[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H178-H182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CHOOSING LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ciscomani). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Moore) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, this week, House Republicans are 
doing important work to support pregnant women and mothers. As 
thousands of people across the Nation join together this week to 
promote their pro-life cause, we are grateful for the chance to do our 
part on the legislative level and bring two critical bills to the 
floor, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant 
and Parenting Women and Families Act.
  We are also continuing to hold the Biden administration accountable 
for their policy failures at the southern border. Time and time again 
we are up here talking about this. We are visiting the border. We are, 
as the House GOP, intently focused on making some what should be very 
simple fixes to be able to reduce the ability for the cartels to run 
the border and to set so many people up for failure with this entire 
topic. We are going to continue to sound this alarm.

  Since President Biden has taken office, there have been 8 million 
illegal crossings nationwide and over 6.7 million encounters at the 
southern border. It is unacceptable, and we just passed a resolution 
denouncing the administration's open border policies that are 
threatening the safety of our communities.
  These are important items and important legislative topics. We have 
several colleagues of mine here to share their thoughts on this 
approach.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith) for 
the first remarks of the evening.
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Moore 
of Utah, for his efforts here today and certainly to all of my 
colleagues for having an exchange and conversation that I think is 
vital for our country.
  It is important that we always examine what is taking place across 
America, what is appropriate for the Federal Government to do, not to 
do, and how best to do what is good for the American people within 
certainly the Constitution and its parameters.
  There is a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, 
TANF. Many caseworkers across America are familiar with TANF, and 
beneficiaries are, as well.
  As far as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, it has come about 
that the administration is excluding various women in need of care for 
their pregnancy if they seek care or conversations within the delivery 
method of a pregnancy center. I find this disturbing.
  I have been inspired, actually, by the work that these pregnancy 
centers do in meeting the needs of women. If a woman finds herself in a 
crisis pregnancy, if they present information and they ultimately offer 
care and a friendship, if you will, to a person in need to make 
decisions in their interests, certainly the interests of a little one, 
then the administration excludes this care.
  I think it is important to note that it is one thing to be pro-life 
and it is quite another to make sure that a child is cared for and 
receives what they need for nourishment and care, hopefully with the 
mother and hopefully, with the father, as well.
  As we sort out all of these policies that we see coming and going 
here through this institution and through Congress in general, I think 
it is vital that we certainly uphold the purposes of Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families in making sure that those in need receive 
the resources that they need and that they would select.
  I would say that the administration's policies of excluding pregnancy 
centers is actually restricting a young mother, a prospective mother, 
from information and approaches that they would prefer to have.
  So as we look at all of TANF and Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families, I hope that given the fact that we allow States much latitude 
in carrying out what they think they need to do with these tax dollars 
that flow through the Federal Government but ultimately from taxpayers, 
I think it is absolutely incumbent upon us to make sure that those 
dollars end up where they need to go and can be expected to make a 
positive difference.
  This is a very reasonable proposition.
  As a Federal policymaker, as these dollars flow out across America, I 
believe that we would expect those dollars to be wisely spent.
  For the critics of pregnancy centers, I urge all of them to visit a 
pregnancy center themselves. These pregnancy centers exist all across 
America in communities small and large. I have been very impressed 
hearing from the clients themselves of how they appreciated the care 
that they found through the pregnancy centers and that they had someone 
to walk with them through a very difficult moment in life, perhaps, and 
also taking a difficult moment in life and realizing that that can 
become a very triumphant moment, as well.

[[Page H179]]

  I certainly urge my colleagues to support our legislation later this 
week so that pregnant women will have access to information that they 
would select themselves and that we can honor those options that these 
expectant mothers should have along the way and that the Federal 
Government would not stand in the way of an expectant mother receiving 
information and the care that they would choose to have.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Mr. Moore of Utah, for holding 
this Special Order that I think is vital for our country and certainly 
vital to the future of America.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I joined the gentleman last week at 
our legislative markup on this exact topic. The point we were trying to 
make is in this situation, particularly with TANF dollars, we need to 
be able to provide more care and stretch those dollars to support as 
many situations as possible.

