[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6350-H6356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SELF-INFLICTED CRISES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. 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 Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, during what should be a 
period of sustained economic recovery, job growth has stalled, consumer 
prices are skyrocketing, and many shelves are empty thanks to supply 
chain chokepoints.
  Nevertheless, House Democrats are forging ahead to pass their 2,100-
page reckless tax and spending spree before they even know how it 
impacts the budget and before the American people can understand even 
what is in it, which is certain to drive up consumer prices even 
further and make job growth that much harder.
  Make no mistake, this bill is a clunker. If you can stomach the price 
tag and look underneath the hood, you will see tax breaks for the rich; 
you will see incentives to stay home instead of going back to work; 
massive taxpayer subsidies for inefficient green energy sources; and 
fewer cures for rare diseases.
  The bill eliminates jobs. It reduces paychecks. It increases 
government dependency. It crushes small businesses. It repeals 
longstanding protections against taxpayer funding of abortions. And it 
taxes American companies at a higher rate than Communist China. Yes, 
that is all in the bill.
  During our time this afternoon, in addition to the House Democrats' 
disastrous left-wing agenda, my colleagues and I will be discussing the 
many self-inflicted crises of the Biden administration. Whether it is 
the most expensive Thanksgiving in history, inflation, skyrocketing gas 
prices, or our overwhelmed southern border, one thing is for certain, 
the answer to the countless Democrat-caused crises is not more 
Democrat-authored policies.
  I thank my colleagues for being here today, and I yield to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).
  Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, this administration's assault on 
American energy--oil, natural gas, and coal--is causing energy prices 
to surge. They say they are doing this to address climate change, but 
make no mistake, this is not about carbon, it is about control. 
President Biden and his liberal allies in this body do not want our 
Nation to return to the energy independence we had just 2 short years 
ago because it means they would have less control over our daily lives.
  They want working families to feel economic pain in order to force 
them to change their behavior and reject fossil fuel generated 
electricity.
  Consider this. Gas prices are up 61 percent over last year.
  It is estimated American families could face a 54 percent increase in 
their home heating bills this winter.
  When asked about its plan to lower energy prices, the Biden 
administration essentially told us that high energy prices are 
punishment for using fossil fuels--oil, gas, natural gas, coal--and 
that sacrifices must be made to make progress on the climate crisis, 
something China and Russia are absolutely not willing to do.
  Surging energy prices in the Biden administration's out-of-control 
government spending that is causing inflation to surge to more than 6 
percent is causing everything to cost more, from gasoline to groceries.
  Yet, while this Thanksgiving could be the most expensive in history, 
one administration official called this inflation tax a ``high-class 
problem.''
  Put simply, when inflation increases, wages decrease. Everyday goods 
cost more. It hurts the poor, the middle class, our seniors, and those 
living day-to-day on a fixed income the most.
  Make no mistake, hardworking Americans can't afford this 
administration's agenda and its complete lack of compassion and respect 
for working families any longer.
  I urge my colleagues to stand up to this administration's far-left 
social reengineering agenda and the assault on fossil fuels that will 
continue harming the very Americans they claim so much to want to help 
the most.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin).
  Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today on 
behalf of families who will enjoy Thanksgiving with their loved ones 
next week. This American tradition is an opportunity to give thanks for 
all our many blessings.
  Yet through no fault of their own, millions of hardworking families 
are struggling to count their blessings this year. Thanks to liberal 
policies enacted by the Biden administration and congressional 
Democrats, inflation is soaring, gas prices have spiked more than 50 
percent, and supply chain disruptions are leaving store shelves empty. 
The cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year will be the highest in 
history, and it will cost more for folks to drive or fly to spend their 
holidays with loved ones.
  American families are hurting.
  My Democrat colleagues and their liberal elite mouthpieces in the 
media claim to be champions of the poor and the working class, yet an 
NBC correspondent claims it's a dirty little secret that Americans can 
afford to pay more for their groceries because they saved money when 
they were trapped in their homes during the COVID pandemic. She also 
had the audacity to say that because more than half of Americans are 
invested in the stock market and it has been doing well that most 
people are actually better off now.
  How out of touch can she be? First, clearly she has zero regard for 
the half of the country that isn't fortunate enough to have a stock 
portfolio. Second, good luck trying to eat your 401(k) for 
Thanksgiving. Those are designed for retirement so tax penalties for 
early withdrawals are harsh. Here is the real dirty little secret: She 
knows that, but she is so beholden to the left that she is willing to 
provide them free cover.
  Washington Post and Bloomberg op-ed writers are telling us we should 
lower our expectations and live more like Europeans by simply getting 
used to the idea of empty store shelves. These out-of-touch elites are 
channeling a let them eat cake mentality while American families are 
suffering.
  Recent elections have shown that Americans reject these attempts to 
fundamentally change our Nation from a prosperous environmental country 
into a suffering socialist regime.

[[Page H6351]]

  Inflation, intrusive government regulations, and overreaching 
policies have left American families with less money and limited buying 
power.
  No American should ever have to lower their expectations while living 
in the most prosperous country in the world. As Americans, we are 
blessed to live in a country where we are free to pursue economic 
prosperity, even during difficult times.

