Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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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, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 No. 188 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF called to order by the Speaker. United States of America, and to the Repub- STAFF SERGEANT RICHARD lic for which it stands, one nation under God, f HUNTER indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. PRAYER (Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia asked Reverend Robert Hughes, Broadway f and was given permission to address Presbyterian Church, Sedalia, Mis- the House for 1 minute and to revise souri, offered the following prayer: WELCOMING REVEREND ROBERT and extend his remarks.) Awesome and merciful God, we thank HUGHES Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. You that we can approach You directly Speaker, I rise today to honor the The SPEAKER. Without objection, in prayer, fully aware that prayer is bravery of one of my constituents and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. not a shield protecting us from all evil an American hero, Staff Sergeant Rich- HARTZLER) is recognized for 1 minute. but, rather, a reminder, first and fore- ard Hunter. Staff Sergeant Hunter was There was no objection. most, that You alone are God, creator, recently awarded the Air Force Cross Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise redeemer, and sustainer of all, and we in recognition of his outstanding cour- today to honor and thank Reverend are not. age in the line of duty. Gracious Lord, in ancient times King Robert Hughes of Sedalia, Missouri, for Staff Sergeant Hunter was deployed Solomon asked only for wisdom, not his leadership in the faith community. to Kunduz province, Afghanistan, as fame, fortune, or influence. Instead, he After beginning his career in film and part of the U.S. Army Special Forces longed for godly wisdom. Whether as television, working for media compa- team. On November 2, 2016, his team parent, teacher, minister, elected offi- nies like Disney and National Geo- found themselves under heavy ma- cial, or in any other position of leader- graphic, Reverend Hughes left show chine-gun fire from insurgents. Despite ship, help us to lead with godly wis- business to do God’s business. He en- the barrage of enemy fire, Hunter dom. tered the ministry, which led him to charged forward to shield the wounded Heavenly God, as I proclaim Your Sedalia, in Missouri’s Fourth Congres- and, ultimately, repelled the enemy’s threefold unity, Father, Son, and Holy sional District, where he serves as the encroachment. He initiated the launch Spirit, individual, yet eternally united pastor at Broadway Presbyterian of the quick reaction force and cas- as one God, I pray that this Nation, the Church. ualty airlift for wounded members in United States, be also unified, respect- Reverend Hughes is well loved by the his group. members of his congregation, and he ing and valuing the individual, yet After discovering an injured fellow uses his time and talents to energize eternally united as one nation, under Special Force soldier, Hunter dragged others about God’s Word. It was my God, indivisible. It is in Your name, I him 30 meters to safety with one hand, honor to recommend him as guest pray. while he directed radio airstrikes with chaplain to lead the House in prayer Amen. his other. When they fell under fire this morning. f once again, Hunter eliminated the Reverend Hughes, thank you for your threat, and helped load the wounded THE JOURNAL devotion to your community and con- into a helicopter to be evacuated. In The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- gregation and for bringing inspiration total, Staff Sergeant Hunter’s actions ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- and encouragement to those you serve. that day eliminated 27 enemy forces ceedings and announces to the House May God bless everything you set your and saved his team. his approval thereof. hand to. Your service to God and your For these measures of extraordinary Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- church is appreciated. nal stands approved. bravery in the most dire of cir- cumstances, Staff Sergeant Richard f f Hunter earned the Air Force Cross PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE award. Without his help, many Amer- The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER ican servicemembers surely would have PRO TEMPORE from Maryland (Mr. BROWN) come for- been lost that day. ward and lead the House in the Pledge The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to of Allegiance. WOMACK). The Chair will entertain up join me in honoring the heroic actions Mr. BROWN of Maryland led the to five further requests for 1-minute of Staff Sergeant Richard Hunter, a Pledge of Allegiance as follows: speeches on each side of the aisle. true American hero. 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. H9379 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Nov 16, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16NO7.000 H16NOPT1 H9380 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 16, 2017 AMERICANS DESERVE BIPARTISAN the GOP tax plan being considered lion visitors each year, contributing TAX REFORM today. $128 million to our local economy. It is (Mr. CARBAJAL asked and was given After promising a simple and fair tax a haven for so many: local veterans system, Republicans offer a com- permission to address the House for 1 find solace and healing in the quiet of plicated mess. Their tax plan picks minute.) nature; children experience the beauty winners: the rich, and big corporations, Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, the of their first hike; visitors come to love getting nearly $1 trillion in tax cuts. tax bill put forth today by congres- the grandeur and the mystique of our They create losers, like teachers, sen- sional Republicans is a gift to the desert when they come to stay in Josh- iors, students, people with disabilities, wealthiest 1 percent and multinational ua Tree; families bond over the lasting and working families who will pay corporations at the expense of our stu- memories they make in the park. more. Everyone, not just the rich, should dents, homeowners, and seniors. This GOP tax scam also targets our have access to these incredible places. It eliminates critical deductions that Nation’s veterans. More than 300,000 Working families are deserving of ac- help central coast families, including veterans have benefited from the work cess to our national parks. Nearly tri- deductions for State and local taxes, opportunity tax credit, most of whom pling the price of entry means that mortgage interest, student loans, and served after 9/11. Yet this bill elimi- many families will be priced out of vis- medical expenses. nates the tax credit and abandons our iting these parks, including many peo- With wildfire season in California servicemembers when they return ple in my district who live right next growing longer each year, this bill cal- home and transition to civilian life. to Joshua Tree National Park. lously eliminates tax relief for per- Today, one of every three veterans is Our national parks are not just only sonal casualty losses resulting from underemployed, and 1.8 million vet- for the economically privileged. They wildfires as well as earthquakes. In erans are stuck in low-wage jobs. Every are for we, the people, to enjoy. fact, this bill would raise taxes on 36 single veteran should be able to get a f million working and middle class tax- family-supporting job at home after RECOGNIZING THE BUCKS COUNTY payers by an average of $1,130 a year. serving our Nation. This tax bill asks OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, COMMU- With a national debt that has now our veterans and their families to NITY ACTION AGENCY surpassed $20 trillion, the American again sacrifice, this time so billion- people cannot afford this tax bill that aires and big corporations get a huge (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit and tax cut. given permission to address the House leaves our children stuck with the bill. Mr. Speaker, veterans deserve a bet- for 1 minute and to revise and extend Americans deserve bipartisan tax re- ter deal and so do American working his remarks.) form that simplifies our Tax Code and families. Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bucks puts the middle class first. f f County Opportunity Council, Commu- NATIONAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE nity Action Agency, which serves low- TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN AWARENESS MONTH income families throughout Bucks FAMILIES (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given County, Pennsylvania, and its eco- (Mr. WALBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 nomic self-sufficiency program, which permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his re- recently graduated its 300th family minute.) marks.) from poverty. Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, hard- Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have This individualized program works working families in Michigan have supported and continue to support in- with families to end the cycle of pov- been squeezed for far too long under creased Federal funding for the prom- erty by building a plan of action and our broken Tax Code. Wages aren’t ising research going on at the National working with a coach to attain new going up, yet the cost of living keeps Institutes of Health in order to encour- training and education.