Return to Peace Through Strength

Floor Speech

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Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss, unfortunately, yet another crisis. When Russia invaded the Ukraine in 2014, I was actually an Active Duty Air Force officer stationed in Europe in NATO. Assigned to a NATO unit, I saw this firsthand. This is much different.

I just returned from Kyiv where we met with many Ukrainian officials, including the President, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister. While there, we heard a message that was loud and clear. Vladimir Putin is acting now because he senses an environment of weakness. Weakness from this administration in the approach to energy, in their countless failures, including the most tragic of all, the Afghanistan evacuation, and then the lack of overall commitment to law and order, which can be seen so many places, including our southern border.

All these failures have created this environment of weakness that Putin is now acting on. To make matters worse, European countries are completely beholden and dependent upon Russia for their energy. Over 40 percent of the energy flow is coming from Russia.

Ukrainian officials told me directly that without Nord Stream II, Russia would not be acting out today. This was told to a bipartisan codel that heard this, both Republicans and Democrats alike.

Since the President took office, every policy failure he has steered our country into has signaled not strength but weakness. The President now promises to impose severe sanctions on Russia should they invade the Ukraine. This is not the way that deterrence works. Deterrence happens every day; it happens in every policy action. It doesn't happen after the fact.

Why would Russia expect the Biden administration to respect the borders of the Ukraine when we refuse to secure our own borders here at home? President Zelensky said this, ``Border security matters. I will defend the Ukrainian borders.'' We need a President who is strong, who will not only protect the United States, but also will send a clear message to our allies and partners abroad that law and order will stand, that sovereign borders will be protected.

We need an administration that is capable of standing up to our adversaries. As I said before in this Chamber, we need a President who will choose Midland over Moscow. If President Biden is not going to take action, Congress must. I will be working to impose strong sanctions on the Nord Stream pipeline.

Energy security is national security. The Ukrainian people understand this, the European continent understands this, and the Russians now have a stranglehold on Europe by imposing their will with the Nord Stream projects. We need Democrats and Republicans alike. We were unified on this codel.

Mr. Speaker, I am asking my Democrat colleagues to understand the severity of this problem. In 2022, we have a sovereign country that could be invaded by an aggressor, that aggressor who has been emboldened by an environment of weakness. We must stand strong. So many people, including myself, have served overseas and have done the hard work. It is well past time that we end these crises, that we show strength in the face of an aggressor who would impose their will on the rest of the world and change world order that that greatest generation 80 years ago fought for.

Now is not the time to back down. As Putin goes to China and stands side-by-side with Xi Jinping in these Olympic Games and asks for his blessing to invade a sovereign country, it is time for all of us to not identify by our parties but to identify as Americans, to come together and be strong on our actions. Honoring Diana Jones

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Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences to a public servant of Cresson, Texas. In August 2020, the city of Cresson lost one of its bravest servants, Diana Jones.

Diana was an EMT, a member of the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 5 years, and often traveled to California, to the West Coast, to offer her skills in firefighting. Tragically, Diana passed away during one of these firefights.

Last month, the Cresson community voted to name the volunteer fire department's training center the Diana Jones Memorial Training Center. Now all who step foot through that door will feel the sacrifice and the leadership that she has done in honoring her memory.

The Diana Jones Memorial Training Center will forever remind the community of the example she set--learning to better one's self to serve others. Her legacy is continued through her sons as well as the Cresson community. We are proud to honor the life that she dedicated to serving her community.

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