  Many of the economic challenges faced by American families today were 
created by the policies of an out-of-touch liberal ruling class, yet we 
stand on the brink of ramming through the largest and most expensive 
tax and spend initiative in history.
  It reminds me of the final scene in the movie ``Thelma and Louise'' 
when the lead characters drive their car off a cliff rather than face 
the consequences of their actions. Democrat Party leaders are willing 
to figuratively drive our country off the cliff if that is what it 
takes to pass the build back broke program in an electric car, I am 
sure.
  As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I ask my Democrat colleagues 
and media elites to take a long, hard look at what their policies are 
doing to working-class Americans.
  Just say no.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Babin).
  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague and 
neighbor from Louisiana across the Sabine River for hosting this 
Special Order tonight.
  Madam Speaker, it has been 10 months since Joe Biden took office, and 
look at the state of our country. Our southern border is eroding before 
our very eyes. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Inflation has gone up every 
month. Our currency is diminishing at an alarming rate. And now 
Americans are about to sit down to the most expensive Thanksgiving in 
history.
  How can anyone justify the fact that a bag of carrots has a price tag 
48 percent higher than just a year ago?
  My colleagues across the aisle know full well that every American is 
hurting because of their bad policies. They conveniently avoid the 
topic, telling people that inflation is actually a good thing.
  Give me a break. Try telling that to those hardworking Americans at 
the grocery store or at the gas pump now.
  What will it take for the left to finally come to their senses and 
say no more?

                              {time}  1700

  Is commonsense and wisdom something of the past? Outdated and 
disregarded? Democrats criticize us for telling the American people 
that they are destroying the country. They try to divert the American 
people's attention by censuring a Republican congressman over a 
cartoon; but I would ask them to simply look around. We are in a state 
of crisis and decay; and hardworking, law-abiding, freedom-loving 
Americans fear the inevitable outcome should we continue down this 
path. That outcome, what is it? Socialism, folks.
  Today, I ask my Democrat colleagues to look at the burden that they 
have put on the American people and face the fact that history has so 
clearly written--a socialist utopia simply does not exist.
  Today, I ask them, on behalf of every single American in this Nation, 
to find the courage and rise and say enough.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for that 
reminder that socialism never worked and never has. It is a fool's 
errand.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for the 
opportunity to address the House today.
  This week, President Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion 
Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, which focuses more on pushing 
Democrats' far-left socialist policies than on America's crumbling 
infrastructure needs.
  Madam Speaker, the signing of this bill comes on the heels of 
Democrats' reckless taxing-and-spending spree and senseless policies 
that have created an economic crisis of monumental proportions.
  As the Biden administration takes a victory lap, the American people 
are in no mood to celebrate. Inflation is at a 30-year high as prices 
on everything are more now than they were just 1 year ago. Gas is up 49 
percent; beef is up 20 percent; home heating bills are up 28.1 percent.
  Under the Biden administration, working families are getting crushed. 
Increased costs at the grocery store and the gas pump and higher home 
heating bills are squeezing Americans dry. Skyrocketing inflation is 
driving down real wages for hardworking middle-class families and 
making it more difficult for those living on fixed budgets to make ends 
meet.
  Instead of addressing the root cause of inflation--which, by the way 
and for the Record, is largely caused by out-of-control government 
spending--House Democrats are continuing to push their sweeping $1.75 
trillion build back broke act.
  This package would once again hand out cash to households and create 
new paid leave benefits with no expectation of work. However, as we all 
know, an engaged workforce is key to invigorating economic recovery and 
slowing inflation. Make no mistake, wasteful and increased spending by 
Democrats, much of which is being funded by even more borrowed money, 
won't slow inflation; it will supercharge it.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge President Biden and Democrats in 
Congress to reconsider the devastating economic consequences they are 
proposing to enact.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. He is so 
right about that. The hardworking American families are feeling the 
pain from Tennessee all the way to California.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Obernolte), my good friend.
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today deeply concerned that this body is 
scheduling a vote on what will likely be the most expensive spending 
package in the history of the United States without knowing the true 
cost of that package.
  Our own House rules, House rule XIII, requires us to wait for a score 
from the Congressional Budget Office before voting on a budget bill, 
and the budget reconciliation and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 
requires the CBO to issue that score. But unfortunately, we are rushing 
through this vote without even knowing the true cost of the bill.
  Last week, I led a group of almost half of the House of 
Representatives in sending a letter to the Speaker urging her not to 
vote on this bill until its true costs are known. I am sure most 
Americans saw the President of the United States go on television two 
weeks ago and tell the American public that this spending bill will not 
add a single dollar to the national deficit. And our response to that 
is, if that is the case, Mr. President, prove it. Prove it by waiting 
for the CBO to issue a score on that bill.
  The reason why we are so concerned about this issue is that any 
economist will tell you that deficit government spending is dangerously 
inflationary, and we are already seeing the highest inflation in the 
United States in over 40 years.
  Folks in my district are paying over $20 more today to fill the 
gasoline tank on their cars just to go to work than they were just a 
year ago. This inflation is hurting everyday Americans and it will hurt 
them more if this bill spends more than it takes in in taxes, and every 
indication is that it will.
  Madam Speaker, I urge this body to wait for the Congressional Budget 
Office to score this bill before voting on it. It is the responsible 
thing to do. Anything less would be an abdication of our responsibility 
to the people that we represent.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van 
Drew).
  Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for 
doing this and for yielding and for all of his good work.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today, a week before one of America's oldest, 
most deeply rooted holidays, ashamed of what this administration is 
doing to our great United States of America. American families look 
forward to a Thanksgiving feast where they are finally able to see 
distant relatives, reflect on their lives and, of course, share

[[Page H6352]]

a table covered in food made from old family recipes.

