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, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017 No. 206 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was Number one, almost everyone will to keep more of the money they have called to order by the Speaker pro tem- say within 5 or 10 minutes that they earned through their labors. pore (Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee). think national security is very, very Number two, we wanted a simpler f important. process. Next, people typically talk to me Number three, we wanted to grow a DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO about how important they feel edu- healthier economy that would create TEMPORE cation is. more jobs and pay higher wages. The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Thirdly, people will talk about how Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be here fore the House the following commu- important they feel infrastructure is: this week and say that we have deliv- nication from the Speaker: roads, bridges, railroads, high speed ered for the American people. WASHINGTON, DC, internet, and those types of things. Let’s take a look at this bill. December 18, 2017. Mr. Speaker, no matter what your Number one, it gives relief to hard- I hereby appoint the Honorable JOHN J. priorities are as an American, none of working Americans. In Kansas, with DUNCAN, JR. to act as Speaker pro tempore those will happen unless we have a the House bill, the average hard- on this day. strong, healthy economy; and that is working couple with two children is PAUL D. RYAN, what I believe the Tax Cuts and Jobs going to keep $1,400 more of their Speaker of the House of Representatives. Act does. It helps to continue the money. f strong economy that we have created. But as we continue this process, we tried to make each rendition of this MORNING-HOUR DEBATE Mr. Speaker, we are so fortunate this year. We are about to celebrate our bill better and better. Now, the average The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- third quarter in a row of GDP growth Kansas family will be able to keep up ant to the order of the House of Janu- over 3 percent. It seems like just Janu- to $2,000 more of their hard-earned ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- ary and I was coming here as a rookie money. nize Members from lists submitted by Congressman. All the experts and all But more than that, there are an- the majority and minority leaders for the press said this country will never other 5 million Americans who will get morning-hour debate. see GDP growth again, yet we are another $2,000 bonus this next year. The Chair will alternate recognition about to have our third quarter in a Those are the people who paid for the between the parties. All time shall be row of it. It just amazes me to hear ObamaCare health insurance penalty equally allocated between the parties, people continually tell me what we can that they refused to take because the and in no event shall debate continue and cannot do. insurance was not worth anything. beyond 1:50 p.m. Each Member, other I took a second to look at that. Why Many hardworking Americans will than the majority and minority leaders do we have this strong economy? Why keep up to $4,000 more of their money. and the minority whip, shall be limited is GDP growth going so well? Next, it is simpler. Ninety percent of to 5 minutes. I think it is very simple. We have Americans will be able to do their f rolled back regulations and slowed that taxes on the back of a postcard. down. Is that not simpler? LEGISLATION FOR IMPROVING So many people I have talked to have Of course, it is. I don’t think anybody THE 21ST CENTURY been sitting on the sidelines for the can argue those first two points. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The last 8 years, waiting for some cer- Thirdly, the goal was to figure out Chair recognizes the gentleman from tainty. This new President has given how we grow the economy, how we Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) for 5 minutes. them the certainty to invest in this grow jobs, how we increase wages for Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise economy. Now it is time to pass this people. That is what we have done. We today to celebrate what I believe to be tax reform bill and make this economy have lowered taxes on small businesses, the most significant legislation of the even stronger. which will be the main job creators of 21st century. Of course, I am referring From day one, from the first day we this economy. By lowering those taxes, to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. got here, we talked about common vi- they are going to invest more in their Mr. Speaker, as I travel my State of sions and goals for what tax reform people, in labor, and in capital items. Kansas and across the country, people would look like. Those will all lead to growing this invariably share with me what they Number one, we wanted to make sure economy. feel their priorities should be for this that we gave relief to hardworking This is a very easy bill to support, Federal Government. Americans so that they would be able Mr. Speaker. I don’t have a Ph.D. in

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.

H10147

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.000 H18DEPT1 H10148 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 economy, but I come from the school of come forward and lead the House in the and nays are ordered, or votes objected hard knocks and hard work. Having ran Pledge of Allegiance. to under clause 6 of rule XX. several companies myself, I think the Mr. SHIMKUS led the Pledge of Alle- The House will resume proceedings job pattern that we have going on will giance as follows: on postponed questions at a later time. keep growing. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the f We have a 16-year high in consumer United States of America, and to the Repub- RECOGNIZE, ASSIST, INCLUDE, confidence, a 16-year low in unemploy- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, SUPPORT, AND ENGAGE FAMILY ment. That is mostly due to rolling indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. CAREGIVERS ACT OF 2017 back regulations. But as we go forward f with this tax reform, we are going to Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I CONGRATULATING GENERAL BEN grow more jobs and have more opportu- move to suspend the rules and pass the HODGES nities for Americans. bill (H.R. 3759) to provide for the estab- This is the start of a new year with (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given lishment and maintenance of a Family the greatest tax reform, the most im- permission to address the House for 1 Caregiving Strategy, and for other pur- portant legislation of the 21st century, minute and to revise and extend his re- poses, as amended. and I am so proud to be part of this marks.) The Clerk read the title of the bill. process. Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I con- The text of the bill is as follows: gratulate General Ben Hodges on his 37 H.R. 3759 f years of active military service and his Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- RECESS retiring on December 15. resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Ben and I entered West Point to- gether in 1976, and both graduated as SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognize, declares the House in recess until ap- Goats in 1980. We both branched infan- Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family proximately 2 p.m. today. try and attended ranger school to- Caregivers Act of 2017’’ or the ‘‘RAISE Fam- Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 5 min- gether, graduating in the spring of 1981. ily Caregivers Act’’. utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. While I went Active Duty and Re- SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. serves, Ben continued his active mili- In this Act: f tary service. (1) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advi- b 1400 We met in Kirkuk, Iraq, as he com- sory Council’’ means the Family Caregiving manded the brigade in the 101st Air As- Advisory Council convened under section 4. AFTER RECESS sault Division. (2) FAMILY CAREGIVER.—The term ‘‘family caregiver’’ means an adult family member or The recess having expired, the House We bumped into each other as he other individual who has a significant rela- was called to order by the Speaker pro headed the Army legislative liaison tionship with, and who provides a broad tempore (Mr. BUDD) at 2 p.m. here in Washington, D.C., and we saw range of assistance to, an individual with a each other numerous times in his last chronic or other health condition, disability, f assignment commanding the United or functional limitation. PRAYER States Army in Europe. In that posi- (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Reverend Dr. Dan C. Cummins, Peo- tion, Ben gave comfort to our NATO al- lies in the east, creating a permanent Services. ples Church, Jacksonville, Texas, of- (4) STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘Strategy’’ fered the following prayer: rotational mission. means the Family Caregiving Strategy set O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Congratulations, Ben, on a job well forth under section 3. Your name in all the Earth. When we done. Pride and excellence, and beat SEC. 3. FAMILY CAREGIVING STRATEGY. consider the heavens and the Earth, Navy. May God bless you and your fu- (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in con- the works of Your fingers, what is man ture endeavors. sultation with the heads of other appropriate that You are mindful of us? f Federal agencies, shall develop jointly with the Advisory Council and submit to the Com- In our troubles, we cry out to You, RECESS mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and and You hear us. Your ear is not deaf, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Pensions and the Special Committee on Your arms of mercy never refuse our Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Edu- salvation. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair cation and the Workforce of the House of Great is the Lord, greatly to be declares the House in recess until ap- Representatives, and the State agencies re- praised. You are our refuge, our very proximately 4:30 p.m. today. sponsible for carrying out family caregiver present help in times of trouble. Accordingly (at 2 o’clock and 3 min- programs, and make publicly available on Righteousness exalts a nation, but utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a Family sin is a reproach to its people. f Caregiving Strategy. Forgive us O Lord, where we have b 1630 (b) CONTENTS.—The Strategy shall identify sinned and come short of Your glory. recommended actions that Federal (under Let Your grace wash over us. Though AFTER RECESS existing Federal programs), State, and local our sins be as scarlet, wash us and The recess having expired, the House governments, communities, health care pro- make us whiter than snow. viders, long-term services and supports pro- was called to order by the Speaker pro viders, and others are taking, or may take, Blessed is the Nation whose God is tempore (Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky) at 4 the Lord. Let us exalt the Lord to- to recognize and support family caregivers in o’clock and 30 minutes p.m. a manner that reflects their diverse needs, gether, and He will heal us. f including with respect to the following: In Jesus’ name, Amen. (1) Promoting greater adoption of person- f MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT and family-centered care in all health and A message in writing from the Presi- long-term services and supports settings, THE JOURNAL with the person receiving services and sup- dent of the United States was commu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ports and the family caregiver (as appro- nicated to the House by Mr. Brian priate) at the center of care teams. Chair has examined the Journal of the Pate, one of his secretaries. (2) Assessment and service planning (in- last day’s proceedings and announces f cluding care transitions and coordination) to the House his approval thereof. involving family caregivers and care recipi- Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER ents. nal stands approved. PRO TEMPORE (3) Information, education and training The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- supports, referral, and care coordination, in- f cluding with respect to hospice care, pallia- ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE tive care, and advance planning services. will postpone further proceedings (4) Respite options. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the today on motions to suspend the rules (5) Financial security and workplace gentleman from Illinois (Mr. SHIMKUS) on which a recorded vote or the yeas issues.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.002 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10149 (6) Delivering services based on the per- (3) otherwise expand the authority of the cerning the development, maintenance, and formance, mission, and purpose of a program Secretary beyond that expressly provided to updating of the Strategy, including a de- while eliminating redundancies. the Secretary in this Act. scription of the outcomes of the rec- (c) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—The Sec- SEC. 4. FAMILY CAREGIVING ADVISORY COUNCIL. ommendations and any priorities included in retary, in carrying out subsection (a), shall (a) CONVENING.—The Secretary shall con- the initial report pursuant to paragraph (2), oversee the following: vene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council as appropriate. (1) Collecting and making publicly avail- to advise and provide recommendations, in- (2) INITIAL REPORT.—The Advisory Coun- able information submitted by the Advisory cluding identified best practices, to the Sec- cil’s initial report under paragraph (1) shall Council under section 4(d) to the Committee retary on recognizing and supporting family include— on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions caregivers. (A) an inventory and assessment of all fed- and the Special Committee on Aging of the (b) MEMBERSHIP.— erally funded efforts to recognize and sup- Senate, the Committee on Education and the (1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Advi- port family caregivers and the outcomes of Workforce of the House of Representatives, sory Council shall consist of— such efforts, including analyses of the extent and the State agencies responsible for car- (A) the appointed members under para- to which federally funded efforts are reach- rying out family caregiver programs, includ- graph (2); and ing family caregivers and gaps in such ef- ing evidence-based or promising practices (B) the Federal members under paragraph forts; and innovative models (both domestic and (3). (B) recommendations— foreign) regarding the provision of care by (2) APPOINTED MEMBERS.—In addition to (i) to improve and better coordinate Fed- family caregivers or support for family care- the Federal members under paragraph (3), eral programs and activities to recognize and givers. the Secretary shall appoint not more than 15 support family caregivers, as well as oppor- (2) Coordinating and assessing existing voting members of the Advisory Council who tunities to improve the coordination of such Federal Government programs and activities are not representatives of Federal depart- Federal programs and activities with State to recognize and support family caregivers ments or agencies and who shall include at programs; and while ensuring maximum effectiveness and least one representative of each of the fol- (ii) to effectively deliver services based on avoiding unnecessary duplication. lowing: the performance, mission, and purpose of a (3) Providing technical assistance, as ap- (A) Family caregivers. program while eliminating redundancies, propriate, such as disseminating identified (B) Older adults with long-term services avoiding unnecessary duplication and over- best practices and information sharing based and supports needs. lap, and ensuring the needs of family care- on reports provided under section 4(d), to (C) Individuals with disabilities. givers are met; State or local efforts to support family care- (D) Health care and social service pro- (C) the identification of challenges faced givers. viders. by family caregivers, including financial, health, and other challenges, and existing (d) INITIAL STRATEGY; UPDATES.—The Sec- (E) Long-term services and supports pro- approaches to address such challenges; and retary shall— viders. (D) an evaluation of how family caregiving (1) not later than 18 months after the date (F) Employers. impacts the Medicare program, the Medicaid of enactment of this Act, develop, publish, (G) Paraprofessional workers. program, and other Federal programs. and submit to the Committee on Health, (H) State and local officials. (e) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Fed- Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Spe- (I) Accreditation bodies. (J) Veterans. eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) cial Committee on Aging of the Senate, the shall not apply to the Advisory Council. Committee on Education and the Workforce (K) As appropriate, other experts and advo- SEC. 5. FUNDING. of the House of Representatives, and the cacy organizations engaged in family No additional funds are authorized to be State agencies responsible for carrying out caregiving. appropriated to carry out this Act. This Act family caregiver programs, an initial Strat- (3) FEDERAL MEMBERS.—The Federal mem- shall be carried out using funds otherwise egy incorporating the items addressed in the bers of the Advisory Council, who shall be authorized. Advisory Council’s initial report under sec- nonvoting members, shall consist of the fol- tion 4(d) and other relevant information, in- lowing: SEC. 6. SUNSET PROVISION. cluding best practices, for recognizing and (A) The Administrator of the Centers for The authority and obligations established supporting family caregivers; and Medicare & Medicaid Services (or the Admin- by this Act shall terminate on the date that (2) biennially update, republish, and sub- istrator’s designee). is 3 years after the date of enactment of this mit to the Committee on Health, Education, (B) The Administrator of the Administra- Act. Labor, and Pensions and the Special Com- tion for Community Living (or the Adminis- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- mittee on Aging of the Senate, the Com- trator’s designee who has experience in both ant to the rule, the gentleman from aging and disability). mittee on Education and the Workforce of Kansas (Mr. ESTES) and the gentleman (C) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or the House of Representatives, and the State from Connecticut (Mr. COURTNEY) each agencies responsible for carrying out family the Secretary’s designee). (D) The heads of other Federal depart- will control 20 minutes. caregiver programs the Strategy, taking into The Chair recognizes the gentleman account the most recent annual report sub- ments or agencies (or their designees), in- mitted under section 4(d)(1)— cluding relevant departments or agencies from Kansas. (A) to reflect new developments, chal- that oversee labor and workforce, economic, GENERAL LEAVE lenges, opportunities, and solutions; and government financial policies, community Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I (B) to review progress based on rec- service, and other impacted populations, as ask unanimous consent that all Mem- ommendations for recognizing and sup- appointed by the Secretary or the Chair of bers may have 5 legislative days in the Advisory Council. porting family caregivers in the Strategy which to revise and extend their re- (4) DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.—The Sec- and, based on the results of such review, rec- marks and include extraneous material ommend priority actions for improving the retary shall ensure that the membership of implementation of such recommendations, the Advisory Council reflects the diversity of on H.R. 3759. as appropriate. family caregivers and individuals receiving The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there services and supports. objection to the request of the gen- (e) PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.—The Sec- (c) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Council shall retary shall establish a process for public tleman from Kansas? meet quarterly during the 1-year period be- input to inform the development of, and up- There was no objection. ginning on the date of enactment of this Act dates to, the Strategy, including a process Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I and at least three times during each year for the public to submit recommendations to yield myself such time as I may con- thereafter. Meetings of the Advisory Council the Advisory Council and an opportunity for sume. shall be open to the public. public comment on the proposed Strategy. I rise today in support of H.R. 3759, (d) ADVISORY COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORTS.— (f) NO PREEMPTION.—Nothing in this Act (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months the Recognize, Assist, Include, Sup- preempts any authority of a State or local after the date of enactment of this Act, and port, and Engage Family Caregivers government to recognize or support family annually thereafter, the Advisory Council Act of 2017, otherwise known as the caregivers. shall submit to the Secretary, the Com- RAISE Family Caregivers Act. (g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Mr. Speaker, not all Americans have this Act shall be construed to permit the Pensions and the Special Committee on the luxury of complete independence. Secretary (through regulation, guidance, Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Edu- They may struggle to dress themselves, grant criteria, or otherwise) to— cation and the Workforce of the House of manage their retirement, or take their (1) mandate, direct, or control the alloca- Representatives, and the State agencies re- tion of State or local resources; sponsible for carrying out family caregiver medications adequately. When we (2) mandate the use of any of the best prac- programs, and make publicly available on think of these instances, we may think tices identified in the reports required under the internet website of the Department of mostly of seniors, but that is not al- this Act; or Health and Human Services, a report con- ways the case. Veterans, Americans

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.003 H18DEPT1 H10150 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 with physical and mental disabilities, Additionally, the bill does not au- family caregivers by establishing an wounded warriors, and even children thorize any additional funds for the advisory body to bring together care- with medical conditions rely on a fam- formation of the council and, after 3 givers, older adults, persons with dis- ily caregiver to help them live their years, the council and its related ac- abilities, veterans, employers, and daily lives. tivities will sunset. State and local officials. This advisory Though they may have physical or The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is council would make recommendations functional limitations or an illness or an important step we can take to rec- for how to support, assist, and engage chronic health condition that impedes ognize the essential role of family care- family caregivers. their ability to fully care for them- givers and share important informa- Caregivers are needed to help Ameri- selves, many are able to remain safe tion so that they can better care for cans live independently in their homes and comfortable in their homes due to others. This legislation fulfills a bipar- and communities for as long as pos- the important role of the family care- tisan recommendation of the Federal sible. In my home State of Con- giver. Commission on Long-Term Care. The necticut, there are 459,000 family care- Nationwide, there are roughly 40 mil- Senate passed this bill earlier this year givers who provide an estimated $5.9 lion family caregivers who provide by unanimous consent, and the House billion in unpaid care, annually. Sup- physical and emotional care for par- of Representatives now has the oppor- porting older and disabled Americans ents, spouses, children, and other loved tunity to have this bill signed into law. through caregiving and ensuring care- ones in need of assistance. These care- I urge my colleagues to support this givers are equipped to take on this im- givers are unsung heroes who devote bipartisan legislation so that family portant role benefits all Americans. both their time and resources to the caregivers are recognized for the im- Evidence has shown that, when care- day-to-day activities that are nec- portant role they play in our commu- givers are supported, patients delay essary to provide a disabled loved one nities. placement in a nursing home, con- with care. I reserve the balance of my time. tinuing with lower-cost, long-term sup- These activities may be to drive their Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield port in the home for much longer peri- loved ones to doctor appointments, myself such time as I may consume. ods of time. provide them with meals, assist in the Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague Caregiving is foundational to our management of their finances, and ad- from Kansas (Mr. ESTES) today and rise long-term care system in the United minister at-home nursing and care so in support of H.R. 3759, the Recognize, States. This legislation is an important that their loved ones may continue to Assist, Include, Support, and Engage step to ensure this work is recognized live at home. Family Caregivers Act. I want to con- and supported. Taking on the role of a family care- gratulate all the cosponsors of this bill Again, as the gentleman pointed out, giver is a deeply personal decision, for their good work in terms of bring- the Commission on Long-Term Care, characterized by selflessness and com- ing this forward, and, again, it looks which was actually created by this passion for a relative in need. It is esti- very promising that it will be passed body in 2012 as part of one of the budg- mated that, on average, the Nation’s and signed into law shortly. caregivers dedicate about 18 hours each et bills that passed that year, was a Mr. Speaker, the number of Ameri- group of stakeholders from all across week to carrying out their caregiver cans over the age of 65 is expected to tasks, while almost a third provide the country, in various sectors, that reach 70 million by 2030, roughly dou- over 60 hours a week of care. These ac- came together and issued a report that, bling the number that existed in 2005. tivities provide an annual economic unfortunately, I don’t think has gotten As those Americans age and require as- value of $470 billion each year. the focus and attention it needs with About 60 percent of caregivers have sistance with their daily routines—tak- the demographics that our country is full- or part-time jobs in addition to ing medication, getting dressed, cook- experiencing right now: the aging of their caregiving roles, leaving them to ing, and attending medical appoint- our society. juggle their caregiving obligations ments—family caregivers will step in However, this is one of those rec- with their work hours and their per- to make sure that their loved ones are ommendations for which signs of intel- sonal and family time. safe and cared for. ligent life appeared in Congress, and we The RAISE Family Caregivers Act This is difficult work. For an adult are taking up their call for passing leg- will direct the Secretary of Health and child, caring for an aging parent can islation like the RAISE Act. Human Services to develop a Family quickly become a full-time job. Be- So again, I want to congratulate all Caregiving Advisory Council to make tween juggling appointments, under- the sponsors for coming together, and I recommendations regarding best prac- standing medications, helping make in- am looking forward to sending this bill tices on recognizing and supporting formed medical decisions, a caregiver’s to the President for his signature. family caregivers. The council will in- own priorities can take a backseat. I reserve the balance of my time. clude members from the public and pri- Most caregivers have jobs of their own, Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I vate sectors, family caregivers, elderly and many care simultaneously for an yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Americans and people living with dis- aging parent as well as their own chil- Mississippi (Mr. HARPER). abilities, State and local officials, and dren. Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in healthcare providers. The Secretary But caregivers are not only providing support of H.R. 3759, the Recognize, As- will then publish the council’s findings care for older Americans or even sist, Include, Support, and Engage so that the family caregivers may be younger Americans with develop- Family Caregivers Act of 2017, or the equipped with the information that mental disabilities. They also serve RAISE Family Caregivers Act. This is they need to be successful in their those who have served our country. a bipartisan and bicameral bill. roles. I recently met with a caregiver from I introduced the RAISE Act in the The council will provide information my district, Jessica, who cares for her House along with Representative about streamlining Federal and State husband, a veteran who suffered seri- KATHY CASTOR as well as Representa- activities to maximize efficiency, and ous traumatic brain injury during the tives STEFANIK and LUJAN GRISHAM. it will preserve the integrity of family battle of Fallujah. Her experience man- There are now 107 cosponsors of the rights and person-centered care. This is aging her husband’s complex medical bill. An almost identical bill, S. 1028, an opportunity to help improve the needs while also raising their children introduced by Senator COLLINS and quality of life of millions of Americans goes to show that ensuring caregivers Senator BALDWIN, passed the House who both provide and receive familial are supported is a national priority. unanimously on September 26. care. The bill under consideration today The RAISE Act is supported by a One important provision of the would recognize the contribution that broad coalition of over 60 organiza- RAISE Family Caregivers Act ensures family caregivers make toward the tions, from AARP to United Cerebral that the Secretary of Health and safety and health of older Americans. Palsy. But I was particularly inspired Human Services is prohibited from It would require the Secretary of to introduce the RAISE Act because, mandating best practices or expanding Health and Human Services to develop frankly, like many of our constituents, the Federal authority in any way. and maintain a strategy to support my wife and I are caregivers for our

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.006 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10151 family, for our adult son, Livingston, BALDWIN, who have been tireless cham- help develop some additional rec- who has fragile X syndrome. pions for caregivers and their families. ommendations, hopefully for this Con- About 12 million people of all ages Family caregiving has become the gress. need the support of family caregivers new normal in healthcare here in We must ensure that family care- today, and this number will more than America because it is oftentimes astro- givers have the resources and tools double by the year 2050. By supporting nomically expensive to hire a caregiver they need to face lost wages and the family caregivers, we can help people or to get a little respite. Some do, but personal demands of taking care of live at home, where they want to be, for many families, the better decision their loved one while ensuring that helping to delay or prevent costlier in- is a tough one, oftentimes, to make a their loved one does receive the best stitutional care and unnecessary hos- very significant personal sacrifice: quit care. pitalizations, saving taxpayer dollars. your job or go part-time while they de- I would like to thank the AARP, the The bill creates an advisory council vote themselves to their loved one. Alzheimer’s Association, the Elizabeth within the Department of Health and All too often, caregivers are the only Dole Foundation, the Family Caregiver Human Services to identify and rec- support system for their child with spe- Alliance, and so many more that have ommend actions that Federal, State, cial needs or an aging family member, encouraged us on this important piece and local governments, communities, and they have little to no support for of legislation. healthcare providers, long-term serv- themselves. As the complexity and intensity of ices and support providers, and others Many of America’s veterans stay in- family caregiving increases, I believe are taking, or may take, to recognize tegrated in communities because of the that this legislation will help boost and support those family caregivers. sacrifices of their family members to families and allow us to be smart and The idea is to enhance coordination of make sure that they get out and about efficient with our resources. and implementation under existing and get to their appointments and get Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this programs. the care and interaction that they important bipartisanship bill. I appreciate the support we have re- need. Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I want ceived from the Education and the to congratulate the sponsors of this b 1645 Workforce Committee on this legisla- legislation and also just note that the tion, particularly the chair, VIRGINIA Family caregivers help with many Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a strong FOXX. My office has worked closely basic activities, like eating, dressing, supporter. This is a group that has with the committee, AARP, as well as transportation, bathing; and some- been formed to help wounded warriors with Representative CASTOR, Senator times they are called upon to do things in terms of getting the caregiving help COLLINS, and Senator BALDWIN, to de- that are a little more complicated, that they need from other family mem- velop a bipartisan, bicameral piece of such as even a little bit of medical care bers who are sometimes overlooked in legislation with broad coalition sup- or nursing care. terms of our country’s appreciation for port that we could successfully bring Here are some of the shocking statis- those who wear the uniform of this to the floor. tics: about 40 million family caregivers country. CBO has scored the bill at $1 million provide about $470 billion annually in Mr. Speaker, I call for support for the over 50 years, but it sunsets in 3 years, unpaid care to their loved ones, and bill, and I yield back the balance of my and no new funds are authorized to be about 3.7 million family caregivers pro- time. appropriated. vide care to a child under the age of 18 Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I This bill gives hope and comfort to due to a medical or behavioral condi- the large number of family caregivers yield myself the remainder of my time. tion or disability. across the country who are often strug- Mr. Speaker, before I came to Con- Because of the massive commitment gling to look after their loved ones, gress in April, I served as the Kansas of time, many caregivers leave the whether a special-needs child, a loved State treasurer. In that role, I had the workforce. Caregivers age 50 and older, one with traumatic brain injury, or an opportunity to implement the ABLE who leave the workforce to care for a elderly parent or a spouse. Act, which was legislation that was It is important that the Congress and parent, lose, on average, nearly $304,000 passed here in the last few years. the administration send this message in wages and benefits over their life- Talking with a lot of parents, as they of caring and support for the family time. Women are most often the main were abled and concerned about how do caregivers across our Nation. I ask caregivers and their average is even they care for their disabled children, that Members vote ‘‘yes’’ on this bill. higher, about $324,000 in lost benefits led to the creation of the ABLE Act. Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield and wages. During that process, we also talked such time as she may consume to the In my home State of Florida, there with a lot of other caregivers who gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. CAS- are almost 3 million caregivers at any cared for maybe senior citizens, maybe TOR), a cosponsor of the bill, a former given time and they provide over 2.6 adult children who were in their home, member of the Education and the billion hours of care. and wanted to make sure that that bur- Workforce Committee; and even A closer look at the work-related ef- den that they faced in providing that though she has migrated to other com- fects, as well as the personal, financial, family care was ameliorated and sup- mittees, her heart still is with the mis- and emotional hardships, demonstrates ported in any way that it could be. sion of the Education and the Work- an increasing need to come together to The RAISE Family Caregivers Act force Committee, which is obviously better understand the unique needs of will help recognize the essential role of shown by her cosponsorship of this leg- our caregivers and what we can do to family caregivers and share important islation. support them. information so that they may better Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, That is why Congressman HARPER care for others. I thank my colleague, Mr. COURTNEY, and I introduced the bipartisanship This legislation fulfills a bipartisan- for yielding the time and for his advo- Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, ship recommendation from the Com- cacy on behalf of America’s families. and Engage—RAISE—Family Care- mission on Long-Term Care, and I urge I rise in strong support of H.R. 3759, givers Act. The RAISE Family Care- my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, and givers Act will create and maintain a 3759. I want to thank my good friend and common national family caregiver Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance colleague Congressman GREGG HARPER strategy led by the Secretary of Health of my time. for being my partner in this endeavor and Human Services so that we can de- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The to bring more attention to the struggle velop some additional support systems question is on the motion offered by of so many families across the country for the folks back home. the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. for more balance, more support, when Our bill will bring together a diverse ESTES) that the House suspend the they must take care of a sick family spectrum of stakeholders, experts, rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3759, as member or a friend. folks who are working every day to amended. I would also like to thank Senator take care of their loved ones to be a The question was taken; and (two- SUSAN COLLINS and Senator TAMMY part of the advisory council that will thirds being in the affirmative) the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.007 H18DEPT1 H10152 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 rules were suspended and the bill, as and prepare the next generation of the subject. Low-income students and amended, was passed. America’s workforce. students hailing from small towns and A motion to reconsider was laid on Many of our Nation’s most successful rural communities are especially at a the table. business leaders and entrepreneurs disadvantage. Their schools are much f place an emphasis on modern coding less likely to offer computer science and computer skills. These skills are a courses than schools in urban areas EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR USE result of a STEM education. and those that serve middle class stu- OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNER- As an engineer who worked for many dents. SHIPS TO BRING COMPUTER years in the private sector, I would like A ZIP Code and economic data does SCIENCE EDUCATION TO MORE to emphasize the need for more of our not determine whether a child will K–12 CLASSROOMS students to be equipped with back- need to excel in computer science, and Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I grounds in STEM. it should not determine whether that move to suspend the rules and agree to The American economy and work- child receives computer science edu- the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. force have undergone a rapid trans- cation. We need coders and computer 95) expressing support for the use of formation, thanks to the rise of tech- scientists from a wealth of back- public-private partnerships to bring nology, and its role in America’s future grounds to build the most capable and computer science education to more K– is only going to increase. robust workforce in the world. 12 classrooms, as amended. As advancement continues, it is crit- Encouraging public-private partner- The Clerk read the title of the con- ical that the country’s students are ships to bring computer science edu- current resolution. equipped with the knowledge and tools cation to more K–12 classrooms nation- The text of the concurrent resolution they need to compete at the global wide is a commonsense solution to de- is as follows: level. These skills can be gained velop STEM education around the H. CON. RES. 95 through the expansion of K–12 STEM country. Whereas 9 in 10 parents want their child to education. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues study computer science, but only 40 percent America has long been a pioneer of will support this resolution to encour- of schools teach computer programming; innovation in medicine, energy, agri- age efforts to provide more students Whereas low-income students and students culture, and other new technologies. access to these important skills so that from small towns and rural communities are We take pride in our ability to cul- they are prepared to join our Nation’s less likely to attend a school that offers tivate, innovate, and change the world workforce. computer science programming; for the better as new trends in every Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Whereas computing makes up two-thirds of all projected new jobs in science, technology, corner of the economy require a work- my time. engineering, and mathematics fields; force equipped to meet those demands. Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield Whereas there are over 500,000 open com- However, if we do not adequately pre- myself such time as I may consume. puting jobs nationwide and such job openings pare our future scientists, mathemati- Mr. Speaker, I rise in appreciation of are projected to grow at twice the rate of all cians, engineers, and computer sci- the sentiment that is expressed in the other jobs; entists, other countries will outpace resolution. However, I just feel that Whereas significant workforce shortages in us. We cannot allow this. the content of this resolution, if it is computing fields, particularly in cybersecu- Of all the projected new jobs in examined closely, particularly in jux- rity, can pose significant threats to our na- science, technology, engineering, and taposition with the Every Student Suc- tional security; and Whereas computing occupations are among mathematic fields, computing is esti- ceeds Act, which was the K–12 reau- the highest paying jobs for new graduates: mated to make up two-thirds of those thorization signed into law almost ex- Now, therefore, be it positions. At the present, there are actly 2 years ago on December 10, 2015, Resolved by the House of Representatives (the over 500,000 unfilled computing jobs na- a bipartisanship measure—Congress- Senate concurring), That the Congress ex- tionwide, and those numbers are pro- man Kline, who was the Republican presses support for the use of public-private jected to grow at twice the rate of chairman of the House Education Com- partnerships to bring computer science edu- other jobs. mittee, was at the White House with cation to more K–12 classrooms throughout In my district in Kansas, we need his counterparts from the Senate at the country. students to learn STEM in order to fill the bill-signing ceremony—if people go The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- new jobs in advanced manufacturing. back and read that, they will see that ant to the rule, the gentleman from When Congress passed landmark leg- actually the road map and the pathway Kansas (Mr. ESTES) and the gentleman islation earlier this year to strengthen to achieve the goal of this resolution from Connecticut (Mr. COURTNEY) each career and technical education, or was actually laid out by folks from will control 20 minutes. CTE, it sent a clear message to stu- both sides of the aisle in terms of The Chair recognizes the gentleman dents and employers that Members of boosting authorized funding for K–12, from Kansas. the House of Representatives recognize particularly for low-income students, GENERAL LEAVE the growing skills gap in this country, raising the authorizing for title I Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I and we are committed to improving schools, which has been the workhorse ask unanimous consent that all Mem- alignment with in-demand jobs so that of the Federal Government in terms of bers may have 5 legislative days within the 6 million job openings nationwide trying to help target resources for kids which to revise and extend their re- may be filled with students equipped who come from distressed sectors and marks and to include extraneous mate- with the necessary tools to make our areas in terms of urban areas and rural rial on H. Con. Res. 95. workforce even stronger. areas, and also had many voluntary The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Congress has once again had the op- permissive authorizations for STEM. objection to the request of the gen- portunity to help close the skills gap Now, if anything, this resolution un- tleman from Kansas? by launching more American students derstates the scope of the demand that There was no objection. into fulfilling STEM careers. These ca- is out there for computer science and Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I reers are not only in high demand, but for STEM skills. There is not a sector yield myself such time as I may con- they are also high skilled and among in the American economy, from agri- sume. the highest paying jobs for new grad- culture, where the gentleman comes Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support uates. from in Kansas, farmers are out there of H. Con. Res. 95, expressing support Students who enter this field are not using STEM skills every single day in for the use of public-private partner- only helping to close the skills gap in terms of food production. It exists in ships to bring computer science edu- our country, but they are setting them- manufacturing. cation to more K–12 classrooms. selves up for a lifetime of meaningful I come from a district that is a ship- Mr. Speaker, science, technology, en- work and personal fulfillment. In fact, building district. We are in the process gineering, and math education, known 9 in 10 parents want their children to of boosting submarine production up in collectively as STEM education, all study computer science, but less than Groton, Connecticut. The metal trades play a critical role in how we educate half—only 40 percent—of schools teach workers are out there using computer

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.010 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10153 skills on the shop floors to make sure ing for these skills and actually step- partisan way, to support computer that that precision manufacturing hap- ping forward like companies like Gen- science literacy. The private sector is pens accurately. eral Dynamics at the shipyard that I there, the public sector will step up, Certainly, financial services up in described in southeastern Connecticut and America’s children in K–12 will be Hartford, Connecticut, the home of in- or The Hartford and Travelers up in the beneficiaries. It will truly make surance companies like Travelers and the capital city of the State of Con- America a greater and stronger place. The Hartford, they just started a cou- necticut. Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I re- ple years ago the Insurance and Fi- What we need to be doing is match serve the balance of my time. nance Academy, which is a magnet them in terms of our commitment to Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I school that brings in Travelers, Smith make sure we are funding magnet yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Barney, and The Hartford to collabo- school programs, again, title 1 pro- Virginia (Mr. TAYLOR). rate with the public school system to grams, that help the 90 percent of kids Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, in Thom- make sure that kids, particularly low- who are in public schools so that we ac- as Friedman’s latest book, he gives income kids, from Hartford, Con- tually are going to achieve the goal this anecdote that I believe helps to de- necticut, are getting the opportunity which this resolution sets forward. fine the world that we live in today. He to learn about things like finance, So, again, I certainly commend the says that in 1999, the world’s strongest banking—giving them those skills— sentiment of the sponsors of this, but supercomputer was the size of a tennis which are intrinsically connected to it leaves out, really, what I think is court, and the power to power that computer science. the real question of the day, which is supercomputer could power the equiva- Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is whether or not we are going to step up lent of 800 homes. Fast forward to 2005 that there is great appetite in the pri- as a nation and truly fund public-pri- or 2006, and that same computing vate sector for public-private partner- vate partnerships to boost computer power was found in the Sony ships. I would stipulate to that and science skills. PlayStation. again argue that, in fact, the resolu- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Think about that for a second. Each tion almost understates what is out my time. one of us has the same computing there. Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I power of the world’s strongest nation- What is missing is the public invest- yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from state just 20 years ago. If we don’t see ment, which ESSA authorized, whether Tennessee (Mr. FLEISCHMANN). how that affects business, national se- it was title I, whether it is funding to Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I curity, public policy, or education, boost teaching skills in the STEM rise today in strong support of H. Con. then we are already behind. area. We try to give permissive author- Res. 95, and I thank my colleagues on Throughout its history, America has ity to school districts to find math both sides of the aisle for their advo- faced struggles that define a genera- teachers, science teachers, computer cacy in this regard. We need a strong tion. Economic depressions, world science teachers, engineering folks and public-private partnership to address wars, dying industries, and new tech- their curriculum, which every school computer science education in this nologies have changed the way that we district is crying out for. There isn’t a country. view and respond to the new period. Member in this body who isn’t hearing I want to talk about a school in my For this digital native generation about that back home. district, Howard High School. The growing up now, and for the foreseeable We want to solve that problem. A great Reggie White went there. It is a future, the first challenge for them will resolution like this is certainly not school that I proudly adorned the hat be education. going to get in the way of that, but when we played baseball. It is an inner Now, education and lifelong learning what we need to do is make sure we city school. I went there this year, as I are not only requirements in this fund the authorizations that, on a bi- also did at Barger Elementary in Chat- changed world, they are the difference partisanship basis, we passed in 2015. Unfortunately, if you look at the tanooga—inner city schools. between failure or success, hopeless- budget that came over from the White The students have a great desire for ness or optimism, pessimism or ambi- House back in May, the White House computer science literacy. They actu- tion. Our children are and will grow up proposed a 13.5 percent cut to the De- ally taught me to code. I am basically in a fast world, faster than ours, very partment of Education, elimination of computer science illiterate. I use pads different, and a blurring reality be- all Federal funding for K–12 teacher and the like, and that is okay. But we tween the physical and virtual worlds. professional development, and after- know that the jobs of the future—no, We need a revolution in the way that school programs, which I was up at one the jobs of today—are not being filled we educate our Nation. of them, the 21st Century Learning due to a lack of skill. It is projected By 2020, there will be 1 million more After School Program in Norwich, Con- that, by 2020, we are going to have computing jobs than graduates. This necticut, a distressed municipality. about 1 million unfilled jobs that re- gap represents $500 billion that our They had kids, after school, working quire computer science education. We children will never see because they on their computer skills, their math are filling about 10 percent—only 10 were never taught, and that gap is only skills, their science skills to give them percent of them. growing, and it is growing larger. the chance to keep up with their grade What does that mean? I am a cham- Right now, only one out of four schools level and to be school ready when they pion of workforce development, and I in America teaches computer science. go into high school. know my colleagues on both sides of Low-income and rural students have the aisle champion workforce develop- even less access. b 1700 ment. What does that mean? That Now, you don’t have to be able to Again, the big one was the cut to means that we will have jobs to fill view the future to see the writing on title 1, which, as I said, is the work- that we can’t fill. For national defense, the wall. As the education gap widens, horse making sure that low-income we will need computer science literacy. the American Dream shrinks. We as kids actually have funding levels that This is something that we have got tre- Members of Congress have a duty and at least come somewhat close to their mendous bipartisan support for. responsibility to reject that path for counterparts in more wealthy parts of I can say this: as a proud appropri- our country and help and lead to chart the country in wealthy school dis- ator—to my friend from the other side a new course for our American future. tricts. So, again, this resolution is not of the aisle—as a proud appropriator Ninety percent of parents want com- certainly going to be a negative, but it and a member of the Labor, Health and puter science taught in their kids’ certainly misses the opportunity that Human Services, and Education Sub- schools. This resolution today calls for we really should be focused on as Mem- committee on Appropriations, I am exactly that. bers of Congress for bolstering the pub- committed to that funding. We actu- I am grateful for the support of my lic side of the public-private partner- ally have language this year in that colleagues on both sides of the aisle, ship. bill. Representatives LIPINSKI, As I said, the private sector is speak- So let us all come together, I would FLEISCHMANN, and KILMER, as we stand ing loud and clear that they are look- say in not only a bipartisan and non- together to help bring computer

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.012 H18DEPT1 H10154 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 science education to classrooms across the resources to make sure that this SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF NATIONAL WILD- America. aspirational goal is achieved. LIFE REFUGE SYSTEM VOLUNTEER SERVICES, COMMUNITY PARTNER- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance SHIP, AND REFUGE EDUCATION PRO- vote for and support this important of my time. GRAMS. measure, H. Con. Res. 95. Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I Section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield yield myself the remainder of my time. (16 U.S.C. 742f) is amended in subsection (g), by myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Edu- striking ‘‘2011 through 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, this cation and the Workforce Committee, through 2022’’. resolution is a sentiment that is hard we try to endeavor to look at how do The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- to dispute or argue, but, unfortunately, we prepare students and young adults ant to the rule, the gentleman from it is just that, a resolution that really, for their career and look at ways to Virginia (Mr. WITTMAN) and the gentle- beyond sort of expressing a goal, an as- prepare them not just from starting woman from Hawaii (Ms. HANABUSA) pirational goal, doesn’t move the ball with an engineering degree or a tech- each will control 20 minutes. forward in terms of actually imple- nical degree at college, but actually The Chair recognizes the gentleman menting what I think this resolution making sure that in their K–12 edu- from Virginia. seeks to do, which is to make sure that cation they are better prepared as well. GENERAL LEAVE school districts—every school dis- As an engineer, I saw this firsthand Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask trict—particularly those with low-in- how my education through high school unanimous consent that all Members come kids from urban areas and rural and into college helped prepare me for may have 5 legislative days to revise parts of the country, have the re- the career that I had in the private sec- and extend their remarks and include sources which the Every Student Suc- tor before I went into the public serv- extraneous material on the bill under ceeds Act signed into law 2 years ago ice role. We see this continuously with consideration. and laid a pathway out for us to the importance of having a trained The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there achieve, but, unfortunately, because of workforce ready to work in our indus- objection to the request of the gen- the funding levels that have not come tries. tleman from Virginia? close to the authorized levels, we are In my district, Wichita is known as There was no objection. falling short. the Air Capital of the World, and the Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield I couldn’t agree more with the speak- one thing that I hear over and over myself such time as I may consume. ers, the proponents of this, that what is again from aerospace companies is Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3979, the Keep at stake here, really, I think, pervades there is a shortage of trained, skilled America’s Refuges Operational Act, re- almost every priority and every sector workforce ready to work. authorizes the National Wildlife Ref- of our country’s economy and our na- STEM education plays such a critical uge System volunteer, community tional policy. role in terms of how we educate and partnership, and education programs In 1958, when the Russians fired Sput- prepare the next generation of Amer- for fiscal years 2018 through 2022. nik, then-President Dwight Eisenhower ica’s workforce, and so we need to en- I am proud to have joined with my stepped forward and advocated the Na- courage public and private partner- good friend from New York (Mr. tional Defense Education Act because ships in order to increase computer JEFFRIES) to support conservation ef- he recognized that, from a national se- science education in K–12 classrooms. forts at our Nation’s wildlife refuges in curity standpoint, having a national It is just a commonsense solution to a way that is also fiscally responsible. policy to make sure that there are ade- try to increase STEM education in the Each year the refuge system’s volun- quate resources out there for our Na- United States. teer, community partnership, and edu- tion was really central to our national Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cation programs facilitate more than defense. That triggered, again, a revo- vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 95, and I 1.4 million hours of service from more lution in American education, whether yield back the balance of my time. than 40,000 volunteers in support of our The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. at the higher education level or even at Nation’s wildlife refuge system. The HULTGREN). The question is on the mo- the elementary level; and following valuable contributions of these volun- tion offered by the gentleman from that lead in 1965, we passed the ESEA teers help maintain our Nation’s 566 Kansas (Mr. ESTES) that the House sus- Act, which funded, for the first time, refuges, 14 of which I am proud to say pend the rules and agree to the concur- title 1 that gave resources to low-in- are in the Commonwealth of Virginia. rent resolution, H. Con. Res. 95, as come districts. These programs help ensure that amended. That commitment has deteriorated. Americans can visit, explore, fish, The question was taken; and (two- It has deteriorated over the last 6 years hunt, and study wildlife for genera- thirds being in the affirmative) the with budgets that have underfunded tions to come. As a kid, I spent most of rules were suspended and the concur- this program. If you really took title 1 my time outdoors, and today, I still rent resolution, as amended, was in terms of the full measure of eligi- frequently visit the Rappahannock agreed to. bility for low-income students and River Wildlife Refuge in my district. I school districts, we are funding it at A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. have long appreciated the value of na- about half of what the real need is out ture and wildlife in our society as well there for those types of school dis- f as the importance of environmental tricts. KEEP AMERICA’S REFUGES stewardship. So, again, hopefully maybe this reso- OPERATIONAL ACT Volunteers perform a wide variety of lution will be an awakening for people Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move tasks to assist with our refuge oper- in this Chamber, particularly as we are to suspend the rules and pass the bill ations. Examples of these tasks include on the verge of taking up the 2018 budg- (H.R. 3979) to amend the Fish and Wild- habitat improvement projects, labora- et, that funding education is as impor- life Act of 1956 to reauthorize the vol- tory research assistance, leading refuge tant to our economy and is as impor- unteer services, community partner- tours, conducting fish and wildlife pop- tant to our national defense, frankly, ship, and refuge education programs of ulation surveys, and much more. All of as any other part of the Federal budg- the National Wildlife Refuge System, these tasks help the Fish and Wildlife et, because that gives us the tools to and for other purposes, as amended. Service more efficiently fulfill its mis- succeed as a nation, not just in 2018, The Clerk read the title of the bill. sion while also providing an oppor- but in many years forward. The text of the bill is as follows: tunity for individuals and groups to So, again, I certainly am friends with H.R. 3979 contribute to the preservation and pro- some of the sponsors of this resolution. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- tection of our Nation’s wildlife and I salute the sentiment that was offered resentatives of the United States of America in public lands. when this was introduced just a week Congress assembled, b 1715 or so ago, but, frankly, it falls short of SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. the true commitment that we need to This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Keep America’s H.R. 3979 reauthorizes the cost-effi- make as a Congress to fund and give Refuges Operational Act’’. cient resource that helps the U.S. Fish