  This is an unneeded rule. It is targeted at groups that are trying to 
do right by their communities and support women going through very 
difficult situations as best as they can.
  So continuing, as we have been doing these Special Orders, Mr. 
Speaker, we have had an overwhelming number of individuals, 
particularly from Texas, as the border issue continues to just rage on 
affecting those communities acutely, and other States are becoming a 
border State because of it.
  Our Representatives from Texas are so passionate about this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the 14th District of Texas 
(Mr. Weber) to give a message on both the border and a pro-life 
message.
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. 
I am going to start with what it means when we talk about being pro-
life.
  Mr. Speaker, let this sink in: 65,464,760 precious babies have been 
killed in abortions since Roe v. Wade in 1973.
  Mr. Speaker, I have three children, eight grandchildren, and even a 
great-granddaughter.
  As a Christian and as a father of those three children and a 
grandfather of those eight, the issue of abortion is extremely personal 
to me. Every single unborn child is a human life wonderfully made and 
worth protecting.
  I can tell you from experience, Mr. Speaker, that the joy that 
children bring into the world is unparalleled. They are a gift from God 
that He gives to all of us. We need to look no further than Jeremiah 
1:5 to know God's love for each child: ``Before I formed you in the 
womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart.''
  In Deuteronomy 30:19, we are called to choose life. Moses is laying 
out for the Israelites the blessings of obedience and the curses of 
disobedience.
  He says in Deuteronomy 30:19 that we are called to choose life.
  ``I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: 
Therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live.''
  Mr. Speaker, when we are choosing the death of an unborn child by 
abortion, then our unborn seed is not living.
  Our great Nation has carried this belief in and respect for life from 
the very moment of our founding. Our forefathers noted that we are 
endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. Life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness are granted to each of us, assuming we 
have the chance to begin living that life, yet, our society seems to 
struggle with that simple proposition.

                              {time}  1745

  Life allows for liberty and liberty allows for the pursuit of 
happiness. Without the fundamental right to life, our society begins to 
look vastly different. Without the fundamental right to life, we have 
neither liberty nor happiness.
  Then on June 24, 2022, after almost 50 years of living--many of us 
would say dying--under the tragically unconstitutional Roe v. Wade 
decision, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. What a victory. The 
voiceless, once again, finally have a voice.
  As thousands prepare to stand for life in our Nation's Capital, my 
Republican colleagues and I continue our fight for life by voting for 
the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and 
Parenting Women and Families Act.
  I will always, always, Mr. Speaker, stand up and protect life.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is exactly correct. In Texas, the border 
is important to us.
  Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely no secret that the Biden administration 
has purposefully and willfully destroyed over 100 years of immigration 
policy, resulting in 8-million-plus illegal crossings since Joe Biden 
took office.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been visiting the Texas border since my time in 
the Texas State House back in 2009. I was vice chair of the border 
committee my second term there. I got back from the border earlier this 
month, and I am heading back to the border soon.
  What we are witnessing now is the worst I have ever seen. It is the 
worst that the Border Patrol agents and the Texas law enforcement 
officers have ever seen. They told us that in person.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden is responsible for creating the policies that 
are encouraging illegal immigration and he will not work in good faith 
with Republicans to fix the problem he created.
  Mr. Speaker, we passed a border bill, H.R. 2, strong legislation to 
secure the American border. We passed that over 6 months ago. Just in 
the Border Patrol's Del Rio sector, we are seeing folks come across 
from countries like Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and China just to 
name a few, and over 300 documented cases of smuggling since October.
  How many terrorists on 9/11 took down the World Trade Center? 
Nineteen.
  Now we can identify a whole lot more terrorists coming in--300 
documented cases of smuggling, as I said, since October. The weekly 
revenue for illicit human smuggling--let this sink in--$30 million a 
week. That is $120 million a month in the Del Rio sector alone, Mr. 
Speaker.
  These are the people that Joe Biden is encouraging and enticing to 
come into our communities. We don't even know their background. 
Therefore, I can't say with confidence that we trust the Biden 
administration to perform due process, as he calls it, in processing 
illegal aliens before releasing them into our communities, into our 
States, and into our Nation.
  This administration has a deliberate strategy to keep the border open 
and to continue the chaos, but Texas has had enough. Americans have had 
enough. Republicans are united to do whatever it takes to secure our 
southern border.
  It is so simple, Mr. Speaker. All that the Biden administration needs 
to do to deter illegals and stop this crisis is to actually enforce 
laws already on the books.
  Unfortunately, it has become painfully clear that President Biden 
prefers, instead, for 8 million or more illegal aliens to resettle in 
all 50 States and play a cynically partisan role in the future of 
American life by trying to make Democrats a permanent majority, or so 
they think.
  They refuse to acknowledge what we understand so clearly, Mr. 
Speaker: it is simply that Americans of all stripes, all walks, all 
persuasions want a secure border.
  The American people want these four things: End catch and release, 
Mr. President; build the wall, Mr. President; cease abuse of parole 
authority; reinstate remain in Mexico, Mr. President. It is just that 
simple. Secure the border, President Joe Biden.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for 
his comments. I echo his sentiment of how simple and best it can be for 
the American people. It is just baffling that we can't have the 
administration understand this. I appreciate so many credible Members 
coming down and sharing their message from their own districts.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas' 36th District, 
Representative Brian Babin.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I very much thank my good friend from Utah 
for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, in all the years of my life, never would I ever have 
imagined that I would witness an American President using every 
resource available to him to unravel American national security, but 
that is our reality.
  Since Joe Biden's very first day in office, the American people have 
watched him repeatedly and deliberately turn a blind eye to the border 
crisis unfolding down at our southern border and even up in our 
northern border.
  As a result of his negligence, millions and millions of illegal 
aliens, including