  Yet, this year, families aren't thinking about that. They are not 
thinking about what they will cook, but rather, how they will afford a 
Thanksgiving meal. Turkey prices are up 18 percent. Pumpkin pie is up 
17 percent. Carrots, strangely enough, up 50 percent. Some families 
might not even have to worry about these rising food costs because they 
might not be able to travel to see their families due to soaring gas 
prices. A gallon of gas is up 61 percent, on average. If they are able 
to travel despite the price increases, they may enter a frigid home, as 
the cost to heat our homes has increased by 54 percent.
  The root cause of these price increases is no big secret to anyone. 
They are the direct result of failed Biden policies. Policies that have 
led to rampant inflation, a crippled supply chain, and labor shortages 
on a scale that we never would have ever imagined.
  Despite recent comments made by this administration and the media, 
inflation is a bad, bad thing. Buying a home? More expensive. Building 
a home? More expensive. Renting an apartment? More expensive. Gas, 
groceries, turkeys, and presents, more expensive. This is the Biden 
Thanksgiving tax.
  Americans deserve a joyous Thanksgiving after the suffering our 
Nation has endured over the past 2 years. And this administration is on 
track to be known as the grinch who not only stole Christmas, but the 
grinch that stole Thanksgiving as well.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of 
the gentleman.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).
  Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to address a very important issue in our 
country. Crisis after crisis after crisis that we see, including last 
week where the President gathered with world leaders to discuss a 
fairytale climate agenda that will literally dismantle America's 
national security based on disinformation.
  If we continue down this path, all Americans should worry about one 
thing: Where is our energy going to come from? We are told that we must 
dismantle the American oil and gas production to save the planet, but 
in 2019, U.S. harmful emissions were 13 percent less than they were in 
2005. No other country has cut their footprint more in that short 
amount of time.
  And what is responsible for this? Well, it is not electric vehicles. 
It is not unreliable energy sources. It's the American shale 
revolution. Clean-burning natural gas is critical in allowing us to 
achieve affordable, reliable energy supply without the harmful 
emissions and the increases like we see from major polluters like 
Russia and China. But instead of building on that progress, President 
Biden and Democrats are crippling the American energy sector and 
emboldening our foreign adversaries.
  I am proud to represent the men and women of the Permian Basin and 
the job that they do to keep the lights on to make sure that we have 
that affordable, reliable energy, and that it is running every single 
day.
  It is time to put Midland over Moscow. Any vote for reconciliation 
might as well be a vote for Russia. I am urging my colleagues to vote 
``no.''
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. Midland 
over Moscow, we ought to print T-shirts with that one.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Burchett), where they are deeply concerned about this as well.
  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Johnson for 
yielding to me and the adequate job that he is doing.
  Madam Speaker, I recently overheard some East Tennesseans talking at 
the gas pumps at the local Pilot station. And a fellow said, it is 
almost like these politicians want to make gas more expensive. Well, I 
think my constituents are on to something.
  Conversations like this one I have heard at my local Pilot station 
have been happening everywhere all across this country. Americans are 
so displeased with gas prices, they are slapping these Biden ``I did 
that'' stickers on the pumps. I don't recommend doing that, but it 
seems to me somebody is taking the initiative to do it.
  Madam Speaker, Joe Biden's war against affordable energy is hurting 
millions of Americans' ability to travel. Commutes to work, family road 
trips, trips to the park, airline travel--all are soaring in costs. The 
White House lacks any and all sympathy for what this crisis means for 
working Americans.
  Joe Biden's Energy Secretary even laughed when asked how her 
department planned to stabilize gas prices. I thought that was the 
ultimate act of arrogance. It is the ``let them eat cake too'' kind of 
thing.

