National Guard Shooting
Floor Speech
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Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. Last Wednesday, the Nation witnessed a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence involving two members of our National Guard from West Virginia, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.
Specialist Beckstrom gave her life in service to our country. She wore our Nation's uniform with honor, stood ready to defend her neighbors, and lived out the highest ideals of duty and sacrifice. We grieve her loss deeply, and I ask God to bring comfort and peace to her family, her loved ones, and entire National Guard community.
We also pray for the full and swift recovery of Staff Sergeant Wolfe. He remains in critical condition, and Americans across Kansas and the country continue to cover him in prayer. I ask for God's healing hand on him, for strength for his family, and for protection over every man and woman who serves.
Mr. Speaker, tragedies like this remind us that the cost of our freedom is not free. None of these men and women were drafted or forced to put on the uniform they wear. They boldly answered the call to serve in defense of our freedom and safety, and we are eternally grateful for the sacrifice that they and all the Armed Forces make every day in service to our country.
Tragedies like this shake us, but they also remind us just how precious life is, how quickly it can be taken, and how much we owe to those who step forward to serve.
This violence was senseless. It was wrong. Today, we pause not to debate, but to mourn, to honor, and to pray.
Mr. Speaker, let us remember Sarah Beckstrom's courage. Let us stand with Andrew Wolfe as he fights to recover. Let us hold their families close in our hearts during these difficult days ahead.
May God bless the Beckstrom and Wolfe families. May He watch over our National Guard, and may He bring comfort and healing to all who are hurting.
Mr. Speaker, may Specialist Sarah Beckstrom's soul rest in peace. Less Regulation, More Freedom
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Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, every year, small businesses spend nearly $15,000 per employee to comply with Federal laws. American companies spend over $3 trillion a year on compliance.
I am sure this is not a shock to anyone in this Chamber, but we know that some of that cost gets passed on to consumers. The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates that U.S. households absorb $16,000 annually in hidden regulatory fees and taxes.
For many families in the Big First District of Kansas, that money could be used much better elsewhere.
When this Republican majority was elected last year, the country trusted us to roll back burdensome regulations and lower costs. This week, we have an opportunity to do so.
The small businesses that make up the Big First are often small, family-owned and -operated mom-and-pop shops. They don't manage or run their small businesses to be billionaires or to become ultrawealthy. Their goals are to serve their communities, meet a need, and serve their neighbors well. That is what they should be empowered to do, but sadly, that is not their reality.
Everyday Americans are forced to bear the brunt of that regulatory cost. If you talk to families across my district and ask them what they could do with $16,000, the answers would be endless. Some may say that they would purchase a car for their family or teenage child.
Many would love to see that money stored away in an emergency fund or a retirement fund. If their family has a loved one who is aging or facing health challenges, that money could be used to assist with caregiving or medical expenses. No matter the response, I feel confident that the vast majority of Kansans would agree that they could find a better use for those dollars than paying an additional tax to bureaucrats who want to regulate every detail of how they do business from hundreds of miles away.
This week, House Republicans will take a commonsense step forward by protecting consumers and small businesses alike from these costs. The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act is exactly the type of legislation that this Congress was elected to enact. It ensures that any regulatory change from the SBA does not increase compliance costs for small businesses and, in turn, consumers. Regulations are meant to protect competition, not make costs unbearable for businessowners and consumers.
We are working to right that wrong, make small businesses stronger, and give American families more breathing room in their day-to-day expenses. Despite the distraction that the media and some of my colleagues across the aisle would love to see in this Chamber, this majority is still laser-focused on delivering on our promises that we made to the country last year. This is yet another small step forward to getting our country back on track and helping small businesses thrive again. Promises made, promises kept.
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