Self-Inflicted Crises of the Biden Administration

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, during what should be a period of sustained economic recovery, job growth has stalled, consumer prices are skyrocketing, and many shelves are empty thanks to supply chain chokepoints.

Nevertheless, House Democrats are forging ahead to pass their 2,100- page reckless tax and spending spree before they even know how it impacts the budget and before the American people can understand even what is in it, which is certain to drive up consumer prices even further and make job growth that much harder.

Make no mistake, this bill is a clunker. If you can stomach the price tag and look underneath the hood, you will see tax breaks for the rich; you will see incentives to stay home instead of going back to work; massive taxpayer subsidies for inefficient green energy sources; and fewer cures for rare diseases.

The bill eliminates jobs. It reduces paychecks. It increases government dependency. It crushes small businesses. It repeals longstanding protections against taxpayer funding of abortions. And it taxes American companies at a higher rate than Communist China. Yes, that is all in the bill.

During our time this afternoon, in addition to the House Democrats' disastrous left-wing agenda, my colleagues and I will be discussing the many self-inflicted crises of the Biden administration. Whether it is the most expensive Thanksgiving in history, inflation, skyrocketing gas prices, or our overwhelmed southern border, one thing is for certain, the answer to the countless Democrat-caused crises is not more Democrat-authored policies.

I thank my colleagues for being here today, and I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for that reminder that socialism never worked and never has. It is a fool's errand.

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

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. He is so right about that. The hardworking American families are feeling the pain from Tennessee all the way to California.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte), my good friend.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for doing this and for yielding and for all of his good work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, a week before one of America's oldest, most deeply rooted holidays, ashamed of what this administration is doing to our great United States of America. American families look forward to a Thanksgiving feast where they are finally able to see distant relatives, reflect on their lives and, of course, share a table covered in food made from old family recipes.

Yet, this year, families aren't thinking about that. They are not thinking about what they will cook, but rather, how they will afford a Thanksgiving meal. Turkey prices are up 18 percent. Pumpkin pie is up 17 percent. Carrots, strangely enough, up 50 percent. Some families might not even have to worry about these rising food costs because they might not be able to travel to see their families due to soaring gas prices. A gallon of gas is up 61 percent, on average. If they are able to travel despite the price increases, they may enter a frigid home, as the cost to heat our homes has increased by 54 percent.

The root cause of these price increases is no big secret to anyone. They are the direct result of failed Biden policies. Policies that have led to rampant inflation, a crippled supply chain, and labor shortages on a scale that we never would have ever imagined.

Despite recent comments made by this administration and the media, inflation is a bad, bad thing. Buying a home? More expensive. Building a home? More expensive. Renting an apartment? More expensive. Gas, groceries, turkeys, and presents, more expensive. This is the Biden Thanksgiving tax.

Americans deserve a joyous Thanksgiving after the suffering our Nation has endured over the past 2 years. And this administration is on track to be known as the grinch who not only stole Christmas, but the grinch that stole Thanksgiving as well.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the gentleman.

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

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. Midland over Moscow, we ought to print T-shirts with that one.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), where they are deeply concerned about this as well.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's adequate comments. And I will tell the gentleman that they are going to have to amend and print new stickers for the gas pumps because if our Democrat colleagues vote for this monstrosity, they are going to have to make a new sticker that says, ``I and the House Democrats did that.'' That is what is going down.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, that voice from Georgia is so strong. I think we are going to stick with that theme.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Moore).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Carter for that optimistic close. As Ronald Reagan said, we are the ``last best hope of man on Earth.'' We better hold it.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend. It is a shame that China is being assisted by these Democrat policies, even as they openly challenge us. Another thing Ronald Reagan warned us about is that weakness invites aggression. This is a dangerous game.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, it will damage all of our States.

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

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for prosecuting the case. That was his background.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. The gentlewoman has said it very well.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. I thank my friend for his common sense. We will continue with that theme.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Any time a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient speaks, we ought to listen.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline.)

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. We are going to feel the pain. My friend is exactly right.

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

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, that was so well said, and the American people are going to speak again next fall; we know that for certain.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank my friends for participating tonight, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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