  I guess this is easy for Joe Biden and his Cabinet to ignore. 
American taxpayers fund all their travel in those fancy private cars 
and jet airplanes they fly around in. Their attitude is insulting and 
it is arrogant. No wonder Joe Biden is blind to what is going on. He 
never sees a bill for any of it, not a doggone bit.
  The holiday season is right around the corner, people will be 
celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas, and I predict holiday travel this 
year will be the most expensive on record. Americans will have Joe 
Biden's war on affordable energy to thank for their enormous travel 
expenses.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Johnson for the adequate work he is 
doing.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's 
adequate comments. And I will tell the gentleman that they are going to 
have to amend and print new stickers for the gas pumps because if our 
Democrat colleagues vote for this monstrosity, they are going to have 
to make a new sticker that says, ``I and the House Democrats did 
that.'' That is what is going down.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice).
  Mr. HICE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, the House Democrats have done 
this. It is all one big party. And while we are going to be celebrating 
Thanksgiving next week, families gather together giving thanks, I am 
absolutely confident there will not be one family in America giving 
thanks for the economic crisis created by President Joe Biden and the 
Democrats--the crisis, economically, that they are serving the American 
people.
  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is going to be 
the most expensive Thanksgiving in history. From turkey to potatoes, 
pumpkin pie--you name it--this is going to be the most expensive 
Thanksgiving ever; probably a whole lot fewer second trips for food, or 
thirds, or whatever your family is accustomed to.
  Meanwhile, what is the answer that our Democrat friends are giving 
us? Democrats here in Washington have a great solution: Let's spend 
trillions of more dollars. Let's make inflation go up even more. Let's 
put more pain and suffering around the Thanksgiving tables and the 
pocketbooks of the American people. While Americans are pinching their 
pennies, literally, to live within their means, President Biden and his 
socialist cronies from the other side of the aisle here in Washington 
are wanting to spend even more of the hard-earned money of the American 
taxpayer and the American worker.

                              {time}  1715

  The Democrat socialist gravy train has left the station, and the 
American people, I assure you, are not at the table. They are not on 
board with what is happening in this country.
  Americans are the ones paying the price for this. They are paying the 
price for President Biden's budget-busting policies--more money at the 
gas pumps, more money at the Thanksgiving table this year, more money 
for everyday goods. We can go down the list.
  It is high time--it is past time--that President Biden and the 
Democrats stop this reckless, runaway spending. Our economy cannot 
afford trillions more dollars that we don't have for unnecessary 
spending for socialist, Marxist spending, robbing us not only of our 
hard-earned income but our liberties, our freedoms that we love and 
cherish in this country.
  It is time that we put a stop to this nonsense.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, that voice from Georgia is 
so

[[Page H6353]]

strong. I think we are going to stick with that theme.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
  Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, too many falsehoods have been spread about 
the Democrats' multitrillion-dollar tax and spend bill, the most 
radical and expensive piece of legislation in our history.
  The American people deserve to know the truth about the grave 
ramifications of passing this fiscally irresponsible liberal wish list.
  Let's unpack some of these egregious Pinocchios.
  For starters, the left has erroneously claimed that the so-called 
Build Back Better Act is fully paid for and will cost American 
taxpayers zero dollars. This is false.
  While we have not yet received the official CBO score, models show 
that Biden's Big Government socialist spending package should cost more 
than double what Democrats have previously reported. The number could 
be upward of $4.5 trillion, with $3 trillion of it being in new debt.
  Additionally, President Biden has touted for months that this 
legislation will not raise taxes on Americans earning less than 
$400,000 a year. According to early reports from the Congressional 
Budget Office, this is completely false as well.
  A recent analysis from the Tax Policy Center found that the reckless 
reconciliation bill would hike taxes for 20 to 30 percent of middle-
class families next year, yet taxpayers in the top 5 percent will see a 
combined total tax cut of $32 billion. What a slap in the face to 
millions of small businesses, hardworking employees, and their 
families.
  Lastly, the President and his Democrat allies have absurdly stated 
that passing their pricey package will help ease inflation. Ease 
inflation? Really? This is completely illogical and defies all reason 
unless, of course, your intent is to deceive.
  Injecting trillions of dollars of borrowed Federal money into the 
economy, with billions of it going to climate change, will only worsen 
the already burdensome effects of record-high inflation. The result 
will be Americans struggling to afford gas, groceries, and heating 
bills.
  Keep in mind, the sole intent of the Biden, Bernie bankruptcy act's 
enormous cost is to fund unpopular and radical policies, such as 
taxpayer-funded abortion, weaponizing the IRS, and mass amnesty for 
illegal migrants. Oh, and don't forget about the 150-plus new 
government programs that will further expand the Federal Government's 
size and scope.
  Simply put, the unfortunate truth is that by ramming through their 
Big Government socialist spending spree, Democrats are selfishly 
prioritizing their dangerous, far-left agenda over the needs of the 
American people.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I appreciate your leadership on 
this.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today alarmed by the unprecedented wasteful 
spending from Washington that is fueling inflation and risking the 
future of our Republic.
  Last week, this Congress passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. 
Despite the bill's characterization, less than 10 percent went to 
traditional--what us southerners and commonsense people call roads and 
bridges. But $200 million went back to a park in Speaker Pelosi's own 
backyard.
  According to The New York Times, certainly not an ally of the 
Republicans, the Democrats' reconciliation bill before us this week 
includes a $4.1 billion tax break for people who buy electric bicycles; 
$2.5 billion for tree equity--I am not sure what that is; and another 
$2.5 billion to help contingency fee lawyers recoup expenses.
  Madam Speaker, this captures exactly what is wrong with Washington. 
Too many politicians up here will gladly endorse trillions in new 
spending for a few pennies of pork to come back to their district. They 
put their political futures above our own Nation.
  Well, I am sick of it, and the American people are, too. Congress is 
bleeding the American people dry with waste and pet projects it claims 
is being spent in their own best interests.
  Sure, I would love for the Federal Government to build a new road in 
my district, but I refuse to sacrifice the health and viability of this 
Nation to get it. Most patriotic Americans would agree with me.
  Roads and bridges come and go, but if we foolishly squander the 
Nation our forefathers fought so hard to create, we will selfishly 
allow this great American experiment to die because of our own greed. 
Shame on us because we will have ultimately failed those who elected us 
and sent us here to protect their best interests.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Carter).
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, the spending spree continues 
this week as Democrats continue to try to ram their ridiculous 
reconciliation bill down our throats.
  The radicals have been back-seat driving far too long. Our holiday 
cheer is now being threatened by this administration's refusal to cut 
up the credit cards. It is truly astonishing.
  We are all set to experience the most expensive Thanksgiving in our 
country's history, thanks to these reckless spending habits perpetrated 
by the White House. Turkey prices are up 27 percent. Potatoes are up 13 
percent. Carrots are up 47 percent. The beloved pumpkin pie from Costco 
is up 17 percent.
  The Consumer Price Index is up 6.2 percent overall. This is an 
indicator of how much extra people are having to pay for their goods.
  In addition, natural gas is up 40 percent, and home heating oil is up 
60 percent. Americans are being forced to pay more to heat their homes 
at a time when the weather is at its coldest. Nowhere in America should 
hardworking taxpayers have to choose between heating their home and 
putting food on the table.
  These are not pandemic-related issues anymore. They are government-
created issues. This is what socialism looks like. Joe Biden says: Get 
used to it.
  Empty shelves, runaway inflation, and government control--this no 
longer looks like America. It looks like a failed socialist nation. 
That is what it looks like.
  We will not cave to the desires of the far left. We will push back. 
America will remain free, and we will prevail.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Carter for that 
optimistic close. As Ronald Reagan said, we are the ``last best hope of 
man on Earth.'' We better hold it.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. 
Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, the only thing President 
Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and the Democrats in Congress will be building 
back better is China's economy. Truly, they are building Beijing back 
better.
  A new report released today shows that China has officially surpassed 
the U.S. as the richest nation in the world because Congress gave China 
most favored nation status under the Clinton administration. They have 
definitely tipped the scales for Chinese manufacturing.
  D.C. politicians themselves have been enriched off of China, while 
the American middle class suffers. Now Democrats are pushing the Green 
New Deal policies that will make the middle class suffer even more with 
higher gas prices and home heating bills this winter.
  Biden's policies enrich China because they manufacture solar panels, 
lithium batteries, and windmills, and taxpayers are going to be forced 
to subsidize this.
  China mines these minerals for batteries and solar panels with child 
labor and slave labor. When asked about the slave labor behind the 
Green New Deal, John Kerry said it was ``not my lane.'' That is 
despicable.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. It is a 
shame that China is being assisted by these Democrat policies, even as 
they openly challenge us. Another thing Ronald Reagan warned us about 
is that weakness invites aggression. This is a dangerous game.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).
  Mr. BENTZ. Madam Speaker, American families and businesses across our 
country are facing a crisis, a crisis of inflation, the likes of which 
we have not seen for more than 30 years. Last month, the Consumer Price 
Index hit a 30-year high.