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.014 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10155 and Wildlife Service fulfill its mission all have in common is their dedication into these refuges and making sure to protect and preserve the Nation’s to preserving our country’s natural they, indeed, can be enjoyed by all. fish and wildlife. These volunteer pro- beauty so that we can all enjoy it for This is why I think this bill enjoys the grams are very popular with folks years to come. support of folks on both sides of the throughout the country, with more ap- Advancing this legislation has been a aisle. This truly is, I think, an issue plicants than available volunteer slots. collaborative process, and I greatly ap- that should bring us all together. This legislation has broad support preciate the hard work of Mr. WITTMAN Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance from several recreational and con- and Members on both sides of the aisle. of my time. servation organizations, as well as bi- Through this bipartisan legislation, we The SPEAKER pro tempore. The partisan support across the Congress. will demonstrate the economic benefits question is on the motion offered by I thank Chairman BISHOP for moving to be gained from protecting America’s the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. this legislation and, again, extend my natural beauty and being good stew- WITTMAN) that the House suspend the great appreciation to Mr. JEFFRIES for ards of the environment God has given rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3979, as sponsoring this important legislation. to us all. amended. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my The question was taken. measure, and I reserve the balance of colleagues to support H.R. 3979. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the my time. Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield no additional speakers, and I reserve in the affirmative, the ayes have it. such time as he may consume to the the balance of my time. Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that gentleman from New York (Mr. Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield I demand the yeas and nays. JEFFRIES). myself the balance of my time. The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Speaker, the passage of H.R. 3979 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the distinguished gentlewoman from extends the authorization of volunteer ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- Hawaii (Ms. HANABUSA) for yielding, as and educational programs on the Na- ceedings on this motion will be post- well as for her leadership. I also thank tional Wildlife Refuge System adminis- poned. Chairman BISHOP for his leadership in tered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. f helping to move this legislation for- This bill highlights the importance of ward. community partnerships and volun- UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINIS- Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. teers and the value they bring to our TRATION, AFG, AND SAFER PRO- 3979, the Keep America’s Refuges Oper- public lands. In 2016, refuge volunteers GRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT ational Act, a bipartisan bill that will donated 1.3 million hours, which equals OF 2017 reauthorize the volunteer, community $30.6 million of labor value. Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I partnership, and education program for Volunteers are critical for the daily move to suspend the rules and pass the our National Wildlife Refuge System. operation of the National Wildlife Ref- bill (H.R. 4661) to reauthorize the Let me begin by thanking my good uge System and other Federal lands. I United States Fire Administration, the friend, the distinguished gentleman know, in many cases, visitors would Assistance to Firefighters Grants pro- from the Commonwealth of Virginia not have access to these unique places gram, the Fire Prevention and Safety (Mr. WITTMAN), who has partnered with without the participation of volunteers Grants program, and the Staffing for me on this legislation and is a strong and other partners. Adequate Fire and Emergency Re- champion for our country’s refuges. I serve as ranking member of the sponse grant program, and for other This commonsense, bipartisan legis- Federal Lands Subcommittee, where purposes. lation will support conservation efforts we held a hearing on this bill in No- The Clerk read the title of the bill. at our Nation’s refuges in a way that vember and heard testimony from the The text of the bill is as follows: saves taxpayers dollars and stimulates National Wildlife Refuge Association H.R. 4661 jobs and economic opportunity. about the importance of sustaining the Our National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer program. I am pleased we Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- is comprised of 566 refuges located in resentatives of the United States of America in can work in a bipartisan fashion to Congress assembled, every U.S. State and territory. Refuges move this important message through SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. make up over 800 million acres of habi- the House. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United tat dedicated to the conservation of I commend the sponsor, Representa- States Fire Administration, AFG, and fish and wildlife. tive JEFFRIES of New York, for his hard SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of Each year, 47 million Americans visit work and dedication to this issue. This 2017’’. refuges, which help to support local is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE UNITED economies by generating over $2 billion to support its adoption. STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION. in revenue and more than 35,000 local Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Section 17(g)(1)(M) of the Federal Fire Pre- jobs. People visit refuges from all over of my time. vention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. the country to explore, hunt, fish, and Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2216 (g)(1)(M)) is amended— experience America’s natural beauty. myself the balance of my time. (1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2017’’ and in- serting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2017 through Refuges also help to mold the next Mr. Speaker, in closing, I echo the 2023’’; and generation of conservationists and out- sentiment of my colleagues on the (2) by inserting ‘‘for each such fiscal year’’ door enthusiasts by providing learning other side of the aisle. This truly is after ‘‘$2,753,672’’. experiences and cherished memories what makes our Nation great: individ- SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO for America’s families. Refuges have a uals willing to give of their time to FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS PROGRAM tremendous impact for communities work on these refuges. AND THE FIRE PREVENTION AND all over America, even in my home- Many times, the ability to access SAFETY GRANTS PROGRAM. those refuges is dependent upon those (a) SUNSET.—Section 33(r) of the Federal town of Brooklyn, New York. Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 But this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers. We take a few resources U.S.C. 2229(r)) is amended by striking ‘‘the help from dedicated volunteers, who and stretch them across the Nation on date that is 5 years after the date of the en- donate 20 percent of the total service many of these refuge lands, and it is actment of the Fire Grants Reauthorization work at our refuges. They support full- our volunteers who, many times, help Act of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, time staff by helping to operate visitor in maintaining these lands and making 2024’’. centers; conduct fish and wildlife popu- sure that there is access and making (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— lation surveys; maintain visitor struc- sure that people who come to visit un- Section 33(q)(1)(B) of the Federal Fire Pre- tures, roads, and paths; fight invasive derstand the true value and nature of vention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229(q)(1)(B)) is amended, in the matter pre- species; and protect native plants and the resources that are there. ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and in- animals. It is, truly, I think, a great example serting ‘‘2023’’. While volunteers may vary in age, of what makes our country great: peo- (c) AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN TRAINING background, and skill set, what they ple willing to put their time and effort UNDER ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.017 H18DEPT1 H10156 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 PROGRAM.—Section 33(c)(3) of the Federal SEC. 6. FRAMEWORK FOR OVERSIGHT AND MONI- As I travel throughout my district Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 TORING OF THE ASSISTANCE TO and visit with firefighters and para- U.S.C. 2229(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS PROGRAM, THE FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY medics, I am constantly reminded of end the following: GRANTS PROGRAM, AND THE STAFF- the sacrifices they make to protect our ‘‘(N) To provide specialized training to ING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND neighbors. Certainly, as we have seen firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT service workers, and other first responders PROGRAM. the raging fires in California, that is to recognize individuals who have mental ill- (a) FRAMEWORK.—Not later than 90 days brought to mind also. ness and how to properly intervene with in- after the date of enactment of this Act, the One thing I consistently hear from dividuals with mental illness, including Administrator of the Federal Emergency our volunteer and professional fire- strategies for verbal de-escalation of crisis.’’. Management Agency, acting through the Ad- fighters is how critical these grants are ministrator of the United States Fire Ad- SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF STAFFING FOR to their stations. Whether they help by ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY ministration, shall develop and implement a providing training for additional fire- RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM. grant monitoring and oversight framework fighters or providing upgraded res- to mitigate and minimize risks of fraud, (a) SUNSET.—Section 34(k) of the Federal waste, abuse, and mismanagement relating pirators to ensure their safety, towns Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 to the grants programs under sections 33 and and communities around the district U.S.C. 2229a(k)) is amended by striking ‘‘the 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Con- are safer as a result of these grants. date that is 5 years after the date of the en- trol Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a). Sadly, last year, 69 of our firefighters actment of the Fire Grants Reauthorization (b) ELEMENTS.—The framework required across the country lost their lives in Act of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, under subsection (a) shall include the fol- the line of duty. 2024’’. lowing: Fire prevention has improved dra- (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (1) Developing standardized guidance and matically since Congress passed the Section 34(j)(1)(I) of the Federal Fire Preven- training for all participants in the grant pro- Federal Fire Prevention and Control tion and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. grams described in subsection (a). (2) Conducting regular risk assessments. Act in 1974, which created the U.S. Fire 2229a(j)(1)(I)) is amended, in the matter pre- Administration and the National Fire ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and in- (3) Conducting desk reviews and site visits. serting ‘‘2023’’. (4) Enforcement actions to recoup poten- Academy. This has certainly profes- tial questionable costs of grant recipients. sionalized all of this work, but there (c) MODIFICATION OF APPLICATION REQUIRE- (5) Such other oversight and monitoring are still areas for improvement. MENTS.—Section 34(b)(3)(B) of the Federal tools as the Administrator of the Federal Firefighting activities and funding Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 Emergency Management Agency considers U.S.C. 2229a(b)(3)(B)) is amended by striking are primarily the responsibility of necessary to mitigate and minimize fraud, States and local communities. The ‘‘of subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii) and (F)’’ and in- waste, abuse, and mismanagement relating serting ‘‘of subsection (a)(1)(F)’’. to the grant programs described in sub- USFA and NFA, however, are respon- (d) MODIFICATION OF LIMITATION.—Section section (a). sible for national data collection, pub- lic education, and research and train- 34(c)(2) of the Federal Fire Prevention and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ing programs to reduce fire deaths and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a(c)(2)) is ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from amended by striking ‘‘prior to the date of en- make our communities and residents Virginia (Mrs. COMSTOCK) and the gen- actment of this section’’ and inserting ‘‘prior safer, as well as make our firefighters tlewoman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BER- to the date of the application for the grant’’. safer. NICE JOHNSON) each will control 20 min- (e) MODIFICATION OF WAIVER AUTHORITY.— For the last 15 years, the Federal utes. Section 34(d)(1)(B) of the Federal Fire Pre- Government has also awarded competi- The Chair recognizes the gentle- vention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. tive grants directly to local fire de- woman from Virginia. 2229a(d)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘sub- partments and unaffiliated emergency section (a)(1)(E) or subsection (c)(2)’’ and in- GENERAL LEAVE medical services, or EMS, organiza- serting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(E), (c)(2), or (c)(4)’’. Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask tions to help with a variety of equip- (f) EXPANSION OF STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE unanimous consent that all Members ment, training, and other needs. FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT PRO- may have 5 legislative days to revise FIRE Act awards provide funding and GRAM; REPEAL OF AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN and extend their remarks and to in- equipment training to ensure the safe- USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS TRANSFERRED TO AS- clude extraneous material on H.R. 4661, SISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANTS PRO- ty of our Nation’s first responders. the bill now under consideration. GRAM.—Section 34(a)(1)(B) of the Federal SAFER Act awards help local depart- Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ments to recruit, hire, and retain U.S.C. 2229a(a)(1)(B)) is amended— objection to the request of the gentle- trained firefighters. Many firefighting (1) by inserting ‘‘or to change the status of woman from Virginia? departments in my district rely on part-time or paid-on-call (as defined in sec- There was no objection. these grants in order to maintain high- tion 33(a)) firefighters to full-time fire- Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I quality fire and emergency services for fighters’’ after ‘‘firefighters’’; and yield myself such time as I may con- their communities. (2) by striking ‘‘and to provide’’ and all sume. that follows through ‘‘of crises’’. Loudoun County, in particular, re- Mr. Speaker, the United States Fire ceived $2 million through this grant SEC. 5. TRAINING ON ADMINISTRATION OF FIRE Administration, AFG, and SAFER Pro- program. According to Fire Chief GRANT PROGRAMS. gram Reauthorization Act of 2017 re- Brower: ‘‘These programs greatly as- (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the flects a bipartisan, bicameral agree- sist localities in the areas of firefighter Federal Emergency Management Agency, ment reached between the House and safety, fire and life safety education, acting through the Administrator of the the Senate authorizing committees. and improved resourcing for tactical United States Fire Administration, may de- I want to particularly thank our fire operations.’’ velop and make widely available an elec- chairman and ranking member and my tronic, online training course for members of More than 80 people lost their lives in the fire and emergency response community friend, Senator MCCAIN, for his leader- the horrific Grenfell Tower fire in Lon- on matters relating to the administration of ship on this bill in the Senate, in help- don that occurred earlier this year. grants under sections 33 and 34 of the Federal ing us get this agreement today. I note Closer to home, it was just 2 years Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 we all appreciate his service as well as ago that a Metro fire injured 70 and U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a). his commitment to the service of all killed a Virginia resident who was a (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Administrator of those here whom we are working for grandmother of three, who was on her the Federal Emergency Management Agency today. way to work. shall ensure that any training developed and Fire prevention and safety is lit- California’s huge wildfires are in to- made available under subsection (a) is— erally a matter of life and death. In day’s headlines and remind us that, as (1) tailored to the financial and time con- 2015, there were 1.34 million fires re- communities continue to expand into straints of members of the fire and emer- ported in the United States, causing wildland areas, wildfires pose growing gency response community; and (2) accessible to all individuals in the ca- more than 3,000 civilian deaths and risk for human life, home and property reer, combination, paid-on-call, and volun- 15,000 injuries. In addition to this dev- losses, and entire communities. teer fire and emergency response commu- astating human loss, fires cost $14.3 When fires occur, first responders run nity. billion in property damage. toward the flames and put themselves

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.006 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10157 in danger in order to prevent lives from HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthor- being lost. COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND ization Act of 2017. INFRASTRUCTURE, This bill will reauthorize the USFA I hope we can all agree on the ur- Washington, DC, December 18, 2017. gency of reauthorizing this program and the FIRE and SAFER programs for Hon. LAMAR SMITH, 6 years and ensure that our Nation’s Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and before the sunset in current law would firefighters and paramedics have the Technology, House of Representatives, terminate this program in January. We tools and training they need to fight Washington, DC. heard from the local, State, and Fed- and prevent devastating fires. DEAR CHAIRMAN SMITH: I write concerning eral experts at our hearing in July just H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Adminis- how essential these programs are to en- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to tration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reau- suring both firefighter and community support this bill today, and I reserve thorization Act of 2017. This legislation in- safety in all of our districts across the the balance of my time. cludes matters that fall within the Rule X Nation. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, jurisdiction of the Committee on Transpor- COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, tation and Infrastructure. This bill authorizes funding at the Washington, DC, December 18, 2017. I recognize and appreciate your desire to 2017 levels for the U.S. Fire Adminis- Hon. LAMAR SMITH, bring this legislation before the House of tration, Assistance to Firefighters Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Representatives in an expeditious manner, Grants, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Technology, House of Representatives, and accordingly, the Committee on Trans- Emergency Response Grants. Washington, DC. portation and Infrastructure will forego ac- tion on the bill. However, this is conditional b 1730 DEAR CHAIRMAN SMITH: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the on our mutual understanding that foregoing It also directs establishment of a Committee on Homeland Security in H.R. consideration of the bill does not prejudice grant monitoring and oversight frame- 4661, the ‘‘United States Fire Administra- the Committee with respect to the appoint- work. It makes important technical ment of conferees or to any future jurisdic- tion, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthor- fixes to current law. It ensures lesser ization Act of 2017.’’ The bill contains provi- tional claim over the subject matters con- tained in the bill or similar legislation that resourced fire departments have the sions that fall within the jurisdiction of the tools to successfully apply for grants. Committee on Homeland Security. fall within the Committee’s Rule X jurisdic- tion. Lastly, should a conference on the bill These are critical programs to ensure I recognize and appreciate the desire to be necessary, I request your support for the the safety and security of all Ameri- bring this legislation before the House of appointment of conferees from the Com- cans, and they must be reauthorized. Representatives in an expeditious manner, mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and accordingly, the Committee on Home- Unfortunately, I must also express during any House-Senate conference con- my disappointment and frustration land Security will not assert its jurisdic- vened on this or related legislation. tional claim over this bill by seeking a se- I would ask that a copy of this letter and with the majority’s insistence on in- quential referral. The Committee takes this your response acknowledging our jurisdic- cluding a new sunset clause in this bill. action with the mutual understanding that tional interest as well as the mutually The sunset currently in law is putting by foregoing action at this time we do not agreed upon changes to be incorporated into these programs at risk as we speak. waive any jurisdiction over subject matter the bill be included in the Congressional Congress shouldn’t need sunsets to do a contained in this or similar legislation. Record during consideration of the measure job properly. In this case, arbitrary This waiver is also given with the under- on the House floor, to memorialize our un- program sunsets puts lives at risk. derstanding. standing that the Committee on Homeland Every single firefighting organization Security expressly reserves its authority to I look forward to working with the Com- seek conferees on any provision within its mittee on Science, Space, and Technology as wants this sunset out. On a bipartisan jurisdiction during any House-Senate con- the bill moves through the legislative proc- basis, the Senate has voted to remove ference on this or any similar legislation, ess. this sunset, yet here we are today run- and requests your support for such a request. Sincerely, ning up a program termination that I ask that a copy of this letter and your re- BILL SHUSTER, nobody wants, and senselessly adding a Chairman. sponse be included in the CONGRESSIONAL future program termination date that RECORD during consideration of this bill on nobody wants. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, the House floor. Legislating by self-created emer- Sincerely, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, gency is bad for Congress and bad for MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, our country. Here we are in December Chairman. Washington, DC, December 18, 2017. Hon. BILL SHUSTER, desperately trying to avoid termi- Chairman, Committee on Transportation and nating assistance to firefighters. At HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Infrastructure, House of Representatives, the same time, we are desperately try- COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND Washington, DC. ing to keep the Federal Government TECHNOLOGY, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your Washington, DC, December 18, 2017. letter regarding the Committee on Transpor- from shutting down and we are des- Hon. MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, tation and Infrastructure’s jurisdictional in- perately trying to provide disaster as- Chairman, Committee on Home Security, House terest in H.R. 4661, the ‘‘United States Fire sistance to Americans who are suf- of Representatives, Washington, DC. Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program fering. Of course, we have already DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you for your Reauthorization Act of 2017,’’ and your will- missed the deadline on CHIP, and now letter regarding the Committee on Homeland ingness to forego consideration of H.R. 4661 9 million children all across our coun- Security’s jurisdictional interest in H.R. by your committee. try are in danger of losing health cov- 4661, the ‘‘United States Fire Administra- I agree that the Committee on Transpor- erage. This is no way to run a country. tation and Infrastructure has a valid juris- tion, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthor- So we will vote on this bill today ization Act of 2017,’’ and your willingness to dictional interest in certain provisions of forego consideration of H.R. 4661 by your H.R. 4661 and that the Committee’s jurisdic- and, in 7 years, probably be right back committee. tion will not be adversely affected by your in the same boat we are today. We can I agree that the Committee on Homeland decision to not request a sequential referral and should do better than this. Security has a valid jurisdictional interest of H.R. 4661. As you have requested, I will Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of in certain provisions of H.R. 4661 and that support your request for an appropriate ap- my time. the Committee’s jurisdiction will not be ad- pointment of outside conferees from your Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I versely affected by your decision to not re- Committee in the event of a House-Senate yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman conference on this or similar legislation quest a sequential referral of H.R. 4661. As from California (Mrs. MIMI WALTERS). you have requested, I will support your re- should such a conference be convened. Thank you again for your cooperation. Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California. quest for an appropriate appointment of out- Sincerely, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. side conferees from your Committee in the LAMAR SMITH, 4661, the United States Fire Adminis- event of a House-Senate conference on this Chairman. or similar legislation should such a con- tration, AFG, and SAFER Program Re- ference be convened. Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of authorization Act of 2017. Thank you again for your cooperation. Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such Mr. Speaker, 2017 has been the most Sincerely, time as I may consume. devastating year in California wildfire LAMAR SMITH, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the history. Thousands of California resi- Chairman. United States Fire Administration, dents were displaced, over 1 million

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.019 H18DEPT1 H10158 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 acres burned, and thousands of homes I appreciate, again, the bicameral, bi- It is not an understatement to say that the and businesses were destroyed by this partisan support we were able to bring funding provided by these programs has year’s fires. together for the sixth year reauthoriza- saved countless lives. The federal resources Now, more than ever, it is critical tion—actually, the seventh year, also, these grants have provided fire departments that California’s fire departments are for extra room there. with the equipment, training and staffing need- fully staffed. SAFER grants provide re- Mr. Speaker, I have no further re- ed to swiftly respond to over 30 million calls sources for fire departments that quests for time, and I yield back the annually. These programs also have improved struggle to meet their staffing needs, balance of my time. firefighters’ response capabilities and pre- including Orange County Fire Author- Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in vented numerous fires through safety pro- ity in my district. strong support of the United States Fire Ad- grams targeted toward high-risk populations. SAFER grants will undoubtedly help ministration, the Assistance to Firefighters Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues fire departments across the country Grant (AFG) program, the Staffing for Ade- Congressman PETER KING, STENY HOYER and meet the needs of their communities, quate Fire and Emergency Response DAVE REICHERT as co-chairs of the Congres- while ensuring firefighters are ready (SAFER) Grant program, and the Fire Preven- sional Fire Services Caucus and for their tire- and able to assist with wildfire sup- tion and Safety programs. less work on behalf of our nation’s fire service. pression efforts. As an original author of these critical grant Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to programs, I understand their importance to the colleagues in this Chamber to support the re- take a moment to offer my sincerest firefighting community. It is often local fire- authorization of these critical grant programs. condolences to CAL FIRE and the fam- fighters who are the first on the scene before The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ily of Cory Iverson, who tragically lost help from elsewhere can arrive. Our first re- question is on the motion offered by his life this past week battling the sponders provide immediate assistance to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Thomas fire. those in need; and these grants enable local COMSTOCK) that the House suspend the Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of firefighters across our nation to receive the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4661. Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests training and equipment necessary to fulfill this The question was taken; and (two- for time, and I reserve the balance of important mission. thirds being in the affirmative) the my time. The proper training and equipment provided Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rules were suspended and the bill was to local firefighters by the AFG and SAFER yield 1 minute to the gentleman from passed. grant programs and Fire Prevention and Safe- Louisiana (Mr. ABRAHAM). A motion to reconsider was laid on Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I ty programs can often mean the difference be- the table. strongly support the reauthorization of tween life and death. f It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that it took so the United States Fire Administration, STEM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION the Assistance to Firefighters Grant long for the House to act on reauthorizing these important federal grants. We have had EFFECTIVENESS AND TRANS- Program, the Fire Prevention and PARENCY ACT Safety Grant Program, and the SAFER nearly an entire year for the Majority to intro- grant program. duce a bill, have it considered in committee, Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker I These programs are vital to protect and see action on the House floor. Or simply, move to suspend the rules and pass the the public and the Nation’s fire- we could have just considered S. 829, which bill (H.R. 4375) to provide for a study on fighters. Recent trends have shown passed the Senate by unanimous consent on broadening participation in certain Na- that fire safety and prevention remains August 2, 2017. tional Science Foundation research a serious national concern. Data from I even introduced H.R. 3881, a House and education programs, to collect the U.S. Fire Administration shows version of the Senate-passed legislation and data on Federal research grants to that, while there are fewer fires and co-led a letter with 153 members of this science agencies, and for other pur- fire-related deaths overall, fires are be- House to show support for reauthorizing these poses, as amended. coming more severe and costly in both grant programs. However, no action was taken The Clerk read the title of the bill. lives lost and property damage per fire. to reauthorize these critical grant programs The text of the bill is as follows: The best-trained, best-equipped fire- until today. H.R. 4375 fighters cannot always overcome the The bill before us today makes meaningful Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- dangers associated with today’s severe and technical changes to the administration of resentatives of the United States of America in fires. these grant programs. One important change Congress assembled, This alarming trend jeopardizes the this bill makes, that I know is significant to my SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. economic health of our communities home state of New Jersey and fire depart- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘STEM Re- and our national goal of increased re- ments across the nation, is permitting the use search and Education Effectiveness and silience to fire. Adequate funding for of these grants to permit the use of grants to Transparency Act’’. the brave men and women who fight change the status of part-time or paid-on-call SEC. 2. BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN STEM PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. fires is essential, but we must also be firefighters to full-time firefighters. (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months effective in reducing these trends by However, unlike the Senate bill, the bill be- fore us today continues to have a dreadful after the date of enactment of this Act, the preventing the fire’s ignition and Director of the National Science Foundation growth, in the first place, through ro- sunset clause. Typically, the Congress sun- shall submit a report to Congress on the ef- bust fire prevention. sets programs to ensure there is an oppor- fectiveness of all National Science Founda- I will work with the Science, Space, tunity to review the importance of a program’s tion research and education programs for and Technology Committee to request continuation and that there is no waste, fraud, broadening the participation of women and that the U.S. First Administration and or abuse. Since the establishment of these fire other historically underrepresented individ- FEMA investigate the upward trend in programs, there have been no major issues uals in STEM studies and careers, includ- ing— fatalities and property damage per fire. with waste, fraud, or abuse—and we certainly cannot dispute the major benefits these pro- (1) development or identification of per- Mr. Speaker, I thank both Chairman formance metrics to evaluate such programs; SMITH and subcommittee Chairwoman grams provide. So it is a wonder why some (2) information on student outcomes using COMSTOCK for their leadership and hard are insisting on sunsetting these critical grant all available data, including dropout rates, work on the reauthorization bill, and I programs in this bill. enrollment in graduate programs, intern- hope to work with them to address This sunset causes needless anxiety, which ships or apprenticeships, and employment; these issues moving forward. many have been feeling this year as the (3) identification of any data gaps for eval- Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of House is only now reauthorizing these pro- uating the effectiveness and outcomes of Na- Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of grams just two weeks before they’re set to ex- tional Science Foundation programs to the bill, and I yield back the balance of pire. This is a situation where states and local- broaden participation; and (4) recommendations for maintaining, my time. ities and tens of thousands of fire departments translating, and disseminating outcomes Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I across our nation are left wondering about the data for STEM programs funded by the Na- would also like to note that the Inter- future of critical funding they rely on to keep tional Science Foundation. national Association of Fire Chiefs has their communities safe. This sunset is unnec- (b) DEFINITION OF STEM.—In this section, endorsed this bill. essary and we should eliminate it. the term ‘‘STEM’’ has the meaning given the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:46 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.021 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10159 term in section 2 of the America COMPETES Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 yield myself such time as I may con- Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such note). sume. time as I may consume. SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF DATA Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4375, the STEM Re- Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS. search and Education Effectiveness and 4375, the STEM Research and Edu- (a) COLLECTION OF DATA.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal science Transparency Act, contains two provi- cation Effectiveness and Transparency agency shall collect standardized record- sions aimed at providing better infor- Act. level annual information on demographics, mation on how to make taxpayer-fund- Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a co- primary field, award type, review rating, ed investments in STEM and research sponsor of this bill, and I thank the Re- budget request, funding outcome, and award- and development more effective, trans- search and Technology Subcommittee ed budget for all applications for merit-re- parent, and fair. chairwoman, Mrs. COMSTOCK, for intro- viewed research and development grants to First, the bill requires the National ducing it. institutions of higher education and Federal Science Foundation, for the first time, Research shows that the underrep- laboratories supported by that agency. to report and make recommendations (2) UNIFORMITY AND STANDARDIZATION.—The resentation of women and minorities in Director shall establish a policy to ensure to Congress regarding the effectiveness STEM fields is not due to a lack of in- uniformity and standardization of the data of its research and education programs terest or motivation. There are real in- collection required under paragraph (1). aimed at broadening the participation stitutional and cultural barriers pre- (3) RECORD-LEVEL DATA.— of women and historically underrep- venting talented individuals from real- (A) REQUIREMENT.—On an annual basis, be- resented individuals in STEM. izing their dreams of working in STEM ginning with the deadline under subpara- This report will give Congress, the careers. We must better understand graph (C), each Federal science agency shall National Science Foundation, and these barriers so that we may develop submit to the Director of the National other stakeholders objective informa- Science Foundation record-level data col- and support the most effective policies tion about what kinds of interventions and programs. lected under paragraph (1) in the form re- and assistance are efficient, scalable, quired by such Director. H.R. 4375 directs the NSF to report and effective. (B) PREVIOUS DATA.—As part of the first on the effectiveness of current port- submission under subparagraph (A), each In order to have a vibrant economy folio of broadening participation pro- Federal science agency, to the extent prac- that provides opportunity and pros- grams. This bill also includes one pro- ticable, shall submit comparable record-level perity for all, we must be the leader in vision from my STEM Opportunities data for the 5 years preceding the deadline STEM fields. To do that, we need to de- Act that requires all Federal science under subparagraph (C). velop the talent of all Americans. This agencies to collect and report annually (C) DEADLINE.—The deadline under this report will help us focus resources on on data for all research grant applica- paragraph is not later than 1 year after the what works. date of enactment of this Act. According to the Society of Women tions and awards. EPORTING OF ATA This would enable researchers to con- (b) R D .—The Director of Engineers, which partnered with the the National Science Foundation shall pub- duct a cross-agency assessment of the Center for WorkLife Law at the Uni- lish statistical summary data collected participation and success of Federal under this section, disaggregated and cross- versity of California’s Hastings College of Law, women represent only about 15 grant applicants across demographic tabulated demographically and by years groups. With information about the since completion of doctoral degree, includ- percent of the engineering workforce. ing in conjunction with the National Science This is an important issue because participation and success of women and Foundation’s report required by section 37 of studies have found that companies minorities throughout the process of the Science and Technology Equal Opportu- with higher female representation tend applying for Federal research funding, nities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 96– to achieve more and have higher prof- including such details as the award 516). its. According to Catalyst research of size, we can identify and root out any (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: inequities that reflect implicit bias in (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means Fortune 500 companies, firms with the most female representation showed a 35 the process. the Director of the Office of Science and This bill is a small, but important, Technology Policy. percent higher return on equity and 34 (2) FEDERAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Fed- percent higher return to shareholders. step in the right direction toward en- eral laboratory’’ has the meaning given that Second, the bill requires all Federal suring equitable access to STEM edu- term in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler science agencies to collect standard- cation and careers. Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. ized information, including demo- I want to take a moment to advocate 3703). graphics, for each application received for this House considering my STEM (3) FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY.—The term for research and development grants. Opportunities Act, H.R. 2653, in its en- ‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal Agencies are to submit the information tirety. That would allow us to continue agency with at least $100,000,000 in research the steps we are taking today to broad- and development expenditures in fiscal year annually to the National Science Foun- 2017. dation, which is directed to publish an en participation in STEM in our coun- (4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The annual statistical summary. try. term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has This information will provide better Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to the meaning given such term in section transparency to how taxpayer dollars support this bill, and I yield back the 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 are spent on research and scientists, balance of my time. U.S.C. 1001(a)). who are involved in that research, Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- across the Federal Government. yield myself such time as I may con- ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking sume. Virginia (Mrs. COMSTOCK) and the gen- member of the Science, Space, and Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. JOHNSON for tlewoman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BER- Technology Committee, Ms. JOHNSON, her work on this legislation in moving NICE JOHNSON) each will control 20 min- for joining me in sponsoring this bill, this forward. I know as I go around my utes. which, as I mentioned, also applies to district and I see young people, and I The Chair recognizes the gentle- really getting a much more diverse see the engagement of a very diverse woman from Virginia. workforce, and understanding that our population in STEM, this is really GENERAL LEAVE diverse workforce is a strength; and by going to be the future of our workforce. Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask only embracing that strength, are we It is exciting to be able to know that unanimous consent that all Members going to be able to have and lead in we will be able to have a small role in may have 5 legislative days to revise STEM throughout the world. So I ap- that today, to make sure that we are and extend their remarks and to in- preciate Ms. JOHNSON’s longtime com- reaching everybody, because we cannot clude extraneous material on H.R. 4375, mitment to ensuring STEM reaches leave anybody behind with our need for the bill now under consideration. into all communities and provides op- more STEM resources, and to be able The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there portunities for all. to make sure that we have that work- objection to the request of the gentle- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to force of the 21st century. I know in Vir- woman from Virginia? support the bill, and I reserve the bal- ginia alone, we have 34,000 or so cyber There was no objection. ance of my time. jobs that we are still looking for people

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.007 H18DEPT1 H10160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 for. So this will help with that pipe- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- upon the work they did on major public line. ant to the rule, the gentleman from initiatives in science and technology. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my col- California (Mr. KNIGHT) and the gentle- Schools love having Noyce program leagues to support this legislation, and woman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE teachers because their strong positive I yield back the balance of my time. JOHNSON) each will control 20 minutes. attitudes about STEM are cultivated in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The Chair recognizes the gentleman the students. It will strengthen our question is on the motion offered by from California. STEM pipeline to enhance the connec- the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. GENERAL LEAVE tion between the Noyce scholarship COMSTOCK) that the House suspend the Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I ask program and our schools. rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4375, as unanimous consent that all Members The second provision of this bill di- amended. have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- rects NASA to more actively promote The question was taken. tend their remarks and include extra- its internship and fellowship opportu- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the neous material on H.R. 4254, the bill nities to women or members of other opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being now under consideration. historically underrepresented groups. in the affirmative, the ayes have it. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Together, the two provisions of this Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, on objection to the request of the gen- bill will help a necessary and funda- that I demand the yeas and nays. tleman from California? mental shift in our education system The yeas and nays were ordered. There was no objection. in aerospace workforce. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield I would like to thank Ms. ESTY for ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- myself such time as I may consume. her help on this bill, and I encourage ceedings on this motion will be post- Mr. Speaker, I am taking this oppor- my colleagues to support this legisla- poned. tunity to speak on an important initia- tion. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of f tive to strengthen our aerospace work- force. H.R. 4254, the Women in Aero- my time. b 1745 Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of space Education Act, directs the Na- Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such WOMEN IN AEROSPACE tional Science Foundation through the EDUCATION ACT time as I may consume. I rise in sup- Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Pro- port of H.R. 4254, the Women in Aero- Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I move to gram and NASA, to shape their fellow- space Education Act. suspend the rules and pass the bill ship and internship opportunities to I want to thank Mr. KNIGHT and Ms. (H.R. 4254) to amend the National encourage more women to get aero- ESTY for introducing this bill. Women Science Foundation Authorization Act space expertise while they are training continue to be woefully underrep- of 2002 to strengthen the aerospace to be teachers. resented in the aerospace sector. Ac- workforce pipeline by the promotion of Female aerospace professionals must cording to the Bureau of Labor Statis- Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Pro- be placed in the classroom in greater tics, women made up only 8 percent of gram and National Aeronautics and numbers. A full fifth of U.S. aerospace aerospace engineers last year. While we Space Administration internship and engineers are of retirement age today. are inspired by the career of NASA as- fellowship opportunities to women, and They are beginning to exit our work- tronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds the for other purposes, as amended. force, which will create an enormous U.S. record for days in space, we must The Clerk read the title of the bill. shortfall in our national security pre- do more to ensure that successes like The text of the bill is as follows: paredness. hers are the rule and not the exception. H.R. 4254 Meanwhile, women represent only H.R. 4254 will help address the under- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- one-quarter of all STEM workers and representation of women at all levels resentatives of the United States of America in represent only about 15 percent of all in aerospace education and in the Congress assembled, aerospace engineers. We need to im- workforce by privatizing the recruit- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. prove our STEM education pipeline— ment of qualified women to apply for This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women in Aero- from ensuring STEM classes are avail- NASA internships and fellowships. space Education Act’’. able to students at a young age to en- Some of these women will go on to be SEC. 2. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP couraging young Americans to pursue STEM teachers, and others will have PROGRAM FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNI- STEM education all the way through TIES. research or industry careers. They will to completing their degree. (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Science Foun- all benefit from participating in the dation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law But the gender gap that is so preva- NASA programs, and I urge my col- 107–368; 42 U.S.C. 1862n et seq.) is amended— lent in this industry will persist until leagues to support this bill. (1) in section 10(a)(3)(A)(iv), by inserting ‘‘, we make STEM and aerospace more in- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of including research experiences at national lab- clusive of women and encourage women my time. oratories and NASA centers’’ before the semi- at a young age to pursue these fields. Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I have no colon; and Attitudes about career paths are further speakers. I continue to reserve (2) in section 10A(c)(4)— formed at a very young age. The role (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the balance of my time. the end; models and leaders from which young Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the pe- women learn have an enormous impact Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and on the decisions they make throughout time as she may consume to the gen- (C) by adding at the end the following: their formal education as they enter tlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. ‘‘(C) providing internship opportunities for the workforce. ESTY). fellows, including research experiences at na- I introduced the Women in Aerospace Ms. ESTY of Connecticut. Mr. Speak- tional laboratories and NASA Centers.’’. Education Act to make better use of er, I rise in support of the Women in (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to some of the Federal Government’s best Aerospace Education Act. I want to grants awarded on or after October 1, 2018. teacher training programs to increase thank my friend and colleague, Con- SEC. 3. NASA INTERNSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP OP- the number of women teachers who gressman KNIGHT, for working with me PORTUNITIES. have seen, worked on, and can relate to to address critical workforce needs and Not later than October 1, 2018, the Adminis- the Nation’s leading aerospace pro- bridge the gender gap in the aerospace trator of the National Aeronautics and Space grams to young female students. industry. Administration (in this section referred to as Robert Noyce scholars, who get Mr. Speaker, quite simply, we do not ‘‘NASA’’) shall institute a process to prioritize teacher certification assistance from have enough skilled aerospace workers the recruitment of qualified candidates who are the National Science Foundation, are in America, and the problem is growing women or individuals who are historically worse. According to a 2015 Aviation underrepresented in the fields of science, tech- already, in small numbers, getting ex- nology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) perience in NASA centers and the na- Week Workforce Study, nearly one- and computer science for internships and fel- tional labs. fifth—one-fifth—of our aerospace engi- lowships at NASA with relevance to the aero- Once they become certified and go neers are now eligible for retirement. space sector and related fields. teach in the K–12 system, they draw What is more, women only account for

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:54 Mar 27, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD17\DECEMBER\H18DE7.REC H18DE7 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10161 about 15 percent of all aerospace engi- that provides an online resource for The Clerk read the title of the bill. neers. That means that women rep- young people to explore STEM careers. The text of the bill is as follows: resent a tremendous opportunity, an Growing up, Kelley had no idea what H.R. 1159 untapped resource for a sector vital to aerospace engineering was; that is, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- our economy and to our national secu- until a local company donated a Wang resentatives of the United States of America in rity. computer to her high school, which al- Congress assembled, Bringing women to the table is not lowed her to take her first computer SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. only the right thing to do, it is the science classes. Kelley went on to work This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act’’. smart and necessary thing to do in at NASA where she designed elec- SEC. 2. FINDINGS. order to keep America competitive in a tronics for two satellites. Her time at The Congress finds that— 21st century economy. NASA was instrumental in developing (1) authorized in 1958, the National Aero- Women provide new and essential her critical thinking skills and pro- nautics and Space Administration (NASA) perspective in the workplace, driving vided her with an even stronger foun- supports and coordinates United States Gov- innovation and strengthening our abil- dation in STEM that she has used in ernment research in aeronautics, human ex- ity to address new challenges. With an every job since. ploration and operations, science, and space aging workforce, we must do every- Kelley’s early exposure to computer technology; thing in our power to broaden and science and her work at NASA (2) established in 1983, the Israel Space deepen the pool of skilled workers and Agency (ISA) supports the growth of Israel’s launched her into a successful career in space industry by supporting academic re- provide all Americans with the skills STEM, and she is now sharing that search, technological innovation, and edu- they need to compete in a global econ- with a new generation of students. cational activities; omy. I am committed to making Kelley’s (3) the mutual interest of the United Aerospace companies in northwest experience available to young women States and Israel in space exploration affords and central Connecticut, like Ensign- and men all across this country who both nations an opportunity to leverage Bickford, Praxair, and United Tech- would thrive from mentorship from fe- their unique abilities to advance scientific nologies Corporation, have shared with male science teachers or work experi- discovery; me for years their concerns about this (4) in 1996, NASA and the ISA entered into ence at NASA or the national labs. their first agreement outlining areas of mu- aging workforce. That is because they Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman tual cooperation, which remained in force are looking down the line, and they KNIGHT for his leadership on this bill until 2005; know that if they don’t diversify their and on this important issue. I urge my (5) since 1996, NASA and the ISA have suc- workforce soon, shortages of skilled colleagues to support the Women in cessfully cooperated on many space pro- workers could force these companies to Aerospace Education Act. grams supporting the Global Positioning relocate or even leave the United Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve System and research related to the sun, States. the balance of my time. earth science, and the environment; Our bill, the Women in Aerospace Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of (6) the bond between NASA and the ISA Education Act, addresses the need to was permanently forged on February 1, 2003, Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further with the loss of the crew of STS–107 includ- expand and diversify the STEM work- requests for time. I urge passage, and I ing Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon; force in two ways. yield back the balance of my time. (7) the United States-Israel Strategic Part- First, our bill supports hands-on ex- Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I think nership Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–296) des- periences for teachers. The Women in Members can hear that we have got ignated Israel as a Major Strategic Partner Aerospace Education Act does this by passion here, and Ms. JOHNSON, Ms. of the United States; and encouraging universities applying for ESTY, and I believe that talk is cheap, (8) on October 13, 2015, the United States Noyce grants to incorporate aerospace and this is actually going to do some- and Israel signed the Framework Agreement working and learning experiences at between the National Aeronautics and Space thing. If we are going to talk about Administration of the United States of the national laboratories and NASA STEM continually, and we are going to America and the Israel Space Agency for Co- centers into their fellowship programs. try and push this maybe into an arena operation in Aeronautics and the Explo- Second, our bill specifically targets that hasn’t been pushed before, then ration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space diversifying the aerospace workforce let’s do something. That is exactly for Peaceful Purposes. by allowing the National Science Foun- what this is doing. SEC. 3. CONTINUING COOPERATION. dation to prioritize women and other Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance The Administrator of the National Aero- underrepresented groups working in of my time. nautics and Space Administration shall con- aerospace engineering when awarding The SPEAKER pro tempore. The tinue to work with the Israel Space Agency the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship to identify and cooperatively pursue peaceful question is on the motion offered by space exploration and science initiatives in grants. the gentleman from California (Mr. areas of mutual interest, taking all appro- Noyce teacher grants play a vital KNIGHT) that the House suspend the priate measures to protect sensitive infor- role in placing STEM teachers in rural rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4254, as mation, intellectual property, trade secrets, or lower-income school districts, which amended. and economic interests of the United States. all too often do not have access to the The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- resources, to give students robust The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the ant to the rule, the gentleman from hands-on science. Our bill will help en- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Florida (Mr. DUNN) and the gentle- sure that more female STEM teachers in the affirmative, the ayes have it. woman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE will enter classrooms with firsthand Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, on that I JOHNSON) each will control 20 minutes. knowledge of how aerospace tech- demand the yeas and nays. The Chair recognizes the gentleman nologies are strengthening America’s The yeas and nays were ordered. from Florida. future. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- GENERAL LEAVE This is important. This is important ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- because it is a fact that girls who have ceedings on this motion will be post- mous consent that all Members have 5 women science teachers are more like- poned. legislative days to revise and extend ly to consider a career in the sciences, f their remarks and to include extra- and teachers who are exposed to hands- neous material on H.R. 1159, the bill on, real-life science are better able to UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL SPACE COOPERATION ACT now under consideration. kindle that interest in science among The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there their students. Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to objection to the request of the gen- Let me give you an example of what suspend the rules and pass the bill tleman from Florida? a difference these efforts will make. (H.R. 1159) to provide for continuing co- There was no objection. Kelley Johnson is a member of my operation between the National Aero- Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- STEM Advisory Board. She is a founder nautics and Space Administration and self such time as I may consume. and president of Doors to Explore, In- the Israel Space Agency, and for other Mr. Speaker, the United States and corporated, a startup in my district purposes, as amended. Israel Space Cooperation Act deserves

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.027 H18DEPT1 H10162 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 our support. The peaceful use of outer NASA has followed this objective began cooperating on a limited basis. A space and cooperation with our friends over the years in a variety of ways. decade later, our Nation signed an and allies lie at the very heart of Since its establishment in 1958, NASA agreement to allow Israeli astronauts NASA’s mission. has entered into over 5,000 original to begin training with their American The United States has been a partner agreements with international entities, counterparts. and a friend to the Israeli space pro- and currently NASA has over 800 active In 2003, Israeli Air Force Colonel Ilan gram since its creation three decades cooperative agreements across a range Ramon became the first Israeli astro- ago. Our voyages have brought us clos- of disciplines with over 120 countries naut. He traveled to space aboard the er together as nations, as partners, and and international organizations. Space Shuttle Columbia. It was a 16- as friends. Our shared quests for peace, These international partnerships day mission, and the crew of six Ameri- knowledge, and friendship echo our ex- have led to a range of benefits in sci- cans and one Israeli conducted 80 ex- periences together on Earth. entific advancement, access to sci- periments that helped us understand But sadness and sorrow have tested entific data, partnering in exploration, our place in the universe just a little that relationship. Israel’s first astro- and sharing the costs and risks of space bit better. naut, Ilan Ramon, flew to space for the missions. Tragically, the celebration of this first time on the ill-fated Space Shut- NASA has had a long and fruitful re- partnership turned to shared mourning tle Columbia. Even though that acci- lationship with the country of Israel, as Columbia was lost on reentry, but dent tragically ended the life of Ilan and that cooperative relationship con- the tragedy did not stop our shared and six U.S. crew members, the U.S. tinues to this day. Current activities journey into space. To this day, we and Israel turned that tragedy into with Israel include the involvement of continue to cooperate, including on hope, working together even more almost 200 Israeli schools in the Global projects everyone benefits from, in- closely. Learning and Observations to Benefit cluding the Global Positioning System, In 2015, the U.S. and Israel again re- the Environment, GLOBE, educational and research that helps us better un- newed their partnership with another project; collaboration on atmospheric derstand the Sun, and even research re- 10-year commitment to peaceful co- and climate research; and numerical lated to our environment here on operation in space. That mutual com- cloud modeling, among other activi- Earth. mitment to the peaceful exploration of ties. In 2015, NASA and the Israel Space outer space has grown even stronger I think it is also fitting to remember Agency signed a civil space framework with the passage of this act under con- that the crew of the ill-fated Space agreement to formalize and expand co- sideration today. Shuttle Columbia mission, STS–107, in- operation in civil space activities. Peaceful space exploration offers all cluded an Israeli astronaut, Ilan Mr. Speaker, today’s vote continues humanity a common, noble goal, ex- Ramon, who, along with the entire a deep and lasting partnership among tending our collective reach further STS–107 crew, tragically perished with free societies. I have been proud to into the heavens. Reaching farther and the loss of the space shuttle orbiter on work with a number of my colleagues broadening our understanding of the February 1, 2003. and NASA and everyday Americans universe is one of the most important Israel has shared in the great who know that all mankind benefits and honorable challenges that we can achievements of NASA as well as great when we explore our universe. face together. I believe that working losses that have paved the way for fu- Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank together with our allies and partners ture space explorers. Their sacrifice the chairman for his leadership on on the peaceful exploration of space is will be held in our hearts as we work to these issues and the ranking member, an essential part of what makes NASA further space exploration for the ben- who has been such a champion in sup- a vital national asset. This bill efit of mankind. port of smart policies in the arena of strengthens NASA’s ability to do this Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the science, space, and technology. I also important work. sponsor of this legislation, Mr. KILMER, would like to thank the majority and I am also pleased that the bill in- for introducing the bill. minority staff from the committee for cludes a recognition that sensitive and Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of the work that they do. proprietary information should be pro- my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to tected. Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the support this bill. balance of my time. Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of b 1800 Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further Mr. Speaker, I invite all of my col- Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time requests for time. I urge passage, and I leagues to join me in support of the as he may consume to the gentleman yield back the balance of my time. Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I have no United States and Israel Space Co- from Washington (Mr. KILMER). operation Act. Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in further requests for time, and I yield Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of support of this bill, but before I do, I back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The my time. want to just briefly acknowledge the question is on the motion offered by Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of members of my community who were the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DUNN) Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such affected by a tragic Amtrak derailment that the House suspend the rules and time as I may consume. in Pierce County, Washington, today. pass the bill, H.R. 1159, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. The families of those we lost and all The question was taken. 1159, the United States and Israel the folks affected by this are in my The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Space Cooperation Act. The coopera- prayers tonight. opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being tion between the National Aeronautics Mr. Speaker, on May 25, 1961, Presi- in the affirmative, the ayes have it. and Space Administration, NASA, and dent John F. Kennedy came before this Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, on that I de- the Israel Space Agency is just one ex- body and gave an urgent special ad- mand the yeas and nays. ample of peaceful international co- dress. He laid out the costs of sup- The yeas and nays were ordered. operation that has been a hallmark of porting the space program and of going The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- NASA’s approach since its inception in to the Moon, and he said: ‘‘We choose ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- 1958. to go into space because whatever man- ceedings on this motion will be post- In fact, when Congress passed kind must undertake, free men must poned. NASA’s founding legislation, the Space fully share.’’ f Act of 1958, one of the primary objec- Today, Mr. Speaker, that journey tives established for the agency was: continues as we take a vote to for- SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM ‘‘7, Cooperation by the United States malize sharing a space partnership be- CAREERS ACT with other nations and groups of na- tween our Nation and a close ally and Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to tions in work done pursuant to this act friend, the nation of Israel. suspend the rules and pass the bill and in the peaceful application of the This partnership began in 1985 when (H.R. 4323) to promote veteran involve- results thereof.’’ NASA and the Israel Space Agency ment in STEM education, computer

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.030 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10163 science, and scientific research, and for LOWSHIPS UPDATE.—Section 10A(d) of the Na- the strategic plan required under paragraph other purposes, as amended. tional Science Foundation Authorization (2)(B); and The Clerk read the title of the bill. Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1a(d)) is amend- (B) include in the annual report required The text of the bill is as follows: ed— by section 101(d) of the America COMPETES (1) in paragraph (3)(F)— Reauthorization Act a description of any H.R. 4323 (A) by striking ‘‘and individuals’’ and in- progress made in carrying out the activities Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- serting ‘‘, individuals’’; and described in paragraph (2)(B) of this sub- resentatives of the United States of America in (B) by inserting ‘‘, and veterans’’ before section. Congress assembled, the period at the end; and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ‘‘and SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. ant to the rule, the gentleman from This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting veterans’’ before the period at the end. Florida (Mr. DUNN) and the gentle- Veterans in STEM Careers Act’’. (f) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION COM- PUTER AND NETWORK SECURITY CAPACITY woman from Texas (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. BUILDING GRANTS UPDATE.—Section 5(a) of JOHNSON) each will control 20 minutes. In this Act: the Cyber Security Research and Develop- The Chair recognizes the gentleman (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means ment Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(a)) is amended— from Florida. the Director of the National Science Founda- (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and stu- GENERAL LEAVE tion. dents who are veterans’’ after ‘‘these fields’’; (2) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ and Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- means the National Science Foundation. (2) in paragraph (3)— mous consent that all Members may (3) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ has the (A) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- meaning given the term in section 2 of the at the end; tend their remarks and to include ex- America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of (B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note). traneous material on H.R. 4323, the bill subparagraph (K); and now under consideration. (4) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the (C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the meaning given the term in section 101 of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there following: objection to the request of the gen- title 38, United States Code. ‘‘(J) creating opportunities for veterans to SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDU- transition to careers in computer and net- tleman from Florida? CATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE. work security; and’’. There was no objection. (a) SUPPORTING VETERAN INVOLVEMENT IN (g) GRADUATE TRAINEESHIPS IN COMPUTER Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND STEM EDU- AND NETWORK SECURITY RESEARCH UPDATE.— self such time as I may consume. CATION.—The Director shall, through the re- Section 5(c)(6)(C) of the Cyber Security Re- Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4323, the Sup- search and education activities of the Foun- search and Development Act (15 U.S.C. porting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, dation, encourage veterans to study and pur- 7404(c)(6)(C)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or is about helping expand veterans’ job sue careers in STEM and computer science, veterans’’ after ‘‘disciplines’’. and education opportunities in the in coordination with other Federal agencies (h) VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES that serve veterans. STEM EDUCATION INTERAGENCY SUB- sciences. (b) VETERAN OUTREACH PLAN.—Not later COMMITTEE.— The bill requires the National than 90 days after the date of enactment of (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office Science Foundation to develop a vet- this Act, the Director shall submit to the of Science and Technology Policy shall es- erans outreach plan and to publish Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- tablish a subcommittee under the Com- data on veterans’ participation in nology of the House of Representatives and mittee on STEM Education of the National science, technology, engineering, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Science and Technology Council (established mathematics fields in its annual Indi- under section 101 of the America COMPETES Transportation of the Senate a plan for how cators report. the Foundation can enhance its outreach ef- Reauthorization Act of 2010) to coordinate forts to veterans. Such plan shall— Federal programs and policies for The bill also updates the Noyce (1) report on the Foundation’s existing out- transitioning and training veterans and mili- Teacher Scholarship program, its fel- reach activities; tary spouses for STEM careers. lowship programs, and cyber grant pro- (2) identify the best method for the Foun- (2) DUTIES OF SUBCOMMITTEE.—The sub- grams to include outreach to veterans. dation to leverage existing authorities and committee established under paragraph (1) Additionally, the White House Office programs to facilitate and support veterans shall— of Science and Technology Policy is in STEM careers and studies, including (A) coordinate Federal agency STEM out- tasked with overseeing an interagency teaching programs; and reach activities and programs for veterans working group to examine how to in- and military spouses; and (3) identify a method for the Foundation to crease veteran participation in STEM track veteran participation in research and (B) develop and facilitate the implementa- education programs of the Foundation, and tion by participating agencies of a strategic career fields, including addressing any describe any barriers to collecting such in- plan, which shall— barriers for servicemembers and their formation. (i) specify and prioritize short- and long- spouses. (c) NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD INDICATORS term objectives; In the next 5 years, between 1 and 1.5 REPORT.—The National Science Board shall (ii) specify the common metrics that will million members of the United States provide in its annual report on indicators of be used by Federal agencies to assess Armed Forces will be leaving the mili- the state of science and engineering in the progress toward achieving such objectives; tary, according to the Department of United States any available and relevant (iii) identify barriers veterans face in reen- Defense. Many of these veterans will be data on veterans in science and engineering tering the workforce, including a lack of for- careers or education programs. mal STEM education, career guidance, and seeking new careers. By a great mar- (d) ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP the process of transferring military credits gin, veterans cite finding employment PROGRAM UPDATE.—Section 10 of the Na- and skills to college credits; as their number one need when return- tional Science Foundation Authorization (iv) identify barriers military spouses face ing home. Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1) is amended— in establishing careers in STEM fields; According to the U.S. Bureau of (1) in subsection (a)(5)— (v) describe the approaches that each par- Labor Statistics, occupations in the (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ ticipating agency will take to address ad- STEM fields are projected to grow to at the end; ministratively the barriers described in more than 9 million between 2012 and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the pe- clauses (iii) and (iv); and 2022, an increase of 1 million jobs. riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and (vi) identify any barriers that require Fed- (C) by adding at the end the following: eral or State legislative or regulatory Research shows that many military ‘‘(C) higher education programs that serve changes in order to be addressed. veterans already have skills and train- or support veterans.’’; (3) DUTIES OF OSTP.—The Director of the ing that align with STEM careers, par- (2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)— Office of Science and Technology Policy ticularly in information technology. (A) by striking ‘‘and students’’ and insert- shall encourage and monitor the efforts of However, research has also shown that ing ‘‘, students’’; and the Federal agencies participating in the veterans face many barriers as they re- (B) by inserting ‘‘, and veterans’’ before subcommittee to ensure that the strategic enter the workforce, including a lack the period at the end; plan required under paragraph (2)(B) is devel- of formal STEM education, career (3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘and oped and executed effectively and that the veterans’’ before the period at the end; and objectives of such strategic plan are met. guidance, and the difficult task of (4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ‘‘and (4) REPORT.—The Director of the Office of transferring military credits to civil- veterans’’ before the period at the end. Science and Technology Policy shall— ian credits. (e) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TEACH- (A) not later than 1 year after the date of Our Nation’s veterans deserve every ING FELLOWSHIPS AND MASTER TEACHING FEL- enactment of this Act, submit to Congress opportunity to transition to a healthy