[[Page H180]]

cartel members, terror suspects, human traffickers, deadly drugs, 
illicit weapons, and more, much more, have been allowed to enter the 
Nation freely with fatal results for tens of thousands of American 
citizens, and even the migrants themselves.
  Monthly illegal alien apprehension all-time records have been set and 
then broken under this administration, which is by the Department of 
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' own admission, 
releasing upwards of 85 percent of those unlawfully crossing the border 
into the interior of the U.S.--85 percent of those apprehended at the 
border are released into the country.
  More than 242,400 illegals were encountered crossing the southern 
border last November, a 236 percent increase from November 2020, 
roughly the population of Scottsdale, Arizona.

  I would give an appropriate metaphor for December's historic border 
apprehensions, which reportedly have surpassed 302,000, but the 
administration has yet to make those public.
  Knowing this, the President and his cronies would still have us 
believe that the southern border is somehow secure, which leads me to 
think that either they do not know the definition of the word 
``secure,'' or they think the American people are stupid.
  My bet is on the latter, especially when you look at the dramatic dip 
in illegal border crossings this month. We were at the border 2 weeks 
ago with our Speaker and inexplicably before we got there, numbers had 
dropped mysteriously.
  The White House would most likely have you believe that this decline 
in daily border encounters is the outcome of policy change, but 
Americans are not stupid.
  This is nothing more than another facade to fool the public into 
thinking that the left has finally come to its senses on border 
security. Don't fall for it. Nothing could be further from the truth.
  Whatever backhanded deal this administration has suddenly made with 
Mexico for a temporary period of time has nothing to do with your 
safety and everything to do with the optics surrounding a particular 
event taking place this November, a certain national election.
  The only way to end this border crisis is to implement policies that 
stop incentivizing illegal immigration by finishing the border wall, by 
ending catch and release, by closing asylum loopholes, by blocking the 
exploitation of the Department of Homeland Security's CBP One app, 
restoring interior enforcement, and more. These are all policies that 
this administration and congressional Democrats clearly have no 
intention of doing on a permanent basis whatsoever.
  I could go on and on, but the bottom line is this: The fate of 
America's sovereignty and very existence rests with its people, whose 
votes this November will make that determination of whether America 
survives as we know it; as the great beacon of freedom shining on the 
hill for the rest of the world to see and emulate.
  I will never falter. I will continue working to close the southern 
border and hold this administration to account.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for 
his very clear message on navigating solving this issue.
  Again, I reiterate: There are simple policy fixes that would take off 
an enormous amount of strain at our southern border. We have got the 
data to show that these policies are effective. I don't want to 
oversimplify it because I know this is Congress, but the immediate 
fixes can be so simple, and we have to quit empowering the cartels to 
put people in these situations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Sixth District of 
Tennessee, Representative   John Rose.
  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah, Vice Chairman 
Moore, for yielding and for claiming time this evening to discuss these 
important issues facing our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, Tennesseans across the State will travel to Washington 
to March for Life in our Nation's Capital later this week. I have had 
the opportunity to meet many of these people at various pro-life events 
throughout the years.
  As they make the trek, I want them to know that this week, House 
Republicans are standing up for life on the House floor. Thanks to 
Republican leadership, the House will consider two pieces of pro-life 
legislation--the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting 
Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.
  Both bills are important steps toward ensuring that every child has 
the right to live and is protected. The Pregnant Students' Rights Act 
would require colleges and universities to disperse information to both 
prospective and enrolled students on the rights and resources available 
for pregnant students.
  Too often, college students make the irreversible decision to have an 
abortion because they are unaware of resources that would support an 
alternative decision. This bill ensures that they have important 
information on their options and rights while pregnant.
  The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act would 
block an out-of-touch, proposed Biden administration rule that could 
prohibit States from giving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or 
TANF, funds to pregnancy centers that support the life of both the 
mother and the unborn child.
  Pregnancy resource centers provide miracles for children and mothers 
seeking assistance with pregnancy and raising a child. The last thing 
the Biden administration should be doing is implementing rules that 
discourage their use.
  These bills are in addition to steps House Republicans have already 
taken to protect the sanctity of life, like passing the Born-Alive 
Abortion Survivors Protection Act and a resolution supporting crisis 
pro-life organizations that have been attacked, like the one in recent 
years in Nashville.
  I was honored to speak in support of this resolution when it was 
brought to the floor last year and I was a proud cosponsor of the Born-
Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

