Providing for Consideration of H.J. Res. Relating to A National Emergency Declared By the President on March Providing for Consideration of H.R. Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. Pandemic is Over Act; and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Freedom for Health Care Workers Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 75 and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 75

Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 7) relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. All points of order against consideration of the joint resolution are waived. The joint resolution shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the joint resolution are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 139) to require Executive agencies to submit to Congress a study of the impacts of expanded telework and remote work by agency employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and a plan for the agency's future use of telework and remote work, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 3. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 382) to terminate the public health emergency declared with respect to COVID-19. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 4. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 497) to eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on health care providers furnishing items and services under certain Federal health care programs. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave
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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 75, providing for the consideration of four measures: H.J. Res. 7, H.R. 139, H.R. 382, and H.R. 497.

The rule provides for consideration of all four measures under closed rules, with 1 hour of debate each equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committees of jurisdiction or their designees. The rule provides one motion to recommit for each measure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and in support of the underlying bills.

Today, the Republican majority begins the long process of reversing the policy failures of President Biden and the previous Democratic majority.

Madam Speaker, Republicans last week demonstrated that Republicans are committed to governing for the American people. Toward that end, Madam Speaker, House Republicans have had one of the most productive legislative weeks in recent memory. Our new governing majority has demonstrated that it is no longer a closed shop, which was business as usual in a Democratic House in the last Congress.

Instead of a lethargic Congress, Republicans, in only 3 short weeks, have set a precedent that I hope subsequent Members will emulate. The new Republican majority is eager to begin the important work that America has sent us here to do.

Instead of legislating for the few at the expense of the many, Republicans are making good on our commitment to America. We are dismantling the COVID surveillance state. We are protecting the conscience rights of our healthcare workers. We are demanding that government employees show up to do their jobs like the rest of America has done. We are terminating and rescinding the interminable extensions of President Bidens's public health emergency declaration.

Sometimes, Madam Speaker, I almost feel as if I have been trapped in a Dickens novel. In this tale of two cities, it seems the Biden administration is clearly of two minds on the COVID pandemic, one being the best of times: the administration's policies to combat the pandemic have been a resounding success. But then, on the other hand, we are still living through a crisis that requires emergency measures that have to be prolonged indefinitely.

The American people spoke in the last election, Madam Speaker. Their message was clear enough. Their message by electing Republicans was enough is enough.

Now, thanks to Chairman Graves and H.J. Res. 7, the American people can be assured that President Biden's national emergency will be rescinded. Americans will finally have a government that recognizes the reality across our Nation, the very words spoken by President Biden on ``60 Minutes'' last September: ``The pandemic is over.''

Madam Speaker, nowhere is the contrast more evident between Republicans and Democrats than what is included in this rule today. The Republican majority is already hard at work passing commonsense legislation that will benefit our people, that will benefit all Americans, not just a connected few.

Madam Speaker, just like you, one of the most vital services I provide to the constituents of the people of the 26th District of Texas is communicating with Federal agencies on their behalf. Through this communication, I am able to ensure timely services like passport services, Social Security benefits, Medicare enrollment, veterans' benefits, and many more. Over the past few years, I have seen that these services have been severely delayed or even halted--completely in some cases--because what do you get? No one answers the phone, or you get an out-of-office response from a Federal agency.

I submit that is entirely unacceptable. In fact, last week, I introduced a bill called the REACT Act, in a bipartisan fashion, to require a timely response from executive agencies after inquiries from Members of Congress. However, in order for the agencies to fulfill their responsibilities, they first have to get back to work.

H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act, would end the unproductive telework policies to ensure that these Federal agencies are back at work for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and I urge other Members to support the underlying bill, as well as the rule.

Madam Speaker, again this September, President Biden, in a candid and unguarded moment, officially admitted that the pandemic is over, and then for emphasis he repeated it. Despite this declaration, this administration just reauthorized the twelfth extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

I think all of us who were here at the time agreed that, in March 2020, the country was very much in a public health emergency. However, now the landscape has changed, and now the American people are transitioning back to their normal routines.

Today, the Biden administration's lack of transparency has, yet again, put our country in a very difficult position. Throughout the last 3 years and 12 extensions of this public health emergency, people have had ample time to seriously discuss a plan to avoid disruptions to patients and providers as we transition out of this pandemic.

This new House majority has been pressing the administration to come up with a plan to make permanent the policies that work and unwind those policies that don't. While there were several successful policies and innovations that came out of the emergency declaration, not just telehealth and hospital at-home flexibilities, this administration has repeatedly failed to provide a plan.

The public health emergency cannot serve as a permanent means for the Biden administration to subvert Congress to enact their radical agenda.

Madam Speaker, I support Congressman Guthrie's efforts to officially end this public health emergency, and I look forward to transitioning back to regular order.

Madam Speaker, our healthcare workers across America are still subject to President Biden's vaccine mandate enforced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The healthcare industry is already suffering from a severe workforce shortage that will have drastic effects on our ability to take care of patients.

Republicans have been crystal clear on the issue, Madam Speaker. We never have and never will support Federal vaccine mandates. The personal health decision of whether to receive a vaccine should be left between a patient and their doctor. The Federal Government has no place in demanding what an American must do for their personal health and certainly as a condition of employment.

For Texas specifically, one of our hospitals lost over 150 workers due to the Federal vaccine mandate. This decision has deepened the staffing shortages back home, especially in rural areas, leaving all of us ill- equipped to deal with day-to-day functions.

