[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7790-H7791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               INFLATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Clyde) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, the American people are facing persistent 
pain in their wallets and pocketbooks, with inflation in August hitting 
8.3 percent, higher than expectations.
  But yesterday, hours after new inflation figures revealed that price 
hikes are continuing to burden hardworking Americans, President Biden 
held an event to celebrate the signing of the deceptively-named 
Inflation Reduction Act into law, touting the radical legislation as a 
victorious success.
  The Inflation Expansion Act a success? Not quite. Not even close.
  Grocery costs have surged nearly 14 percent, gas rose more than 33 
percent, electricity costs have increased nearly

[[Page H7791]]

16 percent, rent almost 7 percent, and transportation has soared 11 
percent.
  Republicans warned that burning through billions of dollars in order 
to expand the IRS by 87,000 new agents, advance Green New Deal 
initiatives, and deliver crushing tax hikes would only plunge our 
economy into deeper turmoil--worsening inflation and contributing to 
our ballooning national debt.

  Yet, Speaker Pelosi, Senate Leader Schumer, and President Biden 
steamrolled ahead anyway--selfishly advancing their Big Government 
Socialist agenda that costs the American people over 1 month's pay 
every year. Yes, Americans are now losing a month's pay every year 
because of Biden inflation.
  Enough is enough. Americans simply cannot afford the cost of one-
party Democrat rule in Washington any longer. We must prioritize 
financial security and fiscal responsibility over runaway spending and 
reckless monetary policies in order to provide American workers, 
families, and small businesses, the economic relief they desperately 
need.


                             Border Crisis

  Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the raging crisis 
that continues to plague our southern border.
  Since President Biden stepped foot into the Oval Office, his failed 
policies and radical open border agenda have provoked an unprecedented 
illegal alien invasion at our southern border.
  While Vice President Kamala Harris, our so-called ``Border Czar,'' 
comically claims that the southern border is secure, the American 
people know good and well that this is a blatant falsehood. But unlike 
our delusional Border Czar, the numbers don't lie.
  Nearly 5 million illegal aliens have crossed the southern border 
since Biden and Harris took office. To make matters worse, 66 
individuals on the Terrorist Screening Database have been stopped 
trying to illegally enter our country--this is more than double the 
last 5 years combined--double the last 5 years combined.
  Furthermore, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized enough 
fentanyl in this fiscal year alone to kill almost 2.4 billion people--
over seven times the U.S. population.
  The southern border is, in fact, not secure, and the Biden 
administration knows it. After all, chaotic open borders have always 
been their plan. Unless the Biden administration abandons this sinister 
scheme, communities across the country will only continue to be ravaged 
by deadly drugs and border lawlessness.
  It is simple: Americans deserve border security, not an 
administration actively manufacturing mayhem, advocating for mass 
amnesty, and emboldening dangerous cartels.
  President Biden must immediately about-face on his open border 
agenda, commit to securing our southern border, and finally put 
American people first.


                              USDA Letter

  Mr. CLYDE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly oppose the 
Department of Agriculture's poultry line speed waiver rule.
  Back in July, over 50 chicken plants that currently participate in 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's waiver program received a 
notification from the Department stating that within 1 month these 
plants must participate in a third-party study in order to retain their 
line speed waivers.
  In addition to granting a third-party group unlimited and unannounced 
access to poultry plants, the study also requires these plants to 
submit heaps of data and burdensome paperwork. Failure to participate 
in this study results in chicken plants slowing production by 25 
percent, creating supply chain mayhem in the industry, and undeniably 
posing a serious threat to food availability.
  The Biden administration's line speed waiver rule forces an ultimatum 
on poultry plants, burdening both consumers and workers already 
battling supply chain disruptions and hyperinflation, for the sake of a 
vague, intrusive, and unnecessary third-party study on worker safety.
  Since I represent and serve the ``Poultry Capital of the World,'' 
Gainesville, Georgia, I proudly led 34 of my colleagues in sending a 
letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack expressing grave concerns about the 
third-party study and urging the delay in the mandate.
  Given the adverse effects this rule imposes on the industry and 
poultry production, Secretary Vilsack must immediately provide 
substantive answers to Congress about why this rule must be put in 
place.
  Madam Speaker, I am fully committed to conducting proper 
congressional oversight into the USDA's line speed waiver so that we 
can continue to run at full capacity.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the Vice President.

                          ____________________