of government 
expansion initiatives, including expansions in Medicaid, ObamaCare, 
EPA, IRS, and I could go on.
  This reckless expansion of government after $5 trillion in spending 
will rock our economy, destroy career opportunities, create permanent 
dependency on government, and saddle our future American generations 
with debt well beyond what the eye can see or what the mind can 
contemplate.
  Say ``no'' to reconciliation. Say ``yes'' to a bipartisan 
transportation infrastructure bill.
  Mr. NEHLS. Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend for his comments.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), my 
great friend.
  Mr. JACKSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a 
serious issue facing my home State of Texas and millions of Americans, 
the Biden border crisis. Things at our southern border have gotten 
worse by the day since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have taken office.
  For example, illegal immigration numbers were up 450 percent in June 
compared to June of last year. June was the fourth straight month with 
over 170,000 apprehensions. Border Patrol officials have seized more 
fentanyl so far in 2021 than all of 2020.
  COVID cases among illegal immigrants are up 900 percent in the Rio 
Grande Valley. Numbers don't lie. The Biden administration's reckless 
approach to immigration has caused a full-blown crisis at the border, 
and there is absolutely nothing being done to stop it.
  To be clear, the public health and drug crises that have been 
exacerbated by what is happening at the border are not just a problem 
for border States. The drugs being smuggled in at the border are coming 
to a neighborhood near you, courtesy of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
  Their hypocrisy on the public health threat, in particular, couldn't 
be more appalling. While pushing stringent COVID rules on the American 
people, the Biden administration is simultaneously pushing an open-
border agenda that includes placing COVID-infected illegal immigrants 
all over this country. It is absolutely unbelievable.
  Every American will ultimately be impacted in some way by this Biden 
border crisis. I plea with the President to reverse his failed 
immigration plan and start protecting the American people.
  Mr. NEHLS. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Jackson for his comments.
  Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I will address tonight the many, 
many serious issues facing our country: the unprecedented crisis at our 
southern border; the highest inflation we have seen in 13 years; the 
Democrats' out-of-control spending and tax increases; the Democrats' 
undermining of the Hyde amendment; and the Democrats' defense of the 
Communist Cuba regime.

[[Page H3797]]

  It is important we discuss these issues as Republicans, because our 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they just won't. We owe it 
to the American people to do better than this; to ensure there is still 
a country left when our children grow up.
  The way the Democrats and the Biden administration are spending 
money, and our open borders, should not just concern Republicans, but 
every American. That is why I am proud of the way my colleagues and I 
will bring these issues straight to the American people in the people's 
House.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their 
participation tonight. I know that we don't have anyone else here, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

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