Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor during debate of the Rule providing for consideration of yet another Continuing Resolution.
As Prepared for Delivery:
"Today’s rule provides for consideration of yet another Continuing Resolution. We are five months into this fiscal year, and we have yet to enact a single appropriations bill."
"We had less than two hours’ notice before considering this CR in rules yesterday, leaving no time for Members to offer any amendments.
"We are STILL facing a crisis along our southern border. Over 2 million migrants have crossed without documentation since President Biden took office, and in response, he halted border wall construction and tried to eliminate the Remain in Mexico program.
"At the same time, Ukraine is facing down 130,000 Russian troops that look poised to invade, and President Biden just recently used his waiver authority to ease sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline – a direct link between Russia and Europe for oil and gas. If we had been given time to consider this Continuing Resolution, we could have revoked this waiver authority and reinstated sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
"Another problem exacerbated by this Administration is their continuing push for vaccine mandates. Mandates do nothing but drive unnecessary opposition. We need to let people make an informed choice with their doctor. Taxpayer dollars should not be spent on enforcing these mandates.
"And finally, it has been nearly impossible to get a response back from executive branch agencies. Congress holds the power of the purse. Why are we continuing to fund these agencies when they are unaccountable?
"We could have addressed these issues if Members were simply given enough notice to offer amendments. Instead, we lurch from deadline to deadline while Americans continue to suffer under multiple crises."