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.032 H18DEPT1 H10164 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 and successful civilian life. This bill improve higher education for veterans NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY will help our servicemembers to con- is essential to our economy and critical OF THE UNITED STATES—MES- tinue to serve our Nation in many new to keeping our promise to those who SAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF ways by filling 21st century jobs and serve. THE UNITED STATES keeping America on the cutting edge of This legislation advances the great The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- innovation. work being done by the National fore the House the following message Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Science Foundation by requiring NSF from the President of the United TAKANO, the ranking vice chair of the to develop a plan to help more veterans States; which was read and, together Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a fel- enter science, technology, engineering, with the accompanying papers, referred low member on the Science, Space, and and math fields. to the Committee on Armed Services: Technology Committee, for cospon- soring this bipartisan legislation. I also In addition, it requires NSF to report To the Congress of the United States: salute all of my fellow veterans on the available data on veterans partici- Consistent with section 108 of the Na- Science, Space, and Technology Com- pating in STEM fields. tional Security Act of 1947, as amended mittee who joined me in introducing NSF will also be required to recruit (50 U.S.C. 3043), I have enclosed the Na- this bill. veterans for existing NSF programs, tional Security Strategy of the United Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to including the Noyse Teacher Scholar- States. support the bill, and I reserve the bal- ship program, and for cybersecurity- This National Security Strategy sets ance of my time. specific education and training pro- forth my guidance and direction for an Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of grams. America First foreign policy and charts a path to achieving the goals Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such Finally, this bill creates an inter- and objectives that will make America time as I may consume. agency committee to help veterans and great again. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. their spouses transition to STEM ca- DONALD J. TRUMP. 4323, the Supporting Veterans in STEM reers, including reporting on their THE WHITE HOUSE, December 18, 2017. Careers Act, and I thank Mr. DUNN and progress. Mr. TAKANO for introducing this good f All of us understand the challenges legislation. veterans face when trying to further The demand for a workforce equipped RECESS their education, but we have also seen with STEM skills is growing. At the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- what happens when former service- same time, many veterans developed ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair members are empowered to success as valuable technical skills during their declares the House in recess for a pe- civilians. After World War II, soldiers service. We must do more to take ad- riod of less than 15 minutes. returned home to a GI Bill that vantage of those skills and increase Accordingly (at 6 o’clock and 16 min- sparked an era of innovation and eco- veteran participation in STEM careers utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. nomic growth. if we are to meet the workforce de- f mands. By helping veterans enter STEM edu- This summer, I was pleased to see the cation and research programs, this bill b 1830 passage of the Forever GI Bill, which will help build a workforce that is pre- extended GI benefits for veterans en- pared to succeed in the modern econ- AFTER RECESS rolled in STEM degree programs. Now omy. At the same time, it will drive The recess having expired, the House that STEM degrees are more accessible some of our best and brightest into was called to order by the Speaker pro for veterans, we must do more to sup- fields where they can make new discov- tempore (Mr. HULTGREN) at 6 o’clock port veterans during their transition eries and create new technologies that and 30 minutes p.m. will redefine the world for future gen- into STEM degree programs and ca- f reers. erations. H.R. 4323 directs the National Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the oppor- HOUR OF MEETING ON TOMORROW Science Foundation to report data on tunity to work with my Republican Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, pursu- veterans in STEM studies and careers colleague, Mr. DUNN, and I encourage ant to clause 4 of rule XVI, I move that and develop a plan to increase outreach all Members to support this legislation. when the House adjourns today, it ad- to veterans. journ to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow for This bill also creates an interagency b 1815 morning-hour debate and 10 a.m. for committee that will examine how Fed- legislative business. eral programs and policies can best be Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The leveraged to equip veterans with the Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further question is on the motion. skills they need to transition into requests for time. I urge support of this The question was taken; and the STEM careers. legislation, and I yield back the bal- Speaker pro tempore announced that H.R. 4323 is a good step toward ance of my time. the ayes appeared to have it. strengthening our STEM workforce Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I have no Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that and creating opportunities for an emi- further requests for time, and I yield I demand the yeas and nays. nently deserving sector of our citi- back the balance of my time. The yeas and nays were ordered. zenry. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to ant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15- support this bill, and I reserve the bal- question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DUNN) minute vote on the motion to fix the ance of my time. convening time will be followed by 5- Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the that the House suspend the rules and minute votes on motions to suspend balance of my time. pass the bill, H.R. 4323, as amended. the rules on: Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of The question was taken. H.R. 4375, by the yeas and nays; and Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the H.R. 3979, by the yeas and nays. as he may consume to the gentleman opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being The vote was taken by electronic de- from California (Mr. TAKANO). in the affirmative, the ayes have it. vice, and there were—yeas 216, nays Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, on that I de- 169, not voting 46, as follows: the gentlewoman, the ranking member, mand the yeas and nays. for yielding. [Roll No. 685] Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong The yeas and nays were ordered. YEAS—216 support of H.R. 4323, the Supporting The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Abraham Babin Barton Veterans in STEM Careers Act. ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- Aderholt Bacon Bergman Allen Banks (IN) Biggs I led this bill with the gentleman ceedings on this motion will be post- Amodei Barletta Bilirakis from Florida because finding ways to poned. Arrington Barr Bishop (MI)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.033 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10165 Bishop (UT) Harris Pittenger Kind Moulton Scott, David [Roll No. 686] Black Hartzler Poe (TX) Krishnamoorthi Nadler Serrano Blackburn Hensarling Poliquin Kuster (NH) Neal Sherman YEAS—376 Blum Herrera Beutler Posey Langevin Norcross Sires Abraham Diaz-Balart LaHood Bost Hice, Jody B. Larsen (WA) O’Halleran Ratcliffe Slaughter Adams Dingell LaMalfa Brady (TX) Hill Lawson (FL) Pallone Reed Smith (WA) Aderholt Doggett Lamborn Brat Holding Lee Panetta Reichert Soto Aguilar Donovan Lance Brooks (IN) Hollingsworth Levin Payne Renacci Suozzi Allen Doyle, Michael Langevin Buchanan Huizenga Lewis (GA) Pelosi Rice (SC) Swalwell (CA) Amodei F. Larsen (WA) Buck Hultgren Lieu, Ted Perlmutter Roby Takano Arrington Dunn Latta Bucshon Hunter Lipinski Peters Roe (TN) Thompson (CA) Babin Ellison Lawson (FL) Budd Hurd Loebsack Peterson Rogers (AL) Thompson (MS) Bacon Emmer Burgess Issa Lofgren Pingree Lee Rogers (KY) Titus Engel Byrne Jenkins (KS) Lowenthal Polis Banks (IN) Levin Rokita Tonko Calvert Jenkins (WV) Lowey Price (NC) Barletta Eshoo Lewis (GA) Rooney, Thomas Torres Carter (GA) Johnson (LA) Lujan Grisham, Quigley Barr Espaillat Lewis (MN) J. Tsongas Barraga´ n Estes (KS) Lieu, Ted Chabot Johnson (OH) Ros-Lehtinen M. Raskin Cheney Johnson, Sam Luja´ n, Ben Ray Rice (NY) Vargas Barton Esty (CT) Lipinski Roskam Veasey Bass Evans LoBiondo Coffman Jones Ross Lynch Richmond Cole Jordan Maloney, Roybal-Allard Vela Beatty Farenthold Loebsack Rothfus Vela´ zquez Bera Faso Lofgren Collins (GA) Joyce (OH) Rouzer Carolyn B. Ruiz Visclosky Bergman Ferguson Long Comer Kelly (PA) Royce (CA) Maloney, Sean Ruppersberger Matsui Wasserman Beyer Fitzpatrick Love Comstock King (IA) Russell Ryan (OH) McEachin Sarbanes Schultz Bilirakis Fleischmann Lowenthal Conaway King (NY) Rutherford McGovern Schakowsky Waters, Maxine Bishop (GA) Flores Lowey Cook Kinzinger Sanford McNerney Schiff Watson Coleman Bishop (MI) Fortenberry Lucas Costello (PA) Knight Scalise Cramer Kustoff (TN) Meeks Schneider Welch Bishop (UT) Foster Luetkemeyer Schweikert Culberson LaHood Meng Schrader Wilson (FL) Black Foxx Lujan Grisham, Scott, Austin Curbelo (FL) LaMalfa Moore Scott (VA) Yarmuth Blackburn Frankel (FL) M. Sensenbrenner ´ Curtis Lamborn Blum Frelinghuysen Lujan, Ben Ray Sessions Davidson Lance NOT VOTING—46 Blumenauer Fudge Lynch Shimkus Blunt Rochester Davis, Rodney Latta Boyle, Brendan Higgins (LA) Pocan Gabbard MacArthur Shuster Bonamici Gallagher Maloney, Denham Lewis (MN) F. Hudson Rohrabacher Simpson Bost Gallego Carolyn B. Dent LoBiondo Bridenstine Katko Rooney, Francis Smith (MO) Brady (PA) DesJarlais Long Brooks (AL) Kelly (MS) Garamendi Maloney, Sean Smith (NE) Rosen Brady (TX) Diaz-Balart Love Capuano Kennedy Garrett Marchant Smith (NJ) Rush Brat Donovan Lucas Carter (TX) Labrador Gianforte Marino Smucker Sa´ nchez Brooks (IN) Duncan (TN) Luetkemeyer Clarke (NY) Larson (CT) Gibbs Marshall Stefanik Sewell (AL) Brown (MD) Dunn MacArthur Collins (NY) Lawrence Gomez Mast Stewart Shea-Porter Brownley (CA) Emmer Marchant Crawford Loudermilk Goodlatte Matsui Stivers Sinema Buchanan Estes (KS) Marino DeSantis McCollum Gottheimer McCarthy Taylor Smith (TX) Buck Farenthold Marshall Deutch Mooney (WV) Gowdy McCaul Tenney Speier Bucshon Faso Massie Duffy Murphy (FL) Granger McClintock Budd Ferguson Mast Thompson (PA) Duncan (SC) Napolitano Tiberi Graves (GA) McEachin Burgess Fitzpatrick McCarthy Thornberry Gonzalez (TX) Nolan Wagner Graves (LA) McGovern Bustos Fleischmann McCaul Tipton Green, Al O’Rourke Walz Graves (MO) McHenry Butterfield Flores McClintock Trott Gutie´rrez Pascrell Webster (FL) Green, Gene McKinley Fortenberry McHenry Turner Byrne Griffith McMorris Foxx McKinley Upton b 1858 Calvert Grijalva Rodgers Frelinghuysen McMorris Valadao Carbajal Guthrie McNerney ´ Gaetz Rodgers Walberg Messrs. TAKANO, BRADY of Penn- Cardenas Hanabusa McSally Gallagher McSally Walden sylvania, PETERS, COSTA, Ms. KAP- Carson (IN) Handel Meadows Garrett Meadows Walker TUR, Mr. AGUILAR, Ms. MICHELLE Carter (GA) Harper Meehan Gianforte Meehan Walorski Cartwright Hartzler Meeks Gibbs Messer Walters, Mimi LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, and Castor (FL) Hastings Meng Gohmert Mitchell Weber (TX) Mr. RASKIN changed their vote from Castro (TX) Heck Messer Goodlatte Moolenaar Wenstrup ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Chabot Hensarling Mitchell Cheney Herrera Beutler Moolenaar Gosar Mullin Westerman Messrs. WALDEN, CALVERT, and Gowdy Newhouse Williams Chu, Judy Hice, Jody B. Moore Granger Noem Wilson (SC) CARTER of Georgia changed their vote Cicilline Higgins (NY) Moulton Graves (GA) Norman Wittman from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Clark (MA) Hill Mullin Graves (LA) Nunes Womack So the motion to fix convening time Clay Himes Nadler Graves (MO) Olson Woodall Cleaver Holding Neal Griffith Palazzo Yoder was agreed to. Clyburn Hollingsworth Newhouse Grothman Palmer Yoho The result of the vote was announced Coffman Hoyer Noem Guthrie Paulsen Young (AK) as above recorded. Cohen Huffman Norcross Handel Pearce Young (IA) Cole Huizenga Norman Harper Perry Zeldin f Collins (GA) Hultgren Nunes Comer Hunter O’Halleran NAYS—169 STEM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION Comstock Hurd Olson EFFECTIVENESS AND TRANS- Conaway Issa Palazzo Adams Cohen Foster Connolly Jackson Lee Pallone Aguilar Connolly Frankel (FL) PARENCY ACT Cook Jayapal Palmer Amash Cooper Fudge The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Cooper Jeffries Panetta Barraga´ n Correa Gabbard Correa Jenkins (KS) Paulsen Bass Costa Gallego finished business is the vote on the mo- Costa Jenkins (WV) Payne Beatty Courtney Garamendi tion to suspend the rules and pass the Costello (PA) Johnson (GA) Pearce Bera Crist Gomez bill (H.R. 4375) to provide for a study on Courtney Johnson (LA) Pelosi Beyer Crowley Gottheimer broadening participation in certain Na- Cramer Johnson (OH) Perlmutter Bishop (GA) Cuellar Green, Gene Crist Johnson, E. B. Perry Blumenauer Cummings Grijalva tional Science Foundation research Crowley Johnson, Sam Peters Blunt Rochester Davis (CA) Hanabusa and education programs, to collect Cuellar Jones Peterson Bonamici Davis, Danny Hastings data on Federal research grants to Culberson Jordan Pingree Brady (PA) DeFazio Heck Cummings Joyce (OH) Pittenger Brown (MD) DeGette Higgins (NY) science agencies, and for other pur- Curbelo (FL) Kaptur Poe (TX) Brownley (CA) Delaney Himes poses, as amended, on which the yeas Curtis Keating Poliquin Bustos DeLauro Hoyer and nays were ordered. Davidson Kelly (IL) Polis Butterfield DelBene Huffman The Clerk read the title of the bill. Davis (CA) Kelly (PA) Posey Carbajal Demings Jackson Lee Davis, Danny Khanna Price (NC) Ca´ rdenas DeSaulnier Jayapal The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Davis, Rodney Kihuen Quigley Carson (IN) Dingell Jeffries question is on the motion offered by DeFazio Kildee Raskin Cartwright Doggett Johnson (GA) the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. DeGette Kilmer Ratcliffe Castor (FL) Doyle, Michael Johnson, E. B. Delaney Kind Reed Castro (TX) F. Kaptur COMSTOCK) that the House suspend the DeLauro King (IA) Reichert Chu, Judy Ellison Keating rules and pass the bill, as amended. DelBene King (NY) Renacci Cicilline Engel Kelly (IL) This is a 5-minute vote. Demings Kinzinger Rice (NY) Clark (MA) Eshoo Khanna The vote was taken by electronic de- Denham Knight Rice (SC) Clay Espaillat Kihuen Dent Krishnamoorthi Richmond Cleaver Esty (CT) Kildee vice, and there were—yeas 376, nays 9, DeSaulnier Kuster (NH) Roby Clyburn Evans Kilmer not voting 46, as follows: DesJarlais Kustoff (TN) Roe (TN)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.015 H18DEPT1 H10166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 Rogers (AL) Shimkus Vargas of the National Wildlife Refuge Sys- McHenry Renacci Stewart Rogers (KY) Shuster Veasey tem, and for other purposes, as amend- McKinley Rice (NY) Stivers Rokita Simpson Vela McMorris Rice (SC) Suozzi Rooney, Thomas Sires Vela´ zquez ed, on which the yeas and nays were or- Rodgers Richmond Swalwell (CA) J. Slaughter Visclosky dered. McNerney Roby Takano Ros-Lehtinen Smith (MO) Walberg The Clerk read the title of the bill. McSally Roe (TN) Taylor Roskam Smith (NE) Meadows Rogers (AL) Tenney Walden The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Ross Smith (NJ) Walker Meehan Rogers (KY) Thompson (CA) Rothfus Smith (WA) Meeks Rokita Walorski question is on the motion offered by Thompson (MS) Rouzer Smucker Meng Rooney, Thomas Walters, Mimi the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Thompson (PA) Roybal-Allard Soto Messer J. Wasserman Thornberry Royce (CA) Stefanik WITTMAN) that the House suspend the Mitchell Ros-Lehtinen Schultz Tipton Ruiz Stewart rules and pass the bill, as amended. Moolenaar Roskam Titus Ruppersberger Stivers Waters, Maxine Moore Ross Watson Coleman This is a 5-minute vote. Tonko Russell Suozzi Moulton Rothfus Torres Rutherford Swalwell (CA) Weber (TX) The vote was taken by electronic de- Mullin Rouzer Trott Ryan (OH) Takano Welch Nadler Roybal-Allard vice, and there were—yeas 371, nays 14, Tsongas Sanford Taylor Wenstrup Neal Royce (CA) not voting 46, as follows: Turner Sarbanes Tenney Westerman Newhouse Ruiz Upton Scalise Thompson (CA) Williams [Roll No. 687] Noem Ruppersberger Valadao Schakowsky Thompson (MS) Wilson (FL) Norcross Russell YEAS—371 Vargas Schiff Thompson (PA) Wilson (SC) Norman Rutherford Abraham Curtis Hollingsworth Veasey Schneider Thornberry Wittman Nunes Ryan (OH) Schrader Tipton Adams Davidson Hoyer O’Halleran Sarbanes Vela Womack ´ Schweikert Titus Aderholt Davis (CA) Huffman Olson Schakowsky Velazquez Woodall Aguilar Davis, Danny Huizenga Visclosky Scott (VA) Tonko Yarmuth Palazzo Schiff Scott, Austin Allen Davis, Rodney Hultgren Walberg Torres Yoder Pallone Schneider Scott, David Trott Amodei DeFazio Hurd Palmer Schrader Walden Yoho Sensenbrenner Tsongas Arrington DeGette Issa Panetta Schweikert Walker Young (AK) Serrano Turner Bacon Delaney Jackson Lee Paulsen Scott (VA) Walorski Sessions Upton Young (IA) Banks (IN) DeLauro Jayapal Payne Scott, Austin Walters, Mimi Sherman Valadao Zeldin Barletta DelBene Jeffries Pearce Scott, David Wasserman Barr Demings Jenkins (KS) Pelosi Sensenbrenner Schultz NAYS—9 Barraga´ n Denham Jenkins (WV) Perlmutter Serrano Waters, Maxine Amash Gaetz Grothman Barton Dent Johnson (GA) Peters Sessions Watson Coleman Biggs Gohmert Harris Bass DeSaulnier Johnson (LA) Peterson Sherman Welch Duncan (TN) Gosar Massie Beatty DesJarlais Johnson (OH) Pingree Shimkus Wenstrup Bera Diaz-Balart Johnson, E. B. Pittenger Shuster Westerman NOT VOTING—46 Bergman Dingell Johnson, Sam Poe (TX) Simpson Wilson (FL) Beyer Doggett Jones Boyle, Brendan Higgins (LA) Pocan Poliquin Sires Wilson (SC) Bilirakis Donovan Jordan F. Hudson Polis Slaughter Wittman Rohrabacher Bishop (GA) Doyle, Michael Joyce (OH) Bridenstine Katko Posey Smith (MO) Womack Rooney, Francis Bishop (MI) F. Kaptur Brooks (AL) Kelly (MS) Price (NC) Smith (NE) Woodall Rosen Bishop (UT) Duncan (TN) Keating Capuano Kennedy Quigley Smith (NJ) Yarmuth Rush Black Dunn Kelly (IL) Carter (TX) Labrador Raskin Smith (WA) Yoder Sa´ nchez Blackburn Ellison Kelly (MS) Clarke (NY) Larson (CT) Ratcliffe Smucker Young (AK) Sewell (AL) Blum Emmer Kelly (PA) Collins (NY) Lawrence Reed Soto Young (IA) Shea-Porter Blumenauer Engel Khanna Crawford Loudermilk Reichert Stefanik Zeldin Sinema Blunt Rochester Eshoo Kihuen DeSantis McCollum Smith (TX) Bonamici Espaillat Kildee NAYS—14 Deutch Mooney (WV) Speier Bost Estes (KS) Kilmer Duffy Murphy (FL) Amash Gohmert Sanford Brady (PA) Esty (CT) Kind Duncan (SC) Napolitano Tiberi Babin Grothman Weber (TX) Brady (TX) Evans King (IA) Gonzalez (TX) Nolan Wagner Biggs Hunter Williams Brat Farenthold King (NY) Green, Al O’Rourke Walz Buck Massie Yoho Brooks (IN) Faso Kinzinger Gutie´rrez Pascrell Webster (FL) Gaetz Perry Brown (MD) Ferguson Knight ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Brownley (CA) Fitzpatrick Krishnamoorthi NOT VOTING—46 Buchanan Fleischmann Kuster (NH) Boyle, Brendan Higgins (LA) Rohrabacher The SPEAKER pro tempore (during Budd Flores Kustoff (TN) F. Hudson Rooney, Francis the vote). There are 2 minutes remain- Burgess Fortenberry LaHood Bridenstine Katko Rosen Bustos Foster LaMalfa ing. Brooks (AL) Kennedy Rush Butterfield Foxx Lamborn Bucshon Labrador Sa´ nchez b 1906 Byrne Frankel (FL) Lance Capuano Larson (CT) Calvert Frelinghuysen Langevin Scalise Carter (TX) Lawrence Sewell (AL) Mr. GAETZ changed his vote from Carbajal Fudge Larsen (WA) Clarke (NY) Loudermilk ´ Shea-Porter ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Cardenas Gabbard Latta Collins (NY) McCollum Sinema Carson (IN) Gallagher Lawson (FL) Crawford Mooney (WV) So (two-thirds being in the affirma- Smith (TX) Carter (GA) Gallego Lee DeSantis Murphy (FL) tive) the rules were suspended and the Speier Cartwright Garamendi Levin Deutch Napolitano bill, as amended, was passed. Castor (FL) Garrett Lewis (GA) Duffy Nolan Tiberi The result of the vote was announced Castro (TX) Gianforte Lewis (MN) Duncan (SC) O’Rourke Wagner Chabot Gibbs Lieu, Ted as above recorded. Gonzalez (TX) Pascrell Walz Cheney Gomez Lipinski Gutie´rrez Pocan Webster (FL) The title of the bill was amended so Chu, Judy Goodlatte LoBiondo as to read: ‘‘A bill provide for a report Cicilline Gosar Loebsack ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Clark (MA) Gottheimer Lofgren The SPEAKER pro tempore (during on broadening participation in certain Clay Gowdy Long National Science Foundation research Cleaver Granger Love the vote). There are 2 minutes remain- and education programs, to collect Clyburn Graves (GA) Lowenthal ing. data on Federal research grants to Coffman Graves (LA) Lowey Cohen Graves (MO) Lucas b 1914 science agencies, and for other pur- Cole Green, Al Luetkemeyer So (two-thirds being in the affirma- poses.’’. Collins (GA) Green, Gene Lujan Grisham, tive) the rules were suspended and the A motion to reconsider was laid on Comer Griffith M. ´ bill, as amended, was passed. the table. Comstock Grijalva Lujan, Ben Ray Conaway Guthrie Lynch The result of the vote was announced f Connolly Hanabusa MacArthur as above recorded. Cook Handel Maloney, A motion to reconsider was laid on KEEP AMERICA’S REFUGES Cooper Harper Carolyn B. the table. OPERATIONAL ACT Correa Harris Maloney, Sean Costa Hartzler Marchant f The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Costello (PA) Hastings Marino finished business is the vote on the mo- Courtney Heck Marshall CONGRESS NEEDS TO VOTE ON A Cramer Hensarling Mast SOLUTION FOR DREAMERS tion to suspend the rules and pass the Crist Herrera Beutler Matsui bill (H.R. 3979) to amend the Fish and Crowley Hice, Jody B. McCarthy (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the Cuellar Higgins (NY) McCaul given permission to address the House Culberson Hill McClintock volunteer services, community part- Cummings Himes McEachin for 1 minute and to revise and extend nership, and refuge education programs Curbelo (FL) Holding McGovern her remarks.)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.014 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10167 Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, DISAPPEARANCE OF RHINOS AND minute and to revise and extend his re- there are very few legislative days left ELEPHANTS marks.) this calendar year, and the House has (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise yet to debate and vote on the Dream given permission to address the House today as a cosponsor and supporter of Act or any legislative proposal that for 1 minute.) the bipartisan Dialysis PATIENTS would shield our DREAMers from de- Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, wild- Demonstration Act, which provides portation. life trafficking is a much larger prob- better care for patients who are suf- The administration created an arbi- lem than many realize. This illegal ac- fering from end-stage renal disease, trary deadline of March 5 before the tivity is connected to two major con- also known as kidney failure. DACA program begins to phase out. cerns: one, extinction of species; and, Currently, there are about 9,000 Min- However, Mr. Speaker, we cannot, we two, the funding of terrorist organiza- nesotans who suffer from end-stage should not, and we must not wait until tions. renal disease. Many of these patients the very last minute to take action. Rhinos are killed for their horns, and spend hours and hours enduring mul- Every day that goes by, DREAMers elephants are killed for their tusks. tiple hospital visits each and every are losing protections; they can’t get The handful of rhinos in Africa are al- week to treat this disease; and, on top that job they so desperately need; and most extinct, and 100 African elephants of that, they oftentimes also have to they can’t apply to the school that are killed by ivory poachers a day. travel to a different location to get they want. Simply put, their lives have Illegal wildlife trade serves as a treatment for other health conditions been put on hold. source of cash flow for thugs like ter- they may have as well. rorists and international criminal or- Mr. Speaker, Members have seen me This legislation will allow dialysis ganizations. They fund many of their come to the floor time after time to centers to provide integrated care for deadly activities by poaching animals advocate for these hardworking, young patients by bringing in providers so and then selling the parts internation- Americans because I wholeheartedly that people can receive comprehensive ally. treatments all in the same place. These believe that we need to get this done Adding to the problem is the fact rapidly. The American people agree, patients will also be able to see addi- that some foreign authorities are cor- tional benefits, like transportation and many of our colleagues from both rupt and complicit in trafficking. sides of the aisle agree. services, dental care, and vision care. All nations must take an aggressive Mr. Speaker, let’s pass this bill so we So I urge each one of my colleagues stand to prevent this trafficking. This can improve the quality of life for this to look at the ideals of compassion and starts with the stopping of the illegal vulnerable patient population by co- opportunity that have long character- transport of ivory and rhino horns. ordinating the care system and making ized our generous and great country The nations of the world must tight- it easier for them to receive their and allow a vote to help our DREAM- en the screws against those who par- treatments. ers. The time for Congress to take ac- ticipate in this destruction of wildlife; tion is now. otherwise, the only place our kids will f see rhinos and elephants is on the Dis- REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN f ney Channel. (Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI asked and And that is just the way it is. was given permission to address the HONORING U.S. ARMY COLONEL f House for 1 minute and to revise and JOSEPH TOPPIN’S 100TH BIRTHDAY AMTRAK CASCADES ACCIDENT extend his remarks.) Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speak- (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given (Mr. HECK asked and was given per- er, tomorrow, the Members of the permission to address the House for 1 mission to address the House for 1 House will cast a vote on the tax con- minute and to revise and extend his re- minute and to revise and extend his re- ference committee report, the final marks.) marks.) version of the Republican tax plan. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, no Member The Republican leadership rushed today to honor Colonel Joseph Toppin of this body ever wants to come to this this bill to the finish line at the ex- of Edison, New Jersey, on the occasion dais and say what I am about to say. pense of small-business owners and of his 100th birthday. This morning, a train derailed as it crossed Interstate 5 near DuPont, working families. I strongly urge my Colonel Toppin entered the military colleagues to vote ‘‘no.’’ in 1948, the same year that a wavering Washington, in the heart of my dis- trict, sending railcars to the roadway As a former small-business owner, I President named Harry Truman finally understand firsthand the importance of prohibited racial discrimination in the below. Lives were lost and families were tax simplification. Unfortunately, this Armed Forces. Colonel Toppin rose to bill does the opposite: it complicates become the first African American to shattered. Loved ones are severely in- jured, including a family member of our Tax Code while giving companies serve as battalion commander for the fewer than 2 weeks to adjust before it Army’s 40th Infantry Division. one of my staffers. All this, of course, right in the middle of the holiday sea- goes into effect. This creates serious The colonel has dedicated his life to uncertainty for small-business owners improving the quality of our democ- son. Right now, many questions beg for who create jobs and invest in our com- racy and making the world a safer answers. We need to determine what munities. place. He helped with postwar planning went wrong, and the NTSB will be in- I support reforming our Tax Code, for the development of Korea. He also vestigating. But, for now, I am grateful but I ask my colleagues to stop rushing was the principal planner for the for our first responders and the com- this process and to put working fami- Army’s ship-to-shore discharge oper- munity for stepping up. So many set lies first. There is simply too much at ations along the west coast of France. aside their grief and reported for duty, stake. And Colonel Toppin was the inspector including many first responders who We can simplify our tax system with- general for Fort Dix in New Jersey. came in on their day off. out exploding the national debt and Upon leaving the Army, he had an il- Our hearts go out to the families im- spiking healthcare premiums. For the lustrious career at Bethlehem Steel pacted by this horrific tragedy, and we sake of our economy and our future, we Corporation. ask for everyone’s prayers for the vic- need to kill this bill. Colonel Toppin is now retired, but he tims to continue to recover. f has still not stopped inspiring those f around him, which is why I stand here NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION’S tonight. Mr. Speaker, I ask my col- IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY leagues to join me in honoring Colonel END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE PA- (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania Toppin on his 100th birthday and for TIENTS asked and was given permission to ad- his service to the United States of (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given dress the House for 1 minute and to re- America. permission to address the House for 1 vise and extend his remarks.)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.044 H18DEPT1 H10168 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. RECOGNIZING DR. LESTER B. Divided by distance but not by spirit, Mr. Speaker, today marks 50 years JOHNSON, JR. on Saturday, millions of Americans since President Lyndon B. Johnson (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and came together in a common mission to signed a bill into law officially estab- was given permission to address the honor and remember our fallen heroes. lishing the National Park Foundation. House for 1 minute and to revise and f The National Park Foundation works extend his remarks.) b 1930 to enrich America’s national parks and Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak- programs, safeguard our heritage, and er, I rise today to recognize the life of CONGRATULATING SHASTA HIGH engage the next generation of national Dr. Lester Johnson, Jr., who passed SCHOOL WOLVES park enthusiasts. away on November 29, 2017, at 91 years (Mr. LAMALFA asked and was given Celebrating 50 years, the National of age. Dr. Johnson’s work to provide a permission to address the House for 1 Park Foundation is the official charity high-quality education to all students minute and to revise and extend his re- of America’s national parks and non- in Savannah, Georgia, has truly made marks.) profit partner to the National Park our community a better place to live. Mr. LAMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I rise Service. tonight to offer a hearty congratula- Chartered by Congress in 1967, the His teaching career spanned 43 years, tions to the Shasta High School Wolves National Park Foundation raises pri- with 20 of those years teaching at Al- of Redding, California, for their foot- vate funds to help protect more than 84 fred E. Beach High School, a place million acres of national parks through where he was a student himself. Dr. ball championship this year. They won critical conservation and preservation Johnson passionately taught industrial the north section. They won the North- efforts. It works to connect all Ameri- arts and mathematics classes, and he ern California Championship and made cans with their incomparable natural received the Beach High School Teach- their first ever visit to the California landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich er of the Year Award in 1961. State Championship, where they history. And, the National Park Foun- In 1969, Dr. Johnson began to teach played down in southern California dation helps to engage the next genera- students at Savannah State Univer- over the weekend. tion of park stewards. sity, where he later received the uni- Though they came up a little bit In 2016, we proudly commemorated versity’s Distinguished Teaching short, they did have an early lead in the National Park Service’s 100th anni- Award in 1991. that game after all that travel. So, in- versary. The National Park Founda- Dr. Johnson’s accomplishments don’t deed, congratulations to that program tion launched the Centennial Cam- stop with education. A few of his many at Shasta High School and to the paign for America’s national parks, a accomplishments include being a Wolves of Redding, California. comprehensive effort to strengthen and former State representative and the It is teamwork that really makes enhance the future of our parks. first African-American Eagle Scout in this happen, and that is exemplified by Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly thank Savannah. the north State’s leading rusher, Vince the National Park Foundation for all Dr. Lester Johnson’s students leave Smith, when he was quoted: ‘‘The thing that it does to support our national his legacy throughout the First Con- that was different about this season treasures for another 100 years. gressional District and the rest of our was that we actually really cared Congratulations. Nation. He will truly be missed. about each other and we were family. f f Every play, we’d use our hearts and fight for each other.’’ RECOGNIZING JOHN ANDERSON WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA That is teamwork. That is the spirit. (Mr. FERGUSON asked and was (Ms. TENNEY asked and was given Congratulations, Shasta High School given permission to address the House permission to address the House for 1 Wolves. for 1 minute and to revise and extend minute and to revise and extend her re- f his remarks.) marks.) Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise TAX BILL IMPACTING VETERANS today to recognize the distinguished today to recognize National Wreaths AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY career of John Anderson of Kia Motors. Across America Day, a tribute held an- (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was John is retiring at the end of this year, nually to honor and remember those given permission to address the House after 33 years in the auto industry. servicemembers who made the ulti- for 1 minute.) From General Motors, to Delphi, to mate sacrifice in service to our great Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, Kia, John has seen the ups and downs Nation. wherever I go throughout my district of the auto industry and has more than Since Congress designated Wreaths and speak to an audience, I always ac- earned his retirement. But, this is a Across America a national day of re- knowledge the veterans and Active- bittersweet moment for many of us in membrance in 2007, Americans have Duty military. I think that is one uni- my hometown of West Point, Georgia. joined together at Arlington National fying factor for this Congress and for Kia opened a Washington office in Cemetery and in their local commu- this Nation. conjunction with opening its manufac- nities to honor our veterans who have Today, the President offered a na- turing plant in 2010. The plant opened passed on. tional security strategy. During his when I was mayor and Sonny Perdue This year, more than 1 million first 12 months, that strategy has been was Governor. John was on the job wreaths were laid at over 1,300 ceme- haphazard and lacking understanding. then and has been there every day as teries throughout the country. 245,000 All of us, however, want to have a the head of Washington’s office since it wreaths were placed by thousands of strong military, strong military fami- opened. volunteers at Arlington National Cem- lies, and strong resources for our Ac- From the beginning of his career at etery. tive Duty and our veterans. Disney’s Epcot Center, when he was On Saturday, in a virtual blizzard, I It is sad, however, that in the next 2 the General Motors guy explaining the had the distinct honor of joining the days we will be voting on a tax bill future of the industry, to his current Rome-Utica Chapter of the Military Of- that will take $2.3 trillion out of our role at Kia, John has made the auto- ficers Association; the Navy ROTC stu- budget and create a debt. It will raid motive industry better; and he has dents from Proctor High School in Medicare and Medicaid, impacting done it with a remarkable touch of hu- Utica, New York; and members of the some of those very soldiers and vet- manity and friendship along the way. Marine Corps League at Saint Peter’s erans’ families. As well, in this new John has been a great advocate for Church in Rome, New York. bill, the top 1 percent will get 83 per- my hometown, for my district, and for As we laid wreaths on the graves of cent of this tax bill. the industry of Kia that now calls it our fallen servicemen and -women, we Isn’t it interesting, if you are a fam- home. As he moves into retirement took a moment to say each veteran’s ily of four making $59,000, there will be with his wife, Joanna, as they get to name, to remember each individual’s $1,800 not given to you but taken away? spend a little time together, we wish life of service, sacrifice, and the fami- We can’t have it all, Mr. Speaker. We him well in his retirement. lies they left behind. can’t have a strong strategy, of which

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.046 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10169 there was none today, by taking $2.3 up of 19 counties in central and west faith, future Major League Baseball trillion away from the men and women central Illinois, including parts of Peo- Hall of Famer Jim Thome of of this Nation. ria; Bloomington-Normal; Springfield, Bartonville, two-time NBA champion f our State capital; Jacksonville; Quin- Shaun Livingston from Peoria, former cy; Macomb; and all places in between. Major League Baseball manager and 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE My district borders Missouri and Iowa World Series champion Joe Girardi, STATE OF ILLINOIS along the Mississippi River, on the and even the late comedian Richard The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. western part. Pryor. Just imagine where America’s BERGMAN). Under the Speaker’s an- It is a district with no shortage of sports and entertainment industries nounced policy of January 3, 2017, the great accomplishments and history. In would be without their talents. gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LAHOOD) fact, who knows where our entire Na- Despite Chicago being our Nation’s is recognized for 60 minutes as the des- tion would be without the leadership of third largest city and serving as a hub ignee of the majority leader. one Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer from for many great industries, the largest Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I am hon- Springfield, who represented nine of sector of our economy remains agri- ored to be on the floor tonight with my the counties in my current district. culture. Last year, Illinois was the colleagues on the Republican and Dem- During his one term in the United sixth largest producer of agriculture in ocrat side as we pay tribute and honor States House of Representatives, he the Nation, producing over $8 billion to the great State of Illinois on the an- served from 1847 to 1849. People forget worth of agriculture exports. Our dis- niversary of our bicentennial. that he was Congressman Abraham trict was no slouch, coming in as the GENERAL LEAVE Lincoln before he was President Abra- eighth largest congressional district in Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask ham Lincoln. Lincoln would spend the country in terms of agriculture unanimous consent that all Members most of his life in Springfield, Illinois, production, proving once more that our have 5 legislative days in which to re- as a lawyer; and also in Menard Coun- State has some of the most fertile vise and extend their remarks and to ty, working in the post office there. He farmland in the entire world. Illinois include extraneous material on the would also take river boats down the farmers continue to grow soybeans, topic of this Special Order. Sangamon River of the Illinois River, corn, and much more that keep Amer- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there down to New Orleans. ica’s economy growing and plates all objection to the request of the gen- Returning to Springfield to practice over the globe full. tleman from Illinois? law in between his sole term in the My district also has the distinction There was no objection. House and running for President in that 96 percent of the pumpkins pro- Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to- 1860, during his administration, Amer- duced in the world come from central night with my colleagues in recogni- ica would weather a bloody Civil War Illinois, within a 100-mile radius of Pe- tion of our home, the great State of Il- but come out having rooted out the oria, and we are proud of that. So the linois. It has been the highest honor of evil of slavery. While he would die in next time you have a pumpkin latte or my life to serve our State as a Member office, Lincoln’s leadership is why he a pumpkin beer or pumpkin pie, it of Congress, and I am sure it is for the continues to be named our greatest originated somewhere in central Illi- other speakers that we will have here President. He earned the nickname nois. Our State’s ties to agriculture don’t tonight. ‘‘Honest Abe.’’ Illinois would continue just end there, but they also include 2018 represents something special for to play a role in the abolishment of us and for every Illinoisan. It is our several companies that are worldwide slavery when it became the first State leaders in farming equipment and 200th anniversary of statehood. It was to ratify the 13th Amendment in 1865. Earth-moving products. Whether it is December 3, 1818, that Illinois was ad- While he would die in office, Lincoln’s John Deere or Caterpillar, just to name mitted into the United States. Today I leadership is why he continues to be a few, they are known across the globe wish to recognize and honor all that Il- our greatest President today. as producers of the finest construction, linois has offered our great Nation. Over a century later, another man farming, and Earth-moving machines Illinois’ path to statehood began in with ties to Illinois would be sworn in out there. the 17th century, with Europeans first as President: President Ronald Reagan The Archer Daniels Midland Com- settling the territory that had been from Illinois. He is the only President pany, or ADM, is another Illinois agri- home to many Native American Indian who was born and raised in Illinois. culture institution with strong ties to Tribes. The territory would exchange President Reagan would go on being Illinois’ 18th District. Formerly hands several times over the following the Governor of California—from the headquartered in Decatur, the global century, eventually ending up as part Governor of California to the Presi- agricultural giant is now of the Northwest Territory after the dency in 1981. headquartered in Chicago, operating Revolutionary War. Only a few short Born in Tampico, Illinois, Ronald more than 270 plants and 420 crop pro- years later, Congress would finally Reagan spent his formative years grow- curement facilities worldwide. This is agree on its borders and name Illinois ing up in Illinois. His father was a trav- where cereal grains and oilseeds are the 21st State in the Union. eling salesman. They lived in Mon- produced. At that time, I am sure few expected mouth, in Galesburg, in Dixon, in Chi- So not only is Illinois leading the that the largely unsettled area of land cago for a short time, and also in Tam- way in growing crops, but also in turn- would go on to house the third largest pico. Of course, Ronald Reagan got a ing them into products that show up in city in our country with over 2.7 mil- scholarship to play football at Eureka grocery stores across our country and lion residents, or produce agriculture College in Woodford County, in my dis- across the globe. goods that would feed people all over trict. He was a student there, played Finally, we cannot conclude without the globe. That these things came to football, and graduated from there. noting the presence of Forbes’ 33rd pass is a testament to the hard work His time as President and Governor ranked business in the country: State and determination of the people of Illi- was defined by optimism and a faith in Farm Insurance in Bloomington-Nor- nois. the American spirit and a way of life, a mal. The insurance giant has been pro- That is why the theme for this year’s faith that was instilled during his viding insurance coverage and finan- bicentennial celebration is ‘‘Born, formative years at Eureka and growing cial services for 95 years and is Built, and Grown’’—again, ‘‘Born, up in Illinois. Like Lincoln, his leader- headquartered in my district in Bloom- Built, and Grown’’—a chance to high- ship during tough times remains a ington, Illinois. Our ‘‘local good neigh- light not just the many goods and serv- point of pride for not only Illinois, but bor,’’ State Farm, brings not only ices our State offers, but also the many for the entire Nation. peace of mind to millions of Americans great Americans born and raised in Illi- Outside of politics, our congressional as they buy or rent a home or an auto- nois, who have gone on to shape the district is home to other famous Illi- mobile, but they also assist in planning world we live in. noisans who all called central Illinois for the future. I am proud to represent Illinois’ 18th home, including: the venerable Arch- I couldn’t be prouder to be here to- Congressional District, a district made bishop Fulton Sheen of the Catholic night with my colleagues. Those are