Madam Speaker, I will conclude by saying that I stand in strong support of this rule and the underlying bills that they will allow to be debated.

Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow Members to support the rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I disagree with everything the gentleman just said, except his kind remarks on me being named vice chair of the Rules Committee.

I do think it is somewhat ironic he brings up redistricting. After all, it was Democrats' gerrymandering in the State of New York that led to the court throwing out their map. As a consequence of the court map, we elected more Republicans from New York than anyone thought possible, which delivered the majority.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy) to speak on the rule.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds for the purpose of response.

First off, the Speaker has been very clear that it is not negotiable. There will be no cuts to the Social Security and Medicare. But more importantly, the only person who is cutting Medicare right now is President Biden.

Ask any doctor in this country: Has your pay been cut in the last 4 years? And they will answer resoundingly in the affirmative.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie), to speak on this rule, another new member of the House Committee on Rules.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) to speak on the rule.
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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick), a new Member elected last November, to speak on the rule.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In preparing for this debate today on the rule, I reflected on the iconic photograph of the sailor kissing his girlfriend on the streets of New York at the end of the Second World War. Think about that for a moment.

My parents were married in 1946. My wife's parents were married in 1945. The end of the Second World War, the optimism of that couple on the streets of New York, then gave rise to basically my generation, the baby boom generation.

I was thinking back to about a year ago when there was a video making the rounds on the internet of an elementary school class where the teacher said masks are no longer required and the unbridled joy of those young students as they ripped off their masks, never to have to put them on again.

We are standing on the precipice of just such a moment today, and this truly is a historic moment. It is one that the American people should look back on and say this was the time. This is the time for optimism and to, without fear, embrace the future because we know the good things of which our country is capable.

Now, I do need to thank some of our fellow Members; specifically, the chairwoman of my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, Chairwoman Rodgers, Chairman Sam Graves of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Chairman Comer of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for their hard work in delivering for the American people by bringing these bills to the floor and helping ensure that commitment to America and the future.

The Republican majority has again demonstrated that our governing agenda will be devoted to improving the lives of our Nation's citizens. Our governing majority will continue to focus on the issues that matter most to our people: combating the rising energy costs, sky-high inflation, rampant crime, our porous southern border, and the fentanyl crisis.

These are the issues that the American voters rightfully demand that their Representatives address. The Republican majority is committed to solving the crises that the previous Democratic majority has inflicted on our Nation.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 382--Pandemic is Over Act, H.R. 497--Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, H.R. 139--SHOW UP Act of 2023, and H.J. Res. 7--Relating to a national emergency declared by the Presidenton March 13, 2020.

House Republicans have professed a commitment to transparency and fairness that allows all voices to be heard in the legislative process.

Yet, by House Republicans choosing a closed rule, have denied this body the right to weigh in on the rules or these bills.

Republicans are attempting to push through statements of principle that represent the entirety of the House without any reasonable consideration.

These bills have not been adequately considered in committee hearing by the committee of jurisdiction.

Amendments to these bills have not been raised or debated.

Now, with this closed Rule, members are unable to offer any amendments to each of these bills.

The business of the House is of the utmost importance to the American people.

Democrats remain committed to putting people over politics.

During 2020 within my District, the COVID-19 pandemic was surging and I worked desperately to bring COVID-19 testing and then vaccines to communities in need throughout my district.

At the time many Republican leaders refused to even acknowledge the reality of the pandemic.

Now the Republicans are furthering their narrative and lack of action on COVID-19 by attempting to normalize and even deny the horrors of the pandemic.

We should never forget the lives lost and all that we have learned for the pandemic.

In Harris County, over 11 thousand people have died of COVID-19 since 2020. Every one of those lives was important and we must work together to save every life possible.

Vaccines have saved lives and continue to save lives.

The issue of the pandemics' ongoing nature is a complex one that will need to consider potential seasonal surges and the need for annual vaccines.

The Republicans today barely secured a majority in the House and only chose a Speaker from their party after 14 votes. They cannot claim to have any mandate from the public.

We must continue to keep COVID-19 front of mind and create a plan of shifting to living with COVID-19 rather than these brash political statements.

I, for one, care about the safety of healthcare works, the safety of my constituents, and the safety of workers.

The fact is that we must continue to identify the best way out of the COVID-19 pandemic with careful consideration of the science, and strategic plans that consider the uniqueness of each of the communities that we represent.

The rule before us makes bold unsubstantiated claims that threaten the safety of our healthcare workers, teleworkers, and the constituents in each of our districts.

There is a better way forward.

We must have more discussion and debate.

I cannot in good conscious support this rule.

The material previously referred to by McGovern is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution 75

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

That upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be in order to consider in the House the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 7) relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. All points of order against consideration of the joint resolution are waived. The amendment printed in section 5 of this resolution shall be considered as adopted. The joint resolution, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the joint resolution, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 139) to require Executive agencies to submit to Congress a study of the impacts of expanded telework and remote work by agency employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and a plan for the agency's future use of telework and remote work, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment printed in section 5 of this resolution shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 3. Upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 382) to terminate the public health emergency declared with respect to COVID-19. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment printed in section 5 of this resolution shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 4. Upon adoption of this resolution, it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 497) to eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on health care providers furnishing items and services under certain Federal health care programs. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The amendment printed in section 5 of this resolution shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 5. The amendment referred to in each of the other sections of this resolution is as follows:

``At the end, add the following:

``This Act shall not be effective unless and until the date on which the Director of the Congressional Budget Office certifies that this Act will not result in a decrease to Social Security benefits.''.

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Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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