Randy Fine
Representative for Florida · Republican · United States
“Mr. Chairman, I will start by acknowledging the extraordinary work of my friend, colleague, and mentor from Florida on this overall package, which I do intend to support, but no matter how great a job we do on anything, there is always room to improve.”
“Second project, in the Central African Republic, ``to catalyze land restoration and biodiversity conservation through inclusive and gender- responsive landscape governance.'' Again, just think of the absurdity of this, gender-responsive landscape governance.”
“Mr. Chairman, I will close by saying this: Irrespective of the ridiculous examples that I gave before, again, the idea that there is gender responsive ways to deal with environmental problems as though somehow men and women would deal with environmental solutions differently, setting all of that ridiculousness aside, I think we have a sim…”
“My colleagues across the aisle and other supporters of the GEF and green new scam argue that it is America's responsibility to give millions of taxpayer dollars to unelected bureaucrats because the GEF fights so-called climate change.”
“I think it is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars to subsidize an organization that spends money helping other countries comply with an agreement the United States is not even a party to or giving money to the Taliban for any reason, let alone for forestry.”
“If we do not begin to deal with these problems soon, then we won't have a budget to spend. This is one small step in order to try to get our fiscal house in order. I hope that all of my colleagues will support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR (Ms. King-Hinds).”
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“If we do not begin to deal with these problems soon, then we won't have a budget to spend. This is one small step in order to try to get our fiscal house in order. I hope that all of my colleagues will support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR (Ms. King-Hinds). The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.”
“Mr. Chairman, I will close by saying this: Irrespective of the ridiculous examples that I gave before, again, the idea that there is gender responsive ways to deal with environmental problems as though somehow men and women would deal with environmental solutions differently, setting all of that ridiculousness aside, I think we have a simple question before us. When you are $40 trillion in debt, Mr. Chair, and the things you are paying for are being borrowed from your children and grandchildren, the question is no longer whether something is a good idea. The question is whether it is worth driving us further into debt to do. Even if I were to grant that these projects were noble--and I do not--it is not worth borrowing from my two sons and every American's children and grandchildren to do that.”
“Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida has 2 minutes remaining. [[Page H4518]]”
“I think it is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars to subsidize an organization that spends money helping other countries comply with an agreement the United States is not even a party to or giving money to the Taliban for any reason, let alone for forestry. President Trump's budget request eliminated funding for the Global Environment Facility. Congress should follow that example and eliminate this unnecessary $140 million expenditure. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1330”
“Second project, in the Central African Republic, ``to catalyze land restoration and biodiversity conservation through inclusive and gender- responsive landscape governance.'' Again, just think of the absurdity of this, gender-responsive landscape governance. Then there was a grant given in 2024 in Afghanistan for ``strengthened resilience of rural communities' livelihoods to climate risks and variability in selected provinces in Afghanistan.'' Let me remind all my colleagues that Afghanistan has been under the rule of the Taliban. Do we really think the Taliban is going to use this money to address so-called climate change? The United States, as I said before, is almost $40 trillion in debt, and that debt continues to grow every single day, every single minute, every single hour that we are here.”
“My colleagues across the aisle and other supporters of the GEF and green new scam argue that it is America's responsibility to give millions of taxpayer dollars to unelected bureaucrats because the GEF fights so-called climate change. Let's examine some examples of the important work that GEF is funding with money that we are borrowing from our children and grandchildren: The Women Ocean Guardians project, which seeks ``to strengthen the sustainable use, management, and conservation of large marine ecosystems by enhancing gender-responsive ocean governance, empowering women frontliners in coastal and marine ecosystems and implementing community-led solutions'' because we have got to make sure when we fight climate change it is gender responsive.”
“Mr. Chairman, I will start by acknowledging the extraordinary work of my friend, colleague, and mentor from Florida on this overall package, which I do intend to support, but no matter how great a job we do on anything, there is always room to improve. At a time and a place in which we have a $40 trillion debt, I have an obligation to be looking to save money wherever we can. My amendment would strike all funding for the Global Environment Facility, which would save taxpayers $140 million. The GEF, as I see it, is a wasteful fund that spends money to bankroll woke climate initiatives, including grants designed to bring countries such as Namibia and Serbia into compliance with the Paris climate agreement, which President Trump withdrew the United States from because it did not reflect American interests and priorities.”
“Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 42, strike line 6 through line 10. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1423, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.”
“I thought it was kind of crazy, and it has been sitting in my closet for 35 years. It is in that bag over there. It is a metal seal that says: ``Member of Congress.'' When I leave here and I go back to my office, it will be the first thing that I hang. That is because God has a plan for us all. He has a plan for all of you. He has a plan for me. He has a plan for every member of my family, and He has a plan for every person who is watching here today. I believe that His plan in the days ahead is that we do everything in our power to deliver on the promise that the voters asked us to do in November, and that is to Make America Great Again. ____________________”
“It is an honor of a lifetime that God's plan for me is to come and help all of you implement that plan. However, today is also a sad day for me because the person I most wished to be here to watch this can't be here. I will tell you a story about my mom. She was my biggest champion. She was the one who taught me how to fight. If you don't know me, and if you haven't followed me, ``fighter'' will be the word that you will know soon enough. One day when I was 16 years old, my mother came with me, and we went to the stationery store which is still in the same place that it is today. We went into that store, and my mom saw something that she thought that I should buy. She said: Randy you never know when you might actually need this. Now, I bought that thing that day.”
“When I spent 1 year working here as a House page, I learned from so many people--five of whom, by the way, are still serving today--what it meant to serve America and what it meant to put the needs of the country before yourself. I want to recognize my family because when I did this opportunity, being a good Jewish boy, my family would not send me alone. My mother, my father, and my sister moved to Washington. My mom, who I will talk about in a little bit, used to sit where my wife, Wendy, and my father are. My sons are over there. I want to recognize all of them and thank them so much for being here. My mom used to sit up there, and she used to watch me every day. She used to tell me every day: Randy, God has a plan. Now, I believe that when Donald Trump's life was saved in Butler, Pennsylvania, it was so that he could save the world.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 59 (Wednesday, April 2, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 2, 2025)] [House] [Page H1410] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN (Mr. FINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. FINE. Mr. Speaker, 35 years ago, a 16-year-old boy walked through those doors, and he marveled in this room at this temple of democracy as he watched people who gave of their lives, who gave up time with their families, and who gave up their careers in order to serve their country.”