House Republicans Prepare for 119th Congress

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank our vice chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, for the last several weeks, I listened to countless concerns from literally hundreds of Tennesseans whom I have the honor to represent here in Congress. I heard from families still struggling to make ends meet because of rampant inflation. They are paying more for housing, groceries, energy, and just about everything else you can think of because of Bidenomics.

I listened to constituents who are worried about crime, fentanyl, and, yes, the overrun U.S.-Mexico border.

Small business owners expressed the heavy burden of government regulations. Parents told me the many ways government overreach in schools keeps them up at night.

It is not hyperbole to say that the results of this election were an answered prayer for those Tennesseans and millions more across this country.

Throughout the 118th Congress, House Republicans fulfilled our Commitment to America. We passed bills to secure our borders, lower energy costs, curb Federal regulations, and restore fiscal sanity to our government, but unlike what we have seen for the last 2 years, the bills we pass in the 119th Congress will no longer be dead on arrival in the do-nothing Senate.

The next Congress will also have a Commander in Chief who values family, common sense, and strength on the world stage. We will have a partner in the White House who is willing to roll back red tape rather than layer on more. We will have a President willing to sign legislation into law that will keep American workers and their families working, safe, and prosperous.

But we are not waiting for January to deliver results, Mr. Speaker. This week, House Republicans will bring two commonsense pieces of legislation to the floor.

The first prohibits the IRS from charging penalties and late fees to Americans who happen to be late on filing their taxes due to being wrongfully detained abroad. American families of hostages held by Hamas terrorists shouldn't incur tax penalties. I proudly voted for this bill when it came up under suspension and plan to do so again.

The second bill aims to support our national security and energy independence by streamlining the permitting process for geothermal energy development. It requires the Interior Department to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales to every year rather than every 2 years. It also calls on the Department to hold a replacement sale, if needed, and creates deadlines for geothermal permit applicants.

Geothermal energy is a clean, dependable, renewable energy source that supports my commitment to an all-of-the-above energy approach needed for the 21st century.

After month after month of record-breaking price increases and illegal border crossings, the American people are anxious to see their country made great again.

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