[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2931-H2932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AMERICAN ECONOMY GAINING MOMENTUM

  (Mr. Meuser of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, the American economy is gaining momentum, 
but the independent Federal Reserve is, regrettably, not adding the 
energy needed to abet this growth potential.
  After 4 years of inflation caused by excessive government spending 
and an all-out assault on U.S. energy, our private-sector economy is 
now in significant recovery, and it truly is only the beginning.
  Tariffs are realigning supply chains here at home. By supply meeting 
and exceeding demand, this will continue to lower inflation.
  Additionally, the OBBB makes bonus depreciation, the small-business 
deduction, and the R&D tax credits permanent, sharpening our 
competitive edge and incentivizing capital investment.
  The table is set for growth. However, nearly $1 trillion in annual 
interest payments hang over our heads.
  Here is where the Fed's actions can make an enormous difference. Due 
to the Biden administration's highly inflationary policies, we saw 
inflation soar to over 9 percent, 20 percent over the 4-year period. 
Those policies and inflationary rates that came from them forced the 
higher interest rates by the Fed to as high as 5.5 percent.

  The recent CPI report, however, has inflation at 2.4 percent, and 
PCE, personal consumption expenditures, the Fed's favorite indicator, 
at only 2.1

[[Page H2932]]

percent. Yet, the Fed has not moved much and has left interest rates as 
high as where they currently are, 4.5 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, a 1 percent reduction of interest rates to 3.5 percent 
would add $290 billion in GDP growth while also delivering $200 billion 
of savings in the service we pay on our debt. That is an improvement of 
$490 billion to boost our economy.
  Lower rates today will advance housing, an industry with a 3-to-1 
multiplier, spur capital investment, and unlock durable good purchases, 
including cars and household appliances. Unfortunately, fear-mongering 
by the media drove consumer sentiment down despite, in fact, the lower 
inflationary data.
  Mr. Speaker, I call upon the Fed to choose growth over apprehension, 
as the President is urging.


              Continue Building World's Strongest Military

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we are voting on the fiscal 
2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, an essential bill that demonstrates our unwavering 
commitment to our veterans, military families, and national security.
  This is a major piece of legislation, totaling $453 billion, that 
ensures we support those who have worn the uniform and continue 
building the strongest military in the world. This bill fully funds 
veterans' medical care, backing up the words we often say on this floor 
and throughout our districts that we support our veterans and thank 
them for their service.
  Let me quickly walk through what is in this bill: $453 billion in 
total funding, $150 billion in discretionary funding, $300 billion for 
mandatory programs, $131 billion to fully fund veterans' medical care, 
$2 billion for military family housing, and over $1.2 billion for Guard 
and Reserve construction facilities.
  This supports President Trump's initiative to end veteran 
homelessness through the Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran 
Empowerment program, protects veterans' Second Amendment rights, and 
invests heavily in general military construction.
  I proudly represent more than 45,000 veterans in Pennsylvania's Ninth 
Congressional District. When I include their families, many of whom 
have served or are preparing to serve, well over 100,000 Pennsylvanians 
just in my district alone will be directly impacted by what we do 
today. We also have 800,000 veterans throughout the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. Speaker, our Lebanon VA in my district was ranked among the top 
VAs in the Nation for many years in a row. That is something we 
certainly take pride in and something this bill supports.
  I am also proud to represent Fort Indiantown Gap, the second largest 
Army helicopter training facility in the U.S. In total, the Gap trains 
more than 130,000 military personnel each year.
  This bill not only honors our past military heroes, but it also helps 
inspire the next generation to serve. We are seeing that patriotism 
grow. Recruitment is way up, thanks in part to the new culture of 
strength and support for our military under President Trump's 
leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this critical 
appropriations bill. It reflects our values, strengthens our defense, 
and ensures we never waver in our duty to those who have sacrificed for 
our freedom.

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