E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 No. 16 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was From a young age, Lewis held him- under his wing and served as an impor- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- self to a standard of excellence. Upon tant mentor. pore (Mr. FLEISCHMANN). graduation from high school, Lewis en- Lewis was a thorough and exact law- f listed in the U.S. Navy Reserve and yer who paid attention to detail and was selected to join the prestigious V– helped instill those traits in me and DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO 12 Naval College Training Program many others that he worked with. He TEMPORE during World War II and thereafter. inspired in me the confidence to hold The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Through this program, he attended myself to a standard of excellence, but fore the House the following commu- Millsaps College and Tulane University he did so without being overbearing or nication from the Speaker: and went on to serve in the Navy harsh. He took a new lawyer and al- WASHINGTON, DC, aboard the USS Mississippi. lowed me to gain invaluable experi- January 31, 2017. After serving, Lewis continued his ence. I hereby appoint the Honorable CHARLES J. education at the University of Ala- As a young lawyer, Lewis taught me FLEISCHMANN to act as Speaker pro tempore bama where he received a law degree, an important lesson that every young on this day. and, soon after, commissioned as a first lawyer must learn: to choose your bat- PAUL D. RYAN, lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in tles wisely. This lesson applied to more Speaker of the House of Representatives. 1951, serving as a legal officer in Korea. than just the field of law, however, and f Lewis Odom’s career of service was I have continued to use this principle MORNING-HOUR DEBATE only just beginning when he left the in many of the other skills that I military. His hard work and integrity learned from Lewis throughout my life The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- as a lawyer were recognized as he be- and career. ant to the order of the House of Janu- came the general counsel of the U.S. Lewis was also a true community ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- Senate Small Business Committee. He leader committed to making Alabama nize Members from lists submitted by would go on to serve as administrative a better place. From his first days in the majority and minority leaders for assistant to Alabama Senator John Mobile to his last, Lewis was ever morning-hour debate. Sparkman before being named staff di- present in the community, serving in The Chair will alternate recognition rector and counsel for the Senate any way he could, always giving his between the parties, with each party Banking Committee. He played a crit- time and his devotion. limited to 1 hour and each Member ical role in shaping many of our Na- During his years in Mobile, Lewis other than the majority and minority tion’s financial regulations during this served as the chairman of the Alabama leaders and the minority whip limited important time period. Ethics Commission, the chairman of to 5 minutes, but in no event shall de- Probably one of his most memorable the Mobile water board, chancellor of bate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. accomplishments during his career on the Episcopal Diocese of the Central f Capitol Hill was to plan and organize Gulf Coast, and chairman of the Mobile the inauguration ceremony for Presi- Museum Board. HONORING THE LIFE OF LEWIS dent John F. Kennedy. He often spoke He was also a strong supporter of the ODOM of the great challenge and honor of University of Alabama, serving as The SPEAKER pro tempore. The that job. president to various alumni chapters Chair recognizes the gentleman from Following his time on Capitol Hill, and as a founding member of the Alabama (Mr. BYRNE) for 5 minutes. he served as deputy to the Chairman of Farrah Law Society for the University Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise the Federal Deposit Insurance Corpora- of Alabama School of Law. today to remember the life of a com- tion, or FDIC. He was eventually ap- It is true that Lewis worked just as munity leader, public servant, proud pointed senior Deputy Comptroller of hard for his community in his retire- veteran, personal mentor, and great the Currency before retiring from Fed- ment as he had earlier in his legal ca- American, Lewis Odom. eral service in 1981. reer. Lewis Odom lived a life many strive After his years of service in the Fed- Sadly, Lewis Odom passed away on to emulate, a life filled with purpose, eral Government, Lewis returned to January 16 of this year at the age of 91. integrity, and selfless commitment to practice law in Mobile, joining the law My wife, Rebecca, and I were both those around him. He had such a gen- firm of Miller, Hamilton, Snider & heartbroken to learn of his passing be- uine impact on my life and the lives of Odom. That was when I met Lewis. As cause he was such a dear friend. During so many others. a newly minted lawyer, Lewis took me this time of sadness, we take great 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. H749 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:58 Jan 31, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A31JA7.000 H31JAPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with HOUSE H750 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 31, 2017 comfort in remembering the impact he to protect our Nation. We have that The savings are clear, and the service had on each of us as well as on our same responsibility. This Congress has could not be more important. That is community, State, and country. a sacred duty to hold the President ac- why last year I hosted two fire sum- I hope his wife, Janelle; son, Mike; countable and ourselves for doing so in mits in my district to speak directly daughter, Patty; beloved grandchildren a way that respects our Constitution with local firefighters and try to iden- and great-grandchildren can take com- and our values. That, Mr. Speaker, is tify not only the challenges that they fort in the same. patriotism. face, but also some solutions to those Mr. Speaker, Lewis was a man of So I urge my colleagues on both problems. great integrity and set an example for sides: Stand against this order. Stand Funding is always a problem that all those around him to hold ourselves up for America. Stand up for the Con- plagues volunteer departments and can to such a level of excellence and serv- stitution. Stand up for our values. truly decline quickly when we think of ice. He was a great man, and he will be Stand against an act that does nothing what it costs to purchase new equip- sorely missed. but empower our enemies and erode ment and be compliant with the latest f faith in our highest principles in our regulations. Small communities are country and around the world. often already stressed economically TRUMP MUSLIM BAN The Nation, Mr. Speaker, is watch- and do not have a tax base that can as- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing. sume another increase; but equipment Chair recognizes the gentleman from The world, Mr. Speaker, is watching. replacement is paramount, and it can I urge us to action. Maryland (Mr. HOYER) for 5 minutes. sometimes mean the life or death of a Representatives LOFGREN and CON- Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise out firefighter. YERS have introduced a bill to block of deep concern for our country, our Volunteer fire departments also face this executive order. I have cospon- people, and those who serve us in uni- training challenges. Firefighters in sored it, along with 160 other Members form. rural communities regularly need to of this House. This is a time when The executive order signed by Presi- travel long distances for instructional party should not be put before country. dent Trump on Friday has not only courses, and paying for the necessary Party should not be put before patriot- sown chaos and created a backlash training can be difficult. Training ses- ism. Party should not be put before being felt across the world, it is also sions might not focus enough on fire- endangering our people here at home principle. Join me, and let us deny our enemies fighting in rural communities, which is and our troops overseas. different from that in urban commu- It bans refugees and is, for all intents this potent tool and remind the world what truly makes America great. nities in a number of ways. and purposes, a ban on Muslims enter- Personnel challenges remain a con- ing our country. It is a religious test. f stant issue with declining populations, It plays right into the hands of ISIS, al IMPORTANCE OF FIREFIGHTERS IN aging firefighters who are not being re- Qaeda, and other extremist groups that RURAL AMERICA placed with those of a younger genera- mean to do us harm.