Chairwoman Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 1968, H.R. 1156, and H.J. Res. 25

As prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon. The Committee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. 

Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider H.R. 1968, H.R. 1156, and H.J. Res. 25.

First on the docket is H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. 

This legislation helps avoid the government shutting down and allows us to continue our work in service to the American people.

The House must act to avoid a needless shutdown that serves no purpose – by doing so, this body can put its focus and attention on the next appropriations process.
 
Our work must continue.

Next, we’ll turn to H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, a must-pass piece of legislation that Congress has a duty to address here and now.

H.R. 1156 establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions related to fraudulent unemployment claims funded by federal pandemic unemployment programs that were created via the CARES Act.

The unprecedented expansion of Unemployment Insurance during the COVID era opened the floodgates to fraud – and we have a duty to hold the perpetrators of that fraud accountable.

American taxpayers are counting on us to do the right thing and right this wrong that was allowed to go unconfronted for many years.

I invite our Democrat colleagues to join us in doing the right thing for the right reason and pass this legislation – and to put aside whatever grievances they may harbor towards an administration that the American people entrusted to be their voice.

It's a worthwhile opportunity, and one that you do not want to miss.

Finally, we’ll turn to H.J. Res. 25, a Congressional Review Act resolution that overturns another imprudent midnight rule issued by the Biden administration that targets decentralized finance brokers and threatens the viability of the digital asset ecosystem.
 
This rule was issued a mere two days after Christmas – a belated and unwelcome gift that absolutely nobody asked for or wanted.

It is akin to a decaying and outdated tin of fruitcake.

In addition to being stridently unconstitutional, this rule is in direct violation of the Administrative Procedures Act and yields excessive latitude to the IRS to exceed its authority as usual. 

And, when the Senate passed a similar version of this bill last week, 18 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it. It is a truly bipartisan piece of legislation.

With that, I look forward to today’s discussion, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make. 

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