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, MARCH 23, 2017 No. 51 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was The question was taken; and the It is my great pleasure to welcome called to order by the Speaker. Speaker announced that the ayes ap- Pastor Bob and thank him as he has peared to have it. blessed us this morning with his pray- f Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. er. PRAYER Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the f ground that a quorum is not present Pastor Bob MacGregor, City Harvest and make the point of order that a ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Church, Vancouver, Washington, of- quorum is not present. PRO TEMPORE fered the following prayer: The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 8, The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lord, we come today with thanks- rule XX, further proceedings on this WOMACK). The Chair will entertain up giving for the work of Your grace in es- question will be postponed. to five further requests for 1-minute tablishing this at work called America. The point of no quorum is considered speeches on each side of the aisle. Known around the world as the Na- withdrawn. tion of opportunity, many fight to be- f come a part of us and few desire to f SERGEANT FIRST CLASS CHRIS- leave because You, Lord, have made us PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TOPHER ROBINSON WAS TRULY great. The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman THE BEST OF THE BEST Our Founding Fathers understood from Mississippi (Mr. KELLY) come for- (Mr. KELLY of Mississippi asked and this by experience and by the Scrip- ward and lead the House in the Pledge was given permission to address the tures ‘‘that except the Lord builds the of Allegiance. House for 1 minute and to revise and House, they labor in vain who build Mr. KELLY of Mississippi led the extend his remarks.) it.’’ So it has been our deep conviction Pledge of Allegiance as follows: Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. from our conception to daily appeal to I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Speaker, I am humbled today to rise in You for wisdom to guide the leaders of United States of America, and to the Repub- memory of Army Sergeant First Class this great Nation. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Christopher Lee Robinson. He paid the indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So, once again, we ask for the wis- ultimate sacrifice while defending our dom to protect all our citizens, provide f Nation on March 25, 2006, during Oper- opportunity for all, help our poor, care WELCOMING PASTOR BOB ation Enduring Freedom in Afghani- for our elderly, secure our families, MACGREGOR stan. educate our children, and make our Sergeant Robinson was wounded dur- economy strong. The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Washington ing an ambush in Helmand province, We pray for unity in this endeavor. Afghanistan, while conducting joint May righteousness exalt us through all (Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER) is recognized for 1 minute. and multinational combat operations. our laws. This we ask respectfully in Master Sergeant Reese Robbins, his Jesus’ name. There was no objection. Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. friend, was also wounded during the at- Amen. Speaker, it is my great honor to intro- tack. At the time of his death, Ser- f duce my pastor and dear friend, Bob geant Robinson was the first Mis- MacGregor, as our guest chaplain this sissippi National Guard soldier to die THE JOURNAL morning. in Afghanistan. The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- Pastor Bob is the lead pastor of City Sergeant Robinson was assigned to ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- Harvest Church in Vancouver, Wash- the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces ceedings and announces to the House ington, my home church. City Harvest Group, Mississippi Army National his approval thereof. is a thriving church that greatly im- Guard in Jackson, Mississippi. He fol- Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- pacts our community by caring for the lowed in the footsteps of his father, nal stands approved. needy and supporting mission work. George Robinson, who also served in Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Pastor Bob and his wife, Sue, have the Army. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule four daughters and eight grand- Retired Sergeant Major Mike Patter- I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the children. They have been married for 38 son served with Sergeant Robinson Speaker’s approval of the Journal. years and share a burden to help build throughout most of his military career. The SPEAKER. The question is on marriages and families of ministers Sergeant Major Patterson said Ser- the Speaker’s approval of the Journal. who face the demands of ministry life. geant Robinson consistently displayed 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. H2351 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23MR7.000 H23MRPT1 lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H2352 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 23, 2017 bravery by volunteering for hard de- Emergency Food Assistance Program, flew planes in Southeast Asia more ployments and dangerous missions. He the Commodity Supplemental Food than 75 years ago. This hero finally re- also says Sergeant Robinson had the program, and the Food Distribution turned home this week for burial. ability to handle combat in a very de- Program on Indian Reservations. Second Lieutenant Maax Curtis Ham- liberate way, yet remain compas- Committee members heard from a mer, Jr., died when his plane crashed in sionate for people and the unintended panel of witnesses representing each of what was then Burma in 1941. Hammer consequences that war thrusts upon these programs who explained how the was part of the Flying Tigers, a group human beings. programs differ, interact, and work to- of volunteer pilots who helped the Brit- He is survived by his wife, Tamara, gether to meet the nutrition needs of ish and Chinese defend against Impe- and their children, Savannah and Pat- America’s most vulnerable citizens. rial Japan. rick. Sergeant Robinson devoted his Mr. Speaker, as chairman of this sub- His remains returned to Carbondale, life to the safety of our Nation. He will committee, I know Federal nutrition Illinois, this week, via dignified trans- always be remembered for his service programs are vital to ensuring that all port from Hawaii, where he had been and deep love for friends and family Americans have healthy foods within buried for 67 years in a grave marked and this country. reach, whether low-income popu- ‘‘Unknown.’’ The first sentence of the NCO creed lations, the elderly, or those living in Maax, it has been a long time. With states: ‘‘No one is more professional areas with strained access to nutri- heavy heart, we welcome you home to than I.’’ The level of competence and tious foods. Along with SNAP, these southern Illinois, and we thank you for professionalism that Sergeant Robin- programs support agriculture and less- your service. son maintained throughout his life, in en the effects of poverty on our most f and out of uniform, shows that he lived vulnerable citizens. As we begin to work on the next farm THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE by that creed every day of his life. WATCHING As a Special Forces Green Beret sol- bill, we will continue to identify ways (Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ asked and was dier, Sergeant First Class Robinson to work alongside State and local orga- given permission to address the House was truly the best of the best. nizations to help provide safe, nutri- tious food for those who need it most. for 1 minute and to revise and extend f I thank our witnesses for sharing their her remarks.) BRAIN RESEARCH IS CRITICAL time and their expertise to help Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today House Republicans are preparing (Mr. MCNERNEY asked and was strengthen these programs. given permission to address the House f to vote to rip away health care from 24 million Americans, 2.7 million of them for 1 minute and to revise and extend REJECT TRUMPCARE his remarks.) in New York. In my district, 122,000 (Mr. TONKO asked and was given Mr. MCNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise people will lose coverage, including permission to address the House for 1 today in support of Federal investment 12,700 children. Those who do retain minute and to revise and extend his re- into brain research. coverage will pay more for less, with Congress’ commitment to fund basic marks.) deductibles and premiums sky- Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, our first brain-related research and scientific rocketing. duty here is to the American people. I discovery is critical to developing our This is what House Republicans plan rise to call on my colleagues to fulfill capabilities to treat over 1,000 diseases to put on the floor today. It is a plan that duty and reject TrumpCare. and disorders that directly or indi- that benefits the healthy and the President Trump made big promises wealthy while hurting everyone else. If rectly affect 100 million Americans on health care during his campaign. every year. Estimates put the eco- you have a preexisting condition and TrumpCare proves those promises were your coverage lapses, under nomic burden of these diseases at over empty.