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.048 H18DEPT1 H10170 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 some of the ways that Illinois’ 18th John Logan came back and led troops nois, the most beautiful part of Illinois District has contributed to the State’s for the North. What is really wild is where it starts out as the flatlands, story and how it will keep Illinois at after becoming a field grade general what is commonly known as the prai- the forefront of our Nation and global and a decorated war general, he came ries of Illinois up around St. Louis and economy. back to southern Illinois, then went Alton, and it comes south. When you Now I would like to recognize a num- back into politics as a Republican, and get down to my area, it turns into roll- ber of my colleagues that are here to- stayed a U.S. Senator but as a Repub- ing hills, rolling hills that produce night. I yield to the gentleman from lican and was part of the reconstruc- peaches and apples and grapes, the southern Illinois (Mr. BOST), my col- tionists. beautiful wineries, areas of tourism, league. The amazing thing about John Logan the land between the lakes, the land Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the is that he actually ran for vice presi- known as Little Egypt, and I am so gentleman from Peoria, Illinois, for dent. They lost, he and Blaine. He then privileged to be able to represent that hosting this Special Order on the was running for president and gave a part of the State of Illinois. State’s bicentennial year. long speech, actually, in the gentle- Now, Mr. Speaker, I know we are You know, Illinois is a State of man’s hometown who is hosting this going to have a lot of other speakers threes. You know, we had three State tonight, for about 8 hours in the rain, tonight, but I do want to tell you that capitals: Kaskaskia, Vandalia, and got on a train, came back to the cap- Illinois, as I said, has had good times Springfield. We have three State seals. ital here, and passed away with pneu- and bad times, but there are a whole A lot of people don’t know that. monia. lot more good times to come. It is a If you know Illinois well, you know Another great thing that happened in great place to live, it is a great place to that there is three distinct parts of Illi- deep southern Illinois in the Illinois raise your children, and I thank God nois involved. Whether you are in poli- 12th is the Lincoln-Douglas debates. I that I had the opportunity to be born tics or business, it is always referred to am blessed to have the only district in and raised there. as Cook County, the Collar counties, the State of Illinois that has two Lin- Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank and southern Illinois. In southern Illi- coln-Douglas debate sites. Mr. BOST for his comments here to- nois, we like to capitalize the ‘‘S’’ on I am being questioned here that night. I appreciate it very much. ‘‘southern.’’ maybe there is one other. Mr. Speaker, next I want to yield to There is one other thing that is in Jonesboro, September 15, 1858; Alton, and recognize the Congresswoman from threes. If you listen to the Illinois October 15, 1858. Very proud of that. Matteson, Illinois, ROBIN KELLY, who song, three people are mentioned: Lin- And, you know, these two went on we are so glad found her way from New coln, Grant, and Logan. after Douglas wins as Senator, but then York to Bradley University as a stu- Now, the reason why I bring those up Lincoln ends up winning the Presi- dent in Peoria, Illinois, and has served is because, tied with southern Illinois dency. our State well in the State legislature and Illinois’ 12th Congressional Dis- There are several other things, but and throughout government there. We trict—the district that is the most one other thing about deep southern Il- are happy to have her here tonight. southern and most western of the State linois, look, many people don’t realize Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I of Illinois, which I am proud to rep- that deep southern Illinois has the thank Congressman LAHOOD for yield- resent—actually was and had the first smallest national forest in the Nation. ing and for organizing tonight’s Special State capital. Also, it has John A. The Shawnee National Forest is lo- Order about our great State, Illinois. Logan in that mentioning of those cated in JOHN SHIMKUS’ and my dis- Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I three names. trict. We share it. It is truly a beau- am Illinois proud, and I rise today to John A. Logan, if you heard that tiful part of Illinois, wonderful rolling celebrate our State’s upcoming 200th name before, if you are in D.C., there hills, deep forests, much good there. birthday. are many things that are named after Also the Illinois 12th has As you know, Mr. Speaker, I am priv- Logan, including ‘‘Logan Circle.’’ Murphysboro, my hometown, which is ileged to represent Illinois’ Second Logan was actually the gentleman who the barbecue capital of Illinois. We Congressional District—in my opinion, was laid in state—the eighth person have teams that have won as many as the best district in the entire country. laid in state here in this Capitol, and four grand championships and went on This community starts at 53rd and Cor- that was because he had established to create businesses all over this Na- nell around the Museum of Science and himself from deep southern Illinois. As tion in that business and in the bar- Industry, it then reaches south to in- a matter of fact, his hometown was— becue business, and we are very proud clude many suburbs in Cook and Will my hometown was his farm, which was of that. I would argue that maybe it is Counties. It stretches all the way to subdivided to make that hometown. the barbecue capital of the world. the border of Indiana and the border There may be others that would argue between Kankakee and Iroquois Coun- b 1945 different with that. ties, to include some of our Nation’s As a matter of fact, the deed in ab- How many of you, as children, re- most productive family farms. stract of the home that I was born and member the cartoon ‘‘Popeye’’, who While I am humbled and honored to raised in and the house that I later came from Chester, Illinois, in the Illi- represent the remarkable people and bought from my parents and raised my nois 12th? families of Illinois’ Second District, as children for the first 10 years of my I am sure many of the other people you have heard, I first moved to Peoria marriage in that home, my great- who speak here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to attend Bradley University. grandmother actually bought that are also proud of their home districts While at Bradley, I joined the Zeta property from his father. in the State of Illinois, and should be, Phi chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho and John Logan established himself, because I am going to tell you, whether completed my BA in psychology and which is really wild, and he actually it is from Cairo, to Galena, to Chicago, my MA in counseling. I am proud to was such a large part of Illinois his- to Mulkeytown, from Danville, to East have been a Bradley University trust- tory. He first ran as a Democrat; he St. Louis, the State of Illinois is a ee, since 2003, and to continue to be a was a district attorney. He then be- great State. We love it. part of this amazing institution that is came a State representative, then a We have good things and bad things preparing the next generation of lead- State senator, then went on to be a that happen, but it has been a great ers. Member of the U.S. Congress and later State that has helped this Nation, pro- I lived in Peoria until 1992, when I a U.S. Senator. vided great leaders, provided great peo- moved to Matteson, Illinois, my cur- It was during the time of the Civil ple involved in all kinds of fields rent home in the great Second Congres- War, when the Civil War broke out, throughout this Nation and this world. sional District, to become the village’s that there were questions on what I have no reservations in saying, and director of community affairs. would happen, because deep southern I am sure others would say this about In 2002, I was elected to the Illinois Illinois was split during the war, theirs, but I am so blessed, because I General Assembly, where I first met though stayed united as a State. live in the most beautiful part of Illi- many of my current colleagues in the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.049 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10171 Illinois delegation while serving to- Andrew Singleton from Victory Apos- who make this country what it is. The gether in Springfield. At the time, I tolic; Apostle Ron from Full Gospel suburbs of Chicago, where I grew up, also served with the State senator who Christian Assembly. are opportunity-filled and family would eventually go on to become Our local nonprofits are helping to friendly. President of the United States, Barack create a better, fairer, and more just I was born in Illinois, grew up in Illi- Obama. world, organizations like Chicago Fam- nois, and am proud to be raising my As someone who has been privileged ily Health Center; Aunt Martha’s; Pol- family in Illinois. By the way, for the to live throughout Illinois and travel it ished Pebbles; Alliance of the South- record, just to set it clear, it is Illinois, extensively while working as a chief of east; the Dovetail Project; Centro de not Illi-noise—phonetic—so we just staff to the State treasurer, I couldn’t Trabajadores Unidos; and Kids Off The make sure that is out there. be more proud to represent this great Block, which provides at-risk young I am so proud to represent the 14th State and the great people who will people with positive alternatives. Congressional District, the Fox River call it home, especially those who call In the Second District, our young Valley, the Chain O’Lakes, and so the Second District home. people are active and engaged. They many dozens and dozens of wonderful The Second District is truly a micro- are dedicated to being a force for posi- small- and medium-sized towns that, cosm of Illinois and the entire U.S. It tive change in their communities, in again, are the heartbeat of Illinois and is urban, suburban, and rural. It in- our country, and in their world. In the the heartbeat of this Nation. cludes parts of the city of Chicago and face of any darkness, they stand proud Tonight, I also would like to take a more than 1,200 farms. and allow their personal life to shine moment, as has already been done, to In the Second District, Nucor makes through circumstance. highlight a special giant that hovers American steel and our Ford facility Now, we have had a few famous peo- over our State, Honest Abe himself. makes American cars. We grow corn, ple coming through the Second also: As a history buff, especially Illinois soybeans, and raise American pork. We Quinn Buckner, the basketball player; history, I cannot emphasize enough the have local breweries and giants like Shonda Rhimes, famous from ‘‘Scan- impact that Abraham Lincoln has had Amazon, alongside world-class bike dal,’’ ‘‘Grey’s Anatomy,’’ and ‘‘How to on our State and also on our Nation trails, scenic vistas, and the historic Get Away With Murder;’’ Eddy Curry, and our world. While he wasn’t born in Illinois, his Pullman neighborhood, and we will basketball; Tom Dreesen; Mary formative years were spent there, and soon be home to the new Obama Presi- Matalin, who worked for Dick Cheney; no doubt our State helped shape his vi- dential Library and Museum. and Mike Tomczak, who was a player sion for what America was meant to Mr. Speaker, the Second District is for the Bears. be. His moral leadership, his persistent home to many universities and Blue So, yes, Mr. Speaker, I am Illinois fight against the evils of slavery, his 1647, a tech incubator, that are training proud. As we, the congressional delega- ability to bring diverse coalitions of the next generation of businesses, tech, tion of families throughout the State, people to unify the country, all this and innovation leaders. celebrate our 200th birthday over the and more is why we have proudly Our small, medium-sized, and family next year, we are focusing on what called Illinois the land of Lincoln. businesses like Pullman Cafe, K&S makes Illinois great, things that I have So, again, it is a great honor and Tire, SA Piggush Financial Consult- discussed and you will hear tonight. privilege for me to be able to be with ants, South Creek Animal Hospital, Illinois greatness is born, it is built, my great colleagues, bipartisan, cele- Two Whisks Bakery, Homewood Bat, it is grown, and we are proud of it. brating our State that we are so proud and Affordable Flooring By Rodrigo Happy birthday, Illinois. Here is to 200 of, and we are looking forward to these drive forward our regional economy more years of growth, innovation, and next 12 months of ongoing celebration and create local jobs for Illinois fami- leadership. of the great State of Illinois. lies. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Our farms, like Van Drunen Farms LAHOOD for yielding. Congressman HULTGREN for those im- and FutureCeuticals, feed people in Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank portant words and comments about our more than 70 countries around the Congresswoman KELLY very much for great State. world, and our manufacturers, includ- those inspiring words about Illinois. I Mr. Speaker, I yield to and recognize ing Crown Cork and Seal, Best Dia- appreciate it very much. Congresswoman CHERI BUSTOS, who Mr. Speaker, next I yield to Con- mond Plastics, and Chicago Heights represents the 17th District of Illinois. gressman RANDY HULTGREN from Steel continue the proud tradition of We share Peoria, Illinois, together in Make It In America. Plano. Congressman HULTGREN served our district. Mrs. BUSTOS was born and While we are proud to build and grow in our Illinois State senate. He is a raised in Springfield, currently lives in products used around the State, coun- proud Illinoisan, he serves our Nation the Quad Cities in East Moline. I yield try, and globe, you might be surprised very well. I yield to him now for a few to the gentlewoman tonight for some to learn that many of the things you comments. comments. buy every day cross through the Sec- Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I ond District. For generations, Chicago thank the gentleman for yielding. I am b 2000 has been the crossroads of America, a grateful to Congressman LAHOOD for Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank hub for transcontinental and global hosting this, pulling this together, and Congressman LAHOOD for putting this commerce, and the Second District is it really is a great beginning of an an- together as we celebrate the 200th the beating heart of that transpor- ticipation of celebration for the next birthday of our great State of Illinois. tation infrastructure that creates year’s bicentennial of the statehood of The congressional district I serve good-paying American jobs. my home, Illinois. stretches from Rockford to the north; The Second District is also home to a Tonight, we are mentioning just a the western border is the Mississippi vibrant faith community that is com- few things that make Illinois such a River; and then we go into central Illi- mitted to serving their community by great State, and I look forward to con- nois, as Congressman LAHOOD said, to putting their faith into action. Leaders tinuing to highlight many more impor- the city of Peoria. I am very proud to in these movements have their houses tant facts, figures, stories, and pieces be able to share that city with Con- of worship in the Second or they serve of history about the Prairie State and, gressman LAHOOD. many people in the Second: Reverend more specifically, about the 14th Con- My congressional district also rep- Dr. James Hunt of New Hope Christian gressional District throughout 2018, all resents the Quad Cities, which is where Community Church; Rami Nashashibi, the way up until our 200th birthday on I call home. So in between all of these executive director of the Inner-City December 3, 2018. towns is 7,000 square miles of scenic Muslim Action Network and a recent Illinois is the breadbasket that feeds farmland and vibrant towns like Mon- MacArthur Foundation Fellow; Rabbi the Nation and the world. Our State mouth and Canton and Thomson. We Ellen Dreyfus, B’nai Yehuda Beth Sho- enjoys a global city with world class are a proud region with a proud history lom; Father Mike Pfleger, a tireless transportation hubs and small towns of manufacturing, agriculture, and champion to end gun violence; Pastor filled with the hardworking Americans service to our Nation.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.052 H18DEPT1 H10172 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 Let me tell you a little bit about the Abraham Lincoln was the attorney for able comments and advocacy for the congressional district I serve. We are the bridge company that I just men- State of Illinois. the home to John Deere in Moline, the tioned. Then, 2 years after that bridge Mr. Speaker, I yield to a colleague birthplace of Caterpillar in Peoria, and was built, our region was the host—I from Taylorville, Illinois (Mr. RODNEY home of the iconic Sock Monkey, know Congressman BOST said that his DAVIS), somebody who serves a district which was created in Rockford, Illi- district was the only district that had just to the south of me. We share nois. I kid you not. two Lincoln-Douglas debates. Well, Springfield together. He represents In Rockford, we hosted the Nation’s there is actually another congressional some of the best institutions of higher very first National Football League district that had two debates. One was learning in our State, and I am proud game at Douglas Park, where the Rock in Freeport in 1858, in August of that to share many of the Lincoln sites with Island Independents defeated the St. year, and then another was in Gales- my friend. Paul Ideals 48–0, a real romping. burg in October of 1858. Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. More than 40 years before the world So, in fact, President Lincoln’s con- Speaker, I thank my good friend, Con- also fell in love with them through a gressional district—I know Congress- gressman LAHOOD, and all my good movie called ‘‘A League of Their Own,’’ man DAVIS is going to lay real claim to friends from the Illinois delegation the Rockford Peaches were the four- Congressman Lincoln, but he also— who are here today. time champions of the All-American let’s see. Congressman DAVIS had part This is really a privilege for me to be Girls Professional Baseball League— of his district; Congressman LAHOOD able to be here to talk about Illinois’ also, I kid you not. This is amazing his- had part of his district; and he also rep- 200th anniversary. It is my home State. tory. resented Tazewell County, which is It wasn’t always my home State. As a I want to mention a few athletes as part of my congressional district. matter of fact, my family moved us well. Jim Thome, Congressman Another legend of the Civil War, from our hometown of Des Moines, LAHOOD knows him. He was the five- Ulysses S. Grant, made his home in Ga- Iowa, to Taylorville, Illinois, when I time all-star who played for eight dif- lena, Illinois, and his Presidential cam- was 7 years old, in 1977. ferent major league teams. He also paign headquarters was in a place Taylorville was a new experience for came from the city of Peoria, and my called the DeSoto House, which is a me, but it was a home that we estab- brother was very close with him. My hotel today in downtown Galena. It is a lished. My parents were able to achieve brother, my late brother, was a base- place where my husband and I like to their dream of owning their own busi- ball coach at Eastern Illinois Univer- stay when we visit Galena. ness, which gave my family the chance sity and Southern Illinois University, During the Civil War, Rock Island to achieve the American Dream, and it and he was good friends with Jim was used as a Union prison camp before was right here in Illinois. It was in our Thome. it was converted into the Rock Island home State that celebrates our 200th We have also had several other bril- Arsenal, where, today, it is the Army’s anniversary. liant performers come out of our re- only active foundry. The hardworking Taylorville is the place where my gion. Comedian Richard Pryor was men and women of the Rock Island Ar- wife grew up, and it is where we choose born and grew up in Peoria. The town senal have produced munitions for to raise our three children. But it is of Aledo in Mercer County is the home- every single one of our conflicts and also my proud hometown, and I love to town of two country megastars: Suzy our wars dating back to the Civil War. talk about it because it is where I grew Bogguss and Margo Price. And we even Mr. Speaker, the people of the north- up, but it is also where so many things have a member of Destiny’s Child, western and central and western part have happened. Because I have taken Michelle Williams, who came from of Illinois have always had a special this job as a Member of Congress, this Rockford. So we are a proud people. connection to the veterans who have opportunity, I have learned a lot more We also are very proud of our agricul- served in our country. There is one par- about my hometown. tural heritage. Our region is one of the ticular street, the last point I want to A couple of highlights that I want to top corn producers in the country. We make talking about my congressional bring out: one, of course, was have corn and soybean farms all across district that I am lucky enough to Taylorville’s basketball team from the Illinois that have been worked by gen- serve, and its place in history over the 1940s still holds the IHSA record. I be- erations of farm families. And they last 200 years, but we are very, very lieve they were 45–0, with big-name even go through the rolling hills of the proud of the street that we call Hero players like Johnny Orr and Ron Driftless Area in the Galena Territory. Street in Silvis, Illinois. It is a 11⁄2- Bontemps. What the Driftless Area means is that block street, and there is no street of Edward Mills Purcell was born in this is a gorgeous stretch of land where that similar size that has had more Taylorville and raised in Taylorville. the last ice age actually didn’t flatten, men and women serve in the military He actually was the Nobel Peace Prize and so we have wonderful farmland in than Hero Street USA in Silvis, Illi- winner in physics. He actually created that region as well. nois. nuclear magnetic resonance, which is A little bit to the east of the Galena More than 100 people have come from the backbone of what we know today Territory, we have a town called Free- that street of a block and a half long to as an MRI. It came out of my home- port, which is also known as Pretzel serve in the military, and 8 of them, all town in Taylorville, Illinois. City, USA, and it is home to the Union Mexican Americans, made the ultimate I am so honored that, since 2013, I Dairy, which recently celebrated its sacrifice during World War II and the have been blessed to be able to walk centennial birthday. Korean war. Hero Street has long been this floor and serve the 13th Congres- Our region has played a pivotal role a source of pride for the congressional sional District with these great col- not just in our State’s history, but also district that I am lucky enough to leagues from our home State. The 13th in our Nation’s history. Senator Ever- serve, and I am proud to mention them Congressional District goes way be- ett Dirksen, a Senate office building as part of this Special Order tonight. yond my hometown of Taylorville. It right down the road here is named Mr. Speaker, I know all of us from stretches in 14 counties, and one area after Senator Dirksen. He came from this great State of Illinois who are that I know that has been talked about Pekin, Illinois, which is in my congres- speaking tonight are only scratching tonight is Springfield, the State cap- sional district. If you don’t know the the surface about how important our ital, Lincoln’s hometown. history of Everett Dirksen, he was ac- region of the State is to our State’s I have got to give it to my colleague, tually one of the authors of the Civil history. I am very proud to be part of Mr. LAHOOD. Yes, he represents more Rights Act of 1964 and 1968. this. geography that Lincoln represented in Let’s go to where I live, Rock Island I thank Congressman LAHOOD for his one term here in Congress, and Mrs. County. It was the location of the very putting this together so we can talk BUSTOS represents part of Lincoln’s old first railroad bridge over the Mis- about the bicentennial of the State of district. I understand that. But as sissippi River, built in 1856. And since Illinois. somebody who represents Lincoln him- we are all getting into this Abraham Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank self in Lincoln’s tomb, I think I rep- Lincoln part of our State’s history, Congresswoman BUSTOS for her valu- resent Lincoln the most.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.054 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10173 What this tells you, this friendly ri- linois. Just the fact that this show is in nois. I moved to Illinois 35 years ago— valry that we three have, it goes to Illinois every other year truly high- hard to believe it has been that long— show you that, in one term in Congress lights the importance of Illinois agri- to attend college at Northwestern Uni- and then his time as the President of culture to the rest of the world. versity, immediately falling in love our great Nation, Abraham Lincoln I am proud to be able to serve on the with this great State. took three Members of Congress to fol- House Agriculture Committee and At Northwestern University, I met low in his footsteps in his one district. serve as the chairman of the Sub- my wife. She grew up in Glencoe, we There is no way any of us in this insti- committee on Biotechnology, Horti- settled in Deerfield. We have raised tution can follow in the footsteps of culture, and Research. And when we two boys, made our career and our Abraham Lincoln, but it is such a talk about agriculture and our ability home in Illinois, and, most impor- privilege to know that we three share to feed the world, it stems right from tantly, made our family in Illinois. such history. And that is exactly why our home State of Illinois. Some of the interesting things to we are here today, to talk about the With 72,000 farms and over 2,600 food share about Illinois: Illinois had the 200th anniversary of our home State, manufacturers, Illinois is a national first aquarium built in Chicago in 1893. and we would not be talking about Illi- leader. We are the leading producer of The very first skyscraper in the entire nois without Abraham Lincoln. soybeans, corn, swine, and one of the world was built in Chicago in 1885. The There is a story and a statue in my largest producers of ethanol. As we tallest building in North America, for- hometown that has Lincoln and a pig. move ahead into the next farm bill de- merly the Sears Tower, now the Willis The old stories are that Lincoln came bate, I am proud to be able to take Illi- Tower, is in Chicago. Evanston, home to practice when he was a lawyer and nois’ voice to the House Agriculture to Northwestern University, is also the complained about the pig squealing Committee with my colleague Con- home to the ice cream sundae. under the steps of our local courthouse. gressman BOST and my other colleague Illinois has a lot to be proud of, and So we in Taylorville honor Abe and his Congresswoman BUSTOS. will continue to be. Illinois has offered comments on the pig. Come visit, see I am proud to represent central Illi- me and my family a tremendous oppor- the statue, and come celebrate Abra- nois and the 13th District here in tunity, but now the task before us—the ham Lincoln. Washington, and I hope that those who 18 members of the Illinois delegation Abraham Lincoln was a leader that, follow us for the next 200 years enjoy who stand before you today thank you obviously, our Nation needed at that legislating in a bipartisan way as much for organizing this. Our task now is to time. We stand here in the House of as we do together in the Illinois delega- make sure that Illinois continues to Representatives and we debate issues tion. work to create the same and better op- that may seem important today, but, Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank portunities for the next generation. compared to what our great President Congressman DAVIS for those wonder- Personally, I am incredibly lucky to Abraham Lincoln and the Members of ful words regarding Illinois. I think we represent the 10th District of Illinois, Congress at the time leading up to our can agree there is enough Lincoln his- which stretches from the edges of Cook Civil War, the issues that they had to tory and heritage to go around to all of County all the way north along Lake discuss and they had to debate, I be- us. So I thank the gentleman for his Michigan to the borders of Wisconsin, lieve history has shown us that we will advocacy. from the lake all the way west to Fox never—and, hopefully, never ever—ex- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Lake. It is an incredible district. It is perience what those elected officials from Deerfield, Illinois (Mr. SCHNEI- one of the most thoughtful, engaged did in Lincoln’s time. DER), who represents many of the constituencies in all of Congress. But it took the courage of Abraham northwest suburbs and part of Cook My constituents reach out and talk Lincoln to actually keep our Nation to- County. to me about what matters, what they gether and keep the stability and the care about. They freely share their b 2015 growth of the great State of Illinois as opinions, and I welcome the oppor- part of this United States of America Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tunity to hear what is important, to for 200 years. His leadership and ability today to join my colleagues in hon- hear their priorities and values, and I to unite people is something I strive to oring our home, the great State of Illi- have the greatest privilege in my life do in Congress every day. nois, on its bicentennial anniversary of to represent them in this great body. We certainly have a diverse State, its statehood in 1813. What I hear about from my constitu- and I want to highlight some of the Over the next year, we are cele- ents is hope for the future, the belief things that Abraham Lincoln is prob- brating all that Illinois has contrib- that Illinois, Chicago, the 10th Dis- ably not known for. uted to American history, culture, in- trict, is going to lead this Nation. My Abe Lincoln actually was the inspira- novation, and more over the past 200 district is a district that focuses on tion for landmark legislation that he years. education because we know that edu- signed that created the Morrill Land- On December 3, 1818, Illinois became cating every one of our children, from Grant Acts that gave us land-grant the 21st State to join this Union. From kindergarten all the way through high universities, including the greatest humble beginnings with only 34,000 school, to college and even grad school, land-grant university that I joke with people, today, Illinois is the fifth most to making sure all of our kids have the my colleagues about from throughout populous State, with almost 13 million skills and lessons they need to succeed, this great Nation. The greatest land- people. Then a frontier prairie State, is the way we are going to continue to grant is the University of Illinois at Illinois now sits firmly at the center of lead in a global economy. Urbana-Champaign, which I am proud our national life, playing an indelible When it comes to economy, my dis- to have in my district. role in fueling, building, and trans- trict has the fourth largest concentra- As we move on to talk about impor- porting America’s rise. tion of manufacturing jobs of any dis- tant issues, I cannot leave this floor to- We are proud of our history as the trict in the entire country. We have in- night without talking about the impor- Land of Lincoln, where, arguably, our novation, we have manufacturing, we tance of agriculture in our home State greatest U.S. President began his ca- have transportation, because we know, of Illinois. This past August, U.S. Sec- reer, raised his family, and first ran for if we are going to grow our economy, retary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; office. we are going to invent things in Amer- chairman of the House Agriculture As we have talked about, Abraham ica, make them in America, and ship Committee, MIKE CONAWAY; and so Lincoln was not the only President them around the world; and Illinois many Members, including Congressman with roots in Illinois. President Grant and the 10th District of Illinois is lead- LAHOOD, Congresswoman BUSTOS, and and President Obama all called Illinois ing the way. others, joined me and other members of home, and President Reagan was the Our district has a great focus on the the House Agriculture Committee for a only President who was actually born environment. I have the privilege of farm bill listening session at the larg- in Illinois. representing the largest part of Lake est outdoor farm event in the country, Illinois is my home, too, and like Michigan in the Illinois delegation; the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Il- those Presidents, I wasn’t born in Illi- Lake Michigan that provides fresh

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.055 H18DEPT1 H10174 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 water to 30 million people. But Illi- could embrace all the opportunities of talked about how Illinois had wel- noisans know that we need to protect this great country. comed his family. And that is what Illi- our environment to invest in our fu- It wasn’t easy and there was strug- nois has done. It has welcomed individ- ture, to make sure that our children gle, but my family came to know that uals from all parts of the world. Indi- have clean air, fresh water, and a good, the American Dream of building a bet- viduals, large numbers of Puerto healthy future. That all comes out of ter life was possible because the people Ricans who came from Puerto Rico; Illinois. of Illinois made it so. Mexican Americans; individuals who For 200 years, Illinois has been a We had our challenges, but every- were immigrants; African Americans, place where people could achieve the thing changed for the better when my like myself, who migrated from the promise of a better future. Looking to father was offered a position as an en- rural South. the future, we will continue to succeed gineering professor in a mysterious No, I didn’t grow up in Illinois. I by offering high-quality education, place called Peoria, Illinois. They did wasn’t born in Illinois. As a matter of good, well-paying jobs, and a secure, not know where Peoria, Illinois, was at fact, I was born in Arkansas. Of course, dignified retirement for all our citi- the time. They unfurled the map, found it is the only State in the Bible that zens. out where Peoria was, packed the U- Noah looked over his ark and saw. I am proud to represent this great Haul in New York State, and started Large numbers of individuals from State. I am proud to have the privilege driving and driving and driving. They my State, from Mississippi, from Lou- to work with my colleagues on both made it to Peoria, but that was when isiana, from Texas, from Tennessee, sides of the aisle, fighting for the prior- the golden years in our family started. from Alabama, and from other places ities and values of Illinois. I am proud That is where they educated their two migrated to Illinois, and especially to of the history our State has provided; sons in wonderful public schools. That Chicago. of the example we have given not just is where they bought their first home. I have the opportunity to represent today, but for 200 years. 2018 is going to That is where they entered the middle what I consider to be the most fas- mark the 200th anniversary of the birth class. cinating piece of geography in North of the State of Illinois, but I know that Every night, my father would say America that is compressed into a po- our best days still lie ahead of us. I something at the dinner table along litical subdivision. My district begins know that, together, we are going to the lines of: Think of the greatness of at Lake Michigan. You can’t go any work to make our future solid and our this country and of Illinois, and make further east. It abuts the lake. It is kids’ opportunities secure. sure that the governments in both downtown Chicago. It is The Loop. It is Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank places are there for the next families the Magnificent Mile. It is Water Congressman SCHNEIDER for his very who need it. Tower Place. It is the future’s indus- complimentary words of his district My father began teaching. My broth- try. It is the big banks. It is home to and the State of Illinois. er and I went to school in Peoria, and corporate America. Major corporations Mr. Speaker, I next yield to the gen- Peoria became our home. More than have their headquarters in downtown tleman from the Illinois delegation, three decades have passed. My father is Chicago. Congressman RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, still teaching at Bradley University, But it also has more hospitals than one of our newest members whose and he and my mother still live in the any other single district in America, hometown is Schaumburg, Illinois, but house I grew up in. which means that it is a health mecca. his roots go downstate to Peoria, Illi- Though I went away for college, I al- It also has some of the first of the com- nois. We are proud to have him as a ways knew where I would be when it munity health centers, the federally Peorian. His parents live in my district was time to start my own family. My qualified health centers, that were or- as constituents. He has hit the ground wife, Priya, and I were married in Illi- ganized, the Mile Squares, the Near running here in Congress and is proud nois, and all three of our children are Norths, the Martin Luther Kings, Ac- of his Illinois roots both downstate and being raised there. It will always be cess Healths. now representing the suburbs of Chi- our home, for all the joys of the Cubs’ It is a fascinating place, but then a cago. wins and for all the challenges of its part of it is home to Ernest Heming- Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speak- winters. way. There are more Frank Lloyd er, I thank Congressman LAHOOD for As I look back on the opportunities Wright structures in my district in a organizing this Special Order. I am so my family had, that I have had, and place called Oak Park than any other honored to be a part of it. that my children will have, I will feel place in the world. As the Congressman mentioned, my an overwhelming sense of gratitude to With the exception of a few places, it name is RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, a Con- Illinois. is the museum capital of the Nation, gressman representing the great Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank every kind of entity. But the diversity Eighth District of Illinois, which are Congressman KRISHNAMOORTHI for of its people, some very wealthy indi- the west and northwest suburbs of Chi- those heartfelt words about Illinois. I viduals, but then the areas that were cago. appreciate those very, very much. devastated by the riots after the assas- I am proud to join my colleagues to- Mr. Speaker, next I yield to one of sination of Dr. Martin Luther King. night in celebrating Illinois’ bicenten- the deans of our delegation from the But some of the greatness of people nial—the 200th year—of statehood. city of Chicago, a strong advocate for like John H. Johnson, who started, de- There is something special in cele- our State and the city, Congressman veloped, and owned Johnson Publishing brating the anniversary of Illinois’ DANNY DAVIS. Company. Parker House Sausage. We entry into the Union, as it was the Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. don’t do a great deal of farming, but we State which produced the man who Speaker, first of all, I thank Represent- do a lot of other kinds of things, busi- would save it. ative LAHOOD for organizing this op- nesses like Ariel Capital, Loop Capital. I am proud to be from the Land of portunity for all of us from Illinois to Lincoln, but for all of its national and talk about the greatness of our State. b 2030 historic importance, my love of our We have had on the floor individuals These businesses provide an oppor- home State is also very personal. I did from very different parts of the State, tunity for others to interact. Great not have the honor of being born in Il- but Illinois has always had a reputa- people, I have had the good fortune to linois, but it is my home and always tion of having one of the most conge- just know a whole bunch of young ath- will be because our State welcomed my nial delegations in Congress any way letes: Isaiah Thomas, Kevin Garnett, family with open arms, as it has for so you cut it. We have always had that Doc Rivers, and Darryl Stingley. All of many others over the last 200 years. during the time that I have been here, these guys grew up in my district—not You see, I was born in New Delhi, and to be able to talk about the diver- just in Chicago, but in my district. India, and when I was 3 months old, my sity. I represent the Chicago Bulls. I rep- parents brought our family to the As Representative KRISHNAMOORTHI resent the Bears, the Black Hawks, and United States so my father could con- was making his comments, you could a little bit of the White Sox. Unfortu- tinue his education and our family hear the emotion in his voice as he nately, the Cubs are a little further

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.057 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10175 north where Congressman MIKE We look forward to celebrating over corporate profits are already histori- QUIGLEY is and represents, but we em- the next year. cally high, but corporations are not brace them also. I am proud to be born and raised in making investments in plants, re- President Barack Obama lived right the State of Illinois and that my wife search, and new technology to grow the at the edge of my district. and I are raising our three boys in Illi- economy. Chicago, Illinois, is filled with nois. We hope they stay and prosper in What we need is increased demand, inclusivity. Carol Moseley Braun was Illinois, and we look forward to this higher wages, returning dislocated the first African-American woman to next year of celebration for 200 years of workers to the economy, rebuilding be elected to the United States Senate Illinois being in this great Nation. aging cities, and rebuilding infrastruc- from the State of Illinois. Of course, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance ture to revitalize communities. The re- Barack Obama was also elected to the of my time. distribution of income away from low- Senate. Roland Burris was a member of f to high-income households reduces the Senate, and Abraham Lincoln. consumption spending, which reduces I grew up as a fan of Abraham Lin- GRADING THE GOP TAX PLAN demand. coln because of the role that he and Il- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under The bill will be disastrous to the linois played in the abolition of slav- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- work of charitable nonprofits, reducing ery. My mother was a great Abraham uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from Illi- charitable giving by $13 billion or Lincoln fan, so as a little boy, I knew nois (Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS) is recog- more, annually, destroying more than every story that you could think of nized for 60 minutes as the designee of 220,000 nonprofit jobs and impairing the about Abraham Lincoln. the minority leader. ability of nonprofits to address commu- The thing that I am most proud of, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. nity needs. though, is the inclusivity and the di- Speaker, it was really fun interacting Repatriating overseas corporate prof- versification of our State. with my colleagues and learning about it will stimulate the economy; that is Representative LAHOOD has rep- the great State in which we live and what we were told. U.S. multinationals resented and demonstrated what Illi- have the opportunity to represent. currently have $752 billion in taxes on nois is all about, and that is bringing But, Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to the $2.6 trillion in profits that they are all of us together to extol some of the vote on the GOP tax plan, I decided holding offshore. They have already virtues of our great State. I thank the that I would grade the bill and look a found creative ways to use those dol- gentleman for his leadership, and I little bit at the difference between lars here at home without paying thank the gentleman for his action. what has been promised and the reality taxes. Worse yet, the repatriation pro- Mr. LAHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank of what is in the final legislation. vision helps conceal the permanent and Congressman DAVIS for those wonder- We were told that there would be growing costs of tax provisions that ful words about the State of Illinois, middle class tax relief and that nobody would lose revenue over the next dec- its history, and the city of Chicago and in the middle class is going to get a tax ade. all his advocacy. increase. We have been looking for it, What is needed is linking tax breaks Mr. Speaker, in closing, as you can but instead, after 10 years, millions of to specific targeted investment here at see, each of our districts has played a middle class taxpayers will be paying home, such as the new market credit, role in not only shaping Illinois’ his- more, and the majority of the tax cuts which, as of the end of fiscal year 2016, tory, but that of the entire Nation and will go to the corporations and to the had generated $8 of private investment the whole world. Whether it is the busi- 1 percent. for every $1 of Federal funding; created ness hub of Chicago, the farmers We were told that it would eliminate 178 million square feet of manufac- turing, office, and retail space; and fi- downstate, or the many Main Street tax breaks for the wealthy and that nanced over 5,400 businesses. businesses in every city, Illinois’ influ- wealthy proponents of the bill will per- We were told that we were going to sonally take a hit from the GOP tax ence can be seen every day no matter be able to reduce health costs and plan—another failure. This bill and where you are. health insurance for everybody—failure That is why our bicentennial theme this plan violates every principle and again. The elimination of the penalty of ‘‘Born, Built, and Grown’’ is so ap- every tenet of economic justice. for people who go without health insur- The vast majority of the benefits go propriate. As 2018 begins and we con- ance will result in some 13 million tinue to get closer to our State’s birth- to the large corporations and the Americans losing their health insur- day on December 3, 2018, bicentennial wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. All ance. That includes more than 500,000 events all across Illinois will help us major tax breaks remain and many Illinois residents. recognize the important people and new ones have been added, including Healthcare premiums will rise by products that our State has to offer. the insidious new 20 percent deduction about 10 percent in most years, and for For example, a bicentennial beer has for so-called passthrough entities like the lowest income working families, already been judged and selected, hail- real estate developers and others. Be- with 10 million children under 17, there ing from the Hand of Fate Brewing cause of the fact that the new language will either be no improvement in their Company in Petersburg, Illinois, with- wasn’t in the bill passed by the House child tax credit or a token increase of in my congressional district. and Senate, floor amendments to $1 to $75. Low- and modest-income I encourage everyone to check out eliminate the provision will not be per- working families, with another 14 mil- the full list of events at mitted. lion children, will receive a child tax illinois200.com. I am sure I will be run- The alternative minimum tax, that credit increase of more than $75 but ning into many of my colleagues at safety net designed to thwart clever less than the full $1,000 per child in- several of them throughout the year as tax dodgers, is gone. The biological crease that families at higher income they happen across the State. heart of the Arctic National Wildlife levels would receive. While Illinois’ first 200 years have in- Refuge in Alaska is handed over to oil We were told that we were going to cluded both struggle and success, our companies for minimal return of Fed- be able to file our taxes on a postcard, State should be a point of pride for all eral tax dollars. simplify and reduce the size of the Tax of us. I think we heard that tonight. We were told that Social Security, Code. That is not going to happen. While we have accomplished so much, Medicare, and Medicaid would be pro- Final grade, corporations and the 1 as my colleagues and I have talked tected, that this was going to be a rev- percent—the wealthiest people in the about here tonight, there remains enue-neutral tax reform and that the country—will win, and the rest of soci- much to be done. Illinois remains on bill would pay for itself—failure again. ety will lose. the path of prosperity, and the hard The trillion-plus dollars in new deficit For me, Mr. Speaker, that is not an work and determination that the peo- spending will be blamed on these pro- acceptable result. I could never vote ple of Illinois are known for will surely grams, and pressure to cut them will for this bill, so count me out. I vote get us there. begin shortly after the new year. ‘‘no.’’ Mr. Speaker, I will just close by We were told that tax cuts will spur Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance wishing Illinois a happy early birthday. economic growth—again, failure. U.S. of my time.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.059 H18DEPT1 H10176 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 ISSUES OF THE DAY What the repeal of the individual More people—over 50 million, as I re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under mandate means is that we will help the call—signed up for food stamps. That the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Supreme Court in their ridiculous rul- has already dropped significantly under uary 3, 2017, the Chair recognizes the ing and the mental gymnastics that the policies of the current President. gentleman from Texas (Mr. GOHMERT) went into not calling it a tax at page 13 We are hoping that the policies that we for 30 minutes. or so, and then 40 pages later calling it will push through together with the Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I en- a tax. President will continue to have that ef- joyed hearing my friend from Illinois It is really pretty absurd, but it was fect. People will do better. There will first talking about the great State of a political decision. John Roberts was be more jobs. Illinois. It truly is. We appreciate all intimidated into believing that, if they With all of the ridicule of lowering the doctors who have been sent down struck down this unconstitutional bill, the corporate tax, if people will just be to Texas after we did tort reform and he would be deemed to be Chief Justice realistic and honest about it, corpora- Illinois continues to have significant over the most political Court. As a re- tions don’t pay corporate taxes. They problems. sult of what he did, he goes down in have to pass that on as a cost of doing We had had problems keeping doctors history as having the most political business to their customers, their cli- in Texas until the great State of Illi- Court since Dred Scott. It wasn’t quite ents, those who purchase their goods or nois ran into greater and greater mal- as bad as the Dred Scott decision. That services. They pass that 35 percent tax practice lawsuit problems. Texas did has got to be the worst. on. tort reform, and we started having doc- We know from history that some- I know that before the President got tors coming from places like Illinois to times they just get it wrong. We will elected, the current President, he had Texas, and we are doing much better. do the right thing by the American talked about maybe putting a tariff on The problem is, with health insur- people, and we will repeal the indi- Chinese goods. The fact is we have been ance, I heard my friend talk about 13 vidual mandate. Unfortunately, it is putting on a 35 percent tariff, the high- million who won’t have insurance, and not going to start for a year. est tariff anybody puts on its own I think, to be fair there, are so many I also heard my friend mention—and goods and services of all the industri- millions right now who are forced to do I have heard others say—that this bill alized nations. It is the biggest. the unthinkable. will end up putting most of the income If we knock that 35 percent down, in the hands of the top 1 percent. then it means our goods will be more b 2045 One of the great things about being competitive around the world. It means It is unconstitutional. The Supreme in Congress is you get to learn so much more jobs. It is going to be a great Court simply chose to become political if you are paying attention. thing for America. It really is. As in their decisionmaking rather than My friends can go back and look at much as some people despise the Presi- constitutional. You could pick nine YouTube and find President Obama, dent, like it or not, it is going to help people off the street at random and after being in office for a number of make America great again. probably six or seven out of the nine, years, admitting that, for the first Lower the corporate tax. I wish we after they heard the dispute and read time in American history, 95 percent of could have kept it at 15 percent. Appar- the Constitution, would find contrary the Nation’s income went to the top 1 ently, the powers of the leaders of the to the Supreme Court. percent income earners. It never hap- House and Senate, by a margin of two- We put so much magic, supposedly, pened before. to-one against the President wanting it in those black robes. Somehow, they But under the policies that do as at 15 percent, but at least we are get- are given more credibility than they President Obama said he was going to ting it lowered. That is going to mean ought to be. Thomas Jefferson thought do before he got elected—and that is more goods can be competitive abroad. that the judicial system would be the spread the wealth around—every time It means more jobs here. It means weakest of the three branches, but now somebody tries to spread the wealth more manufacturing back here. it pretty much controls everything. around—it is a socialist idea, a com- For those who have got their nose in Under ObamaCare, people are forced munist. But when you try to spread the the air and think we shouldn’t have to buy a product. For the first time in wealth around, it never seems to fail manufacturing in America, you go American history, you can be forced to that the richest, most powerful get around the world and see manufac- buy a product. If you didn’t, you would richer and more powerful. turing in other places and you see it be fined, punished, taxed. The Court You can go to the Soviet Union. here. It is about as clean a manufac- said, on one hand, it wasn’t a tax. There were a handful of people making turing company as you can have. This Therefore, the Court had jurisdiction. a lot of money, even over there now, is the best place for those jobs because Forty-some pages later, it said it is a under Putin. Of course, Putin gets rich- we do have to breathe the air that tax, so it is constitutional. er. But there were a handful of people China and India pollutes, which we are In any event, people have been forced who get rich and most of the people cleaning up, but not near fast enough to buy a product and they have paid for don’t. Most of the people bring in about because they are polluting it so much. as cheap a policy as they could get the same amount of income, but they Fortunately, the President withdrew away with, but the deductibles were so don’t have access to the same benefits. from the so-called climate accord. The high. I have heard this over and over Anyway, we are going to move in a reason all these other countries wanted hundreds of times in my own district. direction away from what President the United States in is because we were They were buying insurance they will Obama’s policies established, and that the ones that were going to send never be able to use. The deductibles was, as a fact, 95 percent of the Na- checks to all the other countries. We are so high, they don’t have that kind tion’s income is going to the top 1 per- were going to pay guilt money. We of money. cent. We want to get away from that. have no guilt to pay for. So what the repeal of the individual Reforming the Tax Code and getting In fact, this is the country that is mandate is going to mean is that peo- away from the punishing days of Presi- helping clean up the air and water, un- ple can still buy the insurance if they dent Obama’s policies will allow the like other large nations in the world. want to. They are not going to be pe- working class to do better for the first They owe us a check, if somebody is nalized if they don’t buy it. time in years. They have been flat- going to be owing checks for the But in order for ObamaCare to work, lined or less when adjusted for infla- amount of pollution. It should mean a it is stealing from Peter to pay Paul. tion. It is time they did better. better economy. In other words, young people, for exam- The tax bill we should take up to- There is one other thing that se- ple, were having to buy insurance they morrow will end up doing that. It will verely hurt our country under the past would never use because they would get money into the hands of the work- administration. have the deductible. But they did the ing poor, the middle class. We saw the I am not normally a big fan of Politi- calculation: Do I pay more if I pay for middle class shrink under President co’s articles, but this is a fascinating the insurance or do I pay more if I pay Obama; the poor got poorer, the one that calls itself: ‘‘The Secret the extra income tax? Then they make ultrarich got ultraricher, and the mid- Backstory of How Obama Let that decision. dle class shrunk. Hezbollah Off the Hook.’’

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.061 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10177 Hezbollah is recognized as a terrorist as they got hooked on worse and worse nity in America because they are not organization. This is entitled: ‘‘The Se- drugs. The answer of the Obama admin- worried about them blowing up inno- cret Backstory of How Obama Let istration, according to this article, was cent people, to the extent they appar- Hezbollah Off the Hook.’’ throwing an increasingly unsurmount- ently were before Mueller came along. Part one starts with a ‘‘Global able series of roadblocks in the way of In any event, back to this article: Threat Emerges. How Hezbollah turned those investigating Hezbollah and the ‘‘The Justice Department declined to trafficking cocaine and laundering evil infliction of harm they were doing requests by Project Cassandra and money through used cars to finance its to America. other authorities to file criminal expansion. charges against major players such as b 2100 ‘‘In its determination to secure a nu- Hezbollah’s high-profile envoy to Iran, clear deal with Iran, the Obama admin- The article goes on: a Lebanese bank that allegedly istration derailed an ambitious law en- ‘‘ . . . according to interviews with laundered billions in alleged drug prof- forcement campaign targeting drug dozens of participants, who, in many its, and a central player in a U.S.-based trafficking by the Iranian-backed ter- cases, spoke for the first time about cell of the Iranian paramilitary Quds rorist group Hezbollah, even as it was events shrouded in secrecy, and a re- Force. And the State Department re- funneling cocaine into the United view of government documents and jected requests to lure high-value tar- States, according to a Politico inves- court records. When Project Cassandra gets to countries where they could be tigation. leaders sought approval for some sig- arrested.’’ ‘‘The campaign, dubbed Project Cas- nificant investigations, prosecutions, So the Justice Department—during sandra, was launched in 2008 after the arrests, and financial sanctions, offi- that period, of course—would have been Drug Enforcement Administration cials at the Justice and Treasury De- Eric Holder. I believe I saw him in the amassed evidence that Hezbollah had partments delayed, hindered, or re- news recently. He had forgotten how he transformed itself from a Middle East- jected their requests.’’ was in contempt of Congress, how he focused military and political organi- That would be Bob Mueller at the covered up—obfuscated—crimes that zation into an international crime syn- FBI. He had already purged the FBI appeared to be occurring under his dicate that some investigators believed training materials so that FBI agents, watch. And now we find out, just days was collecting $1 billion a year from as they came in, would not know what after his high-profile blasting of what drug and weapons trafficking, money questions to ask. So when they went was going on here, trying to get to the laundering, and other criminal activi- out to interview Tsarnaev, after we got truth, it turns out he was obfuscating, ties.’’ a heads up that he was a terrorist—he just like we found he was doing, hin- So, that was 2008, during the Bush ad- had been radicalized—those FBI agents dering and obstructing justice. ministration, with Robert Mueller as didn’t know what to ask. We really needed a special counsel to head of the FBI. Why? investigate him. But, of course, he was This points out: ‘‘Over the next 8 Because Bob Mueller purged the not going to have a special counsel in- years’’—that would be as we went into training material. So they didn’t know vestigate himself, nor was Loretta the Obama administration, 2009— what to ask. They didn’t know what to Lynch going to allow a special counsel agents working out of a top-secret DEA look for in a radical Islamist. They to investigate Eric Holder and Loretta facility in Chantilly, Virginia, used went and asked his mother, and she Lynch. We still need one to investigate wiretaps, undercover operations, and said: No, he is a good boy. He is not a both of them. And the more we find informants to map Hezbollah’s illicit terrorist. out, the more it points to this des- networks, with the help of 30 U.S. and There were people who died because perate need. foreign security agencies. of Bob Mueller purging the FBI train- It has this in the article from Decem- ‘‘They followed cocaine shipments, ing materials; so they didn’t even know ber 15, 2011: some from Latin America to West Afri- what they were looking for. ‘‘Hezbollah is linked to a $483,142,568 ca and on to Europe and the Middle And when I was cross-examining him laundering scheme. The money, alleg- East, and others through Venezuela before our committee, I said: ‘‘You edly laundered through the Lebanese and Mexico to the United States. They didn’t even go out to the mosque where Canadian Bank and two exchange tracked the river of dirty cash as it they attended to investigate them.’’ He houses, involved approximately 30 U.S. was laundered by, among other tactics, indicated that they did go out to the car buyers.’’ buying American used cars and ship- mosque in their outreach program, Then it goes on and shows in the arti- ping them to Africa. And with the help where they sit down and play ‘‘Pat-a- cle, from the Southern District of New of some key cooperating witnesses, the Cake,’’ share a meal, and the last thing York, U.S. Attorney’s Office: agents traced the conspiracy, they be- they do would be to inquire about one ‘‘Manhattan U.S. Attorney Files lieved, to the innermost circle of of the mosque attendees being Civil Money Laundering and Forfeiture Hezbollah and its state sponsors in radicalized. They didn’t bother to do Suit Seeking More Than $480 Million Iran.’’ that. They were too busy making From Entities Including Lebanese Fi- It is rather ironic. I got in the car a merry in their outreach program. nancial Institutions That Facilitated a moment ago and heard my good friend, He also testified on one occasion that Hezbollah-Related Money Laundering Mark Levin. Apparently, he had read the Islamic community is like every Scheme’’ part of this story on the air and had a other religious community in America; ‘‘ ‘This was a policy decision, it was a call from a person they didn’t fully and they had this wonderful outreach systematic decision,’ said David Asher, identify who was one of these agents program with them, and it is working who helped establish and oversee who was helping track what Hezbollah so well. Project Cassandra as a Defense Depart- was doing. So I asked a question: ‘‘Well, you ment illicit finance analyst. ‘They seri- The article says: ‘‘But as Project said the Islamic community is like ally ripped apart this entire effort that Cassandra reached higher into the hier- every other community in America, was very well supported and resourced, archy of conspiracy, Obama adminis- and you have this wonderful outreach and it was done from the top down.’ ’’ tration officials threw an increasingly program with them, so let me ask you: That would be from President insurmountable series of roadblocks in How is your outreach program going Obama, it would be from Eric Holder, its way.’’ with the Buddhists, and the Jewish, and it would be from Bob Mueller. Parenthetically here, so the Obama and the Baptists, and all of these other Bob Mueller should have been honest administration had found that communities?’’ and sincere enough when he was asked Hezbollah was massively producing and Well, they don’t have an outreach to be special counsel, and should have getting into the United States drugs program to any except the Islamic said: I am probably going to be inves- that were addicting American young community. So that told me then: this tigated myself. I am not in a position people—well, of all ages, but especially isn’t just like every other community. to be the investigator. our young, our future—making a bil- They don’t have outreach communities Because he certainly should be inves- lion dollars or so, and they were dying through every other religious commu- tigated. And this is one more story.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.063 H18DEPT1 H10178 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 ‘‘The untold story of Project Cas- ‘‘The money was a loan from Dr. Ali the Hill. Who knows. Maybe he did. sandra illustrates the immense dif- al-Attar, an Iraqi political figure, and Maybe that was part of the payoff as ficulty in mapping and countering il- was funneled through a company with well. licit networks in an age where global ‘impossible’-to-decipher financial ‘‘Abid had ‘100 percent’ of the dealer- terrorism, drug trafficking, and orga- transactions that the congressional in- ship, a one-time business partner said nized crime have merged, but also the formation technology, IT, staffers con- in court documents, in addition to his extent to which competing agendas trolled. $165,000-a-year job working full-time among government agencies—and ‘‘Imran Awan, ringleader of the for multiple representatives. . . .’’ shifting priorities at the highest lev- group that includes his brothers Abid Mr. Speaker, this story Politico has els—can set back years of progress.’’ and Jamal, has provided IT services run seems to have a lot of parallels to And that is exactly what happened since 2005 for Florida Democrat Rep- what was going on right here in the under Bob Mueller and President resentative DEBBIE WASSERMAN House that needs further investigation. Obama’s administration. SCHULTZ, the former Democratic Na- Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance And this 56-page article appears very tional Committee, DNC, chairwoman. of my time. well documented, and it actually ap- The brothers are from Pakistan. f pears well done. It has John Brennan in ‘‘The trio also worked for dozens of here creating problems for the inves- other House Democrats, including RECESS tigation into the drugging and laun- members of the Intelligence, Foreign dering of money to help finance ter- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Affairs, and Homeland Security Com- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair rorist operations. mittees. Those positions likely gave And one part of this is they killed declares the House in recess subject to them access to congressional emails the call of the Chair. this investigation. They were afraid it and other sensitive documents. would prevent the Iran agreement from Accordingly (at 9 o’clock and 15 min- ‘‘The brothers, whose access to House utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. going forward. Well, it didn’t go for- IT networks has been terminated, are ward. It was never constitutionally under criminal investigation by the f ratified. The Corker bill was just that: U.S. Capitol Police.’’ b 2304 it was a bill. It could not turn the Con- ‘‘Investigators found that congres- stitution upside down, as it attempted sional information was being copied to AFTER RECESS to do. an off-site server and they suspect the The recess having expired, the House The Constitution makes clear that it brothers of improperly accessing infor- was called to order by the Speaker pro takes two-thirds of the Senate to ratify mation and stealing congressional tempore (Mr. WOODALL) at 11 o’clock a treaty. It doesn’t matter what the property. Chiefs of staff for the em- and 4 minutes p.m. bill says; it will only take one-third to ploying Democrats were notified Feb- f ratify a treaty. It doesn’t work that ruary 2. way. If you want that to be the law, it ‘‘Soon after Imran began working for REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- takes a constitutional amendment to Members of Congress, Imran’s and VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF do that. We didn’t have one. Therefore, Abid’s wives—Hina Alvi and Natalia CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, it took two-thirds to ratify, and the Sova—also began receiving congres- TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT; PRO- Iranian agreement is still not ratified. sional paychecks, the DCNF found. But, nonetheless, though it wasn’t VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF Imran’s employers included two mem- ratified, it didn’t keep the President H.R. 3312, SYSTEMIC RISK DES- bers of the Intelligence Committee. from sending $100 billion or so in dol- IGNATION IMPROVEMENT ACT ... lars over to Iran. We know Iran is the OF 2017; AND FOR OTHER PUR- ‘‘By 2009, the family was simulta- largest producer of IEDs in Iraq. POSES neously managing a full-time car deal- As I sat at the funeral of this pre- Mr. SESSIONS, from the Committee ership in Virginia, with Abid running cious, young 20-year-old gentleman, on Rules, submitted a privileged report day-to-day operations after contrib- who went to my daughter’s high (Rept. No. 115–474) on the resolution (H. uting $250,000 in startup cash. It was school, Alex Missildine, killed by an Res. 667) providing for consideration of called Cars International A, LLC, re- IED, I just sat there going: I wonder if the conference report to accompany ferred to as ‘‘CIA’’ in court docu- the money President Obama sent paid the bill (H.R. 1) to provide for rec- ments.’’ for the production of the IED that onciliation pursuant to titles II and V Cars International A, referred to as killed our precious Alex? of the concurrent resolution on the CIA. Isn’t it clever. It has been paid. It is paying for budget for fiscal year 2018; providing ‘‘Imran boasted unusual clout among something. We know that Iran is using for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3312) House Democrats, and was even pic- it—Certainly part of their military op- to amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street tured conversing with former President erations are continuing to kill Ameri- Reform and Consumer Protection Act Bill Clinton. After Rao Abbas, who was cans in other places. to specify when bank holding compa- owed money by the dealership, threat- Yet you had Project Cassandra that nies may be subject to certain en- ened to sue amid allegations of decep- was closing in on Hezbollah, closing in hanced supervision, and for other pur- tion and theft, Abbas appeared on the on the drug production, drug sales, the poses; and for other purposes, which congressional payroll and received laundering of money through the used was referred to the House Calendar and $250,000 in taxpayer payments.’’ car, shipping used cars around. And ordered to be printed. then, lo and behold, a reminder of what Incredible. You owe somebody for an has happened right here on Capitol Hill illicit car dealership, and you can’t f pay. Just put them on the House em- that Luke Rosiak has been pursuing. LEAVE OF ABSENCE Here is an article from February 20, ployee system; and they will be on the 2017, from the Daily Caller, entitled: congressional payroll, and you can pay By unanimous consent, leave of ab- ‘‘House Dem IT Guys In Security Probe off $250,000. That must have been a sence was granted to: Secretly Took $100,000 in Iraqi Money,’’ heck of a percentage, though. They Mrs. NAPOLITANO (at the request of from a Hezbollah tie. borrowed $100,000 from this guy with Ms. PELOSI) for today. The article says: Hezbollah contact, and they have to Ms. MCCOLLUM (at the request of Ms. ‘‘Rogue congressional staffers took pay him back $250,000. Of course, in PELOSI) for today on account of official $100,000 from an Iraqi politician while their case, they were very fortunate, business in district. they had administrator-level access to because they did it with the House pay- f the House of Representatives’ com- roll. There is no evidence that Mr. puter network, according to court doc- Abbas ever lifted a finger to do any JOINT RESOLUTION PRESENTED uments examined by The Daily Caller work, and for good reason. We wouldn’t TO THE PRESIDENT News Foundation’s Investigative want him involved in all of the inner Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, Group. workings of our computer systems on reported that on December 8, 2017, she