[[Page H6354]]

  What does this mean for everyday Americans? Gas prices are up 50 
percent from last year. Food prices are rising to the highest level in 
12 years. The price of eggs is up 42 percent. The price of milk is up 
17 percent. The price of a new car is up $5,000. Home prices are going 
through the roof.
  Last week, I met with farmers and ranchers in central Oregon who are 
paying far more for fertilizer, feed, fuel, herbicides, and all crop 
inputs. This is on top of the incredible difficulties caused by 
historic drought, supply chain disruptions, and a shocking shortage of 
labor.
  Given all this, what are President Biden and Speaker Pelosi doing to 
address the biggest inflationary spike in decades? Well, they have no 
plan except to spend even more trillions of our tax dollars on more and 
probably irreversible welfare programs.
  The $2 trillion spending bill would raise taxes, increase our 
national debt, and drive inflation even higher. Sadly, American 
families will pay for this bill one way or another--but most 
immediately, right now, through inflated prices on everything from 
diesel fuel to the Thanksgiving turkey.
  The $2 trillion Build Back Better bill is on top of the $1.9 trillion 
spent in March and the $1.2 trillion spent a few weeks ago. Even former 
officials from the Obama administration have warned that these 
unprecedented levels of spending will result in higher inflation. 
American farmers are now warning that this spending bill could result 
in the demise of many family farms and ranches.

