Congressman Guest Supports T&I Budget Amendments to Address Failures of Democrat Leaders

Press Release

Washington, D.C. -- Today during the budget reconciliation markup in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) spoke in favor of amendments to audit military assets left in Afghanistan by the Biden Administration, address hypocrisy of Democrats in COVID-19 response, rein in government spending until inflation is brought below three percent, and suspend federal traffic safety funding to cities that defund the police. See below for statements from Congressman Guest on these amendments.

Audit of Military Assets Left in Afghanistan

Congressman Guest spoke in support of an amendment to instruct the GAO to conduct an audit of Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assets and personnel deployed in Afghanistan or provided to the late Afghan military and the disposition of such assets.

This amendment brings to the forefront the most important issue we should be discussing in Congress.

While President Biden and House Democrats continue to push for trillions in spending that would increase our national debt and raise taxes on hard-working Americans, this Administration has left billions of dollars -- if not tens of billions of dollars -- of equipment in Afghanistan.

Every committee in Congress should be conducting necessary oversight to examine the decisions that went into this chaotic withdrawal.

In my home state of Mississippi, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Guard occupy some of our most important government assets in the state.

The thought that some of the same equipment present in Mississippi may also be in the hands of the Taliban to use against our allies or conduct attacks against our homeland is deeply concerning.

I hope the committee will adopt this amendment to ensure that we understand what we have left in the hands of the enemies and take the necessary and proper steps to examine our own security in the wake of the President's failed withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Preventing the Use of FEMA Resources at the Border to Mitigate Impact on Disaster Readiness and Response

Congressman Guest spoke in support of an amendment to correct the inappropriate use of the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the southwest border and instruct the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan for mitigating COVID-19.

The current Administration has caused a growing crisis along our southwest border in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is even more confounding is that the Administration is not holding illegal immigrants to the same standards it is requiring for American citizens.

Just last week, we saw President Biden announce unprecedented mandates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, the outcome of which could affect the employment of up to 100 million hard-working Americans.

However, these requirements are not the same for migrants pouring across our southwest border, even though some 18 to 20 percent of immigrants are testing positive for the virus.

The American people are, understandably and rightly, frustrated.

This amendment would correct the inappropriate use of FEMA at the southwest border.

The Department of Homeland Security would be required to have a plan for mitigating COVID-19 at the border. That would include quarantining COVID-positive migrants before FEMA staff is deployed to these locations.

This language would also require the U.S. Government to review the impact of FEMA involvement at the border on the agency's readiness for other disaster responsibilities.

Not only would this amendment help protect the Federal workforce and our communities from COVID, it also would ensure that FEMA staff is where they are needed most -- in our neighboring states such as Texas and Louisiana which, as we speak, are being destroyed by Hurricane Nicholas.

Prohibiting Inflationary Spending to Ensure Inflation is Reined in Before More Spending Occurs

Congressman Guest spoke in support of an amendment to ensure that Federal spending does not increase unless the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office certifies that inflation is below three percent.
Inflation of consumer goods continues to create a strain for American families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. inflation is forecast to be greater than 5 percent -- greater than 5 percent -- for the third month in a row -- no doubt due in part to the partisan, $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

At a time when we should be allowing our economy to recover, Congressional Democrats and the Biden Administration are moving ahead with a $3.5 trillion spending package.

The cost of this proposal would, no doubt, only worsen this inflation crisis.

My Republicans colleagues are offering an important safeguard on the ever-increasing spending proposals.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would ensure that Federal spending does not increase unless the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office certifies that inflation is below 3 percent.

The American people deserve this relief to keep inflation in check, and I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

Preventing Jurisdictions that Have Defunded the Police from Using Federal Dollars to Bail Out Their Police Budgets

Congressman Guest spoke in support of an amendment to ensure that communities that defund the police are not supported with federal traffic safety funding.

As a former prosecutor, I am deeply concerned about rising violent crime and the increase in attacks we have seen on the men and women of law enforcement.

In 2020, 264 federal, state, military, tribal and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty--the highest since 1974.

Despite the need to reinforce and support law enforcement, progressive politicians in some jurisdictions have chosen to cut funding for their police departments.

Federal funding for law enforcement activities under the jurisdiction of this committee should not be used to cover gaps caused by local governments that have made the decision to defund the police.

I am proud to support the men and women of law enforcement, and I am proud to support this amendment, which would ensure that communities that defund the police are not supported with federal traffic safety funding.

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