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:39 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18DE7.064 H18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H10179 presented to the President of the Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to a commercial motor vehicle in committing a United States, for his approval, the fol- the Committee on Transportation and Infra- felony involving human trafficking (Rept. lowing joint resolution: structure. 115–468). Referred to the Committee of the 3425. A letter from the Management and Whole House on the state of the Union. H.J. Res. 123. Making further continuing Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Mr. WALDEN: Committee on Energy and appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Commerce. H.R. 2465. A bill to amend title other purposes. ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- XVIII of the Social Security Act to make f tives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes [Docket permanent the removal of the rental cap for No.: FAA-2017-0712; Product Identifier 2017- durable medical equipment under the Medi- ADJOURNMENT NM-014-AD; Amendment 39-19095; AD 2017-23- care program with respect to speech gener- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I move 01] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received December 14, ating devices (Rept. 115–469, Pt. 1). Referred that the House do now adjourn. 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public to the Committee of the Whole House on the The motion was agreed to; accord- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the state of the Union. Committee on Transportation and Infra- Mr. BISHOP of Utah: Committee on Nat- ingly (at 11 o’clock and 5 minutes structure. ural Resources. H.R. 1350. A bill to modify p.m.), under its previous order, the 3426. A letter from the Management and the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in House adjourned until tomorrow, Tues- Program Analyst, FAA, Department of the State of Minnesota, and for other pur- day, December 19, 2017, at 9 a.m. for Transportation, transmitting the Depart- poses (Rept. 115–470). Referred to the Com- morning-hour debate. ment’s final rule — Standard Instrument Ap- mittee of the Whole House on the state of proach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums the Union. f and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Mis- Mr. SMITH of Texas: Committee on EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, cellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31162; Science, Space, and Technology. H.R. 4375. A ETC. Amdt. No.: 3772] received December 14, 2017, bill to provide for a study on broadening par- pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law ticipation in certain National Science Foun- Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- dation research and education programs, to communications were taken from the mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- collect data on Federal research grants to Speaker’s table and referred as follows: ture. science agencies, and for other purposes 3420. A letter from the Management and 3427. A letter from the Management and (Rept. 115–471). Referred to the Committee of Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Program Analyst, FAA, Department of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Mr. SMITH of Texas: Committee on ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- ment’s final rule — Standard Instrument Ap- Science, Space, and Technology. H.R. 4254. A tives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes [Docket proach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums bill to amend the National Science Founda- No.: FAA-2017-1023; Product Identifier 2017- and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Mis- tion Authorization Act of 2002 to strengthen NM-144-AD; Amendment 39-19104; AD 2017-23- cellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31163; the aerospace workforce pipeline by the pro- 10] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received December 14, Amdt. No.: 3773] received December 14, 2017, motion of Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law Program and National Aeronautics and Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- Space Administration internship and fellow- Committee on Transportation and Infra- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- ship opportunities to women, and for other structure. ture. purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 115–472). 3421. A letter from the Management and 3428. A letter from the Management and Referred to the Committee of the Whole Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Program Analyst, FAA, Department of House on the state of the Union. Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Mr. SMITH of Texas: Committee on ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- ment’s final rule — Standard Instrument Ap- Science, Space, and Technology. H.R. 4323. A tives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines proach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums bill to promote veteran involvement in [Docket No.: FAA-2017-0816; Product Identi- and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Mis- STEM education, computer science, and sci- fier 2017- NE-29-AD; Amendment 39-19093; AD cellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31161; entific research, and for other purposes 2017-22-13] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received Decem- Amdt. No.: 3771] received December 14, 2017, (Rept. 115–473). Referred to the Committee of ber 14, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law the Whole House on the state of the Union. Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- Mr. SESSIONS: Committee on Rules. the Committee on Transportation and Infra- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- House Resolution 667. A resolution providing structure. ture. for consideration of the conference report to 3422. A letter from the Management and 3429. A letter from the Management and accompany the bill (H.R. 1) to provide for Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Program Analyst, FAA, Department of reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of Transportation, transmitting the Depart- Transportation, transmitting the Depart- the concurrent resolution on the budget for ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- ment’s final rule — Standard Instrument Ap- fiscal year 2018; providing for consideration tives; General Electric Company Turbofan proach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums of the bill (H.R. 3312) to amend the Dodd- Engines [Docket No.: FAA-2017-1000; Product and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Mis- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Identifier 2017-NE-36-AD; Amendment 39- cellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31164; Protection Act to specify when bank holding 19100; AD 2017-23-06] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received Amdt. No.: 3774] received December 14, 2017, companies may be subject to certain en- December 14, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law hanced supervision, and for other purposes; 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- and for other purposes (Rept. 115–474). Re- Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transpor- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- ferred to the House Calendar. tation and Infrastructure. ture. DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE 3423. A letter from the Management and f Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XIII, the Com- Program Analyst, FAA, Department of mittee on Ways and Means discharged from Transportation, transmitting the Depart- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON further consideration. H.R. 2465 referred to ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS the Committee of the Whole House on the tives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type Cer- Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of state of the Union. tificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aero- committees were delivered to the Clerk f space GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Airplanes [Docket for printing and reference to the proper PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS calendar, as follows: No.: FAA-2016-9568; Product Identifier 2016- Under clause 2 of rule XII, public NM-150-AD; Amendment 39-19077; AD 2017-21- Mr. SHUSTER: Committee on Transpor- bills and resolutions of the following 06] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received December 14, tation and Infrastructure. H.R. 3813. A bill to 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public designate a human trafficking prevention co- titles were introduced and severally re- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the ordinator and to expand the scope of activi- ferred, as follows: Committee on Transportation and Infra- ties authorized under the Federal Motor Car- By Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania: structure. rier Safety Administration’s outreach and H.R. 4666. A bill to amend the Public 3424. A letter from the Management and education program to include human traf- Health Service Act to provide for a Patient Program Analyst, FAA, Department of ficking prevention activities, and for other and State Stability Fund; to the Committee Transportation, transmitting the Depart- purposes (Rept. 115–467). Referred to the on Energy and Commerce. ment’s final rule — Airworthiness Direc- Committee of the Whole House on the state By Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN: tives; Engine Alliance Turbofan Engines of the Union. H.R. 4667. A bill making further supple- [Docket No.: FAA-2017-0988; Product Identi- Mr. SHUSTER: Committee on Transpor- mental appropriations for the fiscal year fier 2017-NE-37-AD; Amendment 39-19097; AD tation and Infrastructure. H.R. 3814. A bill to ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assist- 2017-23-03] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received Decem- disqualify from operating a commercial ance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and ber 14, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); motor vehicle for life an individual who uses Maria, and calendar year 2017 wildfires, and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.018 H18DEPT1 H10180 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 18, 2017 for other purposes; to the Committee on Ap- By Ms. NORTON: Congress has the power to enact this legis- propriations, and in addition to the Com- H.R. 4678. A bill to permit the District of lation pursuant to the following: mittee on the Budget, for a period to be sub- Columbia to make payments pursuant to Article I, Section 8, Clause 18: To make all sequently determined by the Speaker, in contingency fee arrangements entered into laws which shall be necessary and proper for each case for consideration of such provi- by the Attorney General of the District of carrying into execution the foregoing pow- sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the Columbia for the provision of legal services ers, and all other powers vested by this Con- committee concerned. in claims and other legal mattes affecting stitution in the Government of the United By Mr. CHABOT (for himself and Ms. the interests of the District of Columbia, and States or in any Department or Officer VELA´ ZQUEZ): for other purposes; to the Committee on thereof. H.R. 4668. A bill to amend the Small Busi- Oversight and Government Reform. By Mr. DUFFY: ness Act to provide for the establishment of By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. H.R. 4671. a enhanced cybersecurity assistance and pro- REICHERT): Congress has the power to enact this legis- tections for small businesses, and for other H.R. 4679. A bill to amend title XVIII of the lation pursuant to the following: purposes; to the Committee on Small Busi- Social Security Act to provide for improve- Article I, Section 8 ness. ments to coverage and payment under the By Ms. ESHOO: By Mr. COHEN (for himself and Mr. Medicare program for new drugs, devices, H.R. 4672. JONES): and technology; to the Committee on Ways Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 4669. A bill to ensure independent in- and Means, and in addition to the Committee lation pursuant to the following: vestigations by allowing judicial review of on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 the removal of a special counsel, and for subsequently determined by the Speaker, in By Ms. ESTY of Connecticut: other purposes; to the Committee on the Ju- each case for consideration of such provi- H.R. 4673. diciary. sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the Congress has the power to enact this legis- By Mr. CONNOLLY (for himself and committee concerned. lation pursuant to the following: Mr. KATKO): By Mr. POLIS: Congress has the authority to enact this H.R. 4670. A bill to amend title 38, United H. Con. Res. 97. Concurrent resolution Di- legislation pursuant to Article I, Section States Code, to provide authority for certain recting the Clerk of the House of Representa- VIII of the U.S. Constitution. members of the Armed Forces to transfer en- tives to make corrections in the enrollment By Mrs. LOVE: titlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assist- of H.R. 1; to the Committee on Ways and H.R. 4674. ance to their dependents; to the Committee Means, and in addition to the Committee on Congress has the power to enact this legis- on Veterans’ Affairs. House Administration, for a period to be sub- lation pursuant to the following: By Mr. DUFFY (for himself and Mr. sequently determined by the Speaker, in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. WELCH): each case for consideration of such provi- By Mr. MARSHALL: H.R. 4671. A bill to assist and incentivize sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the H.R. 4675. organic agriculture by expanding its access committee concerned. Congress has the power to enact this legis- to, and eligibility for, Federal rural develop- f lation pursuant to the following: ment and agricultural loan programs; to the To make all Laws which shall be necessary Committee on Agriculture. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY and proper for carrying into Execution the By Ms. ESHOO (for herself, Mr. PAL- STATEMENT foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vest- LONE, and Mrs. TORRES): ed by this Constitution in the Government of H.R. 4672. A bill to further deployment of Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representa- the United States, or in any Department or Next Generation 9-1-1 services to enhance Officer thereof. and upgrade the Nation’s 9-1-1 systems, and tives, the following statements are sub- By Mr. MCCAUL: for other purposes; to the Committee on En- mitted regarding the specific powers H.R. 4676. ergy and Commerce, and in addition to the granted to Congress in the Constitu- Congress has the power to enact this legis- Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- tion to enact the accompanying bill or lation pursuant to the following: nology, for a period to be subsequently deter- joint resolution. Article I, section 8, clause 1; and Article I, mined by the Speaker, in each case for con- By Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania: section 8, clause 18 of the Constitution of the sideration of such provisions as fall within United States the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. H.R. 4666. Congress has the power to enact this legis- By Mr. MOULTON: By Ms. ESTY of Connecticut (for her- H.R. 4677. self, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mrs. MIMI WAL- lation pursuant to the following: Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Congress has the power to enact this legis- TERS of California, and Mrs. BUSTOS): lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 4673. A bill to create opportunities for Constitution. Article I, Section 8 of the United States women in the aviation industry; to the Com- By Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN: Constitution. mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- H.R. 4667. By Ms. NORTON: ture. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 4678. By Mrs. LOVE: lation pursuant to the following: Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 4674. A bill to amend the Congres- The principal constitutional authority for lation pursuant to the following: sional Accountability Act of 1995 to require this legislation is clause 7 of section 9 of ar- clause 17 of section 8 of article I of the Members of Congress to reimburse the Treas- ticle I of the Constitution of the United Constitution. ury for payments of awards and settlements States (the appropriation power), which By Mr. REED: under such Act which are made in connec- states: ‘‘No Money shall be drawn from the H.R. 4679. tion with claims of sexual harassment com- Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropria- Congress has the power to enact this legis- mitted by the Members, and for other pur- tions made by Law. . . .’’ In addition, clause lation pursuant to the following: poses; to the Committee on House Adminis- 1 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 tration. (the spending power) provides: ‘‘The Con- By Mr. MARSHALL (for himself, Mr. gress shall have the Power . . . to pay the f Debts and provide for the common Defence LIPINSKI, Mr. SMITH of Texas, and Mr. ADDITIONAL SPONSORS WEBER of Texas): and general Welfare of the United States. H.R. 4675. A bill to amend the Energy Pol- . . .’’ Together, these specific constitutional Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors icy Act of 2005 to provide for a low-dose radi- provisions establish the congressional power were added to public bills and resolu- ation basic research program; to the Com- of the purse, granting Congress the author- tions, as follows: mittee on Science, Space, and Technology. ity to appropriate funds, to determine their By Mr. MCCAUL: purpose, amount, and period of availability, H.R. 173: Mrs. LAWRENCE. H.R. 4676. A bill to direct the Secretary of and to set forth terms and conditions gov- H.R. 233: Ms. JAYAPAL. the Treasury to prescribe regulations to ex- erning their use. H.R. 389: Ms. JAYAPAL. pand sanctions against persons owned or By Mr. CHABOT: H.R. 502: Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois controlled by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard H.R. 4668. and Mr. DENT. Corps, and for other purposes; to the Com- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 620: Mr. GAETZ, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. mittee on Foreign Affairs. lation pursuant to the following: PITTENGER, Mr. BIGGS, Mr. BUDD, Mr. ROSS, By Mr. MOULTON (for himself and Mr. Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution and Mr. MEADOWS. KELLY of Mississippi): By Mr. COHEN: H.R. 681: Mr. BIGGS and Mr. HOLDING. H.R. 4677. A bill to improve certain pro- H.R. 4669. H.R. 719: Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. WILLIAMS, grams of the Small Business Administration Congress has the power to enact this legis- Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, and Mrs. BLACK- to better assist small business customers in lation pursuant to the following: BURN. accessing broadband technology, and for Article I, section 8, clauses 9 and 18 H.R. 809: Mr. POE of Texas. other purposes; to the Committee on Small By Mr. CONNOLLY: H.R. 858: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Business. H.R. 4670. H.R. 881: Mr. RUIZ and Mr. CICILLINE.

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H.R. 909: Ms. ESHOO. H.R. 3605: Mr. POLIQUIN. H.R. 4240: Mr. DOGGETT. H.R. 1159: Mr. FASO and Mr. SMITH of H.R. 3635: Mr. FLORES. H.R. 4242: Mr. EMMER. Texas. H.R. 3730: Mr. RENACCI. H.R. 4253: Mr. RASKIN and Mr. CICILLINE. H.R. 1225: Ms. SHEA-PORTER and Ms. H.R. 3759: Mr. CICILLINE, Mrs. BLACK, Mr. H.R. 4265: Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. BROWNLEY of California. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. YODER, Mr. H.R. 4319: Mr. FLORES. H.R. 1243: Ms. HANABUSA. CA´ RDENAS, and Miss RICE of New York. H.R. 4323: Ms. ESTY of Connecticut. H.R. 1251: Mr. CRIST. H.R. 3767: Ms. PINGREE and Ms. LOFGREN. H.R. 4327: Mr. ROSS. H.R. 1299: Ms. TSONGAS. H.R. 3773: Ms. PINGREE and Ms. DELAURO. H.R. 4426: Mr. ELLISON. H.R. 1528: Mr. ELLISON and Ms. SHEA-POR- H.R. 3866: Mr. RUIZ. H.R. 4427: Mr. BISHOP of Michigan. H.R. 3976: Mr. BERA, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. TER. H.R. 4429: Mr. MITCHELL. MOONEY of West Virginia, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. H.R. 1606: Mr. ESTES of Kansas. H.R. 4444: Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. LARSEN of BLUM, and Mr. RUSH. H.R. 1783: Ms. DELAURO, Ms. WILSON of Washington, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Mrs. WATSON H.R. 3990: Mr. STEWART and Mr. CURTIS. Florida, Mr. JONES, and Mr. MCGOVERN. COLEMAN. H.R. 1815: Mr. CUMMINGS. H.R. 3994: Mr. O’HALLERAN. H.R. 4459: Mr. FASO. H.R. 1861: Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. H.R. 4007: Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BLUNT H.R. 4473: Mr. PETERS and Mr. BYRNE. H.R. 1874: Mr. RYAN of Ohio. ROCHESTER, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. H.R. 4474: Ms. BARRAGA´ N and Mr. SIRES. H.R. 1905: Mr. CLAY. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, H.R. 4541: Ms. DELBENE, Mr. DAVID SCOTT H.R. 2016: Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. COHEN, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. of Georgia, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. MCNERNEY, H.R. 2045: Mr. RUIZ. DELAURO, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. MICHAEL F. Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, and Ms. FRANKEL of H.R. 2079: Mr. CRIST. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. AL Florida. H.R. 2152: Mrs. ROBY and Mr. COLLINS of GREEN of Texas, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. JEFFRIES, H.R. 4545: Mr. LUCAS. Georgia. Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. H.R. 4546: Mr. GOTTHEIMER. H.R. 2219: Mr. GOTTHEIMER. KILDEE, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Mrs. H.R. 4547: Mr. CURBELO of Florida, Mr. PAS- H.R. 2234: Mr. BOST and Mr. THOMPSON of LAWRENCE, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. LOF- CRELL, and Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Pennsylvania. GREN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. SEAN PATRICK HERMAN H.R. 2475: Ms. PINGREE. MALONEY of New York, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. H.R. 4548: Mr. S . H.R. 2526: Mr. WALZ. MCEACHIN, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. QUIGLEY, Ms. H.R. 4565: Mr. COFFMAN and Mr. TURNER. H.R. 2641: Mr. RUIZ. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, H.R. 4585: Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. H.R. 2740: Mr. MEEKS, Ms. ESHOO, Mrs. Mr. WELCH, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, and Mr. LAWRENCE, Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina, CICILLINE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. NEAL. Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. ESHOO, Ms. GABBARD, Ms. LEE, Mr. RUIZ, and H.R. 4608: Mr. GRIJALVA. CICILLINE, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Mr. SMITH of Washington. H.R. 4613: Mr. FLORES. Pennsylvania. H.R. 4044: Mrs. COMSTOCK and Mr. COSTA. H.R. 4636: Mr. GOMEZ. H.R. 2790: Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, H.R. 4082: Mr. SHERMAN. H.R. 4661: Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. DUNN, Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, and Ms. ESHOO. H.R. 4143: Mr. SOTO, Mr. PERLMUTTER, and Mr. MARSHALL, Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of Cali- H.R. 2832: Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. DUNCAN of Ms. NORTON. fornia, Mr. KINZINGER, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. South Carolina, Mr. DESANTIS, and Mr. GOH- H.R. 4147: Mr. FITZPATRICK. SMITH of New Jersey, and Mr. HIGGINS of MERT. H.R. 4179: Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. Louisiana. H.R. 3010: Ms. KELLY of Illinois. MEEKS, Mr. GUTIE´ RREZ, and Mr. GOMEZ. H. J. Res. 120: Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. H.R. 3127: Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. H.R. 4190: Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER and Mr. H. Res. 15: Mr. BILIRAKIS and Mr. GONZALEZ H.R. 3128: Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. POLIQUIN. of Texas. H.R. 3222: Ms. PINGREE. H.R. 4207: Ms. DEGETTE. H. Res. 220: Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. RASKIN, and H.R. 3282: Ms. TENNEY and Mr. ESTES of H.R. 4229: Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania, Mr. GROTHMAN. Kansas. Mr. STEWART, Mr. EMMER, and Mr. BISHOP of H. Res. 256: Mr. STIVERS. H.R. 3330: Mr. DESJARLAIS. Utah. H. Res. 495: Mr. FORTENBERRY. H.R. 3415: Mr. DONOVAN. H.R. 4238: Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. H. Res. 632: Mr. KILDEE.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:20 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE7.023 H18DEPT1 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, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017 No. 206 Senate The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was TRAIN DERAILMENT IN family of four earning the median fam- called to order by the President pro WASHINGTON STATE ily income will get a tax cut of more tempore (Mr. HATCH). Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, to than $2,000. We are taking that money out of Washington’s pocket and putting f begin with, all of our thoughts this afternoon are with the victims of this it right back into theirs. By modern- PRAYER morning’s tragic train derailment in izing the way we tax businesses, we will make America a better place to in- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Washington State and with their fami- vest, start small businesses, and create fered the following prayer: lies as well. Our gratitude is with the middle-class jobs. Let us pray. first responders who answered the call and rushed to the scene. Our tax bill will make it less attrac- Eternal Father, strong to save, we tive for American businesses to send f love You because You are our shield jobs and investments overseas and and deliverer. You have been our God TAX CUTS AND JOBS BILL more attractive to expand and invest from the moment of our birth, loving Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on here at home. That is why American and sustaining us with Your mercies. a different matter entirely, the Senate manufacturers say they are excited Lord, You loved us before we loved has a number of important tasks to about this bill and plan to hire new You, and You empowered us to live complete this week for the American workers, while Chinese officials say it productive lives. Cast out of our Sen- people. On Friday we took another sig- has them worried. ators any fear and anxiety, as their nificant step toward delivering major The conference report will also re- love for You increases. Teach them to tax relief for middle-class families and peal the punitive individual mandate treat others as they would want to be small businesses when the House and tax at the heart of ObamaCare. Under treated themselves, fulfilling Your ad- Senate conference committee released ObamaCare, Americans must either monition to practice the Golden Rule. the final text of the Tax Cuts and Jobs buy the kind of health insurance that May they seek You early, realizing Act. We are closer than ever to seizing Washington thinks they should buy or that not an hour goes by when we do this once-in-a-generation opportunity pay a heavy tax penalty. By repealing not need You. Supply all their needs to update our Tax Code, to make Amer- this unfair penalty, the Tax Cuts and from the bounty of Your riches in ica stronger, and to help middle-class Jobs Act will give low- and middle- glory. families keep more of their hard- class families even more tax relief, We pray in Your sovereign Name. earned money. along with the flexibility to make Amen. The last decade has not been easy for their own healthcare decisions. The bill f middle-class Americans. Families, like will also strengthen America’s future many I represent in Kentucky, were hit by enhancing our energy independence. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE hard by the great recession. Many con- The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides The President pro tempore led the tinue to feel its effects. But too often, for further responsible development of Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: instead of helping people get back on Alaska’s oil and gas potential. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the their feet, Washington has been an ob- Unleashing more of our own natural re- United States of America, and to the Repub- stacle. Our broken and outdated Tax sources will create good jobs and im- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Code lets the government take too prove America’s energy security. The indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. much money out of Americans’ pay- historic accomplishments in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will bring imme- f checks. The Obama administration’s runaway regulations slowed job growth diate relief to struggling families and RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME and destroyed opportunities just when set America on a trajectory toward greater strength and prosperity. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. people needed them most. Help is on the way. The Tax Cuts and I commend the conferees—especially YOUNG). Under the previous order, the Jobs Act is a major step toward a Chairman HATCH, Chairman MUR- leadership time is reserved. stronger, more prosperous America KOWSKI, and Chairman ENZI—for their f with higher wages, higher take-home work to help finalize the conference re- pay, more jobs, and better opportuni- port. I look forward to voting for its RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY ties for middle-class Americans. First passage, and I urge all of our col- LEADER and foremost, the bill provides imme- leagues to join me in voting to give the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- diate relief by letting Americans keep American families the relief they need jority leader is recognized. more of their paychecks. A typical and richly deserve.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

S8051

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:28 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE6.000 S18DEPT1 S8052 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT Across all these critical areas, Con- types of investments. It lent money to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on gress must do what is right for the small businesses, and it had a deep car- another matter, before the end of this American people and take action this ing for the communities which it week, Congress must agree on a con- week. I urge each Member of this body served. It was a model bank, in my tinuing resolution to sustain the crit- to come together and help pass a fund- opinion. It did an amazing job in help- ical operations of the Federal Govern- ing agreement that fulfills our respon- ing to revitalize our upstate economy, ment. In this process, it is vital that sibilities to the Nation. I look forward which has had trouble over the last we ensure that our men and women in to working with our colleagues on both several decades due to so many dif- uniform have the resources they need sides of the aisle to make sure that ferent things, including bad trade poli- to protect Americans and face the chal- happens. cies. lenges of a dangerous world. I suggest the absence of a quorum. Bob was also not just committed to During the Obama administration, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the bank, which he loved, as he loved the readiness of our all-volunteer clerk will call the roll. the employees, cared about them, and Armed Forces was hurt by irrespon- The legislative clerk proceeded to was such an honorable employee; he sible cuts to the Department of De- call the roll. was also committed to Buffalo and phi- fense, which have damaged combat Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask lanthropy. He directed almost $5 mil- readiness. The military suffered a dis- unanimous consent that the order for lion to local nonprofit organizations in proportionate burden under the Budget the quorum call be rescinded. New York—the bank did under his Control Act. The arbitrary demand The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without leadership. That is because Bob himself that increases in defense spending objection, it is so ordered. was a philanthropist. He was a man must be equally matched by increases f with a big heart, and he always gave in in nondefense spending should not every way. He spent many years sup- stand in the way of delivering the re- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY porting one of the great art museums sources needed to restore near-term LEADER in America, the Albright-Knox Art Gal- and long-term readiness. Earlier this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lery, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Or- year, we rightly set aside that mis- Democratic leader is recognized. chestra, just to name a couple. He was guided standard and took steps to fully a booster to everything Buffalo. He was meet the needs of our warfighters. This f never in the camp that thought Buf- week, we need to do so one more time. TRAIN CRASH IN WASHINGTON falo’s best days were behind her. He al- If Congress fails to reach agreement STATE ways believed in Buffalo’s potential on government funding, our military and its future and helped to make that will suffer intolerable budget cuts that Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, happen. The city of Buffalo is turning would jeopardize the tools and the our hearts go out to everyone who has around. We are so proud in so many dif- training our servicemembers need to been affected by that horrible train ferent ways. It is, in good part, because fulfill their missions. Our responsibil- crash near Seattle, WA. I know that ities run deeper than keeping the gov- authorities are still investigating what of Bob Wilmers. On a personal level, my wife and I ernment open and ensuring our caused the crash. We have to find out will miss him. He visited my wife for warfighters have the resources they what went wrong and then work to fix lunch a few months ago. He was 83 need. it. We in New York know what this is years old, and he was on his rickety, Before the year ends, we must also like. We have had a few of these old bike and rode through the streets deliver results in several additional derailments and crashes—Spuyten of New York City to meet her so that areas of vital importance to the Amer- Duyvil on the Metro-North, where four ican people. We must renew funding for they could have lunch. people died about a year and a half ago Bob’s wife Elisabeth and Iris and I the Children’s Health Insurance Pro- or a year or two ago. It was very bad. gram so the parents of 9 million chil- spent many happy hours together. He We have to work on train safety, and was a brilliant man, a brilliant banker, dren who are covered by CHIP can there are lots of things to do. I am not know that their children’s healthcare decent, caring, and civic-minded. The going to talk about that now, but we loss is the Wilmers family’s, and our is secure. We must reauthorize a crit- do have to. For now, we are wishing the ical foreign intelligence program that condolences go to Elisabeth. It is a loss very best for everyone on that train, for Buffalo and the United States. Bob the men and women of American law and we remain deeply grateful to the enforcement need to keep our Nation will be truly missed. His untimely first responders who reported to the death has sent shock waves throughout safe from those who wish to harm us. scene. We must renew the popular Veterans New York State, and we will miss him Choice Program, which aims to cut f so. wait times for VA healthcare and to REMEMBERING BOB WILMERS f give our veterans flexibility to access SPECIAL COUNSEL MUELLER care outside of the system. We must Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on an- approve supplemental disaster funding other sad note and before I move to the Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on a for States and Territories that are still substance of the day, I want to spend a different subject, I again warn about struggling to rebuild after a year of moment in recognizing a dear friend of the danger of the smear campaign devastating disasters. We must pass a mine who passed away this weekend, against Special Counsel Mueller. routine waiver to avoid unacceptable Bob Wilmers, one of the most respected Over the weekend, allies of the Presi- cuts of Medicare funding and other and prominent benefactors in Buffalo, dent in the media escalated their vital programs. NY—one of the great cities in my State phony attacks on Special Counselor Since the enactment of the pay-go and in our country. Mueller to an outrageous degree. One law in 2010, Congress has never allowed Very few men had done as much for of the assertions that arose this week- a sequester to take effect, especially Buffalo since its founding hundreds of end was that Special Counsel Mueller for tax bills, and we must act again years ago as Bob Wilmers had done for improperly obtained emails from the this week to ensure that vulnerable the last several decades. He was the Trump transition team. This is a bald- Americans are not harmed. chairman of M&T Bank. He helped the faced lie. There is no proof behind the Of particular importance, faced with bank grow from a small bank into one allegations. There is no substance be- the continued failure of ObamaCare to of the largest employers in the region— hind the allegations. They can’t point keep health insurance affordable for 6,500 employees. As he built the busi- to any indication that Mueller’s team working Americans, we must take this ness and created thousands of good- did anything that was improper, let opportunity to pass bipartisan solu- paying, middle-class jobs, he helped alone illegal. The Mueller team is al- tions that will help stabilize collapsing Upstate New York dramatically. lowed to request whatever it wants. health insurance markets and lower M&T Bank was a large bank, but it They are special counsel, special pros- premiums for individuals and families was not one of these banks that en- ecutors. They either have to get the across the country. gaged in swaps overseas or other risky accountholder’s permission or go

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.002 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8053 through appropriate criminal proc- should continue to negotiate a genuine to Rico, California, the Virgin Islands. esses. In this case, there is no indica- bipartisan agreement that paves the I hear that my friends from Texas— tion that they didn’t follow the guide- way for the major unresolved issues to both Houses—are demanding we rush lines. get to the President’s desk. With so lit- through a partisan disaster package So to those complaining here in the tle time left before the end of the year, through the end of the year. Texas Congress and in the media, point to those negotiations must proceed in ear- needs the money, but the Governor of something specific that Mueller did nest. They haven’t been. Texas has refused to tap the State’s $10 wrong here. Today, in the House, the Republican billion rainy day fund—the largest in They can’t. These attackers are cre- Members of the team called off the ne- the country—to help Houston and ating impropriety when there is none. gotiations and said: Let’s do it tomor- other parts of the State recover from Their attacks are not based on fact or row—as the clock ticks. Hurricane Harvey. Yet, at the same logic. This is a hatchet job, plain and A few items have become sticking time, he is demanding immediate Fed- simple. If they have a legal complaint, points and should be addressed. We still eral assistance. On its face, it is ab- they can pursue it in court, but of don’t have a deal on pensions. Over 1 surd. It is an absurd position for a rou- course they don’t. That is why these million Americans are waiting for our tine critic of Federal Government attacks are only speculation on TV by Republican friends to do what is right spending to demand money imme- partisan pundits. and work with us on a solution to the diately, while he has a $10 billion fund Robert Mueller is one of the most re- pension crisis in America. These work- sitting there. Imagine if those moneys spected and trusted civil servants in ing people every month put money into were in New York or Maryland what our country. His integrity is unim- a pension hoping that when they retire, our Republican colleagues would be peachable. The concerted campaign to they are not going to become rich, but saying. Constantly, we have this what discredit him and his investigation in they can live a life of dignity. A lot of is good for the goose is not good for the the rightwing media is nothing more that has been robbed from them. We gander on our Republican side. I could than propaganda and disinformation to have an obligation to help them. That have used stronger words, but I stopped try to turn the public’s attention away is a high priority for Democrats in the myself. from the real investigation—Donald Senate and the House. I say to the Governor of Texas: If a Trump’s potential collusion with Rus- We still don’t have a resolution on rainy day fund is not for a rainy day, sia and the collusion of his campaign Democratic funding requests for opioid which Texas had, then what the heck is and the attempt, if it is found, to ob- treatment. We know the scourge of it for? I, for one, don’t want to vote for struct justice and prevent an investiga- opioids, the number of deaths through- a nickel for Texas unless they tap that tion from going forward. out America—rural, suburban, urban, rainy day fund. I hope my colleagues on both sides of Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, every- Of course, last, but certainly not the aisle will defend the special counsel body. In the flower of their youth, so least, we have to ensure protection for from these spurious attacks. Every- many are being taken by opioids. We the Dreamers. Bipartisan negotiations one—Democrat and Republican alike— don’t do enough, and there is a clamor are ongoing in the House and Senate. must reject the strident voices that from the Nation to do more. That is good news. Democrats and Re- falsely impugn Special Counsel What about veterans’ care? Cuts have publicans in the Senate and the House Mueller. hurt our veterans who have served us. are trying to come to an agreement on f They are not getting the help they helping the Dreamers, who just want to need. become Americans, and coming up with FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT AND Our infrastructure is crumbling. We border security which we all believe we THE REPUBLICAN TAX BILL need help in rural areas, urban areas, need. One thousand Dreamers are los- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, we suburban areas. What about that? ing their status every week. While our have a lot to accomplish before the end There is no resolution on adequate Republican friends twiddle their of the year. Government funding runs funding for Puerto Rico and its resil- thumbs, we need action on the Dream- out on Friday. We still haven’t reached iency or the Virgin Islands, no resolu- ers, and we need our Republican col- a bipartisan agreement on lifting the tion on fixing our wildfire funding leagues to cooperate. budget caps to ensure that our invest- problem which we proposed. On these issues and more, there is a ments in economic growth and job cre- We still don’t have an understanding lot of work left to do. Instead of rush- ation rise in tandem with our invest- on the Republicans’ plan to extend the ing through their partisan tax bill, I ments in our national defense or in a 702 FISA Court program. The majority would urge my Republican colleagues disaster supplemental that treats equi- leader has told us: Oh, we have to act to focus on the year-end negotiations. tably California, Puerto Rico, and the on FISA. He could put it on the floor Speaking of the tax bill, it appears it U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Texas today. He could have put it on the floor will be before us on a final vote early and Florida. We need a bipartisan last week, instead of putting three this week. Although there were signifi- agreement to fully fund the Children’s judges—some of whom had dubious cre- cant changes in the conference report, Health Insurance Program and commu- dentials—on the floor. So to tell us we Senators will not have much time to nity health centers, end the sabotage are running out of time for FISA, when grapple with them. The conference re- of our healthcare markets, protect the the majority leader controls the floor port was released late last Friday. We Dreamers, and shore up pension plans and hasn’t done anything for months, are taking a final vote on a bill that for hundreds of thousands of hard- rings a little hollow. will change the entire Tax Code only a working Americans. We still don’t have a good deal on the few days later. It will be a culmination We should be doing all these things healthcare package. Now that Repub- of the sloppiest legislative process I together instead of in a piecemeal fash- licans are pushing through a partisan have witnessed in my time as a Sen- ion. It will lead to a better bipartisan repeal of the individual mandate in ator. Fittingly, unfortunately, the re- result, which is a necessity. To try to their tax bill, which causes premiums sults will be a mess as well. do it in a partisan way, as the House of to rise 10 percent—when America gets My Republican friends are squan- Representatives seems to be doing, will those premium increases this spring dering their so-called once-in-a-genera- lead to nowhere and to a government and summer, they will know who to tion opportunity for tax reform on a shutdown. Instead of jamming through blame. The number of Americans with- massive corporate bailout paid for by a partisan tax scam in the House and out insurance will rise by 13 million. middle-class tax increases. What a Senate, we should be working on mid- The bipartisan stabilization bills will shame. dle-class priorities. not have the same impact. We will need At a time when our economy is in- To make matters worse, House Re- new legislation to account for the Re- creasingly stacked against the middle publicans continue to waste time on a publicans’ latest attempt to undermine class and in favor of the wealthy, the partisan CRomnibus that is dead on ar- our healthcare system. Republican tax bill will skew the play- rival in the Senate. There is another We still don’t have a disaster pack- ing field even further out of whack. It path. Republicans and Democrats age that adequately takes care of Puer- will explode inequality in the country,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.003 S18DEPT1 S8054 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 where the top 1 percent of earners al- bama, to be General Counsel of the De- line and to the President’s desk before ready capture over 20 percent of the na- partment of Housing and Urban Devel- Christmas. tional income, while the bottom 50 per- opment; and Owen West, of Con- We will vote on this final bill after cent take in only 13 percent. It will ex- necticut, to be an Assistant Secretary the House does tomorrow—hopefully by plode the deficit, starving our country of Defense. tomorrow night. Perhaps it will carry of the resources it needs to invest in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under over into Wednesday morning, but we education, infrastructure, and sci- the previous order, the time until 5:30 will get it on the President’s desk for entific research—all the things that p.m. will be equally divided in the him to sign into law before Christmas, help the middle class. usual form. as we pledged. After all of that, it will endanger So- The Senator from Texas. I want to talk for just a few moments cial Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. TAX CUTS AND JOBS BILL about why I am so excited at the pros- Then, 1 or 2 or 3 years down the line, Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, listen- pect—and so are so many other people Republicans will come back to slash ing to my friend, the Democratic lead- across the country—because oftentimes those programs to pay for the deficit er, leads me to conclude that he and their words get lost in the chatter, they have created. his party have given up on the Amer- some of which is designed to mislead Finally, our Republican friends say: ican dream. They want to settle for the and presents an inaccurate picture of Well, it will create a whole lot of jobs. status quo, which is stagnant growth of just how consequential this tax reform Give money to the wealthiest corpora- our economy and jobs where people will be. Their voices—those who be- tions. As has been shown over and over haven’t seen an increase in their wages lieve this good bill will help them—de- again, the wealthiest corporations have for years. They even seem to be rooting serve to be heard. a ton of money right now. They are not for failure. That seems to be the atti- Let me first talk about manufac- creating jobs. Give them more money? tude of our missing-in-action congres- turing. There was a survey released They will not create any more jobs. sional Democrats on the Tax Cuts and last week that showed historically high The only claim our Republican col- Jobs Act. optimism among 14,000 small and large leagues have for the middle class is We, on the other hand, think Amer- employers in the manufacturing sector. trickle-down. Well, my friends, no one ican families need more take-home How long have we heard that we need believes in trickle-down except for a pay, higher wages, more jobs, and a to bring manufacturing back to the handful of wealthy, greedy people who competitive economy, and we believe United States rather than outsourcing seem to be controlling what you are they shouldn’t have to settle for less. I it to Mexico or China or other places saying and doing in this tax bill. will come back to that in a moment. around the world? Well, we tried to ad- This bill, in short, is a cynical one- I do want to talk about tax reform dress that, and I think we met with two gut punch to the middle class. It and make the perhaps obvious state- some success because more than 94 per- raises middle-class taxes to pay for cor- ment that tax reform is hard. That is cent of manufacturers are now positive porate tax cuts and decimates their the reason it hasn’t been done since about their company’s outlook. Nearly earned benefits as a kicker. Surely we 1986. It is even harder when we have a 64 percent said that tax reform would can do better than this. political party that is determined to encourage their company to increase Tomorrow Republicans will have a fight against every single proposal we capital spending. Capital spending is chance to vote down this tax bill, have made in our tax cut and tax re- what goes into infrastructure, equip- which is one of the least popular pieces form bill, including ones they them- ment, and things that allow them to of legislation in the last 30 years. My selves have championed in the past. become more productive and to create Republican colleagues have accom- I have heard the ranking member of more jobs. A majority of these manu- plished an amazing trick. A tax cut, the Senate Finance Committee, Sen- facturers said that they would indeed usually popular, is 2-to-1 unpopular in ator WYDEN, talk about corporate give- expand their businesses and they would America. Good work. aways, and the Democratic leader just hire more workers after this bill is They know what is in it. The public alluded to the same thing. Yet we are signed into law by the President. In knows. They know they are getting embracing the same sort of approach fact, manufacturers predict that the crumbs, if anything, and many are get- they took in previous proposals and number of jobs could surge to 2 million ting increases, while the highest in- that President Obama advocated for in by the year 2025. Now there are roughly come people do great. Well, let me just his State of the Union Address in 2011, 350,000 American manufacturing jobs, say, if by some miracle, our Republican when he asked Republicans and Demo- so a leap to 2 million is almost fan- colleagues get the good sense to vote crats alike to work together to lower tastic—hard to contemplate—but very this package down and really help the the highest corporate tax rate in the exciting if true. middle class instead of just helping the industrialized world because he knew it The second group I want to mention wealthy, we Democrats will be there. was chasing jobs overseas, and he knew that is very excited about the Tax Cuts They will find a Democratic leader and it was important to bring that invest- and Jobs Act is small businesses. We a Democratic Party willing to work ment and those jobs back to the United know small businesses are the eco- with them on real bipartisan tax re- States. That is exactly what our bill nomic engine of the country. Indeed, 70 form. does. percent of new jobs are created not by I yield the floor. My friend KEVIN BRADY, the chair- Fortune 500 company businesses but by man of the House Ways and Means small businesses. As one piece in the f Committee, called tax reform a Houston Chronicle recently pointed CONCLUSION OF MORNING Rubik’s Cube. He is right, but now, out, the 2.6 million small businesses BUSINESS thankfully, we have figured out how to that call Texas home are enthusiastic The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning solve that Rubik’s Cube. because tax reform will provide them business is closed. We confess that this legislation is much needed relief. not perfect, but it is good, and it is Small businesses, of course, all have f much better than the status quo, which to pay taxes, which is burdensome EXECUTIVE SESSION our Democratic colleagues seem to enough, but they also have to spend have settled for. Last week, the con- hours and money to comply with our ference committee met between the unnecessarily complex tax laws. Ac- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR House and the Senate, and members, cording to a 2017 survey by the Na- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under including myself, had many difficult tional Small Business Association, 58 the previous order, the Senate will pro- conversations about how to reconcile percent of small businesses reported ceed to executive session to consider the differences between the two bills. that the administrative burden of Fed- the following nominations en bloc, Those discussions were necessary, they eral taxes posed a greater challenge which the clerk will report. were prudent, and they were produc- than the cost of the taxes themselves. The legislative clerk read the nomi- tive. We now have a consensus about The burden of compliance was worse nations of J. Paul Compton, Jr., of Ala- how to get this bill across the finish than the check they had to write to the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.004 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8055 Federal Government. The Houston op- To summarize what we have seen al- tale from beginning to end. It was also ed put the matter succinctly. It said: ready, nationally, manufacturers are completely false and invented. For large corporations that can afford a raving about the tax plan. In places As a member of the Senate Intel- small army of lawyers and accountants, the like Texas, small businesses des- ligence Committee, I have joined with tax laws are a nuisance. For small busi- perately need the relief this bill offers. my colleagues over the last year to in- nesses, they are a nightmare. The Federal Reserve, an independent vestigate the efforts of Russian intel- Now that situation will change. Our financial body of the Federal Govern- ligence operatives to undermine public bill will simplify the Tax Code by ment, has increased their growth esti- confidence in our last elections. Well, eliminating many special deductions mates, in part, based upon the tax re- the way this phony news story broke and credits while broadening the base lief provided in this bill. And our chief and was picked up on social media and and bringing down rates. competitor in the global economy is in the mainstream media would make a To those cynics here inside the belt- startled by what we are doing and Russian intelligence officer proud. The way who roll their eyes, who think afraid of what it might mean in terms whole purpose of this exercise—this that changes to the business provisions of America’s competitiveness globally. false and invented story—was to under- of the code don’t matter, I would point Put all this together and what do you mine public confidence in this tax re- out two more important pieces of news. have? A brief snapshot of the huge eco- form package that we will pass, per- First, the Federal Reserve, an inde- nomic impact of the tax overhaul that haps as early as tomorrow, to be signed pendent government institution, re- will be signed by the President in the by the President, perhaps before cently said that this tax package is one next few days. Signs of that impact are Christmas. Some of our friends on the other side of the factors that led them to increase all around us, almost everywhere I of the aisle and their allies in the so- their projections for growth next year. look. That is welcome, to say the least. Tax I know of at least one major airline— called mainstream media ran with it in reform, said Federal Reserve Chair Southwest Airlines—that has already a dishonest attempt to derail us from passing the bill and undermine the rep- Janet Yellen, last appointed by Presi- announced big plans as to what they utation or integrity of one of our fel- dent Obama, will boost spending and plan to do with their tax savings. With low Senators—all from a made-up could do the same for productivity. So the benefits afforded by this tax re- story. Again, the Russian intelligence the Federal Reserve has raised its form, they said that they will purchase officials—it is well-documented by growth projections for next year, par- new aircraft. Well, this means more now—through a combination of cyber ticularly in response to what we are jobs for the people who build those air- theft, propaganda, creative use of so- doing. craft. It means more jobs for the pilots cial media, and a gullible mainstream For those who worry about deficits— and the flight attendants who travel on media, undermined American con- that we are cutting taxes too much— them. It means better customer experi- fidence in our most basic obligation, an and who don’t believe the economy will ences, and it may even mean lower institution of our government, which is grow to compensate for those cuts in fares for consumers. our election system. But what we saw taxes, all they need to do is look at the Let’s talk about what this bill does happen this weekend, as I said, would projection of the Federal Reserve. They for Americans who get up and go to have made a Russian intelligence offi- currently project the economy to grow work every day and just try to eke out cer proud. at 2.1 percent, but she said that next a living, providing for their families. As a letter from Chairman HATCH, year it could go to 2.5 percent. So even Well, I will tell you, for those worried who is chairman of the Senate Finance if you believe that very conservative about how tax reform will affect real Committee, makes clear today, this estimate, that is enough growth to people’s actual lives, let me give you a website, which, by the way, also posted compensate for the cut in taxes and the couple of concrete examples. Let’s take a false report about an amendment I loss of revenue next year, but we ex- a single teacher making $50,000 a year. had introduced several weeks ago and pect that will continue and will grow She will see a significant reduction in later had to correct it, spread a false over the next 10 years. her tax burden—between 17 and 20 per- story irresponsibly and dishonestly. In It is another thing to note how the cent—less taxes that she will have to his letter, Chairman HATCH writes: rest of the world is reacting to what we pay. This comes from a lower marginal It takes a great deal of imagination—and are doing here. To name but one exam- rate and a higher standard deduction. likely no small amount of partisanship—to ple, China is worried, which should tell How about a married couple with three argue that a provision that has been public us something. According to a Wall children and with median earnings of for over a month, debated on the floor of the Street Journal story printed last week, $75,000 a year? Well, their tax bill will House of Representatives, included in a China sees these tax plans as making decrease, as well, by as much as $2,000 House-passed bill, and identified by [the the United States a much more attrac- Joint Committee on Taxation] as an issue re- from a lower rate and a higher child quiring compromise between conferees is tive place to invest, which means less tax credit. somehow a covert and last-minute addition investment will occur in China. One of- As I have said before, maybe some of to the conference report. ficial in Beijing has called our tax plan our Democratic friends don’t believe It reminds me of another quote some- a huge and imminent danger that can’t this is a big deal; maybe they don’t times attributed to Mark Twain, per- be ignored. China is worried that job care about those American families liv- haps apocryphally, who supposedly creators will relocate here in America, ing paycheck to paycheck, who would said: A lie can travel halfway around which is a well-founded concern and welcome an additional $2,000 each year. the world while the truth is still put- one of the goals of this tax bill. That is Their actions make me think they are ting on its shoes. Well, a lie can travel exactly what they will do when we OK with the status quo because they even faster than that today because of lower the corporate rate and go to a have refused to even participate in the social media. territorial system. Rather than taxing process, and they have been rooting for Shame on those who would perpet- these businesses twice and encouraging failure every step along the way. uate lies in an effort to deny the Amer- them to keep the money they earn and Well, we saw the latest example of ican people a much needed tax cut and the jobs they create overseas, we en- this over the weekend when a leftwing tax relief. Thank goodness that atti- courage them to bring them back to website, masquerading as a legitimate tude isn’t shared by most Americans America by making our businesses news outlet, led by a former staffer of and by the Texans I represent who more internationally competitive. the junior Senator from Vermont, pub- want and deserve much better than the So to summarize what we are seeing lished what it advertised as a breaking same old same old. They don’t believe already, and we haven’t even passed news story about the final bill. This we have to settle for the status quo. We the bill yet—the conference report, at story breathlessly claimed, without a are going to give them something bet- least—we have passed the Senate bill, shred of evidence, that a provision had ter. We are going to keep our promise, the House bill, and now the conference been airdropped into the final draft in and I can’t wait until this bill gets on report, which is the reconciled version secret in order to secure the vote of a the President’s desk. between the House and the Senate Member who would supposedly person- Let me just close by saying that I am versions, was released Friday. ally benefit from it. This is a salacious a proud son of a World War II veteran.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.006 S18DEPT1 S8056 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 My dad was in the Army Air Corps, and Jobs Act. The reports have focused on ‘‘In the case of a capital-intensive busi- flew B–17s out of Molesworth Air Force the final version of the 20 percent pass- ness, a taxpayer may ‘‘prove out’’ a capital Base in England over Nazi Germany through deduction, the proposed new Section percentage by electing the application of an during the end of World War II. He was 199A. As the author of this provision and the increased percentage for the taxable year it vice chairman of the conference committee, is made and each of the next four taxable a member of the 8th Air Force, 303rd I can speak with authority about the process years. The applicable percentage is deter- Bomb Group. On his 26th mission, he by which the conference committee reached mined by dividing (1) the specified return on was shot down and captured as a pris- its final position. capital for the activity for the taxable year, oner of war. Thank goodness he sur- There are two false assertions contained in by (2) the taxpayer’s net business income de- vived, came home, met my mom, mar- these reports, and I would like to correct the rived from that activity for that taxable ried, raised a family, and became a pro- record on both. year.’’ First, some have asserted that a new provi- It takes a great deal of imagination—and ductive member of civilian society sion was crafted for real estate developers after his military service. But I re- likely no small amount of partisanship—to and was ‘‘airdropped’’ into the conference argue that a provision that has been public member, as if it were yesterday, what agreement. Second, reports have implied for over a month, debated on the floor of the my parents said they wanted for me, that you had some role in advocating for or House of Representatives, included in a my brother, and my sister. It is what negotiating the inclusion of this provision. House-passed bill, and identified by JCT as parents of that entire generation want- Both assertions are categorically false. an issue requiring a compromise between ed for their children and grandchildren. With respect to the second, I am unaware of conferees is somehow a covert and last- any attempt by you or your staff to contact They wanted to know that their sac- minute addition to the conference report. anyone on the conference committee regard- I have sat on a number conference commit- rifice, their willingness to fight and ing this provision or any related policy mat- win America’s wars against terrible ty- tees, too numerous to remember. In each ter. To the contrary, virtually all the con- case, conferees have come into the con- rants, such as Adolph Hitler—that the cerns you had raised in the past about the ference expecting to achieve their chamber’s consequence of their sacrifice and their treatment of pass-through businesses in tax position or negotiate a reasonable com- service would be a better standard of reform were to voice skepticism about the promise. This conference committee was no living, a safer world, and a better qual- generosity of various proposals under consid- exception. The House entered the conference ity of life. In short, what they wanted eration. with an interest in preserving, in some form, The first claim—that a new pass-through for us and what I want for my children the prove-out alternative as an option for proposal was created out of whole cloth and capital-intensive taxpayers. Through several and what I believe every American par- inserted into the conference report—is an ir- ent wants for their child or their chil- rounds of negotiations, the House secured a responsible and partisan assertion that is version of their proposal that was consistent dren is exactly what my parents want- belied by the facts. For more than a year, with the overall structure of the com- ed for me and my sister and my broth- tax-writers in the House and Senate have promise. er. We sometimes call that the Amer- worked to craft legislation that not only The prove-out alternative included in the ican dream. provided relief for ‘‘C’’ corporations, but also conference report was derived from the Some of us believe that the American delivered equitable treatment for pass- House provision and is the product of a nego- through businesses. Though the two cham- dream is still alive, that we don’t have tiation between the House and Senate tax- bers came at this issue from different angles, writing committees. It is that simple. to settle for second place. We don’t our goal was the same: To provide tax relief have to settle for the status quo. We If you have any further questions, please to pass-through businesses at a level similar feel free to contact me. don’t have to settle for flat wages and to that provided to regular ‘‘C’’ corporations. Very Truly Yours, This policy goal was confirmed in the Uni- fewer jobs. We can do better. We be- ORRIN G. HATCH, lieve we have done better in this piece fied Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Chairman, Senate Finance Committee. of legislation, which will help re- Code, which provided in part: ‘‘TAX RATE STRUCTURE FOR SMALL Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I awaken the slumbering giant of the BUSINESSES The framework limits the yield the floor. American economy. It will put Ameri- maximum tax rate applied to the business I suggest the absence of a quorum. cans back to work. It will mean more income of small and family owned businesses The PRESIDING OFFICER. The take-home pay. It will mean a better conducted as sole proprietorships, partner- clerk will call the roll. standard of living, but, surprisingly— ships and S corporations to 25%. The frame- The bill clerk proceeded to call the and disappointingly—our colleagues work contemplates that the committees will adopt measures to prevent the re-character- roll. across the aisle want no part of it. I Mr. KING. Madam President, I ask hope they haven’t given up on that ization of personal income into business in- come to prevent wealthy individuals from unanimous consent that the order for American dream. I haven’t given up, avoiding the top personal tax rate.’’ the quorum call be rescinded. and I don’t believe Americans have The House Ways Means Committee and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without given up on that dream. Senate Finance Committee achieved this objection, it is so ordered. I yield the floor. mutual goal by different means. Section 1004 I suggest the absence of a quorum. of the House bill provided a special tax rate DEADLINES The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. for pass-through income and included a Mr. KING. Madam President, I rise ERNST). The clerk will call the roll. ‘‘prove-out’’ option for capital-intensive today to talk not about legislation or The bill clerk proceeded to call the businesses. Chairman Brady unveiled this ap- about the tax bill—well, I may talk roll. proach on November 2nd, more than six about the tax bill a little—but I do Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I weeks ago. wish to talk about deadlines and how The Senate took a different approach, we all do our work, whether it is in the ask unanimous that the order for the achieving the intended rate relief through a quorum call be rescinded. deduction patterned after current law Sec- Senate, in our businesses, or in our per- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tion 199. We also included measures to ensure sonal lives. I wish to talk about dead- objection, it is so ordered. that compensation could not be easily gamed lines missed and deadlines that don’t Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I into business income in order to qualify for exist. ask unanimous consent that the letter the deduction. Similar to Section 199, the de- One of the realities of this place that from Chairman HATCH be printed in the duction in the Senate bill excluded com- I think is very unfortunate is that we pensation and guarantee payments to owners RECORD. rarely make our deadlines. These are There being no objection, the mate- and was limited to 50 percent of compensa- self-imposed deadlines. These are dead- tion paid to employees, with an exception for rial was ordered to be printed in the small pass-through businesses, including lines that we create. We pass a law RECORD, as follows: service providers. The Senate bill did not in- that says something has to happen by U.S. SENATE, clude a prove-out option for capital-inten- September 30. We set the deadline, and COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, sive businesses like the one contained in the then we don’t make it. Washington, DC, December 18, 2017. House bill. Most notoriously, it happens with Hon. BOB CORKER, The Joint Committee on Taxation budgets. I don’t know the last time we Washington, DC. (‘‘JCT’’), the non-partisan congressional had a budget on time. I think it is DEAR CHAIRMAN CORKER: Thank you for scorekeeper for tax legislation, released a your letter dated yesterday. side-by-side summary of the two bills for about 17 years ago. I suspect there are I am disgusted by press reports that have conferees. That summary, dated December 7, probably less than a dozen Senators in distorted one particular aspect of the con- 2017 and available on JCT’s website (JCX 64– this Chamber who were here when we ference agreement on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts 17), described the House position in part: last passed a budget on time. There is