  Spending trillions upon trillions of dollars will cause more 
crippling inflation for American families and businesses. This radical 
reconciliation bill would not help us build back better. Instead, it 
will damage my State and our Nation for generations to come.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, it will damage all of our 
States.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).
  Mr. KUSTOFF. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Louisiana for 
arranging the time to talk to the Nation today about these very 
important issues.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the reckless spending plans 
put forward by Democrats, which I think, without a doubt, have put our 
country in a real economic crisis.
  Let me take you back to March when, along purely partisan lines, 
Democrats pushed through a $1.9 trillion spending plan. Just 2 weeks 
ago, Democrats pushed through another $1.2 trillion in spending. This 
week, we may likely vote on the Democrats' social spending plan, which 
would drive the total spending to almost $5 trillion when you add 
together all three of these spending bills.
  Now, if you will focus for a moment on the runaway inflation that has 
really been exacerbated and inflamed by this massive spending, it was 
reported just last week that the Consumer Price Index, which measures 
this data, rose over 6 percent. That is the highest level in 30 years.
  This means that the price of everyday goods has skyrocketed. I am 
talking about everything: cars, appliances, food, gas. Estimates are 
that the price to heat your home this winter could be 54 percent higher 
this year compared to last winter. Americans--our constituents--are 
getting hit really hard financially, and there is no end to it in 
sight.
  Without a doubt, the huge social spending bill that we may vote on 
this week will leave severe and long-lasting consequences.
  Madam Speaker, I want to point you to a story that ran yesterday in 
The Washington Times. Here is the headline: ``Biden's social welfare 
bill breaks pledge to not raise taxes on people making less than 
$400,000.'' The newspaper cites the Joint Committee on Taxation.

                              {time}  1730

  Now, here is the deal: with the social spending bill beginning in 
2023, taxpayers making between $50,000 and $75,000 annually would see a 
tax increase. For people earning between $75,000 and $100,000 a year, 
the tax increase is 2.9 percent. Folks making between $100,000 and 
$200,000 per year would see a tax increase of 7.4 percent in 2023.
  Madam Speaker, let's listen to our constituents. Let's focus on the 
real-world problems that they are dealing with every day and that they 
talk to us about. Let's work on the supply chain. Let's focus on the 
threat from China. Let's stop this massive spending.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for 
prosecuting the case. That was his background.
  Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining in the hour.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 20\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the 
record-breaking inflation that will make next Thursday the most 
expensive Thanksgiving in history due to Biden's and Democrats' 
detrimental policy decisions. The American people will feel the impact 
of rising inflation this Thanksgiving and holiday season.
  Prices of ingredients for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner are 
sky-high, with turkey costs up 27 percent, pumpkin pie up 17 percent, 
and carrots up 47 percent. Beyond the pricey meal, travel costs are 
surging because a gallon of gas costs 61 percent more than a year ago 
and airfare is expected to increase 18 percent, placing a burden on 
families to visit loved ones for the holidays. On top of this, simply 
staying warm this winter will cost more. Heating bills are projected to 
rise as much as 54 percent compared to last winter.
  While these everyday prices are skyrocketing, wages are stagnant, 
which means decreased purchasing power for hardworking Americans. Not 
only will they have less money to spend on Thanksgiving traditions and 
holiday gifts that will have a damaging impact on our small businesses 
and our overall economy, but the livelihoods of Americans will be 
harmed by the difficulty to afford day-to-day necessities.
  Madam Speaker, Biden's failed policies are hitting home. As shown 
through the significant drop in his approval rating, Americans are 
desperate for a solution to fix these insane price increases.
  Instead, what is Biden's response?
  Continue to push the partisan reconciliation bill that would pump the 
economy with trillions more dollars in spending for social programs 
that are not paid for, further exacerbating this inflation crisis and 
causing American taxpayers to suffer the effects for generations to 
come.
  There are grave consequences to careless actions. I urge my 
colleagues and the American people to recognize this Thanksgiving as a 
direct result of excessive government spending and shutting down our 
country's energy production.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. The gentlewoman has said it very well.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I would like one more time to address 
the reconciliation package. We know that it is a very large spending 
package and will result in more welfare and, inevitably, we will have 
to have more taxes which will put a damper on the economy.
  But let's look at the type of vision that the Democratic Party has 
for our country given what they are spending the money on. We know we 
have a big, illegal immigration crisis in this country--everybody knows 
8,000 people in the country last July, 105,000 this July.
  What are we going to do with it?
  We have record amounts of fentanyl coming across the southern border. 
We respond with a provision giving 7 million people a path to amnesty 
which is a magnet to get more people here. We make it more difficult to 
remove people from the country if they commit crimes, including sex 
offenses and firearm convictions without any discretion from DHS. So, 
Madam Speaker, you want to make it more difficult to get even the 
criminal element out of the country.
  But, finally, we promised anybody coming into the country free 
college. Pell grants that are designed for poor Americans are going to 
go to people who come here illegally. We want the average American to 
sit there at home paying $30,000 or $40,000 tuition, in debt until they 
are 30 or 40 years old, but if you come here illegally, boom, free 
college.

[[Page H6355]]

  The second thing we get out of here is a new welfare problem in this 
country. We are encouraging people not to work. We are encouraging 
people not to get married.
  How do they respond?
  Look at the recent increase in food stamp benefits, the massive 
amount of money going to low-income housing, the increase in the earned 
income tax credit, and the larger Pell grants. Everywhere you look in 
this bill, Madam Speaker, is more money for people of a certain 
lifestyle at the expense of the person who is getting married and 
working harder.
  Race preferences are throughout this bill. It seems like they are 
incapable of doing a program that benefits all Americans. It is always 
targeting somebody from this race or that race or this gender or that 
gender. It is a very divisive bill.
  There is a great increase in government's role in raising children. 
It is the government that pays for all the 3- and 4-year-old kids. It 
is kind of the opposite of what America is supposed to be where the 
child's upbringing is family centered. Now we want to make the child's 
upbringing government centered.
  Finally, it creates more of a surveillance state. There are 87,000 
new IRS agents.
  What could they possibly do?
  But, obviously, Madam Speaker, you can see where we are headed as a 
country. At a time when our factories and farms can't find anybody to 
work, we are going to take unemployed people and make them IRS agents.

