[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 191 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRESS MUST WORK TOGETHER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, attempting to push through 
yet another socialist spending spree this year might be what liberals 
think will help their polling numbers, but it is not what the American 
people need.
  In reality, this bill would exacerbate our energy crisis and make our 
country less safe.
  The reckless spending in this legislation can best be defined as 
build back bankruptcy.
  Right now, in my hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania, gas costs over 
$3.50 a gallon. That is money coming directly out of Americans' 
pockets. If this spending spree is passed, that cost will only go up.
  So far, the Biden administration has placed a moratorium on new 
American drilling, canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, and allowed the 
Russians to produce oil for our allies in Europe. This legislation, 
unfortunately, doubles down on the Biden administration's war on 
American energy.
  This lengthy piece of legislation overregulates and overtaxes the 
natural gas, coal, and Marcellus shale industries that provide good 
wages and low-cost power to American families.
  Instead of supporting American energy, this bill hands out green 
energy tax credits to wind and solar manufacturers that are unable to 
meet the energy needs of our country. Wind turbines and solar panels 
are not going to heat our homes this winter.
  We need to focus on regaining America's energy independence. We need 
to focus on lowering energy costs before winter sets in.
  This inflation is not transitory. We cannot wish this problem away.
  Passing the Green New Deal dressed up as infrastructure legislation 
is not the answer to the problem that we are currently facing.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members of this body to work together 
to pass an infrastructure bill that would actually rebuild our roads 
and rebuild our bridges.
  In Congress, we must be responsible stewards of the taxpayers' 
dollars. We need to find a fiscally responsible way to build roads and 
to repair bridges.
  We need to complete the Appalachian regional highway system, and we 
need to expand internet access to all citizens across the 
Commonwealths, across the States, and across America. We need to do 
this without mortgaging our children's future. We need to do this 
without ballooning our deficit in a way that would hamstring the 
American people for decades to come.

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