paying more. Inflation, which started because of the so-called American
Rescue Plan--I think that is what you all called it--and your so-called
Inflation Reduction Act--why did you name a bill the Inflation
Reduction Act? It was because you started the inflation with the
American Rescue Plan, and then you turned around and passed the so-
called Inflation Reduction Act that just exponentially escalated the
amount of inflation that the American citizens were having to deal with
on a regular basis.
  My point with the economy is this: Real GDP grew. Real GDP grew at a
2.2 percent annual rate for the full year of 2025. That beat the
baseline expectations.
  Yes, American citizens are having challenges. One of the reasons they
are having challenges is the cost of energy.
  Do you know what? I will admit, after Donald Trump tried to end the
Iranian jihadist control over what was happening around the world--and
he has done a pretty good job with it--and let me tell you this: Donald
Trump, the President of the United States, knows exactly what he is
doing with Iran. He knows exactly what he is doing with Iran, and if
you would get the briefings, you would understand why.

  In fact, I would point out that a U.S. Senator who doesn't like the
President had a few things to say, and as soon as he went and got the
briefing, he turned around and reversed his position. Instead of
blaming everything on Donald Trump, you should get the facts.
  However, the cost of energy is embedded in every single thing that we
do and that we buy. When the Democratic Party does things like
canceling the Keystone pipeline, like stopping the development of
nuclear power plants, like stopping oil and gas developments inside the
United States of America, it hurts the American citizens. It hurts the
American citizens, and it leads to inflation.
  I am sorry that we are having to deal with the inflation that the
Democrats started with the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation
Reduction Act and the pain that has come from that, and I am sorry the
American citizens are dealing with the pain of the Affordable Care Act.
I wish we could repeal that horrible bill, but we didn't get it done.
We didn't get it done.
  Healthcare providers who can't afford their benefits, they can't
afford their benefits because the insurance companies that you turned
the system over to aren't paying the claims.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is rich to be lectured about healthcare from my
Republican friends. Let me tell you what Democrats did with the
Affordable Care Act. By passing it, it stopped health insurance
companies from charging sick people more premiums than healthy people.
It kept health insurance companies from denying coverage to pregnant
women and people with preexisting conditions. It demanded insurance
companies cover more preventive services. It allows young adults to
stay on their parents' insurance until they are age 26. I could go on
and on and on.
  What did my Republican friends do? They cut $1 trillion from
healthcare. By the way, I should remind the gentleman that Republicans
control the House, Republicans control the Senate, Republicans control
the White House, and healthcare prices are going through the roof under
your watch.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act created a system where the major
insurance carriers are not answerable to anybody. You did this to the
American citizens. It is your responsibility. I reserve the balance of
my time.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 5\1/4\
minutes remaining.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about healthcare all day. I just
urge those who are in the gallery and those who are watching, I mean,
look at your own healthcare bills, look at your own healthcare coverage
now after nearly 2 years of Republican control of the government. The
bottom line is: People are losing their healthcare benefits. In this
country, that is unconscionable.
  Mr. Speaker, I have served here a long time, and I have seen
majorities struggle before. I have seen close votes. I have seen
disagreements. This is something else entirely. This is a majority that
cannot function unless Donald Trump is lucid and in a good mood, and
even then it is a coin flip.
  I mean, Americans need cheaper housing. They need a raise. They need
healthcare that doesn't break the bank. They need a government that
lowers prices and brings down inflation and protects them. Instead,
what they are getting is a Republican administration that raises
prices, increases inflation, and protects the Epstein pedophiles.
  Republicans promised they would lower prices on day one. It is now
year two. They have been in complete and total control for almost 18
months. They run Washington.

                              {time}  1320

  If you go home and ask people in small towns, in big cities, in
suburbs, in rural communities, and in States across this country how
things are going with Trump and Republicans in charge, they will tell
you the truth, which is that things are getting worse because Trump's
economy sucks.
  He swore he would end inflation--end it. Those are his words, not
mine. He said he would end wars. He is starting them. He promised gas
would be cheap. The national average is nearly $4 a gallon.
  The only people who are doing great right now are the billionaires,
and now a trillionaire, and the greedy corporations that helped
Republicans get elected because that is whom they work for.
  I think people are sick and tired of it. They are sick of watching
Congress lurch from crisis to crisis. They are sick of Republicans
spending more time managing their own egos than lowering anybody's
bills.
  Let me just end with this. As we celebrate our country's 250th
birthday this weekend, we have so, so much to be proud of as Americans.
We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Each new generation
that has fought to expand the circle of our democracy and make real the
promise of our founding has brought us closer to the dream of a more
perfect Union. That is what makes America great.
  I am looking forward to spending this Fourth of July with families
and friends back up in Massachusetts, the birthplace of America, where
our citizens came together to overthrow the most powerful army in the
world and establish a government of, by, and for the people.
  However, the truth is that right now too many people feel as if this
country is run by, of, and for the powerful, the wealthy, and the well-
connected.
  Do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
  They are right. People see the corruption, the greed, the self-
dealing, and the self-enrichment of this President's family and his
crooked administration, and they are fed up with it. I believe that
patriotism means calling your country to a higher standard. Patriotism
means telling the truth, Mr. Speaker, and the truth is that Americans
are hurting, costs are too high, and our democracy and freedoms are
under assault by an out-of-control, lawless administration run by a
President who thinks he is a king.
  Republicans are either too busy pledging allegiance to Trump to
notice or too distracted fighting with each other to care.
  We can do better than this, we should do better than this, and we
must do better than this. Reject this rule. Stop acting like a cult.
Let's bring back bills that actually help people, and, for God's sake,
let's start acting like America.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule, a ``no'' vote
on the underlying bills, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded, they already know it,
but they are reminded, again, to refrain from engaging in personalities
toward the President.
  As well, Members are reminded not to reference guests in the gallery
and are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair, not to each
other in the second person.