  In any event, I urge Americans to pay attention to where the money is 
going in this bill because it is the type of America our forefathers 
never would have imagined.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. I thank my friend for his common sense. We 
will continue with that theme.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird).
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for giving me 
the opportunity to speak.
  Madam Speaker, at a time when Americans are facing the highest 
inflation rates in decades and small businesses are struggling to 
recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19, House Democrats will 
soon consider the most radical spending package in American history.
  Unfortunately, instead of giving families and businesses a hand up by 
getting able-bodied Americans back to work and taking steps to resolve 
our supply chain crisis, Democrats' far left socialist package will do 
little more than exacerbate our inflation crisis and harm the growth of 
small businesses.
  Earlier this month the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of 
Business released a model that found the bill will cost more than twice 
the estimated cost. If that is not bad enough, the Tax Policy Center 
recently found that this spending spree would raise taxes on middle-
class Americans by up to 30 percent.
  This anti-growth package will destroy thousands of jobs, burden many 
business owners with restrictive taxes intended to help pay for this 
bloated spending bill, and will surely be a death knell for many 
businesses on struggling Main Street and hardworking Americans 
struggling to contend with soaring inflation rates.
  Month after month we have watched the Biden administration deliver 
disappointing jobs reports with the labor force participation rate 
falling to 61.6 percent in September alone. This labor shortage is only 
fueling our economy and supply chain crisis, but instead of encouraging 
Americans to get back to work, President Biden and House Democrats are 
including provisions that discourage unemployed Americans from finding 
a job.
  If Democrats really want to build back better, they should be 
championing policies that actually help our small business owners and 
the middle class, not exacerbating the problems they are struggling to 
overcome.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Any time a Bronze Star and Purple Heart 
recipient speaks, we ought to listen.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline.)
  Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend for yielding and 
for sponsoring this evening's Special Order.
  Madam Speaker, this week the Labor Department's consumer price index 
jumped 6.2 percent in October from a year earlier, reflecting an 
increase in the cost of goods and services as well as energy and food. 
Fuel costs surged 30 percent.
  I have a quote from someone here in Washington about that. This 
politician said, ``By all accounts, the threat posed by record 
inflation to the American people is not transitory and is instead 
getting worse. From the grocery store to the gas pump, Americans know 
the inflation tax is real and DC can no longer ignore the economic pain 
Americans feel every day.''
  Now, that wasn't my colleague, Congressman Johnson. That wasn't 
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy or Congressman   Jim Jordan. No. That 
was Senator Joe Manchin who said that just today. He is recognizing 
that not just West Virginians, but all Americans are feeling the pain 
at the pump, at the grocery store, and all across the economy.
  It is coming from legislation that our President pushed earlier this 
year and that House Democrats helped get behind--the so-called American 
Rescue Plan. No less than our President himself said this about public 
frustration, ``And people are feeling it. They're feeling it. Did you 
ever think you'd be paying this much for a gallon of gas? In some parts 
of California, they're paying $4.50 a gallon.
  ``That's why it's so important that we do everything in our power to 
stabilize the supply chain.''
  But what he did through passage of this American Rescue Plan is 
actually cause inflation to jump that much further forward, and he 
conceded on Wednesday that inflation is at a three-decade high because 
people have more money now as a result of the $1.9 trillion stimulus 
legislation.
  And what has he proposed to do now?
  Double down and spend an additional $2 trillion.
  What does he think that will do to inflation in this country, Madam 
Speaker?
  He has already said, ``And the irony is: People have more money now 
because of the first major piece of legislation I passed. You all got 
checks for $1,400. You got checks for a whole range of things. . . . It 
changes people's lives.

  ``But what happens if there's nothing to buy and you got more money? 
. . . It creates a real problem.''
  He did say that, and it did create a real problem. It creates a 
problem to the tune of inflation rates at a 30-year high and gas prices 
up 61 percent from last year.
  So if the President recognizes that his last multitrillion-dollar 
bill caused the economics peril we are facing, then why is he proposing 
spending an additional $2 trillion on social programs we don't need and 
we can't afford--150 new government programs?
  Propping up the Green New Deal won't solve the economic crisis. 
Weaponizing the IRS against Americans won't lower inflation. Taxing 
middle-class families won't put more money in the people's pockets.
  Do you know what would actually help get this country's economy back 
on track, Madam Speaker?
  Fiscal responsibility. Americans want a Thanksgiving meal that won't 
be the most expensive in the history of the holiday, not a progressive 
wish list that will only make the situation worse.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. We are going to feel the pain. My friend is 
exactly right.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).
  Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Johnson for this 
opportunity.
  Madam Speaker, we are here to talk to the American people about ideas 
that roam across our Nation. They are conversations that take place 
around every table, and next week at Thanksgiving we will have those 
conversations at my table and others around the country.
  Madam Speaker, you just heard a good discussion about inflation. But 
part of inflation comes from government spending, and part of 
government spending comes from policy that this President and this 
administration's Democratic Party supports.
  Madam Speaker, 1.6 million people have come to our borders and come 
across, and we are doing things that will encourage them to come here. 
We

[[Page H6356]]

are doing things that will encourage them when we give them free 
education, free healthcare and to pay for them to do those things.

