Political Quotes

“I thank my friend, Mr. Rogers, for yielding. Madam Speaker, my amendment No. 84 would require a report on the feasibility of establishing a Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility in Taiwan. Last year, Taipei International Airport applied to offer customs preclearance with strong support and calls for approval of their application on both sides of the Pacific. Taiwan would be the first country in East Asia to offer preclearance, an excellent choice given our close economic ties with the island, our shared values, and our ever-more critical security partnership. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to enhance travel between the United States and Taiwan. Secondarily, I rise in support of my amendment which would require the Secretary to conduct an anonymous survey to determine the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on both reenlistment and recruitment to the Armed Forces. I am not anti-vaccine, but I am 100 percent anti-mandate. Individuals should be able to choose what is best for them and their families in consultation with their doctors. They should not be forced to take a vaccine by government at any level. I believe my colleagues who are pro-vaccine mandates should support this amendment to determine what effects the mandate at DOD will have on both reenlistment and recruitment. We need to know what, if any, effect this policy will have on our national security and our readiness.…”