Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 3486, H.R. 3898, H.J. Res. 104, 105, and 106
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 five separate measures: H.J. Res. 104, H.J. Res. 105, H.J. Res. 106, H.R. 3486, and H.R. 3898.
The three CRAs we’re considering today are all straightforward and supported by local officials bearing the brunt of the Biden-Harris administration’s heavy-handed regulations.
These CRAs are about unleashing American energy independence – something the previous administration was politically allergic to.
One of the things that has always made America great is that we have vast repositories of natural resources that society continues to benefit from.
The problem, to no one’s surprise, is that the federal government under Democrat control, and with support of a bureaucracy that is self-interested, together want to regulate away our natural advantage.
Regulation after regulation is churned out – thereby locking up these natural resources and sidelining American innovation, prosperity, and the opportunity to achieve true energy independence.
I am quite certain our Democrat colleagues will screech until they’re blue in the face that Republicans are shredding environmentalism and doing the bidding of corporations by supporting these CRAs.
Their talking points are so predictable at this point that it’s just embarrassing.
But here’s the truth: Republicans are choosing to embrace American energy independence while Democrats are choosing to embrace overregulation.
We must pass these CRAs and dismantle the harmful, legacy regulations of the Biden era and further to unleash American energy independence that this nation deserves.
H.R. 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, strengthens current law more adequately to deter illegal aliens from entering and reentering the United States.
This legislation helps equip federal officials with even more tools to prosecute aliens who illegally entered the United States under the Biden-Harris administration.
Our Democrat colleagues will never admit that their own policies led to millions of illegal aliens streaming into our country.
They always pivot away from the conversation – typically by attacking President Trump on something entirely unrelated – just to save face.
But the American people know the truth about where Democrats stand on border security and upholding the rule of law.
H.R 3486 requires between five years’ and life imprisonment for an alien who illegally enters the U.S. and is later convicted of a felony, and between 10 years’ imprisonment and life imprisonment for an alien who illegally reenters the United States after being removed following a felony conviction.
These penalties are appropriate responses to repeated violations of U.S. immigration law.
They’re not draconian as some will inevitably claim.
Republicans ran on securing the border and upholding the rule of law that exists in this country – Americans chose us to lead because they support that very same vision and not the lawlessness that was not confronted for four years.
Finally, H.R. 3898, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, provides targeted, common-sense reforms that will strengthen the permitting process for permit seekers and holders, while providing clearer instruction and standards for permitting agencies and ensure clean water protections.
This legislation strives once again to find balance within the regulatory and permitting process originally envisioned by the Clean Water Act (CWA) by providing a comprehensive package of commonsense reforms to support energy producers, the agriculture sector, builders, and utilities.
Talk to any contractor, builder, or energy developer in America.
They’ll tell you that the best way to unleash America’s development capabilities is by cutting red tape, streamlining permitting processes, and providing regulatory certainty. It’s rather simple.
The reforms in this legislation are specifically designed to reduce burdensome regulatory requirements, protect against frivolous lawsuits, and increase transparency, while ensuring clean water protections.
As always, I happily invite our Democrat colleagues to join us in supporting the measures that are before us today.
With that, I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.
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