                              {time}  1800

  Just because Roe v. Wade was overturned does not mean our work 
fighting for the right to life for all children is over. In fact, our 
work has just begun. As a pro-life father of two young sons, Guy and 
Sam, I will always stand for the right to life.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rose for his heartfelt 
message on a very important week for this particular topic.
  I yield to the gentleman from the Second District of South Carolina 
(Mr. Wilson), my former colleague on defense matters extraordinaire. I 
appreciate all his work in that regard.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, we all appreciate the 
great work and leadership of Congressman Moore of Utah, as he is 
conducting tonight's Special Order.
  As the anniversary approaches for the 1973 infamous Supreme Court 
ruling Roe v. Wade, I was grateful to attend Proudly Pro-Life events at 
the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia 2 weeks ago supporting 
mothers and children.
  As part of that weekend, I joined South Carolina Lieutenant Governor 
Pamela Evette, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, State 
Senator Mike Reichenbach of Florence, and other State leaders for the 
50th March for Life. The march began at Russell House on the University 
of South Carolina campus, and a rally began on the statehouse grounds. 
It was well attended by many supporters despite very cold weather.
  Founded by South Carolina Citizens for Life in 1974, the group is a 
State affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, the largest 
single issue right-to-life organization in the Nation. It exists solely 
to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted 
suicide, and euthanasia while supporting mother and child.
  Courageous leaders in South Carolina are Holly Gatling, Lisa Van 
Riper, and Sally Zaleski. I am grateful that my eldest grandson, 
Addison Wilson III, several years ago participated in a National Right 
to Life March with classmates of the Holy Trinity Classical Christian 
School of Beaufort, South Carolina.
  Through the legal and peaceful means of education, legislation, and 
political action, South Carolina Citizens for Life works to restore the 
right

