Fiscally Responsible Spending

Floor Speech

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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I will remind Members, we have a few more seats down front. I notice some of you all are crowded up in the back, but if you want to come down front, that would be quite all right.

Mr. Speaker, we are nearly $35 trillion in debt right now. That is over $100,000 per American, including children. It is all because of our out-of-control spending, and so much of that money is either unaccounted for or just plain wasteful.

The Pentagon can't even tell us where half its funds end up, and right now they have about half a trillion dollars that is unaccounted for--half a trillion dollars. Foreign aid ends up in the hands of terrorists because we don't actually track it. Pandemic fraud was through the roof because we just threw checks at people like they were candy.

Democrats also force Americans to spend a bunch of money on things we don't need. Americans could be on the hook for over $450 billion a year to take care of illegal immigrants because the Biden administration won't close the dadgum border.

We are spending money on drag shows at military bases. We are paying for more diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in our Federal Government. We are funding government employees' out-of-State trips to get abortions. It is so ridiculous, Mr. Speaker.

Americans elected us to handle the budget, and they are suffering as a result. The Democrats' massive spending policies take more of their hard-earned money and drive up the prices, so their paychecks don't go as far as they used to.

Congress needs to stand up, Mr. Speaker, and we need to get us some dadgum guts right now and make some real fiscally responsible changes on how we spend or else we will lose this country.

Honoring Chief Master Sergeant Chrystie Shawhan as Second District Veteran of the Month

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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Chrystie Shawhan.

Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan joined the military right after high school and was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Southern Watch at the age of 23. Chrystie comes from a family of Air Force servicemembers, and her grandparents served in World War II.

When Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan took off the uniform for good, she continued serving her fellow veterans in east Tennessee. She became involved with a national military support group called Irreverent Warriors, whose mission is to bring veterans together through humor and camaraderie to help prevent veteran suicide. The group also organizes hikes, marches, and other gatherings to bring veterans closer together. I have been invited and attended many of their events. It is quite a day, Mr. Speaker.

When she was asked if she feels honored and respected for serving her country, she said, In east Tennessee, I do. That is a testament to our community. I am proud to represent folks who truly appreciate our veterans and make sure that appreciation is known.

Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan served our country faithfully for 28 years before retiring, and I thank her so much for her service. We wouldn't have a country, Mr. Speaker, if it weren't for men and women like Chrystie Shawhan. It is my honor to recognize her as Tennessee's Second Congressional District January 2024 Veteran of the Month. Honoring the Life of David Earl Foulk

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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of my dear friend David Earl Foulk, who passed away on January 8 at the age of 72.

Dave was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he fell in love with his portable transistor radio. He would hide it under his covers at night and would try to pick up faraway stations.

This fascination grew into a career, and David grew up to become a beloved personality in Knoxville and Atlanta. Dave was never more comfortable than when he was sitting in a studio, had a hot mike in front of him, and five police and fire scanners going off behind him.

Dave was an accomplished journalist. He earned numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Green Eyeshade Award, and honors by the Associated Press of Tennessee and Georgia.

You know he is good at what he does when Hallerin Hill calls him one of the greats.

He knew everything about fire engines and firefighters, and they were as enamored with him as he was with them. He actually survived two helicopter crashes, if you can imagine that.

He is survived by his wife, Dena; their three children, Bethany, Jonathan, and Julia; as well as eight grandchildren.

I always remember being in the studio, Mr. Speaker, as a young man; they would ask me to host a show. I didn't have any guests. I was running out of things to say, and Dave walked in and filled in 15 minutes of dead air for me, and it was just wonderful radio. It was a wonderful experience. I will miss Dave.

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