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.007 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8057 no excuse for that. The problem is that make the hard decisions in a budget. Now, even the President said we when we put it off, we don’t know any- We are just going to push them forward should fix this program, and he gave us thing more than we did at the time of for a month or two. But the problem is 6 months. He said: I am going to dis- the deadline. We could have done it, that the month or two comes. In fact, allow the program, but not until March and yet, because we are able to, we put it is coming this Friday, and now we 5, 2018. I don’t know whether it is legal it off. That is human nature, unfortu- are talking about another continuing to bet in the District of Columbia, but nately. Who among us would not have resolution to go into January or Feb- I would be willing to bet that we are put off the deadline for a book report if ruary. No business would do this. Fam- still struggling with this question on we could have said to the teacher: Gee, ilies can’t even do this. March 4, 2018. I deeply hope not be- I don’t think I can make that Monday Some time ago, I was the Governor of cause lives are being toyed with here morning deadline. I will just do my Maine. I remember vividly. I can prac- unnecessarily. We could make the deci- book report on Tuesday. tically tell you where I was standing in sions now. We could decide to reach a Life doesn’t work that way. In the my office. We have a deadline in Maine compromise agreement on this pro- real world, there are deadlines. There of July 1 for our budget. We always gram, which Members of both sides of are consequences if you don’t get your make it. Members of the legislature of the aisle think needs to be done, in- work done on time. Things happen, and one of the parties came to me. They cluding the President. Let’s get it if you don’t get your work done on were having a hard time getting a done. But it is one more missed dead- time, usually, those things that happen budget. It was very contentious, as it is line. are bad. I don’t know where else, other every year. He said: Governor, let’s Next is the National Flood Insurance than in this body, where deadlines, just do a continuing resolution like Program, with a deadline of December which have enormous implications and they do in Washington, and we can 22, which is 4 days from now. I don’t enormous importance, are simply ig- solve this problem in the next 2 weeks. think we are going to make it. If ever nored. I said: Not on your life, because if we there was a time of importance for the I just sat down in the last day or so do, once we open the Pandora’s box of National Flood Insurance Program, it and put together real deadlines that we continuing resolutions in Maine or in is now. We have had enormous flooding have in the law right now. What are Iowa or in Mississippi or Florida, then issues with the hurricanes in Texas, they? Well, the Children’s Health In- we are stuck. We will never get a budg- Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Is- surance Program’s deadline is Sep- et on time again because it is too easy lands. Yet the flood insurance program tember 30, 2017. That is gone. That has to put off the hard decisions. What do expires on December 22. Why don’t we passed. I can give you 23,000 reasons we know now about the budget that we get it done? Because it is not our that we should have met that deadline. didn’t know in August? What will we houses. It is not our houses that are at That is the number of young people in know in January that we don’t know risk to get the flood insurance. I sus- Maine who are covered by the Chil- now? pect if we had the houses that were dren’s Health Insurance Program, and By the way, a continuing resolution part of this problem, it would be there are 9 million nationwide. But we for the entire budget is bad for the gov- solved. missed the deadline. Why? I can’t find ernment and disastrous for national se- Medicare extenders expire on Decem- any reason. We don’t know anything curity. I serve on the Armed Services ber 31 of this year. Are we going to get now that we didn’t know in the middle Committee. We have hearings both those done? I deeply hope so, but I am of September or in August when we from our civilian leadership and our not so sure. could have passed this program, but we military leadership, and they have told FISA section 702, one of the most im- just blew right by it. Maybe it is be- us repeatedly: Please get us a budget. portant national intelligence provi- cause none of our kids are in this pro- The continuing resolution doesn’t sions that we have, also expires at the gram. I venture to say that if the chil- allow us to plan. It locks us into last end of the year. Are we going to get dren of the Members of the Senate were year’s priorities. It doesn’t allow us to that done? I deeply hope so, but I am in the CHIP program, we would have look forward and make commitments not optimistic. met that deadline, but we didn’t. that will save the taxpayers money if Next, we have the wildfires and What is another one? Community we have the authority. It is a disaster FEMA disaster aid for Harvey, Irma, health centers had another deadline of for national security, but a deadline Maria, and the wildfires. These are September 30, which was missed. I will was missed on September 30. It looks huge disasters. We have partially fund- give you 200,000 reasons that we should like we are going to miss another dead- ed them, but certainly not to the point have met that deadline. That is the line on December 22, and we will be that is going to be required. Those number of people in my State of Maine here talking about funding the govern- deadlines were all this fall. who are served by federally qualified ment, doing the budget, sometime in At the bottom of my chart of prior- health centers. I was at one just on January or maybe in February. There ities is tax reform. Boy, are we going Friday. They serve people who other- is no reason for it. There is no reason to make that deadline. The only prob- wise wouldn’t get care. They fill an for it except that we are simply avoid- lem is that it doesn’t exist. There is no enormous gap, particularly in a rural ing making difficult decisions. deadline for that. There was no dead- State, to provide healthcare to people The next one is DACA, or Deferred line. It is not December 22. It is not who need it, but we didn’t make the Action for Childhood Arrivals. The real Christmas. It is not New Year’s. It is a deadline. There was no particular rea- deadline started on October 6. That is self-imposed deadline that is not in law son not to make this deadline. We just when people started to lose the ability anywhere. blew right by it. It was not all that im- to re-up their qualifications for DACA. I agree that we need to do tax re- portant. I venture to say that if our Over 100 people a day are losing their form, but we have been doing it on an families were covered under this pro- DACA status. In the last week it has unprecedented scale and speed that is gram, we would have gotten it done. No been, I think, something like 1,700—in unnecessary. We have missed and ig- Senators’ families are covered by feder- the last week or 10 days. These are peo- nored all these real deadlines in ex- ally qualified health centers. If they ple who are going to go into the holi- change for focusing all of our attention had been, we would have gotten it days unsure about whether they are on a fake deadline. Sure, it would be done. going to be able to continue to live in nice to get it done, and we could have Of course, the granddaddy of all of this country. These are young people, gotten it done. It could have been done deadlines mentioned is the budget: Oc- as we all know. This is the only coun- on a bipartisan basis. We could have tober 1, 2017. We missed it—no dead- try they know. They were brought here started last summer, and we would line. We just went right by it. Nothing as little kids. They weren’t illegal im- have had a bill just like the bill that happened. Well, what we did was to migrants. They were brought here as emerged from the HELP Committee pass a continuing resolution. A con- children, and they are contributing to with regard to healthcare, on a bipar- tinuing resolution really should be our society, and they are working and tisan basis. But instead it was a closed called a ‘‘cop-out resolution.’’ It is ba- paying taxes. But we missed the dead- process, done with unprecedented sically saying that we are not going to line starting in October. speed, with virtually no hearings—well,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.009 S18DEPT1 S8058 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 no hearings, no real hearings on the right here in America, and spur eco- lent but looming retirement security bill, no serious outside experts, no nomic growth that will benefit all crisis in this country. According to the analysis of what is in it. We have been Americans. nonpartisan Center for Retirement Re- given a 500-page bill that we are going Let me start by discussing the effects search, there is a $7.7 trillion gap be- to vote on in probably a day or so. Yet of this bill on individuals and families. tween the savings that American we are racing to meet a deadline that Throughout this debate, I have empha- households need to maintain their didn’t exist. sized that reforms to our outdated Tax standard of living in retirement and It is boring to talk about process, but Code must help working families. I, what they actually have saved. that is what I am really talking about therefore, authored three key amend- We should be doing everything we today. I just don’t understand an insti- ments that were retained in the final can to encourage more saving, not less. tution that doesn’t make its real dead- package. For this reason, I am pleased that the lines and yet races and throws every- My amendments allow families to de- final bill will include my third amend- thing aside to try to make a deadline duct up to $10,000 in State and local ment, which struck the original Senate that just came out of the air. It is not taxes, increase the deduction for med- language eliminating the ability of in any law, any rule, any expectation— ical expenses, and protect tax-free con- public employees, such as firefighters, let’s do it by Christmas or by the end tributions for retirement savings. schoolteachers, and police officers, as of the year. It is no way to run a busi- The original Senate bill would have well as clergy and those employed by ness, and it is certainly no way to run eliminated the deduction known as charities and nonprofit organizations, the government on behalf of the Amer- SALT that allows taxpayers to avoid to make what are called catch-up con- ican people. paying a Federal tax on State and local tributions to their retirement ac- I have never been in an institution or taxes that they have already paid. This counts. These employees are generally in a group of people who are as capable provision has been in the Tax Code paid less than their counterparts em- as the people who are here, and I find since 1913, when the income tax was ployed by for-profit companies and it genuinely puzzling as to why we per- first established. It is intended to pre- thus are less able to save for their re- form so poorly and why the public vent double taxation. My amendment, tirement. My provision would allow opinion of us is so low. These are good which was adopted by the Senate, re- them to continue making these impor- people on both sides of the aisle. Yet stored the deduction for property taxes tant extra investments toward a secure something about the way this institu- up to $10,000. I am pleased that the retirement. tion works keeps us from meeting the final bill goes a step further by allow- The conference agreement benefits rules and expectations that the rest of ing the deduction of property and in- lower and middle-income taxpayers society takes for granted, such as mak- come or sales taxes up to this level, significantly, while simplifying the ing deadlines, doing your job, doing which will assist even more Americans. tasks that no one relishes of com- what you are paid to do. My work to restore this deduction is pleting their tax returns. One of the most fundamental respon- especially important to families living Significantly, this bill nearly doubles sibilities is to pass a budget. We have in high-tax States like Maine, which the standard deduction to $12,000 for members of our Appropriations Com- has one of our Nation’s highest tax bur- single filers and $24,000 for those filing mittee who have been working for a dens; yet Maine’s per capita income jointly. The child tax credit will be year to put the budget together. It is ranks only 31st, which is nearly $5,200 doubled from $1,000 to $2,000. Thanks to done, and we could do this, but instead below the U.S. average. Maintaining Senator RUBIO’s efforts, which I strong- we are putting it off and putting it off this deduction therefore provides im- ly supported, up to $1,400 of that tax and putting it off. I wouldn’t be sur- portant tax relief for those Mainers credit will be refundable in order to prised if, come January or February— who itemize. benefit low-income families. assuming we don’t make it by this Fri- My second amendment included in Let’s be more concrete. What do day—there are going to be people who the conference agreement is a very im- these reforms mean to families across say: Let’s just do a continuing resolu- portant one. It is aimed at helping our country? The 72 percent of Mainers tion for the rest of the year—a cop-out Americans struggling with high, unre- who already use the standard deduc- resolution, a nonresolution, a nondeci- imbursed healthcare costs, including tion will have their taxes reduced. A sion on behalf of the people of this seniors paying for long-term care for a family with $24,000 in income will pay country. loved one and those with expensive no Federal income tax. A single mom I think we can do better. I think we chronic healthcare conditions. My earning $35,000 a year with one child can begin to regain the trust of the amendment lowers the threshold for will see her taxes drop by nearly 4,000 American people by going back and claiming this deduction for these unre- percent. Instead of paying money back doing things the way we are supposed imbursed expenses from 10 percent to to Washington, she will be getting back to according to the old norms, with 7.5 percent of income for 2017 and 2018. nearly $1,100 to help her make ends hearings and considerations and mak- The House bill would have eliminated meet. A couple with no children earn- ing deadlines and meeting our obliga- this longstanding deduction used by ing $60,000 will see their taxes fall by tions to our citizens and to our coun- approximately 8.8 million Americans more than $900. A couple with two chil- try. annually, nearly half of whom make dren earning $60,000 will get a tax cut I deeply hope that as the year turns, less than $50,000 per year. Retaining of about $1,700. That is a reduction of we also make a turn and that we make this important deduction and lowering more than 100 percent. The bottom line a turn to do this place better, to do our the threshold will provide relief for is that most Maine households will see work that the American people hired those experiencing particularly high their taxes go down. us to do, to do it on a timely basis, and healthcare costs. That is why AARP I was very concerned about a number to meet our responsibilities. I believe and 44 other consumer groups strongly of important deductions for individuals we can do it. I believe we can do it bet- endorsed my amendments, stating: ‘‘It that would have been eliminated under ter, and I deeply hope that we do so. provides important tax relief which the House bill. Thank you, Madam President. helps offset the costs of acute and Having worked at Husson University I yield the floor. chronic medical conditions for older in Bangor before my election to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Americans, children, pregnant women, Senate, I am well aware of how critical ator from Maine. disabled individuals and other adults, education deductions and credits are to TAX CUTS AND JOBS BILL as well as the costs associated with our students and their families; there- Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I long-term care and assisted living.’’ fore, I had several fruitful discussions rise to express my support for the con- At a time when we need to be encour- with a key conferee, Senator ROB ference agreement on the Tax Cuts and aging Americans to save more for their PORTMAN, about preserving those de- Job Act, the first major overhaul of retirement, I am encouraged that the ductions that help students afford our Tax Code since 1986. This legisla- final agreement preserves the pretax higher education. I appreciate his tion will provide tax relief to working contribution limits for retirement sav- strong advocacy for these provisions families, encourage the creation of jobs ings plans. We are in the midst of a si- that I care so much about as a result of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.011 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8059 my direct experience working with col- wear in Maine that we can export helps everyone in our community and lege students. In fact, one of the very across the globe.’’ contributes to a growing Maine econ- first bills that I introduced in the Sen- This significant Maine employer omy.’’ ate as a new Senator in 1997 was to pro- went on to say: ‘‘Companies like New The innkeeper of the Nonantum Re- vide a deduction for interest paid on Balance, which already has a strong sort in Kennebunkport noted: ‘‘This student loans. The conference agree- domestic manufacturing presence, will tax reform bill helps level the playing ment maintains that deductibility of be able to increase investments in their field for small businesses not only in interest on student loans, as well as facilities and be more globally com- the hotel industry, but across the econ- the tax exemption for employer-pro- petitive while remaining a U.S. com- omy. With a lower tax burden, small vided tuition assistance and for grad- pany hiring U.S. workers.’’ businesses in all industries can con- uate student tuition waivers. All of These words are echoed by the man- tinue to grow, creating more jobs.’’ those important deductions are main- ager of the Pratt & Whitney plant who Moreover, a family-owned business in tained in this bill and will help Ameri- wrote to me: ‘‘The reforms . . . will southern Maine described for me how cans improve their earnings because of allow companies like ours to bring the bill would benefit Maine companies the increased education they will have. home earnings from abroad to invest in and the people who work for them: The bill also maintains a $250 deduc- research and development, advanced ‘‘When [companies] become more prof- tion—a provision I authored some 15 manufacturing, energy efficiency, and itable, they reinvest faster, grow fast- years ago—that allows teachers to de- workforce initiatives. . . . Pratt & er, and increase profit-sharing. Em- duct the costs of classroom supplies Whitney plans to hire thousands of ployees benefit when companies grow. they purchase with their own money. people over the next several years There are more jobs, more opportuni- Having visited more than 200 schools in across our U.S. operations, and this tax ties, more security, more mobility, the State of Maine, I know firsthand reform will further support our ef- more innovation.’’ how dedicated teachers dig deep into forts.’’ Tax reform should spur this kind of their own pockets to buy supplies to Isn’t that what we seek? Isn’t that economic growth. The weak growth enhance the education of their stu- what tax reform should bring about— and stagnant wages we have seen in re- dents. more jobs, right here in America? cent years cannot be accepted as the In addition, this bill would modernize The bill also includes changes impor- new normal for our country. It is clear the ABLE accounts, which are tax-pre- tant for our small businesses which where the current path would lead if ferred savings accounts essential for employ nearly half of all workers and we do not act. CBO projects the current providing long-term support for indi- generate two out of three net new jobs slow growth of just 1.9 percent per year viduals with disabilities and their fam- in our country. They are the true en- will continue throughout the next dec- ilies. gine of our economy, especially in the ade—far below the historic average of 3 The bill also continues the tax credit great State of Maine. The bill would percent. This would result in our public to encourage adoptions. provide tax relief that enables them to debt exceeding 90 percent of GDP by The final agreement also preserves a create more jobs, increase paychecks, 2027, just as our obligations to the baby number of deductions and credits that and grow our economy. boom generation begin to crest. are so important to our communities. I As the president of the Retail Asso- Surely, we can do better. Tax relief worked hard to preserve the historic ciation of Maine recently commented and reform will lift our economy, lead- tax credit so businesses rehabilitating about this tax reform bill, ‘‘For Maine ing to higher wages for workers and older buildings in communities like and its nearly 9,000 retail establish- more revenue for government. Extrapo- Lewiston, ME, will continue to do so. ments and the more than 80,000 retail lating from a CBO estimate, an in- I am also pleased that private activ- jobs, this is welcome relief for small crease of just four-tenths of 1 percent ity bonds, which are vital to many hos- businesses.’’ in economic growth could produce rev- pitals and institutions of higher edu- According to the National Federation enues that are in excess of $1 trillion cation, are continued, as are the afford- of Independent Business, Maine ranks over the next 10 years. able housing and new markets tax fifth in the Nation for the share of If we remain on our present trajec- credits. We have found proven ways to workers employed by passthrough busi- tory, however, growth will remain encourage public-private partnerships, nesses, as most small employers are stagnant. Continued slow growth will and we ought to continue to structured. The NFIB, our Nation’s crowd out many funding priorities, incentivize these important partner- small business advocacy group, has harm our national security, place sig- ships. strongly endorsed this final bill. nificant strain on Federal programs, How this legislation treats employers Small businesses make an outsized and impose a burden on our children has also been the subject of much de- contribution to our Nation’s economy; and our grandchildren. We must act bate, but the reality is the United yet they face a tax burden that can now to reignite the engine of growth, States cannot continue to have the reach nearly 40 percent at the Federal to provide for the next generation the highest corporate tax rate in the devel- level and can be significantly higher same promise of a brighter future we oped world at 35 percent. We are losing than the corporate tax rates paid by received from those who came before jobs as businesses make the calculation larger firms. Small businesses are us. to invest overseas. forced to devote more resources to tax Finally, let me discuss the critical I have talked to the executives of payments and fewer resources to cre- issue of healthcare. It has been deeply General Dynamics, which owns Bath ating good jobs and investing in their disturbing to see seniors frightened Iron Works in Maine and employs more communities. This bill provides impor- about the possibility that this tax bill than 5,000 Mainers; to United Tech- tant tax relief to small businesses that could trigger an automatic 4-percent nology, which employs more than 1,900 are the backbone of our economy. cut in the vital Medicare Program. Al- people in North Berwick at its Pratt & Let’s listen to the words of some of though I knew that the law that could Whitney plant; to General Electric, the small businesses from Maine that cause this reduction has been waived 16 which has a major plant in Bangor; to have written or talked to me. The times, I felt it was essential that our Proctor & Gamble, which employs 400 owner of Windham Millwork, an archi- leaders publicly commit that Medicare workers in Auburn; and to Idexx, which tectural woodworking company, de- reductions would not be triggered by is such an important high-tech em- scribed the relief for small businesses this legislation. I don’t know of any ployer in Westbrook, about the positive and how it will help manufacturing Senator on either side of the aisle who difference this legislation will make in workers and families this way: ‘‘Most is seeking to have an automatic 4-per- their ability to create jobs in America. importantly, it means Windham Mill- cent cut in Medicare go into effect. New Balance, which has about 900 work will have more money to spend I ask unanimous consent that my ex- workers in Maine manufacturing foot- on what matters—our workers and change of correspondence with the Sen- wear, describes the tax reforms as fol- community. With the money we’ll ate majority leader be printed in the lows: ‘‘New Balance will be more com- save, we can create new jobs or offer RECORD at the conclusion of my state- petitive and manufacture more foot- better pay to our workforce . . . which ment.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.012 S18DEPT1 S8060 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 This pledge is ironclad and, I hope, league Senator BILL NELSON. It would Jobs Act. While it is by no means per- reassuring to our seniors. protect people with preexisting condi- fect, on balance, this reform bill will I am also concerned about the inclu- tions while lowering the cost of health provide much needed tax relief. It will sion of the repeal of the individual insurance through the use of high-risk benefit lower and middle-income fami- mandate of the Affordable Care Act as pools. This plan will provide $5 billion lies, while spurring the creation of part of this tax bill. I don’t think the annually for 2 years in seed money for good jobs and greater economic two issues should have been combined, States to establish invisible high-risk growth. but let me be very clear: I have never pools or traditional reinsurance pro- There being no objection, the mate- supported the individual mandate. grams. rial was ordered to be printed in the There is a big difference between fining We don’t have to guess about the im- RECORD, as follows: people who choose to go without health pact. I am going to quote some actu- U.S. SENATE, insurance versus the bills considered arial studies shortly. The fact is that Washington, DC, November 28, 2017. last summer and fall that would have we know from experience in States like Hon. MITCH MCCONNELL, taken away insurance coverage from Maine and Alaska that high-risk pools Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. people who have it and want it. Those can help to lower premiums substan- DEAR MAJORITY LEADER MCCONNELL: I write to express my deep concerns with the bills also would have made sweeping tially, by an average of 20 percent. Congressional Budget Office’s determination cuts in the Medicaid Program. Analyses show that enactment of that an automatic four percent cut to Medi- The financial penalty under the indi- these two bills together will reduce the care, estimated to be roughly $25 billion for vidual mandate for failing to comply cost of health insurance, thus making fiscal year 2018, could be triggered by the with it falls disproportionately on it more affordable. According to anal- passage of tax reform legislation as a result lower-income Americans. Eighty per- ysis by experts at Oliver Wyman, the of the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) cent of those who pay the fine make passage of these bills will more than even though there is no intention for such a under $50,000 a year. For many of these offset the premium increases caused by reduction to occur. Since I do not believe it is anyone’s inten- individuals, the cost of insurance under the repeal of the individual mandate. tion to allow automatic cuts to Medicare to the ACA is simply unaffordable. Indi- In fact, Oliver Wyman suggests in its occur, I urge swift action to waive the viduals making 250 percent of the Fed- estimate that the $5 billion in funding PAYGO requirements. Medicare provides es- eral poverty level—that is just over would be sufficient to allow States to sential benefits to our nation’s seniors, and $30,000—are not eligible for the sub- leverage more than $15 billion in rein- we must remove immediately the threat that sidies to reduce deductibles and other surance coverage, and it would result an automatic reduction in the program’s out-of-pocket costs that are known as in premiums that were more than 20 funding could occur. the cost-sharing reductions. So, essen- Since PAYGO was enacted, sixteen laws percent lower than if the individual that would have otherwise triggered tially, the insurance they are being mandate were repealed and the pack- PAYGO’s automatic spending cuts have in- fined for, if they don’t buy, is virtually age of provisions were not imple- cluded provisions to exclude all or part of useless to them because the deductibles mented. the law’s budgetary impact, including the and the copays are so high, and if they Furthermore, analysis by experts at American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that make over 250 percent of the poverty Avalere project that ‘‘in combination, was enacted under the previous Administra- level—over $30,000 a year—they cannot CSR funding and $5B in annual reinsur- tion. afford it. ance could lower 2019 premiums by 18% I look forward to working with you to en- I want to make an important point sure that no Medicare cuts are triggered and increase enrollment by 1.3M peo- under PAYGO, a goal I believe is supported that has been overlooked in this de- ple.’’ by members on both sides of the aisle. Thank bate. Any Senator, Democratic or Re- The National Association of Insur- you for your attention to this critical issue. publican, could have offered an amend- ance Commissioners wrote that these Sincerely, ment on the Senate floor to strike the two bills would significantly reduce SUSAN M. COLLINS, repeal of the individual mandate. health insurance premiums and help United States Senator. None—not one—chose to do so. That is promote more stability in insurance telling, indeed, and reflects both how markets. The NAIC said: ‘‘Providing U.S. SENATE, MAJORITY LEADER, unpopular the mandate is and how bur- reliable federal funding to reimburse Washington, DC, December 1, 2017. Hon. SUSAN COLLINS, densome its impact is. health insurance carriers for the Cost- Washington, DC. Nevertheless, repealing the indi- Sharing Reduction (CSR) program as- DEAR SENATOR COLLINS: Thank you for vidual mandate without other sistance they give to low-income con- your letter expressing concern about the healthcare reforms will almost cer- sumers and grants for states to estab- across-the-board spending cuts. You will be tainly lead to further increases in the lish invisible high risk pools or reinsur- pleased to know that Speaker Paul Ryan and costs of health insurance premiums ance programs would reduce premium I issued the following joint statement earlier that are already too expensive under increases as much as 20 percent and today: ‘‘Critics of tax reform are claiming the leg- the ACA. could encourage some carriers to stay islation would lead to massive, across-the- For these reasons, I have made it a in the market.’’ board spending cuts in vital programs—in- priority to secure passage of two bipar- In evaluating this bill, the question cluding a 4-percent reduction in Medicare— tisan bills that will help make health we should ask is not, Does this tax cut due to the Pay-Go law enacted in 2010. This insurance more affordable. Shouldn’t make Washington better off? The right will not happen. Congress has readily avail- that be a goal that all of us can em- question to ask is, Does this tax cut able methods to waive this law, which has brace? Both of these bills have the sup- make the American people better off? never been enforced since its enactment. port of the President, the Vice Presi- The answer to that question is yes. There is no reason to believe that Congress dent, and the Senate Republican lead- The bill puts money back into the would not act again to prevent a sequester, and we will work to ensure these spending ers. In fact, Majority Leader MCCON- pockets of American taxpayers with cuts are prevented.’’ NELL and I engaged in a colloquy af- tax cuts beginning January 1. As soon Again, thank you. firming that commitment. as the IRS updates withholding tables Sincerely, The first bill, the Bipartisan this winter, taxpayers will see the ben- MITCH MCCONNELL, Healthcare Stabilization Act, spon- efit of this bill in their paychecks. Over Majority Leader. sored by Senators ALEXANDER and time, Americans will also see more The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- MURRAY, will provide vital funding to benefit from this legislation in the ator from Florida. help low-income families pay their out- form of higher wages. Businesses, small Mr. NELSON. Madam President, does of-pocket costs, including deductibles and large, will make the investments the Senator from Maine need some and copays associated with certain that will create more jobs. more time? ACA health insurance. I am proud to be The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I one of the 22 cosponsors of the bipar- ator’s time has expired. thank Senator NELSON. I say, through tisan Alexander-Murray bill. Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I the Chair, that is very gracious of the The second is a bipartisan bill that I will cast my vote in support of the con- Senator. I have completed my state- introduced with my friend and col- ference agreement on the Tax Cuts and ment. Thank you.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.014 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8061 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Take China. China has a corporate shouldn’t be moving Heaven and ator from Florida. rate of 25 percent, except that they Earth—adding $1.5 trillion to the na- Mr. NELSON. Madam President, make exceptions for certain companies tional debt or upending our Nation’s while the Senator from Maine is still at 15 percent. So the 21 percent in this healthcare system—just to make it here, let me just say what a great Sen- tax bill for corporations on income easier for them to send American jobs ator she is and what a pleasure it is to earned in the United States may still overseas. That is not right. That is not do business in a bipartisan way, as the be higher than in China, and the pres- fair. The American people deserve bet- two of us have now done for several sure on corporations is to take it to a ter. years here in the Senate, including the country that has lower environmental I yield the floor. legislation the Senator from Maine standards and lower wages. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. just talked about. I think our friends on the other side MORAN). The Senator from Maryland. I just want to say to the Senator of the aisle know this is a head fake. Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, first, I from Maine that it is my hope, regard- We are not fooled by this. We know want to thank my friend Senator NEL- ing the statements that have been what you are trying to do with this SON for his comments from the floor in made to the Senator, that these two bill. The more people learn about it, regard to the tax bill that we will be pieces of legislation she referenced will the worse it looks. That is why they voting on later this week. The experi- be passed. I do believe the majority waited until Friday night to let the ence I had this morning underscores leader, Senator MCCONNELL, will honor spotlight shine on it—so that over the the issues that Senator NELSON has that with regard to the Senate. It is weekend people weren’t paying a lot of brought to the floor. I had a meeting this Senator’s concern that at the attention. with the Greater Baltimore Com- other end of the hall, in the House of There is a reason why my friends on mittee. We had business leaders, labor Representatives, they may not honor the other side of the aisle are in such a leaders; we had advocates from dif- that. I certainly hope the Senator feels rush to get this passed. It is because ferent segments of our community; and like she has the statements of commit- they want to get it enacted before all we had graduate students there. They ment by the leadership in the House of of the new loopholes and sweetheart all expressed concern about our voting Representatives that they will do as deals for the special interests and the this week on a tax bill that we first Senator MCCONNELL has indicated. bottom line of encouraging jobs to go saw on Friday evening—the latest Madam President, I wish to talk overseas are discovered. And, starting version. about the tax bill. Needless to say, you right now, it is going to be discovered. It is still fundamentally flawed, as are going to hear a different version It would be nice if our colleagues Senator NELSON has pointed out. I say from me than my good friend and the showed as much urgency for some of that it is fundamentally flawed because very distinguished Senator from the other things we should be doing in it gives significant, big tax cuts to cor- Maine, because last Friday night we the Senate, such as providing millions porations and high-income taxpayers got the conference agreement on the of kids with health insurance through and leaves middle-income taxpayers tax bill. You can wonder why it was the CHIP program or helping folks re- footing the bill. held until late Friday night, when no- cover from the massive hurricanes this The conference report makes it worse body was paying attention to the de- year, including the millions of people because they lower the highest tax rate tails of the bill. in Puerto Rico who are still without from 39.6 percent to 37 percent—an- What is becoming increasingly clear reliable electricity or drinking water. other advantage for high-income tax- is that this tax bill is not for ordinary What about the hundreds of thousands payers. In addition, the estate tax is folks. It is going to give a few nuggets of Dreamers in the United States who doubled, which affects 0.2 percent of to the middle class, but that is to mask are here in a deportable status? That is the wealthiest people in this country. the true intent. The real purpose of the what we ought to be worrying about. Corporations not only get the lower bill is to give huge tax cuts to multi- It has been over 3 months, going on 4 tax rates cut from 35 percent to 21 per- national corporations and to make it months, since Hurricanes Irma and cent, but they also get relief from the easier for them to shift jobs overseas. Maria devastated the Puerto Rican is- alternative minimum tax. To make That is the bottom line. land. It has been months since Harvey matters even worse, the tax relief for Right now, under current law, cor- and Irma devastated farmers in Texas, middle-income families is temporary, porations that send jobs overseas have Florida, and Puerto Rico. While the whereas the tax relief for businesses is to pay taxes on the money they bring Congress has passed two disaster sup- made permanent. back into the United States, but now, plemental funding packages, neither of It is definitely a tax bill that is going what this new GOP tax bill says is that them has included any relief for Flor- to hurt middle-income taxpayers. In corporations that send jobs overseas ida’s agricultural community. They are my own State, independent analysis can bring that money back to United hanging on by a thread. They can hard- shows that 800,000 Marylanders will end States tax-free. Once this bill passes, ly make payroll. They are having to up paying more in taxes. Guess who is companies will come under increasing lay off people. They desperately need going to foot the bill, who is going to pressure to take advantage of the tax our help, which I hope we are going to pay for the big deficit. savings in the bill by sending their jobs address in this next disaster aid fund- If you look at the corporate tax cut overseas to low-wage countries—par- ing package. alone, that is somewhere close to the ticularly those jobs that can’t already Instead of spending all of our energy $1.15 trillion we have been talking be automated. on cutting corporate taxes and making about, which is baked into the bill to This is the exact opposite of what we it easier to send American jobs over- increase the national debt by $1.5 tril- should be doing. Instead of passing this seas, we should be focused on reauthor- lion. I think that is unconscionable; I version of the tax bill that will inevi- izing the Children’s Health Insurance think it is unconscionable to say that tably send American jobs overseas, we Program, CHIP, so that 9 million chil- we can afford tax cuts when we already should be working on a bill that cuts dren across the country, including have these large deficits that are going taxes permanently for hard-working nearly 400,000 in Florida, can continue to make us borrow more money and middle-class families. to have access to the health coverage make our economy more dependent. Supporters of the bill will argue that they desperately need. Or we should be The truth is, even the Republicans a lower corporate rate will encourage negotiating permanent protections for are telling us, even with dynamic scor- companies to keep jobs here. They will the Dreamers before they are kicked ing, we are going to have a $1 trillion argue that, rather than going to a out of the only country they have ever tax gap in the deficit. In reality, the country with a higher corporate rate, known. Unfortunately, the only thing $1.5 trillion is conservative. When you America’s corporate rate will be lower. this Republican-led Senate seems to look at the individual tax relief, it is But that is ignoring the attraction care about is helping out large multi- temporary; it expires. Some expire in 2 that companies have to send jobs over- national corporations. years. seas, because of cheaper wages and The truth is, these multinational Most of my Republican friends have lower environmental standards. corporations are doing just fine. We said: Just extend it. If you extend it,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.016 S18DEPT1 S8062 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 there will be even a deeper hole in the tions on their Federal tax returns. In table giving? If it changes their chari- deficit—closer to $2 trillion. Who is other words, you don’t have to pay a table giving pattern, what does it do going to pay for that? Middle-income tax on a tax. That makes sense. It has for nonprofits? If our nonprofits can’t families are going to pay for it. They been in our Tax Code since its begin- do that, there is additional pressure on are not just being left out as far as tax ning because we recognize federalism, governmental services. Have we relief is concerned; they are being and it is morally wrong to pay tax on thought that out? I doubt we know the asked to foot the bill for the tax cuts tax. consequences. Yet we are not prepared for corporations and high-income tax- Maryland has the most taxpayers to have hearings on this. payers. who take advantage of State and local One of the major issues that has had In addition, it will affect other ele- tax deductions, close to 50 percent. The very little discussion is the pass- ments that middle-income taxpayers average for Maryland—this is the aver- through. You have heard a lot about it. depend upon. This is a direct attack on age—is $12,900 that they deduct for The reason for this is that 95 percent of Medicaid and Medicare. We see that. State and local taxes. Under the con- American businesses don’t use cor- We saw that in the budget instructions, ference report, that is going to be lim- porate tax returns. They use where we had to cut Medicare and Med- ited to $10,000. That means the average passthroughs, S corporations, indi- icaid. We see that in the pay-go rules. Maryland taxpayer will have to pay vidual proprietorships, partnerships, et We see that the next chapter of this taxes on $2,900 more, but think about cetera. This bill provides a lower tax tax reform bill will be, well, now we all those who have a lot more in State rate for their passthrough business in- have these deficits, and we have to pay and local taxes who are going to be de- come at 20 percent. Here is the prob- for it. Who is going to be held respon- nied that help. lem. In an effort to make sure that this sible for paying for it? I was talking to some of our local isn’t a way of getting around paying We know that it is going to affect our government officials over the weekend. taxes on salaries, there are certain own budgets. I am now hearing that we They are going to be disadvantaged by guardrails that have been put into this are going to take it out on our own it. It was an interesting analysis. We bill based upon a person’s income, Federal workforce, deny them a pay don’t think about what this bill is based upon the type of business they raise for next year or have fewer Fed- going to do and all the consequences, are in, based upon the assets of the eral workers to carry out their mission but if you are in a State that has its business, based upon the amount of sal- or make them pay more for benefits. own itemized deductions, like Mary- aries that are paid in the business. And We know that is going to come. The ar- land—we have itemized deductions on you are trying to tell me that can’t be gument is going to be that we have our State income tax return, and our manipulated in order to shelter in- these large deficits now, and we have standard deduction will be signifi- come? We are creating a whole new in- to do this. cantly lower than the standard deduc- dustry in sheltering income under this How are we going to respond to the tion under this conference report. bill. issues Senator NELSON talked about on You are going to have Marylanders I have heard so many of my col- disaster relief when we have these who are not going to be able to take leagues talk about the fact that we large deficits? We know that we are their State deductions because you don’t want to outsource jobs. None of going to be asking middle-income fami- can’t take State deductions unless you us want to outsource jobs. Having com- lies not only to make a sacrifice on the use the Federal itemized deductions. It petitive rates helps us in that regard, tax cut, not only to pay for the deficit is estimated that nationwide only 5 but moving toward a territorial tax created directly by this but, also, in percent of the taxpayers will be using structure rewards companies for doing the future, to pay with cuts in govern- itemized deductions. Guess what. If their business offshore. Even if tax ment spending. you don’t use the itemized deduction at rates might be the same, they can use In addition to that, we have 13 mil- the Federal level, you can’t take the labor costs, or some other costs, to lion Americans who will lose their State itemized deductions. This is outsource jobs. health coverage under this bill because going to have a direct impact on our Have we thought about that under a of the elimination of the individual State and local governments. Yet that territorial tax? No. Do we know what mandate—13 million. That is going to hasn’t been considered. impact it will have? No. There are a lot affect 13 million families. It is going to Quite frankly, the consequences of of issues we don’t fully understand. We affect more than that. Guess what this bill haven’t been debated. We do know there are individual provisions these families do. They use emergency haven’t gone through public hearings put in here—for example, drilling in rooms rather than going to their fam- because of the process that was used— the Arctic. That, to me, should not be ily doctors. They enter the healthcare the partisan process, called reconcili- part of this bill. I worry about that system in a more expensive way. They ation. We haven’t seen daylight. We being expanded to the Atlantic coast don’t have the money to pay for the haven’t had a chance to know what the and other areas. I think we all should visits, and it becomes part of uncom- impact will be. What impact will it be concerned about it. pensated care. All of us pay higher pre- have on property values? We now limit The bottom line is this. When you do miums, and our healthcare system be- property tax deductions, and we have a tax reform, you would hope you would comes more expensive. further limit on interest deductions on simplify the Tax Code and make it pre- That has been one of the bright spots mortgages. What impact does it have dictable. That is what I hear the most: of the Affordable Care Act—reducing on property values? What impact does Let’s simplify the Tax Code, and let’s the number of uninsured. Now we are the reduction of property values have make it predictable. Neither will be ac- going to be moving in the opposite di- on our economy, have on the individual complished with this conference re- rection. The Affordable Care Act has values for people who have loans on port. With all these temporary tax pro- worked. The Republicans tried to dis- their homes? Are we going to be cre- visions, you know that we are going to mantle it, and they couldn’t succeed. ating a problem? We don’t know be- have to deal with extenders. You are The worst part is, you are counting the cause we haven’t had any hearings on not going to be able to plan as to loss of insurance of 13 million as a rev- it. whether this Tax Code will stand the enue gain for the Treasury and then On Friday, I was with a group of non- test of time. If you think this is sim- spending that money. That is uncon- profits that do very valuable work. plification, try to figure out whether scionable. They are worried about what impact you are eligible for the passthrough 20 In Maryland, we have particular this tax bill will have on charitable percent on your business taxes. It is problems with this bill. Not only will giving. When only 5 percent of the tax- anything but simple. we see a problem for the Federal work- payers in this country use itemized de- This bill fails in its principle test of force—a large number who live in ductions, it means a great number of helping middle-income families, which Maryland—but also the State and local people who were able to take advan- it does not do. It is for corporations, tax deductions. Maryland has the larg- tage of charitable deductions on their big corporations, and high-income peo- est number of taxpayers who take ad- tax returns no longer will have that ple. It is fiscally irresponsible to add to vantage of State and local tax deduc- ability. Does that change their chari- the debt. It makes our Tax Code more