[[Page H181]]

to life of the preborn and to protect the lives of medically vulnerable 
individuals, including elderly, disabled, mentally ill, chronically 
ill, and terminally ill persons.
  After the U.S. Supreme Court correctly overturned Roe v. Wade, State 
legislatures have become the determiners of abortion access. South 
Carolina, with strong bipartisan support in the General Assembly, is a 
right-to-life State. Additionally, South Carolina is upholding the 
State's ban on abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, as 
interpreted by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
  South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, in a statement, welcomed 
the decision saying: ``The right to life is foremost and absolutely 
must be protected and prioritized.''
  This law protects life by prohibiting abortions after a fetal 
heartbeat has been detected with exceptions for rape or incest during 
the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, medical emergencies, or fatal fetal 
anomalies.
  Upon signing the bill into law, Governor Henry McMaster said: ``This 
is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. 
We stand ready to defend this legislation against all challenges and 
are confident we will succeed. The right to life must be preserved, and 
we will do everything we can to protect it.''
  It is sad that Biden has abandoned his pro-life position to export 
extremist, radical, murderous abortion of babies up to the time of 
birth. This is infanticide, killing viable babies, which is condemned 
across the world except in dictatorial China and dictatorial North 
Korea.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, who have protected America for 
20 years since the 9/11 attacks. Sadly, currently, due to the 
appeasement in Afghanistan, the global war on terrorism continues with 
Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorists to bring more attacks to 
America with Biden open borders. All Americans must be alerted that 
terrorist attacks could be imminent and are imminent in America, as 
warned by the FBI.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Wilson's message 
during this very important week.
  I yield to the gentleman from the First District of California (Mr. 
LaMalfa).
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Moore's leading us here 
tonight. Indeed, a lot of important issues, but we know January is 
typically a month of action for people who believe in being pro-life or 
those who are pro-abortion.
  As we know, January of 1973 is when the Roe v. Wade decision was 
arbitrarily legislated by the Supreme Court, I believe by a vote of 7-
2, to somehow make abortion a law instead of leaving that up to State 
legislators.
  Well, that was overturned after many, many years. It is now in the 
hands of legislators to actually do the legislating and search their 
souls on whether they think an unborn baby is actually a life or 
something else.
  Many people have stood up around this country to have their voices 
heard on the wrongness of that decision, and you find that in rallies 
and marches like happened all over the country and happened right here 
in D.C. in January. People have certainly made their voices heard, and 
I think it was successful in a Court that actually decided to interpret 
the Constitution.
  Science supports the idea that life begins at conception. We know as 
early as 5 weeks in the womb, babies have a heartbeat. Some States, 
some jurisdictions are deciding that would be the point at least to 
start and acknowledge it is a life.
  Their brain and circulatory systems are beginning to develop at 10 
weeks in the womb. They have arms, legs, fingers and toes. They can 
jump and kick if startled.
  At 15 weeks in the womb, babies have fully developed hearts and can 
taste, yawn, and hiccup. By this time, their brain is developed enough 
to feel and respond to pain. That is why we have seen pain-capable 
legislation at that level.

