Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017 No. 116 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was fire marshal. Still active in the Fall Wissing’s book, ‘‘Funding the Enemy: called to order by the Speaker pro tem- Creek Volunteer Fire Department How U.S. Taxpayers Bankroll the pore (Mr. COMER). today, he will celebrate his 82nd birth- Taliban.’’ A few years ago, I had the f day on September 27. pleasure of meeting with Douglas in It is volunteers like Franklin Hobson my office here in D.C. to discuss his DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO who help our Nation thrive. Through book. TEMPORE the generous example he has set, One of the analyses of this book by The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Franklin inspires others to think about the Publishers Weekly said: ‘‘ ‘Funding fore the House the following commu- ways they can give to their local com- the Enemy’ is sober, sad, and impor- nication from the Speaker: munity. tant . it peels back the layers of American engagement in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, DC, I thank Franklin for all of the good July 11, 2017. that he does for his community and for to reveal its rotten core: that United I hereby appoint the Honorable JAMES being a great example for all of us. States dollars meant for that country’s COMER to act as Speaker pro tempore on this RECOGNIZING FALL CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE future instead fund the insurgency and day. DEPARTMENT’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY support the Taliban. Paying for both PAUL D. RYAN, Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise sides of the war ensures America’s ulti- Speaker of the House of Representatives. to recognize the 60th anniversary of mate defeat, and Wissing’s book tells f the Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Depart- the story.’’ Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of this MORNING-HOUR DEBATE ment in Yadkin County. The first meeting of these dedicated book as we recently heard President The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- citizens was held on June 13, 1957, at Trump talk about how he would allow ant to the order of the House of Janu- Fall Creek Elementary School as 12 General Mattis to recommend troop ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- local men worked to establish the fire level increases in Afghanistan. I am disappointed for many reasons. I am nize Members from lists submitted by department. Its charter calls for 60 disappointed because Congress deserves the majority and minority leaders for members, and its membership ranks a debate and a vote, and I am dis- morning-hour debate. have remained nearly full for 60 years. appointed because we continue to lose The Chair will alternate recognition A pillar of the community, members between the parties. All time shall be American lives. have been awarded North Carolina’s Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind equally allocated between the parties, Order of the Long Leaf Pine on three and in no event shall debate continue the administration of comments that occasions. President Trump made a few years ago beyond 1:50 p.m. Each Member, other Helping others is one of the most than the majority and minority leaders regarding Afghanistan: honorable activities anyone can engage First, in August of 2011, he said that and the minority whip, shall be limited in, and this kind of selfless dedication to 5 minutes. the United States was wasting lives to one’s community is critical to the and money in Iraq and Afghanistan. f well-being of our country. In 2012, President Trump referred to I thank the members of the Fall HONORING FRANKLIN HOBSON Afghanistan as a ‘‘complete waste’’ and Creek Volunteer Fire Department for also declared it was ‘‘time to come The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the selflessness and bravery they dem- home.’’ Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from onstrate as firefighters. America needs Then again the next year, he made North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) for 5 min- more courageous individuals like them many comments on the Twitter feed, utes. to give of their time and talents to first saying: ‘‘Do not allow our very Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, today I rise keep our communities safe. stupid leaders to sign a deal that keeps to honor Franklin Hobson for 60 years f us in Afghanistan through 2024—with of service in the Fall Creek Volunteer all costs by USA.’’ Fire Department in Yadkin County. FUNDING THE ENEMY He further tweeted: ‘‘Let’s get out of Franklin was a young man of 21 when The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Afghanistan. Our troops are being he became a charter member of the fire Chair recognizes the gentleman from killed by the Afghanis we train and we department in 1957. Since that time, he North Carolina (Mr. JONES) for 5 min- waste billions there. Nonsense. Rebuild has been a dedicated leader in both the utes. the USA.’’ department and his community, in- Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, today I That is what President Trump said, cluding service as the Yadkin County have the front page cover of Douglas and I agree with President Trump. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H5393 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Jul 12, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11JY7.000 H11JYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with HOUSE H5394 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 11, 2017 Returning to the book, ‘‘Funding the quered Afghanistan . and many have After visiting with the Giles family Enemy’’ shows: ‘‘With the vague inten- tried. We will join the list of nations and the Grigsby family—both families tion of winning hearts and minds in Af- that have tried and failed.’’ impacted by the fires—their resilience, ghanistan, the U.S. Government has How prophetic is that, Mr. Speaker, their strength, and their faith was mismanaged billions of development that we will continue to go down this made clear. These are the type of folks and logistics dollars, bolstered the drug road and see this country spend and who are now working day in and day trade, and dumped untold millions into waste lives for absolutely nothing, out to restore this section of the heart- Taliban hands.’’ known as Afghanistan? land. President Trump and Douglas f I am delighted to see green rising in Wissing clearly agree. Afghanistan is a the pastures which was once scorched GOVERNMENT SPENDING failed policy. earth, burnt-to-the-ground grass. I am Mr. Speaker, that is why Congress- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The again reminded of the honor I have of man JOHN GARAMENDI and I have intro- Chair recognizes the gentleman from working to represent some of the most duced H.R. 1666, asking for a debate on Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) for 5 minutes. hardworking Americans in the world: Afghanistan and a new AUMF. You can Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, this the Kansas agriculture, the Kansas vote against the bill, but the discussion Saturday, my staff and I finished our farmers, and the Kansas ranchers. 34th townhall in the home of one of is still needed. We are joined by at f least 13 of our colleagues in support, America’s greatest citizens: my mentor and I hope more Members in both par- and my hero, Bob Dole. At every loca- RECESS ties will join us. All we are asking for tion we go, most often, several people The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- is a debate. ask me about the $20 trillion of deficit ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Mr. Speaker, the week before the this country has and our debt, the $600 declares the House in recess until 2 Fourth of July, I handed a letter to billion of deficit we have every year. p.m. today. Speaker RYAN asking for a debate, Americans work too hard and there are Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 11 which I include in the RECORD. too many worthwhile functions of gov- minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, ernment for the Federal Government cess. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, to irresponsibly spend taxpayer dollars. f Washington, DC, June 27, 2017. From the time I started thinking Hon. PAUL RYAN, about running for office, it has been a b 1400 Speaker of the House, priority of mine to help create a fis- AFTER RECESS Washington, DC. cally responsible plan to reduce our an- The recess having expired, the House DEAR SPEAKER RYAN: First, let me com- nual deficits and national debt. Yet mend you on your words regarding the need was called to order by the Speaker pro again, this year, 70 percent of our budg- for Congress to find increased civility fol- tempore (Mr. SIMPSON) at 2 p.m. et is mandatory spending—70 percent lowing the tragic shooting in Alexandria. f Your words were very prophetic at this time of our budget is mandatory spending— in history. and therefore is spent before the an- PRAYER Sir, respectfully, your recent response to nual appropriations discussions even The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick my Afghanistan letter was very dis- begin. If we hope to eliminate the def- J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: appointing. At the time of my writing this, icit, we must address mandatory spend- President Trump has decided to give troop Loving and gracious God, we give level increase authority over to James ing programs and be willing to engage You thanks for giving us another day.