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.017 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8063 complicated and doesn’t give us the rule helps them to assess their own fair that have been made by the insurance predictability we need in the Tax Code, housing needs, and it provides them industry despite the fact that litiga- and it should be rejected. publicly available data with which to tion is pending, and HUD and the De- I yield the floor. inform their decisions while they set partment of Justice, at least until now, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- their own goals and timelines. have been defending the rule. The next ator from Ohio. Since its adoption 2-plus years ago, court date for the suit is scheduled for COMPTON NOMINATION HUD has been working with commu- later this week. Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise to nities to implement the new guide- If the administration continues its oppose the nomination of Paul Comp- lines. That is the good news. The bad drive to reconsider fair housing protec- ton, which came out of the Banking, news is that the Secretary has said tions that are opposed to by industry, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. that he wants to reinterpret, but he is Mr. Compton will likely be called upon I might add that he is President not elaborating on what he meant by to help the administration in its ef- Trump’s nominee to serve as general his plan to reinterpret the rule. If the forts. Because he declined to answer counsel of the Department of Housing Secretary intends to reinterpret the my question, we don’t know what his and Urban Development. rule in a way that undermines HUD’s thinking will be. Mr. Compton is a longtime affordable efforts to help communities fulfill While I might be inclined to give Mr. housing and financial services attorney their longstanding obligations under Compton the benefit of the doubt, we in the State of Alabama. Mr. Compton, this 50-year-old law, Mr. Compton will have seen too many officials in this ad- if confirmed, would bring a deep famili- be called upon to carry out this vision. ministration who are working against arity with affordable housing to the Of- I voted against his nomination in the missions of the agencies to which fice of General Counsel. That part I committee because of my concern that they have been appointed. Financial like. With 11 million families paying he could help guide administration ef- regulators so often come from Wall over half their income for rent and forts to reverse progress on this fair Street. Environmental regulators so with homelessness on the rise for the housing rule. More recent activities by often come from the chemical industry first time in years, a nominee who ap- administration officials have only and the oil industry. We have seen it preciates the importance of affordable heightened the concerns that many of time and again. housing could be a positive addition at us have about their approaches to fair This is happening at a time when we HUD. Think about that. There are 11 housing. see the administration taking steps to million families who pay more than In 2013, HUD issued its discrimina- remove protections for average Ameri- cans and consumers in order to carry half their income on rent. tory effects rule. This rule formalized In a book written by Matthew HUD’s longstanding prohibition out the bidding of its supporters on Desmond called ‘‘Evicted: Poverty and against practices with discriminatory Wall Street. These include sending in Profit in the American City,’’ the au- effects under the Fair Housing Act and Mick Mulvaney, who once called the thor said of the people at that income provided uniform guidance for applying Consumer Financial Protection Bureau level: When your paycheck comes, the standards across the country. a ‘‘sick, sad joke.’’ He is now serving as its Director. It is his moonlighting job, rent eats first. Everything depends on Because homeowners’ insurance is as he is also the Director of the Office being able to stay in your home and central to the ability to obtain hous- of Management and Budget. His first not being foreclosed on. When 11 mil- ing, HUD and the courts have held for act as Director of the CFPB was to lion people pay over half their income decades that the Fair Housing Act ap- block the payments of funds that were on rent, homelessness is going to be on plies to discriminatory practices in in- owed to consumers—consumers who the rise. surance—a very easy-to-understand, were cheated or wronged by Wells I appreciate Mr. Compton’s commit- logical step. Nevertheless, insurance Fargo and other big banks or big finan- ment to me during our Banking, Hous- industry representatives sued to block cial institutions. The consumers, in ing, and Urban Affairs Committee HUD’s application of the discrimina- many cases, were servicemembers who hearing that he would look out for the tory effects rule—also known as dis- had been cheated by these financial in- interests of renters and homeowners if parate impact—to their industry. HUD stitutions. On Mulvaney’s first day on confirmed, but I am voting against him and the Department of Justice have the job, he said: No, we are not going to because I am concerned about the ad- been fighting this suit ever since. As move forward in collecting those pen- ministration’s approach to fair housing general counsel, Mr. Compton would alties and in paying those consumers protections and the role that he will guide HUD’s enforcement and litiga- and those servicemembers and those tion strategy. likely play in helping to carry that seniors and those families. out. In response to a written question, I am concerned about this emerging I was troubled to learn that Sec- Mr. Compton declined to provide his effort to roll back protections for con- retary Carson had said that he plans to views on the discriminatory effects sumers. I hope that Mr. Compton ‘‘reinterpret’’ HUD’s affirmatively fur- rule and whether it should apply to the proves me wrong. I hope that he is a thering fair housing—or AFFH—rule. insurance industry. He noted that ‘‘it strong advocate within the agency and Since 1968, the Fair Housing Act has would be inappropriate’’ for him to the administration for fair housing, for required HUD and its grantees to af- comment on the matter given the consumer protection, and for affordable firmatively further fair housing. Unfor- pending litigation. housing. When given the chance to tunately, in the 50 years since our The administration, it seems, does demonstrate his commitment to fair country passed the Fair Housing Act, not share his reluctance to comment housing, he took a pass. These matters HUD has not provided enough direction on pending litigation. A month and a are too important to far too many to help communities meet this goal. half ago, the Treasury Department Americans for us to leave their futures A 2010 General Accountability Office issued a report entitled ‘‘A Financial to chance. I urge my colleagues to join report recommended that HUD improve System that Creates Economic Oppor- me in opposing Mr. Compton’s nomina- its processes for meeting its obliga- tunities—Asset Management and Insur- tion. tions to affirmatively further fair ance.’’ In this report, Treasury rec- I yield the floor. housing. In response, HUD developed a ommends that HUD reconsider the use The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- revised rule to finally help local gov- of the disparate impact rule. ator from Idaho. ernments across the country support It is not that this administration de- Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask and foster fair housing policies cides to support the side of big insur- unanimous consent to speak on behalf throughout their communities. ance companies every time—maybe it of Mr. Compton and to conclude my re- The rule gives clearer guidance to doesn’t every time—but it seems like it marks before the vote. communities to help them think in almost always does. It did it in this The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without new ways about how to create housing case. Yet Mr. Compton thinks that he objection, it is so ordered. opportunities for all of their residents shouldn’t comment when other already Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise in regardless of race or religion or dis- confirmed Trump appointees have. The support of Paul Compton to serve as ability or the size of their family. The Treasury’s report sides with arguments HUD’s next general counsel.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.018 S18DEPT1 S8064 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 Mr. Compton has dedicated his entire The result was announced—yeas 62, McCaskill Risch Tester legal career to affordable housing and nays 34, as follows: McConnell Roberts Thune Moran Rounds Tillis community development and for many [Rollcall Vote No. 318 Ex.] Murkowski Rubio Toomey years has headed the affordable hous- YEAS—62 Murphy Sasse Udall ing practice of a prominent Alabama Nelson Scott Warner Alexander Flake Nelson Paul Shaheen Whitehouse law firm. Over his distinguished career, Barrasso Gardner Paul Perdue Shelby Wicker Mr. Compton has played a direct role Bennet Graham Portman Strange Perdue Young in over 70 transactions that have led to Blunt Grassley Portman Reed Sullivan the creation of more than 5,000 units of Boozman Hatch Risch Burr Heitkamp NAYS—23 affordable housing throughout the Roberts Carper Heller Rounds Booker Hirono Sanders Southeastern United States. Among Cassidy Hoeven Rubio Brown Klobuchar Schatz Cochran Inhofe peers, he has come to be recognized as Sasse Casey Leahy Schumer Collins Isakson Scott Cortez Masto Markey Stabenow an industry-leading expert on the low- Coons Johnson Shaheen Durbin Menendez Van Hollen income housing tax credit, the new Corker Kennedy Franken Merkley Shelby Warren markets tax credit, public-private Cornyn King Gillibrand Murray Strange Wyden partnerships, and the regulatory envi- Cotton Lankford Harris Peters Crapo Lee Sullivan ronment surrounding housing produc- Cruz Manchin Tester NOT VOTING—3 Thune tion. Daines McCaskill Baldwin Duckworth McCain Mr. Compton’s extensive track Donnelly McConnell Tillis record, his experience, and his intimate Enzi Moran Toomey The nomination was confirmed. Ernst Murkowski Wicker The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under familiarity with HUD programs make Fischer Murphy Young him an ideal fit to join the leadership the previous order, the motions to re- team at HUD. As general counsel, Mr. NAYS—34 consider are considered made and laid Compton will not only serve as the Blumenthal Hassan Sanders upon the table and the President will principal legal adviser to Secretary Booker Heinrich Schatz be immediately notified of the Senate’s Brown Hirono Schumer action. Carson, but he will have a hand in Cantwell Kaine Stabenow nearly every departmental initiative. Cardin Klobuchar Udall The Senator from West Virginia. Once confirmed, I look forward to Casey Leahy Van Hollen f Cortez Masto Markey working with Mr. Compton to find so- Warner Durbin Menendez Warren LEGISLATIVE SESSION Feinstein Merkley lutions to our Nation’s housing chal- Whitehouse Franken Murray lenges, to eliminate barriers to safe Wyden Gillibrand Peters and affordable housing, and to reform Harris Reed MORNING BUSINESS our housing finance system. This confirmation vote is long over- NOT VOTING—4 Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I ask due and is sorely needed. Following the Baldwin Duckworth unanimous consent that the Senate storms that ravaged through Houston, Capito McCain proceed to legislative session for a pe- Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is- The nomination was confirmed. riod of morning business, with Sen- ators permitted to speak therein for up lands, and elsewhere, HUD has been de- VOTE ON WEST NOMINATION to 10 minutes each and for debate only. ployed on the frontlines, alongside The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without FEMA and other agencies, and has question is, Will the Senate advise and objection, it is so ordered. worked to provide emergency and tran- consent to the West nomination? Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I sug- sitional housing to the thousands of Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask for gest the absence of a quorum. families who have been displaced. This the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The work is far from over, and I urge this The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a body to confirm Mr. Compton today, as clerk will call the roll. sufficient second? The bill clerk proceeded to call the well as to confirm the various other There appears to be a sufficient sec- HUD nominees who are awaiting votes roll. ond. Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I ask so that they can get to work for the The clerk will call the roll. American people. unanimous consent that the order for Thank you. The bill clerk called the roll. the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time Mr. CORNYN. The following Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without has expired. is necessarily absent: the Senator from objection, it is so ordered. Arizona (Mr. MCCAIN). The question is, Will the Senate ad- f vise and consent to the Compton nomi- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the nation? Senator from Wisconsin (Ms. BALDWIN) REPUBLICAN TAX BILL Mr. WICKER. I ask for the yeas and and the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I come nays. DUCKWORTH) are necessarily absent. to the floor tonight, once again, to talk The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. about this tax bill being rushed sufficient second? LANKFORD). Are there any other Sen- through the House and the Senate. There appears to be a sufficient sec- ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? This is the first time in 31 years that a ond. The result was announced—yeas 74, tax bill of this magnitude has been con- The clerk will call the roll. nays 23, as follows: The assistant bill clerk called the sidered. I don’t refer to this as tax re- The result was announced—- yeas 74, form because it is barely reforming roll. nays 23, as follows: Mr. CORNYN. The following Senators anything. are necessarily absent: the Senator [Rollcall Vote No. 319 Ex.] It seems a shame that we didn’t fol- from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO) and YEAS—74 low in the footsteps of what then-Presi- the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Alexander Corker Hassan dent Reagan chose to do when he had MCCAIN). Barrasso Cornyn Hatch the opportunity to reform the Tax Bennet Cotton Heinrich Code. The bill he worked on, which was Further, if present and voting the Blumenthal Crapo Heitkamp Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. CAP- Blunt Cruz Heller every bit as consequential as the one in ITO) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Boozman Daines Hoeven front of us, commanded the vast major- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Burr Donnelly Inhofe ity of votes in this Chamber—Demo- Cantwell Enzi Isakson Senator from Wisconsin (Ms. BALDWIN) Capito Ernst Johnson crats and Republicans voting to- and the Senator from Illinois (Ms. Cardin Feinstein Kaine gether—after years of process, years of DUCKWORTH) are necessarily absent. Carper Fischer Kennedy committee hearings, years of hearings The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Cassidy Flake King even out in the country, listening to Cochran Gardner Lankford any other Senators in the Chamber de- Collins Graham Lee business owners, economists, and citi- siring to vote? Coons Grassley Manchin zens talk about what they thought our

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.020 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8065 Tax Code needed to be competitive and gotten to a deal that 75 or 80 people our economy into the worst ditch since to be fair to the American people. would have voted for. That would have the Great Depression. I would say through the Chair to the been beneficial for two reasons. It When President Obama showed up, pages that I was in college when the would have represented more widely the surplus was not a surplus. It was a last bill was passed. Now, 31 years the American people’s view of what we $1.5 trillion deficit. I was here when we later, we are on the verge of passing a ought to do here. I have heard the ma- tried to work in a bipartisan way to bill in the Senate without one Demo- jority leader on the floor talking about figure out how to respond to a terri- cratic vote—not a single one—and partisan efforts like this, and how they fying circumstance—not for the Senate without a single hearing in the Senate are doomed to fail because most of the but for our country. Finance Committee, on which I serve— American people will not support it. A woman who came to a townhall not a single hearing about the text of We can see that in the polling numbers told me that her plan was to die sooner this bill, not a single hearing to tell on this bill. But we could have cut a because overnight she had lost half of the American people that, on the indi- deal that said: Let’s bring our cor- her net worth, and she didn’t know how vidual side of this bill, we are bor- porate rate down to 25 percent. By the to make it through because the stock rowing $34 billion from our kids to give way, let’s get rid of some of those loop- market had cratered and her pension a tax cut to the 572,000 taxpayers who holes. As for all of the stuff we said was cut in half. We had more than a 10-percent unem- are fortunate enough to make more over the years about lowering the rate ployment rate in the United States of than $1 million a year. That is 572,000 and broadening the base, let’s actually America, and we couldn’t get a single taxpayers who are fortunate enough to do that. make $1 million a year. We think it is That is not what this bill does. This person to lift their finger on the other so essential that each one of them get bill cuts the corporate rate to 20 per- side of the aisle because they said that a $59,000 tax cut that we are willing to cent and leaves all of the loopholes in the deficit was too big. They said that borrow that money from our children place. There is no broadening of the President Obama was pursuing what the pollsters told them was ‘‘job-kill- to do it. We can’t think of a better use base. So if the effective rate today is ing government spending.’’ Those were than that. actually in the low twenties, even the words. It wasn’t his $1.5 trillion A better use is not to give a tax cut though the published rate is 35 percent, deficit; that is what he inherited. He to the middle class, because we know the effective rate is going to be far left with about a $550 billion deficit. It what those numbers look like in this below 20 percent if we don’t actually bill. There are not a half million people was cut by two-thirds. reform the Tax Code. Today, we stand here talking about who make $50,000 and less in this econ- I think there would have been bipar- this absolutely irresponsible tax bill. It omy. There are 90 million people. tisan agreement about doing some- is already at $666 billion. We have a Those people are not getting $34 bil- thing with the earned income tax cred- government where we are collecting 18 lion. Those people are getting $13 bil- it or the child tax credit, as my col- percent of the GDP in revenue. It is ac- lion. If we do the math, it adds up to league from Florida has tried to do to tually about 17.9 percent before this about $160, on average, per taxpayer a degree. I think there would have been tax cut goes through. We are spending making $50,000 or less, in the first year. bipartisan support for the idea that we more than 21 percent, and our answer That is the best year. So 2019 is the ought to do something to repatriate is: Let’s cut some more taxes, so we best year. That $160 per taxpayer works the money stuck overseas and invest it will be spending 17 and change. That is out to about $7.50 a paycheck. here in the United States in infrastruc- a big delta—17 to 21. That is a con- So we are justifying $34 billion going ture. But there was no effort to make a versation we should be having to- to 572,000 families because we say at bipartisan effort here—none. gether, not in pieces. the essence of this is a tax cut for the There have certainly been cases All of these people who say: Don’t middle class that is worth $7.50. I think where Democrats have been guilty of worry about it; it will pay for itself— it is disgraceful to call this a middle- that. This is a profound case of the Re- remember what they said in 2001 and class tax cut. What is as disgraceful is publicans being guilty of that, and the 2003. They said the same thing. They the fact that we are blowing a $1.4 tril- result is that they have a lousy bill are going to show up here after this lion hole in our deficit. that speaks to the extreme wing of Christmas season has passed, and they There are people on the other side— their party rather than to the middle are going to say: That is why we need and I grant them this—who say we will of America, because only in that way to cut Medicaid and Medicare. grow out of this and that the tax cut could you end up with a piece of legis- There is no doubt we have to have a will pay for itself. This is exactly what lation that the President is describing conversation about the sustainability President Bush said in 2001, when he as a middle-class tax cut that is not of these programs, and there is no cut taxes. It is exactly what he said in one. Nothing about the math in this doubt we have to have a discussion 2003, when he cut taxes. Remember tax bill suggests it is. about how we are going to get out of that when George Bush became Presi- By the way, the $34 billion I talked the fiscal issues we confront. I have no dent of this country, he inherited a about does not include the estate tax. doubt that the moment we face the projected surplus of $5.6 trillion. Then, When we include the increase of the es- next crisis, whether it is a national se- he cut taxes and said it would pay for tates not subject to the estate tax in curity crisis or an economic crisis, we itself, in 2001. He cut taxes and said it this bill, it adds, on average, another are going to wish we hadn’t passed this would pay for itself, in 2003. We invaded $10,000. Now we are talking about bor- tax bill. We are going to wish that Afghanistan. We invaded Iraq. Not only rowing $69,000. So we are now bor- when this economy was at full employ- did he not ask the American people to rowing an additional $10,000 from the ment, when interest rates are what pay for those wars, but the 2003 tax cut sons and daughters of police officers, they are, that we had thought about actually came after the invasion of firefighters, and teachers in order to fi- how to come together in a bipartisan Iraq. nance an estate tax cut that we will way and actually do something respon- Today we have massive readiness not pay for. sible for once. problems with our military. Today we Pay for it. Don’t borrow the money. There is a mayor in Indiana who sent confront the potential for conflict on I got here 9 years ago at the depth of an op-ed piece to the Washington Post the Korean Peninsula. Today we con- the worst recession since the Great De- last week. He said: Let me break this front uncertainties in the Middle East pression. Our economy had locked up. down for you in terms of my local com- and behavior by Russia that we need to Because of the two tax cuts under munity. The equivalent of what the Re- worry about. Are we going to go in debt President Bush, because of the two publican tax bill is for my community to give the wealthiest people in Amer- wars we didn’t have the decency to pay would be that we would go out and bor- ica a tax cut they are not asking for? for, and because President Bush passed row $400 million, which is a staggering I am more sympathetic on the cor- so-called Medicare Part D—which is a sum, not billions and billions of dollars porate side. I believe our corporate rate prescription drug program for seniors but, on the basis of the size of their is too high. If we had worked in a bi- that he didn’t pay for—and then with government, $400 million—four or five partisan way, I think we could have the supply-side economics, they drove times what our indebtedness is today.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.026 S18DEPT1 S8066 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 Then, what I would do is say: We don’t need to maintain for the next to them because they would have an in- didn’t borrow this money to build in- generation of Americans. We would vestment in their community. It would frastructure. We didn’t borrow this rather give tax cuts to the wealthiest create jobs. It would allow them to do money to make sure we end poverty in people in America. economic development and keep their my community or to make sure the You could end the backlog of infra- children in their communities and water is clean. We gave it to the people structure repairs in America’s air- their schools open and their banks in the biggest houses, the richest ports—end it. Five years of funding, open. That is not a priority for the peo- neighborhoods in our community, hop- that is only $100 billion. I say ‘‘only.’’ ple writing and voting for this bill. ing that somehow the benefits would That is a huge number, but not com- President Trump cut Essential Air trickle down to everybody else. pared to $1.4 trillion. Service in his budget—zeroed it out. He said that they would be run out You could end the U.S. Air Force We could fund Essential Air Service for on the rail—and they should be. pilot shortage. Why do we have a short- 10 years, providing a critical economic There are some politicians who say age of Air Force pilots? Because this lifeline to small towns across America that it will pay for itself. There is no place, for 9 years, has run itself on con- and in my State. economist who has said that this is not tinuing resolutions. The military can’t We could fund the U.S. Forest Serv- going to create a deficit. There is prob- plan, so we have airplanes that are ice fires suppression for a decade, so ably a consensus, around $1.4 trillion— being scavenged for parts and cannot they wouldn’t have to keep I have seen some math that says $1 fly. If they can’t fly, the pilots can’t cannibalizing other parts of the budget. trillion, and others that say $2.5 tril- get the training hours. If they can’t get This year, for the first year, they spent lion. Let’s take the $1.4 trillion and the training hours, they can’t move more than half of their budget fighting consider, as an order of magnitude, if ahead in their careers, and they can’t fires because we don’t have the sense to we didn’t care about our deficit—which be ready when the battle comes. You budget them so that they can do fire apparently we don’t anymore—what could easily pay for that here. mitigation. Talk about penny wise and else we could spend the money on be- You could fund the first 5 years of pound foolish. sides giving this tax cut to the very the Navy’s plan to build a 355-ship In Colorado, we could clean up the wealthiest Americans in our country. fleet. Everyone around here walks Gold King Mine spill, fund the Arkan- In the 9 years I have been here, we around saying: We don’t have any sas Valley Conduit to provide drinking have gone from no opioid crisis to an money; we are broke. It is matter of water to some of the poorest areas in opioid crisis that is killing 50,000 Amer- choices and priorities. I cannot think Southeastern Colorado, which we have icans. There are communities all over of a set of priorities less out of whack been promised since John F. Kennedy our States, especially in rural parts of with what Republicans think of in Col- was President of the United States. the States, where we have no answer. orado, much less our Democrats and We could do everything I just men- We have provided no additional treat- Independents. tioned, all of these investments—infra- ment, even though we have an emer- Here is one we really do care about in structure, research, public health, gency today that we didn’t have before. Colorado and all across the country. housing, national security, and rural That is not the America I grew up in. You could pay for all deferred mainte- communities—for the cost of this tax That is not the America our parents nance at our national parks and other plan. This is yet another illustration of and grandparents set up for us. Look at land management agencies. That is how profoundly Washington’s priorities what you can do to create treatment in right here, this tiny purple square—$19 have decoupled from the priorities of every United States county for 10 billion. If you look at the bottom right, the American people. Beyond that, this years. That is this $60 billion. That is that includes over a dozen priorities for bill confirms every other suspicion this little orange part of a $1.4 trillion rural communities that have been about how Washington operates. hole in our deficit. That is one thing kicked around by this Congress and our President Trump ran for office saying you could do. CRs year after year. that he would drain the swamp. This Another thing you could do would be Here are a few things that fit in tax plan is a creature of the swamp. It to provide universal pre-K for low-in- there. Extend high-speed internet to was jammed through with last-minute come children for a decade. That might every rural community in America. changes, scribbled by hand in the dark be worth borrowing from the next gen- That might be a good use of money or of the night, with 2 a.m. votes—shame- eration for because they would actu- a good reason to borrow money—to ex- ful, 2 a.m. votes on legislation that no ally be getting a benefit. They are not tend high-speed internet to people who one had a chance to fully understand. getting any benefit from this $59,000 don’t have it. This is a world where There was input from lobbyists on K that we are giving to people who make telling a kid in a rural school that they Street but not a single hearing where more than $1 million a year. don’t have access to high-speed inter- the American people could express You could double Federal funding for net is no different than telling them: their view. research and development on clean en- Sorry, you are not getting textbooks, Given the process, it should surprise ergy for over a decade. You could main- but these other kids do. no one that the bill substituted the pri- tain our technological advantage over We could reimburse rural areas with orities of the American people with a China in emerging industries for a dec- significant public lands for lost tax litany of carve-outs and loopholes that ade. That is a huge concern. That revenue, the PILT payment. powerful special interests have gotten would be $50 billion, just this little I promise my colleague from Penn- into this bill. slice—a foregone priority if we pass sylvania I am coming to the end. I I am going to skip this part because this bill, just like the response to know he doesn’t believe it. I want to yield to my friend from Penn- opioids. You could fund a 20-man mis- These PILT payments are a pain sylvania, but let me just finish by say- sion to Mars. Because of our point for my rural counties. Every year ing that today, incredibly in America, fecklessness, we can’t even put an as- we go through the same nonsense at the top 10 percent of earners take home tronaut into space without putting the end of the year. Every single year more than half of America’s income. them on a Russian rocket. That has they say: Is it going to be funded in the We have not seen that since 1928, the nothing to do with our lacking the en- CR? They are using it to pay for some- year before the Great Depression. I gineering talent. That has nothing to thing else. Yet it would cost a tiny know the President knows these folks do with our lacking imagination or, for fraction of just the rural priorities part as well as I do. Everybody on this chart some of us, a sense of mission. It has to of it. That is $111 billion for all the is working hard, whether it is the top do with the fecklessness of this Con- rural priorities. Eliminating the na- 10 percent or the bottom 90 percent, gress and the inability of it to walk tional backlog for the USDA rural but this is not the way our economy and chew gum at the same time. water program—can you imagine what ought to work. For almost all of our We could repair all of America’s that would mean for rural America and history, this is not the way it did work. aging dams, which our parents and economic development in rural Amer- I was a businessperson before I came grandparents were thoughtful enough ica? They wouldn’t have to wait for to Congress, before I was a school su- to build for us but which we feel we someone in New York to trickle down perintendent. I have nothing against

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.027 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8067 anyone who has done well, but it is pre- I thank my friend from Pennsylvania as babies or as very young children, posterous to suggest that the real prob- for his indulgence. and to live in America for all of these lem in our economy, when we have a I yield the floor. years, not technically as citizens but record stock market and record income The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to live full lives. inequality, is that wealthy individuals ator from Pennsylvania. They were made a promise by the and businesses don’t have enough. Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask to President of the United States that if My final chart is this chart, which speak in morning business. they were to come forward and make shows median household income. Since The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- certain disclosures, this program would 1980 until now, the cost of housing, cost ator is recognized. protect them. I think that promise is of higher education, and cost of Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I thank inviolate and should not be broken by healthcare—we have done nothing to my colleague from Colorado. I heard any administration. Congress certainly address or help this. We have turned most of his remarks, some of them on has work to do to enforce the promise our back on this. television before my moving to come and to give the promise an even strong- I think we could have written a bill, over here to speak. I am grateful for er foundation. as I said at the outset, that had a real his commitment to the arguments that You don’t have to be on one side of middle-class tax cut in it, but we chose he has made on tax reform and his the aisle or the other to be moved by not to do it. commitment not only to the people of these stories, and I will get to some of Last year, I met a mom in Rifle, CO, his State but to the people of our coun- the details later. One of the young at an early childhood center. In the try. I will be speaking about tax reform women was in the first group that I course of our conversation, she said to later this week. mentioned when we were sitting me: ‘‘I’ve got a job so I can have health f around a big conference table. Of insurance, and every single dollar I course, these individuals don’t have to DACA earn goes to pay for this early child- sit with me, and they don’t have to hood center, so I can work.’’ Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise to travel to tell their stories, but they are That is the story of too many people talk about this so-called DACA Pro- worried. They are concerned about the in my State. My State has one of the gram for the Dreamers, the young peo- policy and how it might affect their most dynamic economies in the United ple whom we have heard so much lives. States of America, and still too many about, especially in the last couple of One young woman said to me: The people whom I represent are middle- months. only country I have ever known doesn’t class families whose incomes haven’t As many people across the country seem to want us—or at least that was really gone up, not over 10 years but know, in September, President Trump her impression. She has lived nowhere since 1980, for whom the cost of hous- ended the Deferred Action for Child- else. ing, cost of healthcare, cost of higher hood Arrivals Program, known as If you go person after person after education, and the cost of early child- DACA. This decision and, so far, con- person, these are young people who hood education have conspired to cre- gressional refusal to pass the Dream have lived here virtually their whole ate for them impossible choices that Act have created both fear and uncer- lives even though they technically their parents and grandparents never tainty for nearly 800,000 young people were not born here. They have achieved had to make. across our country, so-called DACA re- Tax reform should have been the op- so much and have gone through our cipients. portunity to have addressed that. It schools. Our Nation has invested in I know that a lot of Americans have should have been a chance to remind them, and they have succeeded in hold- met these young people over the course that mom in Rifle that our government ing down jobs and getting educations of not just the last couple of months or at least someone in our government and getting higher educations. All they but maybe over the course of many understands the struggles she faces and ask is that we set up a process so that years. I had that chance most recently, has the capacity and the will to help to they will not be deported. at least on two occasions, when we set do something about it. This bill squan- It doesn’t make a lot of sense, the di- up time to sit with young people who ders that opportunity. This tax bill rection in which we seem to be head- were Pennsylvanians. Once was in the squanders it. Worse than that, it re- ing. Rescinding the DACA Program city of Philadelphia, where I sat with minds Americans of the vast space be- will cost the United States of America tween their lives and the priorities in young people from both Philadelphia jobs. I think it will hurt our security Washington. It reminds them of the and Lancaster, which is not too far of over time. yawning gap between their voices and a drive from Philadelphia—about an As I said before, it is a broken prom- the voices of powerful special interests. hour or so. They came to Philadelphia ise—a promise that was made to young We should reject this bill. It fails on to sit with us. Then a couple of months people by our government. It was not the merits. We should reject it because later, it was in the Lehigh Valley, just a casual promise but, I would the bill makes a mockery of how our which is about an hour just north of argue, a commitment, a bond, an government should work. There is still Philadelphia. The first group was a agreement that should be honored. As I time to set aside this legislation and do larger group of maybe 15 young people, have said so many times before—and I bipartisan tax reform. I know the other and the second group was a group of 3 will keep saying it—why would other side may believe that it has to forge individuals. countries believe us when we make a ahead for a political win, but I would In both of those meetings, I was commitment if we cannot keep our ask, at what cost? struck by not just how concerned and commitment to these young people? As with so many actions around here, worried these young people were about Something on the order of 800,000 we have put it on the next generation what would happen to them and happen young people who live in the United of Americans. We have kicked all the to their friends and, in a larger sense, States of America were promised that hard choices to them ever since I have happen to their families, but I was im- if they came forward, they would be been here. We have told them that we pressed by their stories—what they had protected. Why would any country be- are going to continue to live in the achieved in their young lives. I was lieve us after that if we were to break house of our democratic Republic but also moved by the commitment that that promise? Why would they believe that they are going to pay the mort- they have had to hard work, to being Republicans or Democrats? Why would gage. We are so fortunate that our par- part of the fabric of America, and the they believe the administration—this ents and grandparents didn’t behave real concern that they have had about administration or future administra- the way we have—they had the decency and the love they have for their own tions—or this Congress or future Con- to look ahead and think of those to parents. They worried about how this gresses down the road, the House and come. We have enjoyed years of peace might affect their parents but also had Senate? If we were to break that prom- and prosperity in this incredible coun- love for the commitment that their ise, would our word be good around the try. I think, tonight and this week, it parents had made and their family world? is worth all of our asking, will our chil- members had made to allow them to These Dreamers are young people dren be able to say the same of us? succeed in coming here, in some cases who have lived in this country since

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.028 S18DEPT1 S8068 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 they were children. They have been proud of that. This is a country in together. We might have a lot of dis- law-abiding residents. They have which hard-working young people who agreements, and they will be played learned English. They pay taxes. They are working to better themselves and out this week on the tax bill, on this have secured jobs that have supported their communities are given a chance issue or that issue, but we can bring themselves and their families. They to do just that. That is the kind of the country together. Most people in were made a promise. country we all profess to believe in. both parties understand what this is all What are some of the numbers? Here That is the kind of Nation that we about. They understand the promise, is the economic impact in the context want to be. they understand the impact on our of one State in our country. In Penn- Another estimate is that between economy, and they also understand sylvania alone, estimates say that end- September 5, 2017, when the program that a great country can make the ing the Deferred Action for Childhood was terminated, and March 5, 2018, right decision on this issue. Arrivals Program would cost the Com- which is the deadline that is coming By uniting our country on the Dream monwealth of Pennsylvania nearly $357 up, 122 DACA recipients will lose their Act, we can make a downpayment on a million per year in GDP losses. This is protection every day. That means that bright future for these young people according to the Center for American by March 5 of 2018, 22,000 Dreamers will who love the United States of America Progress. So, for one State, it is $357 have lost their DACA protection. and who have demonstrated that by million. How about for the Nation? The Congress should move immediately— their commitment to the country, by comparable number for the Nation is the U.S. Senate should move imme- their work ethic, and by the commit- about $460 billion. The first number diately—to make sure that we protect ment they have made to their commu- was with an ‘‘m’’—millions—in the these Dreamers and pass the so-called nities. Let’s pass the Dream Act. context of the State. The second num- bipartisan Dream Act. Here is what the I yield the floor. ber is $460 billion, with a ‘‘b’’—almost bill would do in short form. It would f half a trillion dollars—from the GDP allow the Dreamers to become perma- CONFIRMATION OF DON R. over the next decade. Roughly, in the nent residents if they meet the very WILLETT context of a yearly number, it is $46 stringent qualifications outlined in the Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I billion a year. bill. We aren’t talking about any kind opposed the nomination of Don Willet Even if you don’t think that we have of a free pass. These are young people to serve as a judge on the Fifth Circuit. to honor the promise, even if you don’t who have worked so hard to become Senate Republicans, lacking a robust believe in the program, why would we the very sort of Americans we want: legislative agenda, despite unilateral want to take a step that would hurt employed, law-abiding, and paying control of the government, decided to our economy in our losing about $46 taxes. The numbers of Dreamers in confirm another highly controversial billion every year for 10 years, adding Pennsylvania are about 5,900 individ- nominee. up to $460 billion over 10 years? uals who have been given DACA status. Last week, Republicans confirmed According to FWD.us, 91 percent of Passing the Dream Act would give three circuit court judges. In early No- DACA recipients are employed, and re- these young people some security and a vember, Senate Republicans confirmed pealing DACA could result in an aver- future they can count on. four judges in 1 week. This accelerated age of 8,500 DACA recipients—young I was proud to support a version of confirmation pace is unconventional people—losing their jobs each week as the Dream Act back in 2007 and 2010. and alarming. Republicans on the Judi- a result of that. There are 91 percent of We should have an up-or-down vote on ciary Committee are willing to set them who are employed—working—in the floor of the U.S. Senate that is a aside decades of standing tradition and the United States of America. It is the clean version of the Dream Act—not policies in order to confirm highly ide- country that promised them that if embedded in some other legislation— ological judges who, in many cases, they came forward, we would give them but an up-or-down vote on the Dream seem to have more of a political agen- protection. They are working every Act. Let’s see where people stand. I da than the impartial temperament day, following the law, loving this would hope it would be an over- necessary for the fair administration of country. whelming vote. I think it probably justice. We have told them, at best, that would be. Let’s have an up-or-down This seat has been open for years be- their status or their fate is uncertain. vote for these young people. cause Senate Republicans refused to That is the best that we can say about Let’s keep the promise to these work with the Obama administration what has happened between the admin- Dreamers so our promise is good here and agree upon a consensus main- istration’s making the announcement a at home, and our promise and our word stream nominee that reflects the views number of months ago and Congress’s and our credibility will be good the and opinions of the majority of Ameri- doing nothing to address this problem. world over because if we break that cans. Now that Republicans are in the DACA recipients have jobs in sectors promise, it is going to be pretty dif- majority and no longer need to ob- that are critical to our economy, such ficult for people around the world to struct the White House, they have de- as healthcare, science and technology, believe us on a whole host of fronts. I cided to advance Judge Willet, a judge and engineering and math—so-called know that may offend somebody, but described as the ‘‘most conservative STEM jobs. Additionally, more than that is the way I see it. justice in Texas.’’ one out of every seven DACA-eligible Keeping a promise is the principal Judge Willet was on Trump’s Su- immigrants has language skills that reason to pass the Dream Act, but we preme Court short list which indicates are currently in short supply in the should also try to help our economy, that he met the Federalist Society’s U.S. military, according to the New not allow our economy to lose hun- and the Heritage Foundation’s ideolog- American Economy. The U.S. military dreds of billions of dollars over 10 ical litmus test. This should concern benefits when we have individuals re- years, tens of billions each and every all Americans, regardless of party af- siding in our country who have that year because we are deporting people filiation. Our judicial system should skill in languages. The Institute on who have offered so much to the coun- not be outsourced to outside groups Taxation and Economic Policy esti- try, who have worked so hard, who who want to stack the courts with mates that the 1.3 million young people have become part of the fabric of judges who share their extreme polit- who are enrolled in or who are eligible American life, part of the fabric of the ical agenda. for DACA pay $2 billion each year in American family. These are folks who Judge Willet has expressed insensi- State and local taxes. So they are live in every community, who are part tive views towards the LGBTQ commu- working, and they are paying taxes. of the fabric of a neighborhood, part of nity and skepticism that women face Dreamers across Pennsylvania and the fabric of a community, part of the unique challenges in the work place, the Nation represent the America that fabric of a school, part of the fabric of such as unequal pay and sexual harass- we should all be proud of. I think ev- a State, and the fabric of a nation. ment and discrimination. In light of eryone could agree to that in the work The third reason we should pass the the #MeToo movement and the count- that they are doing and their commit- Dream Act is to unite our country. less women who have shared their sto- ment to our country. We should be This is one area where we can all come ries of workplace sexual harassment,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.030 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8069 Judge Willet’s opinion is at best mis- atives, friends, his U.S. Army family, 44 years of Federal service at the Bos- informed. I hope that Judge Willet’s and Hoosiers from across our great ton Passport Agency. After serving in views have evolved since he wrote that State. nearly every department within the opinion for then-Governor George W. Jonathon set an example for others agency, Pat will retire at the close of Bush. and will be remembered for his strong, this year from her post as customer I also hope my colleagues will start selfless character and his drive to fight service manager. to recognize that they are setting a for justice and to make the world a Pat’s expertise combined with her ea- dangerous precedent by turning the better, more peaceful place. Let us re- gerness to assist the people of Massa- Senate into an assembly line for highly member and emulate the shining exam- chusetts has been an invaluable re- ideological judges who appear to be ple this brave man set for us and honor source to me and my staff. Throughout more aligned with a political agenda his commitment to serving his fellow her esteemed career, she issued count- that the impartial administration of citizens. May God welcome Jonathon less passports. Pat made the difference justice. home and give comfort to his family. to families eager to explore the world f f and to those with an emergency need to travel. Working in customer service HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES TRIBUTE TO MAJOR MATTHEW W. is not always an easy task, but Pat is SERGEANT JONATHON MICHAEL HUNTER TAYLOR widely known for her compassion, pa- Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am tience, and good humor. She has fos- today I wish to recognize and honor the pleased to commend Maj. Matthew W. tered an environment at the Boston extraordinary service and sacrifice of Taylor, USAF, for his dedication to Passport Agency where customers and U.S. Army SGT Jonathon Michael duty and service as an Air Force legis- employees feel welcome and supported. Hunter of Columbus, IN. Dedication to lative fellow. Matt, a special oper- Pat has always provided my office with his country, loyalty to his fellow ations pilot, was recently selected to sound advice to ensure that we best servicemembers, and a deep love for his be the assistant to the Vice Com- meet the needs of our traveling con- family were the qualities that defined mander of the Special Operations Com- stituents. While she will be sorely Jonathon’s life. mand, SOCOM, a post he will assume in missed, she will leave a lasting legacy Jonathon graduated from Columbus January. at the Boston Passport Agency, and she East High School in 2011. While in high A native of Ohio, Matt received a will be fondly remembered by all those school, Jonathon played football for 4 bachelor of arts degree in political she has helped and mentored through- years and was described by his coach as science from Miami University and was out her career. an unselfish player who put the team commissioned as an officer following My staff and I would like to extend first. After high school, Jonathon pur- graduation. He earned his wings and our sincere gratitude to Pat for her sued his dream of becoming a music qualified as an Air Force pilot fol- years of dedicated service and wish her producer in Nashville, TN, before en- lowing completion of undergraduate well as she embarks on this next chap- rolling at Indiana State University in pilot training. Matt also has secured a ter in her life. Congratulations, Pat, Terre Haute, where he studied crimi- master’s degree in diplomacy from and thank you for the enormous con- nology and business. A selfless young Norwich University. tributions you have made to the com- man, Jonathon left college to join the Matt has served in a broad range of munity, the Commonwealth of Massa- Army. assignments during his career with the chusetts, and the United States of In the Army, he was a member of the U.S. Air Force. He has served as the America.∑ 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Air- deputy commander of the 353rd Expedi- borne Division in Fort Bragg, NC. tionary Special Operations Group and f There he distinguished himself among as an MC–130P instructor pilot and his fellow soldiers as cheerful and a flight commander of the 17th Special MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT man of faith, who loved his country Operations Squadron. In addition to A message from the President of the and fellow servicemembers. Jonathon serving overseas in Europe, Asia, and United States was communicated to enlisted in the Army because of his in- Africa, Major Taylor has also been de- the Senate by Mr. Pate, one of his sec- tense love for his country and wanted ployed in support of operations in Iraq retaries. to make a difference in the lives of his and Afghanistan. fellow countrymen. Matt’s leadership has brought great f On Wednesday, August 2, 2017, credit to the Air Force. I appreciate Jonathon and one other American sol- and commend his commitment to con- PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGES dier were tragically killed in a suicide tinue to serve our Nation in an era bombing attack on a NATO convoy in when pilot shortages are a growing southern Afghanistan, a mere 32 days concern for U.S. military leaders. REPORT ON THE NATIONAL SECU- into his first deployment. Among some This year, Matt was selected to be an RITY STRATEGY OF THE UNITED of the awards he earned for his service Air Force congressional fellow assigned STATES OF AMERICA—PM 22 were a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, to my office. In this role, Matt has NATO Medal, the Army Good Conduct The PRESIDING OFFICER laid be- served the State of Mississippi and the fore the Senate the following message Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. Nation admirably. I have enjoyed the Jonathon was also a proud paratrooper from the President of the United benefit of Matt’s counsel over the past States, together with an a accom- who earned the German Parachutist year, and my office has been privileged Badge and was also an expert marks- panying report, which was referred to to host him. the Committee on Armed Services: man. It is a pleasure to recognize and to Jonathon put his life on the line in thank Maj. Matthew W. Taylor for his To the Congress of the United States: order to protect his country, and we exceptional service to our country. My Consistent with section 108 of the Na- are forever grateful for his service. staff and I wish him, his wife, Kotona, tional Security Act of 1947, as amended Jonathon was a devoted patriot, son, and their son Bruce, all the best as (50 U.S.C. 3043), I have enclosed the Na- and husband. He is survived and will be they continue their journey in the U.S. tional Security Strategy of the United deeply missed by his wife, Whitney; his Air Force. States. parents Mark Hunter of Columbus and This National Security Strategy sets f Kimberly and Brian Thompson of Nash- forth my guidance and direction for an ville, IN; his brother, Marcus Hunter; ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS America First foreign policy and his sisters Lindsey—and her husband, charts a path to achieving the goals Andy—England and Kelsey Thompson; and objectives that will make America his grandparents Jack and Linda Gil- TRIBUTE TO PAT ROURKE great again. bert, Keith and Beulah Thompson, and ∑ Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, today, DONALD J. TRUMP. Theola Hunter; as well as many rel- I wish to recognize Pat Rourke for her THE WHITE HOUSE, December 18, 2017.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.024 S18DEPT1 S8070 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report S. 2243. A bill to amend the Food Security on D.C. Act 22–199, ‘‘Medical Respite Services Act of 1985 to authorize funding for the vol- At 3:02 p.m., a message from the Exemption Temporary Amendment Act of untary public access and habitat incentive House of Representatives, delivered by 2017’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- program; to the Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, rity and Governmental Affairs. Nutrition, and Forestry. announced that the House has passed EC–3719. A communication from the Chair- By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. the following bills, in which it requests man of the Council of the District of Colum- DUCKWORTH): the concurrence of the Senate: bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report S. 2244. A bill to create opportunities for on D.C. Act 22–200, ‘‘Government Employer- women in the aviation industry; to the Com- H.R. 2396. An act to amend the Gramm- Assisted Housing Temporary Amendment mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Leach-Bliley Act to update the exception for Act of 2017’’; to the Committee on Homeland tation. certain annual notices provided by financial Security and Governmental Affairs. By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. LEE, institutions. EC–3720. A communication from the Chair- Mr. KAINE, Mr. WICKER, Mr. GARD- H.R. 2815. To designate the facility of the man of the Council of the District of Colum- NER, Mr. MCCAIN, and Mrs. MURRAY): United States Postal Service located at 30 bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report S. 2245. A bill to include New Zealand in East Somerset Street in Raritan, New Jer- on D.C. Act 22–201, ‘‘Business Improvement the list of foreign states whose nationals are sey, as the ‘‘Gunnery Sergeant John Districts Tax Exemption Temporary Amend- eligible for admission into the United States Basilone Post Office’’ . ment Act of 2017’’; to the Committee on as E–1 and E–2 nonimmigrants if United H.R. 4042. An act to designate the facility Homeland Security and Governmental Af- States nationals are treated similarly by the of the United States Postal Service located fairs. Government of New Zealand; to the Com- at 1415 West Oak Street, in Kissimmee, Flor- EC–3721. A communication from the Chair- mittee on the Judiciary. ida, as the ‘‘Borinqueneers Post Office Build- man of the Council of the District of Colum- f ing’’ . bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report H.R. 4324. An act to require the Secretary on D.C. Act 22–203, ‘‘Southwest Waterfront ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS of the Treasury to make certifications with Park Bus Prohibition Temporary Act of S. 358 respect to United States and foreign finan- 2017’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- cial institutions’ aircraft-related trans- rity and Governmental Affairs. At the request of Mr. CASEY, the actions involving Iran, and for other pur- EC–3722. A communication from the Board name of the Senator from New Hamp- poses. Members, Railroad Retirement Board, trans- shire (Ms. HASSAN) was added as a co- f mitting, pursuant to law, the Board’s Per- sponsor of S. 358, a bill to establish a MEASURES REFERRED formance and Accountability Report for fis- designation for jurisdictions permis- cal year 2017, including the Office of Inspec- sive to terrorism financing, to build The following bills were read the first tor General’s Auditor’s Report; to the Com- the capacity of partner nations to in- and the second times by unanimous mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- vestigate, prosecute, and hold account- consent, and referred as indicated: mental Affairs. EC–3723. A communication from the Acting able terrorist financiers, to impose re- H.R. 2396. An act to amend the Gramm- Assistant Secretary for Congressional and strictions on foreign financial institu- Leach-Bliley Act to update the exception for Intergovernmental Relations, Department of tions that provide financial services for certain annual notices provided by financial Housing and Urban Development, transmit- institutions; to the Committee on Banking, terrorist organizations, and for other ting, pursuant to law, the fiscal year 2017 an- Housing, and Urban Affairs. purposes. nual report regarding the financial status of H.R. 2815. An act to designate the facility S. 540 the Federal Housing Administration’s Mu- of the United States Postal Service located tual Mortgage Insurance Fund; to the Com- At the request of Mr. THUNE, the at 30 East Somerset Street in Raritan, New mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- names of the Senator from Mississippi Jersey, as the ‘‘Gunnery Sergeant John mental Affairs. (Mr. COCHRAN) and the Senator from Basilone Post Office’’; to the Committee on EC–3724. A communication from the Gen- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Mississippi (Mr. WICKER) were added as eral Counsel, Executive Office for Immigra- fairs. cosponsors of S. 540, a bill to limit the tion Review, Department of Justice, trans- H.R. 4042. An act to designate the facility authority of States to tax certain in- mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule of the United States Postal Service located entitled ‘‘Procedures Further Implementing come of employees for employment du- at 1415 West Oak Street, in Kissimmee, Flor- the Annual Limitation on Suspension of De- ties performed in other States. ida, as the ‘‘Borinqueneers Post Office Build- portation and Cancellation of Removal’’ S. 654 ing’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- (RIN1125–AA25) received in the Office of the rity and Governmental Affairs. At the request of Mr. TOOMEY, the President of the Senate on December 13, 2017; H.R. 4324. An act to require the Secretary name of the Senator from Colorado to the Committee on the Judiciary. of the Treasury to make certifications with (Mr. BENNET) was added as a cosponsor respect to United States and foreign finan- f of S. 654, a bill to revise section 48 of cial institutions’ aircraft-related trans- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES title 18, United States Code, and for actions involving Iran, and for other pur- other purposes. poses; to the Committee on Banking, Hous- The following reports of committees S. 974 ing, and Urban Affairs. were submitted: At the request of Mr. LEAHY, the f By Mr. CRAPO, from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with names of the Senator from Kentucky EXECUTIVE AND OTHER amendments: (Mr. PAUL) and the Senator from New COMMUNICATIONS S. 2155. A bill to promote economic growth, Hampshire (Ms. HASSAN) were added as The following communications were provide tailored regulatory relief, and en- cosponsors of S. 974, a bill to promote laid before the Senate, together with hance consumer protections, and for other competition in the market for drugs purposes. accompanying papers, reports, and doc- and biological products by facilitating uments, and were referred as indicated: f the timely entry of lower-cost generic EC–3716. A communication from the Acting INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND and biosimilar versions of those drugs Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- JOINT RESOLUTIONS and biological products. partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to The following bills and joint resolu- S. 1689 law, a report entitled ‘‘Operation of the En- tions were introduced, read the first At the request of Mr. BOOKER, the terprise for the Americas Initiative and the name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Tropical Forest Conservation Act 2016 An- and second times by unanimous con- WYDEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. nual Report to Congress’’; to the Committee sent, and referred as indicated: on Foreign Relations. By Mr. WICKER: 1689, a bill to amend the Controlled EC–3717. A communication from the Chair- S. 2242. A bill to amend the Omnibus Pub- Substances Act to provide for a new man of the Council of the District of Colum- lic Land Management Act of 2009 to clarify rule regarding the application of the bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report the authority of the Administrator of the Act to marihuana, and for other pur- on D.C. Act 22–198, ‘‘Public Employee Rela- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- poses. tions Board Term Limit Temporary Amend- tration with respect to post-storm assess- S. 1706 ment Act of 2017’’; to the Committee on ments, and for other purposes; to the Com- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the fairs. tation. name of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. EC–3718. A communication from the Chair- By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. DURBIN) was added as a cosponsor of S. man of the Council of the District of Colum- BENNET): 1706, a bill to prevent human health

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE6.004 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8071 threats posed by the consumption of covered discrimination and covered By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and equines raised in the United States. harassment complaints, and for other Ms. DUCKWORTH): S. 1838 purposes. S. 2244. A bill to create opportunities At the request of Ms. WARREN, the S. RES. 355 for women in the aviation industry; to name of the Senator from New Jersey At the request of Mr. LANKFORD, the the Committee on Commerce, Science, (Mr. BOOKER) was added as a cosponsor name of the Senator from Mississippi and Transportation. of S. 1838, a bill to repeal the authority (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise under the National Labor Relations of S. Res. 355, a resolution improving to join my colleague from Illinois, Sen- Act for States to enact laws prohib- procedures for the consideration of ator DUCKWORTH, in introducing the iting agreements requiring member- nominations in the Senate. Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act of 2017. Our bill seeks to ship in a labor organization as a condi- f tion of employment, and for other pur- encourage and support women pursuing poses. STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED careers in the field of aviation. As Chairman of the Senate Transpor- S. 2089 BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS tation Appropriations Subcommittee, I ENNET By Mr. DAINES (for himself and At the request of Mr. B , the believe it is important to help women Mr. BENNET): name of the Senator from New York achieve their professional aspirations ILLIBRAND S. 2243. A bill to amend the Food Se- (Mrs. G ) was added as a co- across all transportation sectors. Al- curity Act of 1985 to authorize funding sponsor of S. 2089, a bill to amend the though women make up over 50 percent for the voluntary public access and Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide of our Nation’s workforce, they are sig- habitat incentive program; to the Com- equal treatment of LGBT older individ- nificantly underrepresented in the mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and uals, and for other purposes. aviation industry, representing only Forestry. S. 2109 two percent of airline mechanics, four Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth At the request of Mr. CARPER, the percent of flight engineers, five percent generation Montanan and avid out- name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. of repairmen, six percent of pilots, 18 doorsman, I know how important pub- WYDEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. percent of flight dispatchers, and 26 lic use of our public lands is to Mon- 2109, a bill to count revenues from mili- percent of air traffic controllers. tary and veteran education programs tanans. Many Montanans, including Our bill expresses the sense of Con- toward the limit on Federal revenues myself, have also had great experiences gress that the aviation industry should that certain proprietary institutions of hunting, fishing, or hiking on approved explore the possibility of offering op- higher education are allowed to receive private lands as well. Expanding access portunities, such as pilot training, for purposes of section 487 of the High- for sportsmen, improving habitat, and STEM education, and mentorship pro- er Education Act of 1965, and for other upholding property rights are all prior- grams, which would help to encourage purposes. ities of mine, which is why I am intro- women to pursue aviation careers from ducing the Voluntary Public Access S. 2127 a young age. Improvement Act. This bill would reau- At the request of Ms. MURKOWSKI, the In addition, our bill would direct the thorize the Voluntary Public Access- name of the Senator from Rhode Island Federal Aviation Administration Habitat Improvement Program, a vol- (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) was added as a co- (FAA) to create and manage a Women untary state-led program that expands sponsor of S. 2127, a bill to award a in Aviation Advisory Board to hold the public access by incentivizing private Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, industry accountable for providing edu- landowners to allow the public on their to the United States merchant mari- cation, training, mentorship, outreach, property for hunting, fishing, and other ners of World War II, in recognition of and recruitment programs that are outdoor recreational activities while their dedicated and vital service during aimed at women. protecting their private property World War II. Finally, in another effort to improve rights. In Montana alone, over 70,000 S. 2211 the availability and quality of edu- acres of private lands have been volun- cational opportunities for women pur- At the request of Mr. MANCHIN, the tarily opened up for hunting and in- names of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. suing careers in aviation, this legisla- creased public access, and the Vol- tion would require that the FAA sub- SULLIVAN) and the Senator from Min- untary Public Access Improvement Act nesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) were added as mit a report to Congress on current would help build on that success. trends concerning women in aviation cosponsors of S. 2211, a bill to establish Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- a national endangered missing advisory and the potential for expanding related sent that the text of the bill be printed programming. communications network, and for in the RECORD. other purposes. Mr. President, I believe this bill will There being no objection, the text of have a positive impact on the work- S. 2219 the bill was ordered to be printed in force supporting one of our country’s At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, the RECORD, as follows: leading industries. I want to thank the name of the Senator from Massa- S. 2243 Senator DUCKWORTH for partnering chusetts (Mr. MARKEY) was added as a Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- with me on this effort, and urge my cosponsor of S. 2219, a bill to reduce the resentatives of the United States of America in colleagues to support this legislation. number of preventable deaths and inju- Congress assembled, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ries caused by underride crashes, to im- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. jority leader. prove motor carrier and passenger This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Voluntary f motor vehicle safety, and for other pur- Public Access Improvement Act of 2017’’. poses. SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABI- ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, S. 2236 TAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM. DECEMBER 19, 2017 Section 1240R(f)(1) of the Food Security At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–5(f)(1)) is amend- the name of the Senator from Ohio ed— ask unanimous consent that when the (Mr. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor (1) by striking ‘‘practicable, $50,000,000’’ Senate completes its business today, it of S. 2236, a bill to require covered dis- and inserting the following: ‘‘practicable— adjourn until 10 a.m., Tuesday, Decem- crimination and covered harassment ‘‘(A) $50,000,000’’; ber 19; further, that following the pray- awareness and prevention training for (2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), er and pledge, the morning hour be Members, officers, employees, interns, by striking ‘‘2012 and $40,000,000’’ and insert- deemed expired, the Journal of pro- fellows, and detailees of Congress with- ing the following: ‘‘2012; ceedings be approved to date, and the in 30 days of employment and annually ‘‘(B) $40,000,000’’; and time for the two leaders be reserved for (3) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated), thereafter, to require a biennial cli- by striking the period at the end and insert- their use later in the day; further, that mate survey of Congress, to amend the ing the following: ‘‘; and following leader remarks, the Senate enforcement process under the Office of ‘‘(C) $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal be in a period of morning business, Congressional Workplace Rights for years 2019 through 2023.’’. with Senators permitted to speak