  If this isn't life, then what is?
  Thanks to advances in modern medicine and science, the humanity of a 
child in the womb is undeniable if it wasn't already common sensibly, 
and denying this reality undermines the very foundation of our ethical 
principles of science. Trust the science, we hear in other quarters.
  I believe that each one of these innocent souls was created by God in 
his divine vision and that we must stand up against the left's radical, 
extreme, and immoral abortion agenda that wants to allow for 
discriminatory abortions at any point in a pregnancy, even on the basis 
of a baby's sex, race, and disability, even including late-term 
abortions for babies that would be able to survive perfectly fine 
outside of the womb, which that number is moving lower and lower in the 
number of weeks in which they have viability.
  We must uphold the value, dignity, and potential for every person's 
life. Choosing life also means protecting women's health and their 
families. Yes, protecting health doesn't necessarily mean abortions 
that you would hear on the left because there are side effects that can 
affect the woman, as well.
  This week, the House is considering two pro-life bills aimed at 
supporting expectant mothers, helping them choose life. H.R. 6918, the 
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act would strike 
down the Department of Health and Human Services' proposed rule that 
would prohibit funding for pregnancy centers.
  It speaks volumes that the Biden administration wants our tax dollars 
to go toward abortion but not pregnancy centers which provide 
invaluable services and resources to expectant mothers who want to keep 
their children. They provide both sides of the story to a prospective 
mother.
  I have visited these centers before and seen the good work, the good 
cheer, the good attitude they have on actually helping a woman in a 
difficult decision to have all the facts, so that all the facts are 
known. They provide pregnancy counseling and information about 
pregnancy, offering free pregnancy testing and sometimes even clothing 
and supplies for the newborns.
  The other bill, H.R. 6914, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, 
requires higher-education institutions to provide prospective and 
enrolled pregnant students with a list of nearby resources for new and 
expectant mothers, as well as available accommodations on campus. 
Indeed, both sides of the story, not just the abortion one.
  The bill is critical to ensure that mothers don't have to give up 
their education and can further their careers while, indeed, starting a 
family. Being pro-life means supporting initiatives that provide 
resources for pregnant women, promoting adoption as a loving option, 
and advocating for policies that protect the unborn, humans.
  Abortion is a gruesome act that destroys families, harms women's 
health, and murders the innocent. I will fight for the unborn, the 
sanctity of life, and traditional family values because I think that is 
the right way to be in the eyes of God.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the message of the 
gentleman from California, particularly during this week again.
  Finally, I yield to the gentleman from the Fourth District of Florida 
(Mr. Bean) for a special message.
  Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is a great week to honor life, 
but what about the secret to life? Most people spend their whole lives 
chasing the secret to life, but Chris Bryan figured it out early: 
Family, community, and caring about others.
  I rise today to honor the meaningful life of Christina ``Chris'' 
Bryan. If you called her Christina, then you were a salesman from out 
of town. A true friend and long-time mentor of mine, Chris Bryan was a 
shining example of everything wonderful about northeast Florida. 
Throughout her life, she wholeheartedly invested in her family and 
friends and embodied the virtues of service, grit, determination, and 
generosity.
  Born and raised in Fernandina Beach, Chris was a pillar of our 
community for the better part of a century. Chris dedicated her life to 
service. She was a key member of so many community organizations, 
including the Gator Booster Board of Directors, the YMCA, the Baptist 
Medical Center Nassau Board, the Fernandina Beach High School 
Foundation, the Nassau County Council on Aging. Chris was also involved 
heavily at the Memorial United Methodist Church.
  Just speaking from experience, Mr. Speaker--you may know this--I do

[[Page H182]]

charity auctions and have done a ton. One of my secrets to raising a 
lot of money was having Chris and the Bryan family in the audience 
because I knew if she and they were there, it was going to be a big 
night for the charity because of her unmatched generosity.
  Although she made countless contributions to these organizations, 
many as a founder, her true legacy is the beautiful family she leaves 
behind. She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Bill Bryan; 
their daughters, Amy and Ginny; Ginny's husband, Heyward; and their 
grandchildren, Heyward and Liz. I am told they had a wonderful 
Christmas Eve this year. She and Bill cooked and spent the evening 
listening to her family talking about what was going on in their lives 
and letting her family know how much they were loved and cared for.
  We knew she was sick, but she was so positive in her treatment that 
few knew just how sick she was. She passed away peacefully at the age 
of 78, and I am devastated about her passing. Chris put her family and 
her community and friends first. She forged strong bonds with those 
around her, and that is the reason why it is so hard to say good-bye. I 
count myself blessed and lucky to have called her a friend. I take 
heart in knowing that she is in a much better place, suffering no more.
  Revelation 21:4 says:

       He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death 
     shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning nor 
     crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed 
     away.

  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the radiant life of Chris Bryan.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Every one of 
our constituents, the people who we serve deserve that type of 
attention. I appreciate you for highlighting the wonderful life that 
she lived.
  Mr. Speaker, I will wrap up briefly just by saying House Republicans 
have an incredible focus this week, keeping the focus on finding the 
solutions needed at the border and pressuring and pleading with 
President Biden to just take a look at what has been done in the past.
  We have got policies that existed in the previous administration that 
worked, and they limited border activity and cartel activity. These 
things are simple, and we need them reinstated. Embracing these things 
is what the American people need.
  Lastly, we have got very important bills on the floor this week 
related to supporting women, parents, and babies, as women make 
incredibly tough choices, finding the support they need in various 
ways, whether they are in school, whether they are in their community, 
whether they are working, whatever the circumstance may be. These 
children need a chance to have every opportunity they deserve. We are 
focused on building out sound legislation that addresses that this 
week.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for sharing their messages, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair and not to a perceived viewing audience.

                          ____________________