                              {time}  1745

  So, Madam Speaker, tonight we want to speak specifically about this 
thing that is called inflation. Inflation is related to Federal 
monetary and fiscal policy. Inflation is that thing that occurs in the 
economy when the price of goods and services rise and rise 
exponentially.
  Normally, an administration would look at about a 2 percent growth, a 
2 percent inflation rate, which would be, generally speaking, an 
acceptable growth for a GDP model as well as inflation rate.
  This administration, however, began with President Biden going down 
and visiting the king of inflation, former President Jimmy Carter, 
talking to this Nation about how great Jimmy Carter's service was. Well 
what he really meant to say was I admired his policies, progressive 
liberal policies that took this country to have 16 and 18 percent 
interest rates, interest rates that raised prices an excessive amount 
of money for families for a generation that could not buy homes.
  Madam Speaker, the Republican Party is here speaking, just as the 
American people are, and we recognize that this administration has made 
dear and great friends with the conditions that create inflationary 
spiral.
  This administration knows exactly--they have smart people there, but 
it is their policies that they demand to have, and those policies bring 
about results that end up making friends with inflation: Higher prices 
for goods and services; more government spending. This is big expensive 
government spending across the board.
  And so the American people will have the most expensive Thanksgiving 
in years; the highest inflation rate in 30 years. Oh, that would be 
back to Jimmy Carter. No wonder President Biden visited his favorite--
or second favorite President, Jimmy Carter, because he wants to make 
friends with the conditions that create inflation: Big government 
spending, prices rising, government control of the goods and services.
  And just like Jimmy Carter, he had a Senate, a House, and a 
Presidency to be very successful.
  Madam Speaker, the American people spoke again last night in local 
elections down in South Carolina. They spoke a week ago in State 
elections.
  Madam Speaker, the American people deserve better. Better comes from 
policy, and better comes from adults who will recognize that it is not 
just politics, it is about the American people who want and need to 
have more take-home pay and more ability to take care of themselves; 
not big, expensive socialist government that even breaks the laws of 
this country.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his service to this 
conference but, more importantly, for making sure that the American 
people hear the other side of the story.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, that was so well said, and 
the American people are going to speak again next fall; we know that 
for certain.
  Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Clyde).
  Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Jackson County Deputy Lena Marshall, whose picture is displayed 
beside me right here.
  Last week, Jackson County lost a mother and a heroic law enforcement 
officer. After responding to a domestic call that spiraled into a 
violent shootout, Deputy Marshall tragically lost her life while 
serving to keep Georgians in our community safe.
  While I never had the privilege of meeting Deputy Marshall 
personally, I am deeply moved by her immeasurable sacrifice and 
willingness to put Georgians' safety above her own.
  As a resident of Jackson County myself, I believe I can speak for all 
of us in the county in saying that we are forever thankful for Deputy 
Marshall's dedication, her service, and her bravery.
  My wife, Jennifer, and I continue to pray for Lena's family and for 
her fellow Jackson County officers during this difficult time.
  May God bless our men and women in blue who selflessly put their 
lives on the line every day to keep us safe.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight as we talk about this 
issue with our upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, expected, of course, to 
be the most expensive meal in the history of that holiday.
  This is more proof that the Democrats are driving up inflation with 
their spending policies. Spending piles of dollars does not create an 
economy, it actually hurts the value of the dollars.
  USDA's Turkey Market News Report showed the price of turkey itself is 
going to be up 22 percent from last year. Pumpkin pie, potatoes, 
cranberries, all up in price.
  Inflation, of course, is the most regressive of actual taxes on the 
people because it hits those on a fixed income the hardest. Low and 
middle-income have tough decisions to make on whether it is going to 
be--how they are going to handle their food costs and upcoming heating 
oil and gas to stay warm this winter.
  Democrats have been touting that they will tax billionaires and the 
rich and corporations but, instead, we have seen them advocating for 
policies that lead to inflation, directly harming those low and middle-
income Americans, as well as making tax breaks for the rich while they 
are touting them.
  Congress cannot spend its way out of a problem, as some in the 
administration have suggested. It would only make the issue worse.
  We must stop passing massive spending bills and, instead, work on the 
burdensome regulations and get out of businesses way so they can 
thrive, expand their businesses, and hire employees.
  Indeed, we need to work on the important supply chain issues that are 
still clogging our ports, keeping our products from being exported, 
from agriculture, all those things that need to be shipped out. 
Instead, we aren't cutting very good deals with China when they can 
just send their stuff over to us.
  So that would insulate our economy from inflation by having a real 
economy at home that is not dependent upon borrowed dollars for big 
spending.
  Indeed, I keep asking, Biden administration, whose side are you on?
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 5 seconds remaining.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friends for 
participating tonight, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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