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE6.010 S18DEPT1 S8072 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2017 therein for up to 10 minutes each until ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. CONFIRMATIONS 12 noon; and that upon the conclusion TOMORROW of morning business, the Senate pro- Executive nominations confirmed by ceed to executive session for the con- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, if the Senate December 18, 2017: there is no further business to come be- sideration of the Newstead nomination, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE under the previous order; finally, that fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- OWEN WEST, OF CONNECTICUT, TO BE AN ASSISTANT following the disposition of the sent that it stand adjourned under the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. Newstead nomination, the Senate re- previous order. cess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN There being no objection, the Senate, DEVELOPMENT weekly conference meetings. at 7:33 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, J. PAUL COMPTON, JR., OF ALABAMA, TO BE GENERAL The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without December 19, 2017, at 10 a.m. COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN objection, it is so ordered. DEVELOPMENT.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 9801 E:\CR\FM\G18DE6.032 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1717 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WIN- INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT Throughout her tenure, Marj has established NER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL OF COLUMBIA CIVIL ENFORCE- credible and effective relationships with local, APP CHALLENGE FOR THE 21ST MENT EQUALITY ACT state, and federal elected officials and with CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF opinion-leaders throughout the greater Sac- TEXAS HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON ramento region. Now more than ever, thanks OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA in large part to Marj’s leadership and vision for HON. LAMAR SMITH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U.C. Davis, the institution is respected and re- vered as a world-class research university and OF TEXAS Monday, December 18, 2017 as a reliable local partner. I have had the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I intro- pleasure of working personally with Marj Monday, December 18, 2017 duce the District of Columbia Civil Enforce- through the years in my role representing Sac- ment Equality Act. This bill is necessary to Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we ramento in Congress, and I consistently found allow the District to enter into contracts with congratulate Peter Chacko from San Antonio her to be one of the most effective, sophisti- private attorneys to sue on the District’s behalf who won this year’s Congressional App Chal- cated, and professional government relations for violations of D.C. law that may otherwise lenge for the 21st District of Texas. experts I encountered. go unpunished due to a lack of resources. Every year, the Congressional App Chal- U.C. Davis—and the Sacramento region writ This bill would give D.C. the same authority lenge encourages students to create an origi- large—are beyond fortunate to have had Marj enjoyed by states, other local governments nal app by writing computer code. As Chair- working on their behalf for the past three dec- and most federal agencies. man of the House Science, Space and Tech- ades. Marj’s dedication and commitment to The federal Anti-Deficiency Act, which ap- nology Committee, I take part in this competi- U.C. Davis have made our region a better plies to both the federal and District govern- tion, which inspires students across the coun- educated, more vibrant, more attractive place ments, prohibits contracting in advance of ap- try to explore computer science and search for to live and work. Her contributions cannot be propriations, such as contingency fee con- innovations. understated. tracts. However, Congress has provided the Peter won this year’s competition by design- Mr. Speaker, as her family, friends and col- authority for most federal agencies to enter ing an app called PR Trackr. It helps runners leagues celebrate her distinguished career, I into such contracts, notwithstanding the Anti- calculate their pace and logs their runs. He ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Deficiency Act, but has not done so for the developed the app because he and his cross remarkable Marjorie Dickinson. District. This precludes the District from enter- country teammates needed a quick and effec- ing into contracts with attorneys on a contin- f tive way to assess and store their pace and gency fee basis. In a contingency fee contract, monitor their progress. IN HONOR OF GWEN BECK’S 100TH lawyers pay for the initial costs of the litigation, Congratulations to Peter on his achieve- BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION and then the lawyers are reimbursed only for ment. I know he will do well in his academics out-of-pocket expenses and receive a percent- and future cross country races. HON. LIZ CHENEY age of any amount awarded to the plaintiff. There is no federal law that precludes states OF WYOMING f and other local governments from entering into IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN HONOR OF THE RECIPIENTS OF such contracts. At least 36 states, both red Monday, December 18, 2017 THE CONGRESS–BUNDESTAG and blue states, have already used contin- Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM’S gency fee contracts to enforce state laws, in extend my congratulations to Gwen Beck on MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIP addition to numerous city and county govern- the celebration of her 100th birthday. ments across the country. Contingency fee I join her friends and family in extending my HON. LIZ CHENEY contracts are especially useful in cases with a best to her on this occasion and in celebrating large, costly discovery component. Examples OF WYOMING her life and contributions to our great state. I of cases that are commonly tried on a contin- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hope she uses this momentous day to do the gency fee basis by state and local govern- same. Monday, December 18, 2017 ments include nuisance, deceptive lending, se- Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to curities fraud and debt and tax collection. my congratulations to Gwen on her birthday. This is an important step to increase D.C. extend my congratulations to Taelor Nielsen May her year be filled with happiness and home rule and generate revenue for the Dis- and Zavier McClain on being selected to re- blessings. trict, and I urge my colleagues to support this ceive the Congress-Bundestag Youth Ex- f change Program’s (CBYX) merit based schol- bill. arship. f HONORING TRUDY HAYNES As part of this selective program, they will IN RECOGNITION OF MARJORIE be traveling to Germany for a year to immerse DICKINSON HON. DWIGHT EVANS themselves in the culture, develop their foreign OF PENNSYLVANIA language skills, and strengthen their leader- HON. DORIS O. MATSUI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ship and academic interests. Many alumni of OF CALIFORNIA this program have gone on to serve our great Monday, December 18, 2017 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nation in both national security and civilian Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to roles. Monday, December 18, 2017 honor an influential and dedicated woman in Taelor and Zavier’s selection to the CBYX Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in Philadelphia, Trudy Haynes (ne´e Gertrude program and scholarship is a sign of their hard recognition of my good friend Marjorie Dickin- Daniels), our nation’s first female African work, leadership, and academic curiosity. I son as she retires from a distinguished thirty American weather reporter and a true media commend their fortitude and dedication to aca- years of service to the University of California, pioneer. demics and the future of our great nation. Davis. Marj is currently the Assistant Chan- Trudy Haynes was born in New York City at Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend cellor, Government and Community Relations Harlem Hospital in 1926 and raised in New my congratulations to the 2017 Wyoming re- for U.C. Davis, and she has played a signifi- York City. She began her broadcasting career cipients of the CBYX scholarship. Taelor and cant role in improving and strengthening the in a Detroit suburb at WCHB–AM, which was Zavier deserve to be extremely proud of this institution’s commitment to its students and its the first black owned radio station above the accomplishment. surrounding community. Mason Dixon line.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18DE8.001 E18DEPT1 E1718 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 18, 2017 Trudy Haynes made history in 1965 when Bascom touched countless lives, including come. I believe that my good friend, Brian she became the nation’s first female African mine. His wit and humor were unmatched and Daniel, runs his company according to the val- American reporter for KYW–TV (now CBS–3) his knowledge endless—likely fueled by his ues of our Hall County community. in Philadelphia. Trudy Haynes was also the unquenchable thirst and love for history. For My family and I look forward to seeing the Nation’s 1st African-American TV weather re- those who knew Bascom, they saw compas- company’s new facility next year as we drive porter, acquiring that position in 1963 when sion and love for others that was unbounding. by on Jesse Jewel Parkway. she worked for WXYZ–TV in Detroit, MI. Addi- As the Representative for the 5th District of f Texas, I am honored to have known such a tionally, Trudy Haynes is also a very proud IN HONOR OF COL. THOMAS wonderful and unique person, and I will for- graduate of Howard University, class of 1947. ‘‘TUCKER’’ FAGAN’S RECOGNI- Prestigiously, she has a long esteemed his- ever treasure our many conversations through TION IN THE AIR FORCE PUBLIC tory, has conducted many high profile inter- the years. I send my deepest and sincerest AFFAIRS AGENCY’S ‘‘VETERANS views, and holds many awards including two condolences to his mother, Kelly, wife, Carol, IN BLUE’’ VOLUME III Lifetime Achievement Awards, as well as an to his children Bonnie, Matthew, William and Emmy. Trudy Haynes formally retired in 1999, Hunter, as well as the rest of his family and but has stayed active throughout the years. At innumerable friends. May we all remember a HON. LIZ CHENEY 91 years old she is officially coming out of re- life well lived. OF WYOMING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tirement for her ‘‘Drop The Mic Tour’’. f The 2nd Congressional District of Pennsyl- Monday, December 18, 2017 IN HONOR OF RICHARD AND vania extends gratitude to Trudy Haynes who Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to CAROL CRESWELL’S 50TH WED- is a true inspiration for future generations and extend my congratulations to Colonel Thomas DING ANNIVERSARY thanks her for her continued dedicated support ‘‘Tucker’’ Fagan on his recognition in the Air and service to the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- Force Public Affairs Agency’s ‘‘Veterans in vania. HON. LIZ CHENEY Blue’’ Volume VIII. f OF WYOMING Throughout his impressive career in the Air Force, Col. Fagan proved himself indispen- IN HONOR OF KEVIN AND ESTHER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sable, being chosen as one of eight military BYRNE’S 50TH WEDDING ANNI- Monday, December 18, 2017 personnel chosen to build the U.S. nuclear VERSARY Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to war plan, and serving as the wing commander extend my congratulations to Richard and at F.E. Warren AFB, and the 20th Air Force HON. LIZ CHENEY Carol Creswell on their 50th Wedding Anniver- vice commander. After his retirement, Col. OF WYOMING sary. Fagan stayed active in the Wyoming and Air IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This significant benchmark is a symbol of Force communities, including serving former Monday, December 18, 2017 their commitment to each other and to their Wyoming U.S. Representative Cynthia Lum- family. I am happy to join their friends and Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mis as her Chief of Staff. family in extending my best to them on this The Air Force Public Affairs Agency extend my congratulations to Kevin and Esther special occasion. launched the ‘‘Veterans in Blue’’ portrait col- Byrne on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. lection to highlight the men and women that This significant benchmark is a symbol of Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend have contributed to the Air Force’s great leg- their commitment to each other and to their my congratulations to Richard and Carol on acy. Col. Fagan’s dedication and contributions family. I am happy to join their friends and the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniver- to the Air Force, nation, and state warrants his family in extending my best to them on this sary. I wish them the best today and for many more blessed years to come. inclusion in this prestigious collection. special occasion. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend f my congratulations to Col. Fagan on being my congratulations to Kevin and Esther on the CARROLL DANIEL CONSTRUCTION recognized in the ‘‘Veterans in Blue’’ Volume celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. BREAKING GROUND IN DOWN- VIII portrait collection, and I thank him for his I wish them the best today and for many more TOWN GAINESVILLE continued service. blessed years to come. f f HON. DOUG COLLINS HONORING JOSEPH TRAN-MALAN HONORING JUDGE BASCOM OF GEORGIA BENTLEY, III IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON HON. JEB HENSARLING Monday, December 18, 2017 OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF TEXAS this Friday, I rise to help usher in new devel- Monday, December 18, 2017 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES opments that will be added to the Gainesville Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Monday, December 18, 2017 community. ask the House of Representatives to join me Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today As a proud, lifelong resident of this town, I in recognizing Joseph Tran-Malan for his par- to honor and remember a dear friend, Judge have watched it grow over the years, and wel- ticipation in the Congressional App Challenge Bascom Bentley, III, who passed away peace- comed the new businesses and neighbors that (CAC). fully on December 11, 2017. have come with that growth. The CAC began in 2013, and has since Bascom was a life-long resident of Pal- Earlier this year, the city of Gainesville grown to include nearly 4,000 students across estine, Texas and served almost 3 decades moved forward with an ambitious plan to im- 33 states and territories. Specifically, the CAC with distinction as the Judge for Texas’ 369th prove our historic square. The investments encourages students to learn how to code District Court until his recent retirement. Prior made to this project will add to the square and through an annual district-wide competition. to that he served as County Court at Law surrounding area, which represent a center- For his CAC submission, Joseph chose the Judge, County Attorney for Anderson County piece of our vibrant downtown. video game Overwatch. In particular, he cre- and also the City Attorney for Palestine. Along As part of this project, I am pleased that ated a video that described why he chose with his time on the bench, Bascom taught as Caroll Daniel Construction will break the Overwatch, and what he would do to make the a professor at Trinity Valley Community Col- ground for a wonderful new facility that will video game better as part of his app. lege for 37 years. The totality of his awards begin construction early next year. Currently, Joseph is in the third grade and and honors are too numerous to list here Residents of Gainesville will enjoy this build- attends Harmony DC Public Charter School, today, but he has been honored by civic ing, which will be located along Jesse Jewel which has a Science, Technology, Engineer- groups, charitable organizations, educational Parkway. The street’s namesake, Mr. Jewel ing, and Math (STEM) program. In addition, institutions and veteran groups. And he was himself, was a leader in the poultry industry, the school organizes two major STEM events honored multiple times for his good work as a and he brought jobs and increased investment every year: the Harmony Science and Engi- judge including one from the Texas Gang In- in the area during the Great Depression. neering Fair, which serves as a way for stu- vestigators Association that seems to sum ev- In line with his vision, this addition to the dents to learn more about the scientific proc- erything up—the ‘‘Damn Good Judge’’ award. square will serve our community for years to ess; and the Stem Festival, where students

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A18DE8.003 E18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1719 participate in various STEM demonstrations This is a momentous occasion and I hope and thus began a lifetime of working to and explain the science behind them. that he will take the time to reflect upon all his strengthen Yonkers. Joseph is a proud big brother and the son hard work over the past 22 years working for Liam was raised in Yonkers and has lived of Mr. and Mrs. Jose and Kim Tran-Malan. In the Wyoming Department of Transportation there for more than 42 years. His wife, his free time, Joseph likes to travel and see (WYDOT). I thank him for his contributions to Debbie, is also from Yonkers. Now, the new things, but is content with spending qual- WYDOT and to our community. McLaughlin family lives only a few blocks from ity time at home with his family. He also loves Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend the house in which he grew up. Liam attended to dance and use his imagination by building my congratulations to Frank Hancock on his St. John the Baptist School, the same school with LEGOs or by creating new worlds in the retirement. I wish him the best in future en- that his son Ryan now goes to, and coaches video game Minecraft. I am very proud of Jo- deavors. his son on the same youth baseball fields that seph. Therefore, I ask the House of Representa- f his father coached him on when he was a kid. tives to join me in honoring achievement at a SUPPORT FOR H.R. 4391 A small business owner, Liam is a practicing very young age by recognizing Joseph Tran- trusts and estates attorney at McLaughlin & Malan for his participation in the Congres- HON. RO KHANNA Zerafa LLP. Previously, he worked for several small law firms in the New York area, includ- sional App Challenge. OF CALIFORNIA ing his own general practice law firm and the f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Corporation Counsel’s Office in the City of RECOGNIZING LAURA WEIS Monday, December 18, 2017 Yonkers. Liam was also an adjunct professor Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor at Manhattan College. HON. RODNEY DAVIS of H.R. 4391, the Promoting Human Rights by OF ILLIOIS From 2000 to 2010, Liam served on the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Yonkers City Council. He served in leadership Children Act, I am concerned with the United Monday, December 18, 2017 roles including Majority Leader and Minority Nations (UN) reports highlighting the detention Leader. He also served on every major com- Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speak- and mistreatment of Palestinian children. We mittee and was Chairman of the Budget & Fi- er, I rise today to recognize my friend Laura should stand up for human rights in all cases, nance Committee, as well as the Environ- Weis, who was honored with the Distinguished even when abuses are committed by our most mental Policy & Protection Committee. In Illinois Chamber of Commerce Executive trusted allies. 2013, he was elected as Council President by Award last month. Israel faces unique security threats and, un- the voters of Yonkers, where he served with As CEO of the Champaign County Chamber fortunately, some underage Palestinians do re- of Commerce, Laura is a tireless advocate for great distinction and honor. sort to violence as a means of change. This the citizens, businesses and organizations Outside of his duties as an elected official, is unacceptable, and the Palestinian leader- throughout a community with nationally-recog- Liam has also coached youth basketball and ship needs to take more steps to prevent chil- nized educational institutions, technological soccer with Dunwoodie Youth Association, and innovative start-ups, manufacturing com- dren from being manipulated into becoming and currently serves as President of the Lin- panies, and agricultural industries. terrorists. coln Park Taxpayers Association. Liam is also Under Laura’s leadership, the Chamber has The threat of child terrorism should not be a member of the Holy Name Society of St. increased its membership and influence an excuse, however, to torture those accused John the Baptist Church, the Kerrymen’s P&B throughout the region. The Chamber and its of such actions or deprive them of rights. Association and the Ancient Order of Hiber- staff continually engage with elected officials Every minor should have a right to a lawyer, nians of Westchester County. to due process, and to having their parents at every level of government to ensure com- On December 18, 2017 the Yonkers com- notified. monsense, business-friendly policies are in munity is coming together to celebrate Liam I am encouraged by a 2015 UNICEF report place for the community. Through the Cham- for all the remarkable work he has done and indicating that Israeli authorities are taking ber’s efforts, delegations of community and continues to do on behalf of his fellow Yon- steps to address alleged abuses. Although business leaders from the county have be- kers residents. He is most deserving of the evidence of the ill-treatment of Palestinian chil- come more engaged in public affairs through recognition. I want to congratulate Liam on the dren detained still exists, I am hopeful that regular trips to Springfield and Washington, occasion and offer my personal thanks for all Israeli forces will ultimately fully comply with D.C. of that tremendous work. He has certainly Outside of political advocacy, the Chamber international human rights laws. has adopted numerous policies that support Through continued discussions with the made Yonkers proud. the local community, including the creation of Israeli government, Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful f an energy coop that has saved local busi- changes will continue to occur. Doing so is in nesses thousands of dollars, the development the best interest of Israel’s security and con- IN HONOR OF DANNY AND BECKY of a procurement center to assist businesses sistent with their values. DELOREY’S 50TH WEDDING ANNI- with government contracts, the institution of f VERSARY local disaster recovery plans, and oversight of countless online tools to help area businesses. HONORING LIAM MCLAUGHLIN Laura is a tremendous leader within my HON. LIZ CHENEY congressional district, and it is not hard to see HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL OF WYOMING her impact throughout Champaign County. I OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Congratulate Laura on this award, and I look IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, December 18, 2017 forward to continuing to work with her through- Monday, December 18, 2017 out the future. Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to f Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have had the pleasure of knowing many wonderful public extend my congratulations to Danny and IN HONOR OF FRANK HANCOCK’S servants over the course of my career, individ- Becky Delorey on their 50th Wedding Anniver- RETIREMENT FROM THE WYO- uals who dedicated themselves fully to their sary. MING DEPARTMENT OF TRANS- communities and neighbors every single day. This significant benchmark is a symbol of PORTATION In Yonkers, there has not been a more dedi- their commitment to each other and to their cated and selfless public servant than my dear family. I am happy to join their friends and HON. LIZ CHENEY friend Liam McLaughlin, who this year is clos- family in extending my best to them on this OF WYOMING ing out his final term as Yonkers City Council special occasion. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES President. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend Monday, December 18, 2017 I have known Liam for many years. His par- my congratulations to Danny and Becky on Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ents, Bernadette and Pat, are close family the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniver- extend my congratulations to Frank Hancock friends, and both have a very strong sense of sary. I wish them the best today and for many on his retirement. community Liam clearly adopted that spirit, more blessed years to come.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE8.006 E18DEPT1 E1720 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 18, 2017 H.R. 3731, SECRET SERVICE RE- IN RECOGNITION OF ESTELLE HONORING CHRISTOPER GRESHAM CRUITMENT AND RETENTION SALTZMAN ACT OF 2017 HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON HON. DORIS O. MATSUI OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MISSISSIPPI Monday, December 18, 2017 Monday, December 18, 2017 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Monday, December 18, 2017 Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in ask the House of Representatives to join me recognition of Estelle Saltzman on the occa- in recognizing Christopher Gresham for his Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- sion of her retirement as CEO and President participation in the Mandela Washington Fel- er, I rise today to discuss the importance of of Runyon Saltzman, Inc., one of Sac- lowship Reciprocal Exchange. passing H.R. 3731, the Secret Service Re- ramento’s most innovative communications The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the cruitment and Retention Act of 2017, into law. firms. I ask my colleagues to join me in hon- flagship program of the U.S. government’s Over the years, the United States Secret oring Ms. Saltzman for her leadership and Young African Leadership Initiative, helps to Service has been plagued with morale and at- commitment to Runyon Saltzman, as well as develop the next generation of African leaders trition issues. In 2016, the Secret Service was for her dedication to the cultural vitality of the across government, business and civil society. ranked last among 305 agency subcompo- greater Sacramento region. The fellows build strategic partnerships and nents in the Partnership for Public Service’s Since founding the agency alongside Jean lasting connections through training and net- annual Best Places to Work Survey. The mo- Runyon in 1976, Ms. Saltzman has been in- working opportunities at leading institutions of rale issues stem from a number of factors, but strumental in making Runyon Saltzman one of higher education. one of the leading factors is agent burnout the top communications firms in the area. Her The Reciprocal Exchange Component, for due to inflexible schedules, long shifts, and background in reporting and political science which Christopher has been competitively se- agents having to work and not use their an- helped her form the agency into an industry lected, provides U.S. experts and leaders a nual leave or potentially not receive overtime leader in public affairs and social marketing. chance to expand their work in partnership compensation due to agents reaching their an- Her leadership at Runyon Saltzman has been with Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni in nual allowance pay amount. acknowledged over the years by those who Africa. Past participants have included a wide Many of the aforementioned issues cannot understand the value she provides to the local range of experts, from entrepreneurs to dis- be solved by a simple act of Congress; how- business community. She was awarded the ability rights advocates, who have contributed ever, compensating agents for overtime is one Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber’s 1988 meaningfully to efforts such as promoting that Congress can and should address. H.R. ‘‘Sacramento Business Woman of the Year’’ peace, stability and economic prosperity in the 3731 would provide for agents who have hit award, lifetime achievement awards from the region. The program provides important con- their overtime pay limits to receive compensa- Sacramento Public Relations Association and tributions to U.S. diplomacy efforts. tion for the uncompensated hours they have the International Association of Business Com- A native Washingtonian, Christopher has logged in service to the country. municators, and the ‘‘Women Who Mean Busi- dedicated his career to breaking down barriers While I believe the Secret Service can do ness’’ award from the Sacramento Business and promoting diversity in entrepreneurship. more to recruit and retain top talent, it is also Journal. He graduated from The George Washington important for Congress to do its part to not In addition to her work at Runyon Saltzman, University and went on to obtain a Master’s leave the current agents uncompensated. Estelle has been an active member of the from Thunderbird School for Global Manage- Passing this legislation is crucial and would be Sacramento community. She serves on the ment. He then became the Vice President of an obvious morale boost for the current boards of the Crocker Art Museum, the Sac- Communities at SEED SPOT, where he works agents. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to ramento History Foundation, Restoration to increase startup activity and economic move quickly to pass this legislation. House, Opening Doors, Inc., and the Family growth with a focus on entrepreneurs devel- Justice Center. Thanks in no small part to her oping sustainable solutions to address some f leadership, these organizations now stand as of the world’s most pressing problems. In ad- important cultural and community landmarks IN HONOR OF JOHN KECK’S RE- dition, Christopher founded Swillings Coffee, for the Sacramento region. an impact-driven venture that works directly TIREMENT FROM THE NATIONAL Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to with small family-owned farms in rural Colom- PARK SERVICE pay tribute to Estelle Saltzman, outgoing CEO bia to apply sustainable growing techniques and president of Runyon Saltzman, as her and employ women in the local community. As friends and colleagues celebrate her well- HON. LIZ CHENEY part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship earned retirement. I ask all my colleagues to OF WYOMING Reciprocal Exchange, Christopher empowered join me in honoring her tenacity and dedica- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hundreds of Beninese entrepreneurs with en- tion on behalf of Runyon Saltzman, as well as trepreneurship training, educated its largest Monday, December 18, 2017 her dedication to the Sacramento region. university on sustainable economic develop- Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to f ment programs and promoted cooperative extend my congratulations to John Keck on IN HONOR OF LAURA MCKINNEY’S trade with the U.S. and multiple institutional his retirement from the National Park Service. RETIREMENT FROM THE MAGIC stakeholders. For the past 14 years, John has served as CITY ENTERPRISES Therefore, I ask the House of Representa- the Wyoming/Montana state coordinator and tives to join me in recognizing Christopher Eastern MT–WY Group Superintendent for the Gresham for his accomplishments and for his Intermountain Region of the National Park HON. LIZ CHENEY OF WYOMING participation in the Mandela Washington Fel- Service. In this role, he has worked closely lowship Reciprocal Exchange. with various non-profit and local groups, com- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f munities, and state and federal agencies and Monday, December 18, 2017 offices, including mine. Having lived in Wyo- Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to IN HONOR OF SALLY NICHOLS’ IN- ming throughout his life and worked for the extend my congratulations to Laura McKinney DUCTION INTO THE CLARA state for 22 years before joining the National on her retirement. KLINDT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COL- Park Service, John has been able to apply his This is a momentous occasion and I hope LEGE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME knowledge and experiences to excel in his that she will take the time to reflect upon all role and for the people and state of Wyoming. her hard work over the past 34 years working HON. LIZ CHENEY I want to extend my appreciation to him for his for Magic City Enterprises. I thank her for her OF WYOMING many contributions to our great state. contributions to Magic City Enterprises and to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend our community. my congratulations to John Keck on his retire- Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend Monday, December 18, 2017 ment. He has been integral to the National my congratulations to Laura McKinney on her Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Park Service and our state, and will be retirement. I wish her the best in future en- extend my congratulations to Sally ‘‘Powder’’ missed. deavors. Nichols on her induction into the Clara Klindt

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A18DE8.010 E18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1721 Rocky Mountain College Athletic Hall of Fame. What do you do if the explosion of the spir- Having swallowed too much once before Her continued dedication to athletic excellence it strikes you? First, I believe you must go and exploded, it’s best not to bite off more warrants this recognition. to your most trusted friend, not to talk, but than you can chew. Throughout her time at Lusk High School, to sit in silence—in the presence of the Courage to rebuild is an act of faith. other—in the presence of another human The process of discovering meaning is an University of Idaho, and Rocky Mountain Col- being. And the truth of the presence may be element of meaning itself. lege, she was integral to her teams’ suc- the only truth that is verifiable. My further guess is that as we met such a cesses, setting various school records and Next, you must allow your friend to care person, who had believed again after being being selected All-Conference and All-Region for you. This is more difficult than silence. crushed by doubt, we could say such words to in 2000. As an athlete, and now as a coach, Nor can it come too quickly. This requires him or her as: she has set an excellent example for students that you give permission to the other to When you speak, your words are genuine enter your shattered world. And with the and true. We feel accepted and respected by and athletes across the state. I commend her you. commitment to her teammates, to her stu- entry may come judgment (but surely not!) and may come abject embarrassment (Yes, Your faith is clearly shown in your behav- dents, and to athletics. possibly that) or the painful admission that ior. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend you are lost in the woods and do not know You will be a threat to those whose houses my congratulations to Sally for being inducted the way home. (Yes, that too!) Your trusted of faith are held together by tape and wire into the Rocky Mountain College Athletic Hall friend is there to listen, is not therapist, and string and who pretend to believe and of Fame. She and her family deserve to be counselor or father confessor (at least not who make a great show, but who on the in- side are full of emptiness and staleness, brit- extremely proud of this accomplishment. then) and listens to you talk, listens to the starkness of your confession that your reli- tle-ness and dust. f You will cause a light to shine on sham re- gious house of cards proved to be just that, ligion and there will be some who will be vin- IN RECOGNITION OF THE 40TH AN- listens to the pain of your isolation—for you dictive. are in an empty, flat land by yourself with NIVERSARY OF KOPPER KETTLE The explosion at the corner last Sunday not so much as four pegs to pitch a tent for can cause us to look at the explosion that shelter. He listens to the description of your can come at tour centers, the collapsing of HON. MIKE ROGERS futureless future. And the echo of the ques- our spirit, if we have carelessly claimed to OF ALABAMA tion ‘‘What is there now?’’ continues to believe, or mimicked the belief of others, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sound in your empty room. have no faith that is our own. The admission But your friend does not answer your ques- Monday, December 18, 2017 of our doubt, painful though it is, can be the tions; eventually you do. Yet no one can tell first step to regaining a life of faith and can Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I you when the eventuality will happen. First, return us to authentic living in God’s pres- ask for the House’s attention today to recog- there may be nothing more than the estab- ence. God’s love is real and his command- nize the 40th anniversary of the Kopper Kettle lishing of a routine; but even routine re- ments are sure and the community of per- quires a degree of faith. Later, there may be explosion in downtown Auburn, Alabama. sons seeking to know what it is to be fruitful divine word, certainly not acknowledged Below is the 1978 sermon by Rev. Rod Sin- is a rich place to set yourself. May He shed then as such. From deep within, from the clair at the Episcopal College Center after the his grace on each one of us as we seek truth center of your center, may come the word: explosion occurred: and walk in faith. Amen. ‘‘Life shall go on.’’ And you know the words The explosion at the Kopper Kettle has are true and your house of meaning receives Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing consumed the time and attention of many of another plank. the 40th anniversary of the Kopper Kettle ex- us this week, especially Sunday when it oc- If and when the house is completed, that plosion in Auburn. curred Monday and Tuesday when we were is, if and when there is a day when you can f fixing ourselves up and getting heat back say: ‘‘I believe that the following truths into the building and into the Steven’s gives me meaning, and makes sense out of HONORING MAYOR WILLIAM BELL House. There have been many expressions of existence, and are the grounds on which I gratefulness that no one in town was injured will stake my life,’’ if there is a day when or killed and we have all told each other this can be said again, after an explosion of HON. DAVID E. PRICE where we were when we hear of or felt the the spirit my hope is that your statement of OF NORTH CAROLINA blast. We have even told each other about what you believe would include the fol- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES other explosions, other calamities and what lowing: Monday, December 18, 2017 our reaction was to them. And some of us First, a trust in God, trust in God as per- have gone off into the world of metaphor and sonal and loving, God who loves you, who un- Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, analogy and compared the explosion at the derstands and who cares for you. Believing I rise today to honor the career of a devoted Kopper Kettle to what happens to a human that God understands and loves us is the life public servant, community leader, and friend, being who gets poison in his or her system, force that prevents us from dying. William V. ‘‘Bill’’ Bell, whose tenure as Mayor poison from unacknowledged anger or poison Secondly, a realization that Jesus of Naza- of Durham, North Carolina ended this month from unexpressed resentment, and how the reth reveals God to us. We are not blocked or pressure can build up an explosion. stumped in our search for the knowledge of after 16 years in office. The another type of explosion occurred to God. Jesus’ love and forgiveness is the indi- A native of Washington, D.C. who earned me, as it should, being the preacher, which I cator of God’s love and forgiveness. Believ- engineering degrees from Howard University like to look at this morning. It is the explo- ing that Jesus reveals God to us is the life and New York University, Bill began his career sion of the spirit and it can be more dev- force that guards our spirits from collapsing. in the private sector, eventually retiring as a astating than what happened last Sunday at Thirdly, a trust that God is present with senior engineer at IBM in Research Triangle Magnolia and Gay. and in us, and that his spirit, his power, and The explosion of the spirit is what happens Park. He was first elected to the Durham his love are with us and in us, his people. We County Board of Commissioners in 1972 and when all the things we thought we believed are not left derelict or abandoned, wondering in collapses, when the world of meaning col- if we shall ever be called for. Believing that served until 1994 and again from 1996 to lapses, when the truths that we always God’s presence is with us and in us is the life 2000, including three terms as chairman from thought were true seem untrue, when doubt force that builds us up as a community of 1982 to 1994. He was elected Mayor of Dur- attacks every item of faith and prevails, and people seeking to be faithful and prevents us ham in 2001 and re-elected six times, making faith seems counterfeit, and trust wanders from despairing. him the longest-serving mayor in Durham’s aimlessly hunting for a place to rest, and To be able to base your life on those three history. when other people’s piety bring charges of assertions and know they are true is to re- hypocrisy to our lips. The explosion of the During his more than four decades in poli- turn from the land of shadow and mist into tics, Bill was a visionary force behind Dur- spirit can hit with the force of last Sunday’s the sunlight of a new day. blast or it can strike in a slow-motion The person who experiences the bank- ham’s transformation from a declining tobacco version. Decay is an explosion developing ruptcy of spirit that we have spoken of and town into a vibrant, modern paragon of the slowly. We can rebuild stores and replace who later reclaims and rebuilds, who begins ‘‘new South,’’ bustling with commerce, cultural smashed windows, but persons who are again and whose faith grows from infancy to events and attractions, world-class hotels and smashed by an earthquake under their house maturity, has a lot to tell us. My guess is restaurants, and a thriving entrepreneurial of faith have no certainty that they can pick that such a person would share with us such community. He played an instrumental role in up the pieces, nor may they want to, for thoughts as: the merger of the Durham County and Dur- their structure no longer has meaning. All No one else can say what’s true for you. All that was dear and cherished is splintered and truth is self-validating. ham City school systems, the financing of smoking. Their faith is gone, their dreams Much truth, that is not yet perceived as major downtown amenities such as the Dur- are smashed, and they have no basis for truth, can remain on the shelf: it may be ham Bulls Athletic Park and Durham Per- hope. claimed later on. forming Arts Center, and, more recently, the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18DE8.011 E18DEPT1 E1722 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 18, 2017 planning for the Durham-Orange Light Rail more prosperous, dynamic, and inclusive than 1977, calls for establishment of a sys- Transit project. ever before. tem for a computerized schedule of all Even as he has worked to attract new ideas Lisa and I, along with constituents in the meetings and hearings of Senate com- and new investment to Durham, Bill has Fourth District and colleagues in the North mittees, subcommittees, joint commit- worked tirelessly to ensure that all Durhamites Carolina congressional delegation, want to tees, and committees of conference. would benefit from their community’s growth. thank Mayor Bell for his dedicated service and This title requires all such committees He continues to serve as the Executive Vice exceptional leadership and wish him and his to notify the Office of the Senate Daily President and Chief Operating Officer of the family the very best as he begins the next Digest—designated by the Rules Com- UDI Community Development Corporation, a chapter of his life. mittee—of the time, place and purpose non-profit organization dedicated to promoting f of the meetings, when scheduled and any cancellations or changes in the the education and economic welfare of low-in- PERSONAL EXPLANATION come and underprivileged Durham residents. meetings as they occur. I have had the pleasure of knowing and As an additional procedure along working with Bill during his more than 40 HON. TERRI A. SEWELL with the computerization of this infor- years in North Carolina politics, and especially OF ALABAMA mation, the Office of the Senate Daily since Durham became part of the Fourth Con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Digest will prepare this information for gressional District in 1997. We worked to- Monday, December 18, 2017 printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD gether especially on appropriations projects, to Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, dur- improve the corridors to downtown, to remedy on Monday and Wednesday of each ing Roll Call votes held on December 18, week. a ‘‘food desert,’’ and to develop affordable 2017, I was inescapably detained handling im- housing and livable neighborhoods. I and Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, De- portant matters related to my District and the cember 19, 2017 may be found in the many others found Bill to be an ideal collabo- State of Alabama. Had I been present, I would Daily Digest of today’s RECORD. rator, able and willing to work cooperatively have voted No on Roll Call No. 685, the Mo- with all sorts of people, ready to embrace new tion to Fix the Convening Times and YEA on ideas and approaches, loyal to Durham and Roll Call Nos. 686 and 687, which are as fol- MEETINGS SCHEDULED determined to realize its potential. lows: H.R. 4375, and STEM Research and DECEMBER 20 Even as he retires from public office, Bill will Education Effectiveness and Transparency continue to serve the people of Durham Act, and H.R. 3979, Keep America’s Refuges 10:30 a.m. through UDI Community Development Cor- Committee on Environment and Public Operation Act. Works poration and through his active involvement in f Subcommittee on Transportation and In- other civic and charitable organizations. And SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS frastructure his legacy will live on through the countless To hold hearings to examine freight lives he has touched and the indelible impact Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, movement. he has made on the Bull City, which is today agreed to by the Senate of February 4, SD–406

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE8.014 E18DEPT1 Monday, December 18, 2017 Daily Digest Senate sel of the Department of Housing and Urban Devel- Chamber Action opment. Pages S8054–64, S8072 Routine Proceedings, pages S8051–S8072 By 74 yeas to 23 nays (Vote No. EX. 319), Owen Measures Introduced: Four bills were introduced, West, of Connecticut, to be an Assistant Secretary of as follows: S. 2242–2245. Page S8070 Defense. Pages S8054–64, S8072 Measures Reported: Messages from the House: Page S8070 S. 2155, to promote economic growth, provide Measures Referred: Page S8070 tailored regulatory relief, and enhance consumer pro- Page S8070 tections, with amendments. Page S8070 Executive Communications: Message from the President: Senate received the Additional Cosponsors: Pages S8070–71 following message from the President of the United Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: States: Page S8071 Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the Additional Statements: Page S8069 National Security Strategy of the United States of America; which was referred to the Committee on Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. Armed Services. (PM–22) Page S8069 (Total—319) Page S8064 Newstead Nomination—Agreement: A unani- Adjournment: Senate convened at 3 p.m. and ad- mous-consent agreement was reached providing that journed at 7:33 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, De- at 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, cember 19, 2017. (For Senate’s program, see the re- Senate begin consideration of the nomination of Jen- marks of the Majority Leader in today’s Record on nifer Gillian Newstead, of New York, to be Legal pages S8071–72.) Adviser of the Department of State, under the order of Thursday, December 14, 2017. Pages S8071–72 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the fol- Committee Meetings lowing nominations: (Committees not listed did not meet) By 62 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. EX. 318), J. Paul Compton, Jr., of Alabama, to be General Coun- No committee meetings were held. h House of Representatives Safety Administration’s outreach and education pro- Chamber Action gram to include human trafficking prevention activi- Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 14 pub- ties, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–467); lic bills, H.R. 4666–4679 and 1 resolution, H. Con. H.R. 3814, to disqualify from operating a com- Res. 97 were introduced. Pages H10179–80 mercial motor vehicle for life an individual who uses Additional Cosponsors: Pages H10180–81 a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: involving human trafficking (H. Rept. 115–468); H.R. 3813, to designate a human trafficking pre- H.R. 2465, to amend title XVIII of the Social Se- vention coordinator and to expand the scope of ac- curity Act to make permanent the removal of the tivities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier rental cap for durable medical equipment under the D1336

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:15 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D18DE7.REC D18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D1337 Medicare program with respect to speech generating nerships to bring computer science education to devices (H. Rept. 115–469, Part 1); more K–12 classrooms; Pages H10152–54 H.R. 1350, to modify the boundary of Voyageurs Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act: H.R. National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for 3979, amended, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act other purposes (H. Rept. 115–470); of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer services, com- H.R. 4375, to provide for a study on broadening munity partnership, and refuge education programs participation in certain National Science Foundation of the National Wildlife Refuge System, by a 2⁄3 research and education programs, to collect data on yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas to 14 nays, Roll No. Federal research grants to science agencies, and for 687; Pages H10154–55, H10166 other purposes (H. Rept. 115–471); United States Fire Administration, AFG, and H.R. 4254, to amend the National Science Foun- SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017: dation Authorization Act of 2002 to strengthen the H.R. 4661, to reauthorize the United States Fire aerospace workforce pipeline by the promotion of Administration, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and Na- program, the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants pro- tional Aeronautics and Space Administration intern- gram, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emer- ship and fellowship opportunities to women, and for gency Response grant program; and Pages H10155–58 other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 115–472); STEM Research and Education Effectiveness H.R. 4323, to promote veteran involvement in and Transparency Act: H.R. 4375, amended, to STEM education, computer science, and scientific re- provide for a study on broadening participation in search, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–473); certain National Science Foundation research and and education programs, and to collect data on Federal H. Res. 667, providing for consideration of the research grants to science agencies, by a 2⁄3 yea-and- conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 1) to nay vote of 376 yeas to 9 nays, Roll No. 686; provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V Pages H10158–60, H10165–66 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ‘‘Provide year 2018; providing for consideration of the bill for a report on broadening participation in certain (H.R. 3312) to amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street National Science Foundation research and education Reform and Consumer Protection Act to specify programs, to collect data on Federal research grants when bank holding companies may be subject to to science agencies, and for other purposes.’’. certain enhanced supervision, and for other purposes; Page H10166 and for other purposes (H. Rept. 115–474). Recess: The House recessed at 6:16 p.m. and recon- Page H10179 vened at 6:30 p.m. Page H10164 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he Motion to Fix Next Convening Time: Agreed to appointed Representative Duncan (TN) to act as the Holding motion that when the House adjourns Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H10147 today, it adjourn to meet Tuesday, December 19, Recess: The House recessed at 12:05 p.m. and re- 2017 at 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate, by a yea- convened at 2 p.m. Page H10148 and-nay vote of 216 yeas to 169 nays, Roll No. 685. Pages H10164–65 Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Dan C. Cummins, Peoples Suspensions—Proceedings Postponed: The House Church, Jacksonville, Texas. Page H10148 debated the following measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were postponed. Recess: The House recessed at 2:03 p.m. and recon- vened at 4:30 p.m. Page H10148 Women in Aerospace Education Act: H.R. 4254, amended, to amend the National Science Foundation Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules Authorization Act of 2002 to strengthen the aero- and pass the following measures: space workforce pipeline by the promotion of Robert Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and National Family Caregivers Act of 2017: H.R. 3759, amend- Aeronautics and Space Administration internship and ed, to provide for the establishment and maintenance fellowship opportunities to women; Pages H10160–61 of a Family Caregiving Strategy; Pages H10148–52 United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act: Expressing support for the use of public-private H.R. 1159, amended, to provide for continuing co- partnerships to bring computer science education to operation between the National Aeronautics and more K–12 classrooms: H. Con. Res. 95, amended, Space Administration and the Israel Space Agency; expressing support for the use of public-private part- and Pages H10161–62

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:15 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D18DE7.REC D18DEPT1 D1338 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST December 18, 2017 Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act: with the Minority Leader or her designee on the designa- H.R. 4323, amended, to promote veteran involve- tion of any matter for consideration pursuant to this sec- ment in STEM education, computer science, and sci- tion. Testimony was heard from Chairman Hensarling, entific research. Pages H10162–64 Chairman Brady of Texas, and Representatives Roskam and Neal. Recess: The House recessed at 9:15 p.m. and recon- vened at 11:04 p.m. Page H10178 Presidential Message: Read a message from the Joint Meetings President wherein he transmitted to Congress the No joint committee meetings were held. National Security Strategy of the United States—re- f ferred to the Committee on Armed Services. Page H10164 COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR TUESDAY, Quorum Calls—Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes de- DECEMBER 19, 2017 veloped during the proceedings of today and appear (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) on pages H10164–65, H10165–66, H10166. There were no quorum calls. Senate Adjournment: The House met at 12 noon and ad- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: busi- journed at 11:05 p.m. ness meeting to consider the nominations of Scott Gar- rett, of New Jersey, to be President, Kimberly A. Reed, Committee Meetings of West Virginia, to be First Vice President, Mark L. Greenblatt, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, and SYSTEMIC RISK DESIGNATION Spencer Bachus III, of Alabama, Judith Delzoppo Pryor, IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2017 of Ohio, and Claudia Slacik, of New York, each to be a Committee on Rules: Full Committee held a hearing on Member of the Board of Directors, all of the Export-Im- H.R. 3312, the ‘‘Systemic Risk Designation Improvement port Bank, 10 a.m., SD–538. Act of 2017’’. The Committee granted, by record vote of Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to exam- 9–4, a rule providing for the consideration of the con- ine the nominations of Peter Hendrick Vrooman, of New ference report to accompany H.R. 1. The rule waives all York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda, and points of order against the conference report and against Joel Danies, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Gabo- its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. The rule provides that nese Republic, and to serve concurrently and without ad- the previous question shall be considered as ordered with- ditional compensation as Ambassador to the Democratic out intervention of any motion except one hour of debate Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, both of the Depart- and one motion to recommit if applicable. The rule pro- ment of State, 2 p.m., SD–419. vides that clause 5(b) of rule XXI shall not apply to the Committee on Rules and Administration: to hold hearings conference report. The rule provides that debate on the to examine S. Res. 355, improving procedures for the conference report is divided pursuant to clause 8(d) of consideration of nominations in the Senate; to be imme- rule XXII. In section 2, the rule provides for consider- diately followed by a business meeting to consider S. Res. ation of H.R. 3312 under a closed rule. The rule provides 355, improving procedures for the consideration of nomi- one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the nations in the Senate, 2:30 p.m., SR–301. chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services. The rule waives all points of order House against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that Committee on House Administration, Full Committee, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of markup on H. Res. 630, requiring each Member, officer, the text of Rules Committee Print 115–49, modified by and employee of the House of Representatives to com- the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report, plete a program of training in workplace rights and re- shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, sponsibilities each session of each Congress, 12:15 p.m., shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 1310 Longworth. order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule Committee on Rules, Full Committee, hearing on Senate provides one motion to recommit with or without in- structions. In section 3, the rule waives clause 6(a) of rule Amendment to H.R. 1370, the ‘‘Department of Home- XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on land Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017 the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) [Further Continuing Resolution]’’, 3 p.m., H–313 Cap- against any resolution reported for the remainder of the itol. first session of the 115th Congress. In section 4, the rule Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Full Committee, markup provides that it shall be in order at any time through re- on H.R. 4242, the ‘‘VA Care in the Community Act’’, mainder of the first session of the 115th Congress, for the 10 a.m., 334 Cannon. Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules and that the Speaker or his designee shall consult

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:15 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D18DE7.REC D18DEPT1 December 18, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D1339 CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Committee on Environment and Public Works: December 20, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Week of December 19 through December 22, to hold hearings to examine freight movement, 10:30 2017 a.m., SD–406. Senate Chamber Committee on Foreign Relations: December 19, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Peter Hendrick On Tuesday, Senate will begin consideration of the Vrooman, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Repub- nomination of Jennifer Gillian Newstead, of New lic of Rwanda, and Joel Danies, of Maryland, to be Am- York, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of bassador to the Gabonese Republic, and to serve concur- State, and vote on confirmation of the nomination at rently and without additional compensation as Ambas- approximately 12:10 p.m. sador to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Prin- During the balance of the week, Senate may con- cipe, both of the Department of State, 2 p.m., SD–419. sider any cleared legislative and executive business. Committee on Rules and Administration: December 19, to Senate Committees hold hearings to examine S. Res. 355, improving proce- dures for the consideration of nominations in the Senate; (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) to be immediately followed by a business meeting to con- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: De- sider S. Res. 355, improving procedures for the consider- cember 19, business meeting to consider the nominations ation of nominations in the Senate, 2:30 p.m., SR–301. of Scott Garrett, of New Jersey, to be President, Kim- berly A. Reed, of West Virginia, to be First Vice Presi- House Committees dent, Mark L. Greenblatt, of Maryland, to be Inspector Committee on Education and the Workforce, December 20, General, and Spencer Bachus III, of Alabama, Judith Full Committee, hearing entitled ‘‘Examining the Policies Delzoppo Pryor, of Ohio, and Claudia Slacik, of New York, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors, all and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education’’, 2 of the Export-Import Bank, 10 a.m., SD–538. p.m., 2175 Rayburn.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:15 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D18DE7.REC D18DEPT1 D1340 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST December 18, 2017

Next Meeting of the SENATE Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 19 9 a.m., Tuesday, December 19

Senate Chamber House Chamber Program for Tuesday: After the transaction of any Program for Tuesday: Consideration of Conference Re- morning business (not to extend beyond 12 noon), Senate port to Accompany H.R. 1—GOP Tax Bill (Subject to will begin consideration of the nomination of Jennifer a Rule). Consideration of H.R. 3312—Systemic Risk Gillian Newstead, of New York, to be Legal Adviser of Designation Improvement Act of 2017 (Subject to a the Department of State, and vote on confirmation of the Rule). Consideration of measures under suspension of the nomination at approximately 12:10 p.m. Rules. (Following disposition of the nomination of Jennifer Gillian Newstead, Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for their respective party conferences.)

Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue

HOUSE Evans, Dwigt, Pa., E1717 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E1721 Hensarling, Jeb, Tex., E1718 Sewell, Terri A., Ala., E1722 Cheney, Liz, Wyo., E1717, E1717, E1718, E1718, E1718, Khanna, Ro, Calif., E1719 Smith, Lamar, Tex., E1717 E1719, E1719, E1720, E1720, E1720 Matsui, Doris O., Calif., E1717, E1720 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E1720 Collins, Doug, Ga., E1718 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, The District of Columbia, Davis, Rodney, Ill., E1719 E1717, E1718, E1720 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E1719 Price, David E., N.C., E1721

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