Republican Control Will Provide Accountability and Produce Results

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friends for joining us on the floor tonight at this late hour. It has been a long day on Capitol Hill, but there are things that need to be said here.

It is December again, and of course that means that we are in the homestretch of a new Congress, this Congress, the 117th. The homestretch of any Congress, as we know, is when the threat of bad legislating is at its most pronounced. We have certainly seen all that here this week.

Government appropriations have been taken hostage by Democrats who want to spend even more. They seem to have forgotten about the trillions of dollars that have already been spent earlier this year.

The NDAA has been taken hostage just today by Democrats who think the right to vote is under some sort of secret threat. I guess they didn't pay attention to the massive voter turnout in Georgia just yesterday.

Here tonight, they rushed through a rule to codify same-sex marriage and create a private right of action that will vilify and supercharge attacks on people of faith.

Madam Speaker, this lame duck session is doing serious and lasting harm to our Republic, and I guess it is a fitting end to this--what really has been a disastrous Congress overall under Democrat rule. We have with trillions upon trillions in government spending, sending inflation for all American families soaring.

We have had votes on immensely consequential, complex, thousand-plus- page bills, handed to us just hours before those votes. We have had Members dial into congressional hearings from their bedrooms and basements and even while on vacation in Europe--proxy voting. Thankfully, this is all about to come to an end, mercifully in less than a month.

The American people have spoken and the American people have given Republicans control of this body to provide accountability and produce results.

Madam Speaker, this is a legislative body and it is high time for this body to get back to the work that we are supposed to be doing for the American people. Come January, that is exactly what we intend to do.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining us here today to talk about all of it.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. That is so well said. There are so many issues to cover.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the doctor for highlighting that. It is such an important issue, and just one more example of so much that has gone wrong here.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I really do have the honor to yield next to a friend and colleague who will be retiring at the end of this Congress.

Since 2005, he has represented the dozen counties stretching nearly 120 miles down Texas' eastern border with Louisiana. I represent one of his neighboring districts over that border; and in our region and, in fact, I can say nationwide, Congressman Louie Gohmert is a household name.

Prior to his election to Congress 9 terms ago, he served as a district judge in Texas, and Chief Justice of the Twelfth Court of Appeals of Texas. He is also a captain in the U.S. Army. He served our Nation bravely.

Judge Gohmert has been a bold defender of America's founding principles his entire life and career; and whether he is leading a debate in our House Judiciary Committee, or in the Natural Resources Committee, or setting the example for all of us with his tireless advocacy here on this House floor, Louie Gohmert has been a consummate servant for the people and for our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from the great State of Texas (Mr. Gohmert), my friend and my colleague.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for his comments. He has been a great example for that, and that was a fitting end to a long career and a lot of hours here on this floor articulating the truth and standing for America's founding principles.

Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff), another good friend, colleague, and a patriot. Recognizing A. Keith McDonald

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for fitting into the hour and honoring Mayor Keith McDonald. He sounds like a faithful public servant and one I wish I had the pleasure of knowing. We commend him on his long public service, and it is fitting that we do that on the night that we are bidding farewell soon to our friend and colleague, Congressman Louie Gohmert, as well.

These are the kind of faithful public servants that the Founding Fathers had in mind, that they would serve selflessly for a long tenure and give themselves to their community.

Madam Speaker, I know the clock has wound up and I am out of time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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