E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 114 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 162 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016 No. 21 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was last day’s proceedings and announces Red, White, and Blue’s great work in called to order by the Speaker pro tem- to the House his approval thereof. enriching the lives of veterans in need. pore (Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia). Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- I had the great privilege of knowing f nal stands approved. Ted personally and was inspired by his kindness, his humor, and his love for DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER f his family and country. Ted will al- PRO TEMPORE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ways be remembered as an honorable The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the young man who touched many lives, fore the House the following commu- gentlewoman from New York (Ms. having a lasting positive impact on all nication from the Speaker: STEFANIK) come forward and lead the who knew and loved him. WASHINGTON, DC, House in the Pledge of Allegiance. May his name forever be remembered February 4, 2016. Ms. STEFANIK led the Pledge of Al- in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD and in I hereby appoint the Honorable ALEXANDER legiance as follows: the great United States of America. X. MOONEY to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Repub- f PAUL D. RYAN, Speaker of the House of Representatives. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. AMERICAN HEROES COLA ACT f f (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given per- PRAYER mission to address the House for 1 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER minute.) The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick PRO TEMPORE J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge We give You thanks, O merciful God, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the swift consideration of H.R. 677, the for giving us another day. Chair will entertain up to five requests American Heroes COLA Act. There have been many prayers this for 1-minute speeches on each side of This bill includes two of my bills, day rising to You from those engaged the aisle. H.R. 2691, the Veterans’ Survivors in the political discourse of this Na- f Claims Processing Automation Act, tion. We give You thanks for those who and H.R. 732, the Veterans Access to HONORING EDWARD ROBB ‘‘TED’’ Speedy Review Act. were able to gather at the National BARRETT Prayer Breakfast and those across this The claims and appeals backlog that land who joined their prayer intentions (Mr. KATKO asked and was given is plaguing veterans in my district and with the many who attended. permission to address the House for 1 across the Nation is unacceptable. The Bless the Members of this people’s minute.) Veterans’ Survivors Claims Processing House now as they gather to do the leg- Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to Automation Act will allow veterans’ islative work they are called to do. pay tribute to the life of Edward Robb surviving families to mourn their loss May their prayers this day be authen- ‘‘Ted’’ Barrett. and grieve without unnecessary bu- tic and heard by You, the living God. Ted was born on September 14, 1991, reaucratic steps in the benefit claims May their work be fruitful and bene- and passed away on January 30, 2016— process. ficial to those whom You favor—the far, far too early. Ted was a loving son, The Veterans Access to Speedy Re- poor—and may all they do be done in a brother to six, and a loyal friend to view Act will allow veterans to volun- humility and charity, knowing that we countless more in our community. Ted tarily use video conferencing tech- are all earthen vessels through whom had a unique ability to light up any nology to accelerate the appeals proc- Your spirit might shine forth. room he entered. His lighthearted, joy- ess. Veterans and their families deserve And, finally, may all that is done ful spirit uplifted everyone he met. to have their claims reviewed and to this day be for Your greater honor and A graduate of Christian Brothers receive the benefits that they have glory. Academy in Syracuse, of Deerfield earned and deserve in a timely and effi- Amen. Academy in Massachusetts, and of cient manner. f Hamilton College, Ted thrived as an I came to Washington to fight for athlete and always looked for ways to pragmatic solutions to meet our Na- THE JOURNAL give back to those less fortunate. He tion’s most pressing needs. These two The SPEAKER pro tempore. The had a passion and a deep admiration bills are pragmatic solutions for our Chair has examined the Journal of the for America’s heroes and valued Team veterans. 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. H569 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:41 Feb 04, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A04FE7.000 H04FEPT1 Emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with HOUSE H570 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 4, 2016 Mr. Speaker, join me in honoring our HONORING THE MEMORY OF JIM COMBATING THE DRUG EPIDEMIC veterans by bringing this legislation to TRULL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST a vote. (Mr. NEWHOUSE asked and was VIRGINIA f given permission to address the House (Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia asked for 1 minute.) and was given permission to address INVASIVE SPECIES SUMMIT Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise the House for 1 minute.) (Ms. STEFANIK asked and was given to honor the life of a respected con- Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. permission to address the House for 1 stituent of mine whom I was proud to Speaker, last month, I received notice minute.) have called a dear friend. from Michael Botticelli, the Director Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, from James Trull was the kind of leader of the Office of National Drug Control Lake George to the Saint Lawrence who could be depended on to bring peo- Policy, that, after a year of hard work Seaway to the pristine waters of Lake ple together and advance solutions on from Federal, State, and local officials, Champlain and all of the beautiful behalf of their communities. He was Jefferson County, West Virginia, was mountains and maple trees that run passionate about water issues. It was designated as a High Intensity Drug between, my district is home to many his life’s work. He served as the dis- Trafficking Area. This designation will ecological treasures. trict manager of the Sunnyside Valley bring critical resources to Jefferson Many of these natural wonders have Irrigation District for 34 years. He un- County to combat the drug epidemic fallen under siege to invasive species derstood the complicated western that is ravaging our communities and that threaten the health and beauty of water law like no one else. Jim was a way of life. these natural habitats. Our environ- valued leader in our community. He I would like to thank a few people for ment is our lifeblood in upstate New was kind and was loved by those who helping secure this designation: York, and we must protect it from knew him. Tom Carr, the executive director of these predators so as to boost our econ- While Jim will be missed by many, the Washington-Baltimore HIDTA Bu- omy and ensure we protect our envi- we can honor his legacy by striving to reau. Tom was kind enough to even go ronment for future generations. follow the kind of leadership he em- down to Romney, West Virginia, to This Friday, I will be proud to join bodied in his life. participate in a roundtable discussion I with stakeholders, who have been As we remember Jim, the passage led with local officials. working tirelessly on this issue across from the Prophet Isaiah comes to Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dough- my district and across New York State, mind: ‘‘For I will pour water upon him erty, who leads Jefferson County law at an Invasive Species Summit in Clay- that is thirsty and floods upon the dry enforcement in combating drug traf- ton, New York. Together, we will ex- ground . .’’ ficking every day and who worked hard plore best practices and information I ask my colleagues to join me in re- on this HIDTA application. sharing as well as to work on innova- membering my friend, Jim Trull. U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld, who tive new solutions to stop this epi- f prosecutes dangerous drug dealers and demic. who also gave his invaluable input to By working together at the Federal, HONORING THE LIFE OF PHIL the HIDTA application. State, and local levels, I know we can NEIGHBORS I thank the entire West Virginia del- preserve our natural treasures for gen- (Mr. CONAWAY asked and was given egation for helping to lock in this des- erations to come. permission to address the House for 1 ignation: Senators CAPITO and MANCHIN f minute and to revise and extend his re- and my colleagues Congressmen marks.) MCKINLEY and JENKINS. HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE Mr. CONAWAY. Mr.