Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Zeldin for his leadership on this issue; his voice in criticism of this flawed nuclear deal with Iran; and, of course, for his valiant service to the United States in the military.

I rise tonight in strong support of the President's decision to decertify this

deeply flawed JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. I agree with the President's finding that Iran is not transparently, not verifiably, and not fully implementing the agreement. I agree with the President's finding that continued sanctions relief is not in the vital security interest of the United States.

That is because the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran was a dangerous and historic mistake. The deal provided the mullahs in Tehran with roughly $100 billion in upfront sanctions relief in exchange for Iran's promise, future promise, to temporarily pause its enrichment program.

Unfortunately, the agreement contained fatally deficient verification protocols and the International Atomic Energy Agency now concedes that it has no capacity to verify that Tehran is engaged in activities which could contribute to the development of a nuclear explosive device. That is because under the terms of the agreement, the very terms of the JCPOA, international inspectors are barred from accessing Iran's military sites where elicit nuclear activities are most likely taking place.

President Obama's promise that there would be ``anytime, anywhere inspections,'' but that promise was replaced with ``managed access'' to suspect nuclear sites in which international inspectors must appeal to Iran, Russia, and China in a bureaucratic process that would take days during which Iran could remove anything covert and in violation of the agreement.

As Congressman Zeldin correctly pointed out, we don't even know what the verification protocols actually are because we haven't been able to access the secret agreement between international inspectors, non-U.S. inspectors, and the leadership in Tehran.

But the most serious concern is not that Iran would cheat. It is that even if Iran is fully complying with this agreement, bad outcomes are guaranteed. First, Iran will be allowed an arsenal of nuclear weapons in as little as 10 years. Under the very terms of this agreement, Iran was not denied a nuclear weapon. The path was paved for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international sanction.

Iran was not required to dismantle key bomb-making technology. It was permitted to retain vast enrichment capacity, and it was allowed to continue research and development on advanced centrifuges, and it will be allowed to continue to acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles. Intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Why do you need intercontinental ballistic missiles if you have peaceful designs for your nuclear program?

Those of you who are listening at home across America, remember this: an intercontinental ballistic missile is not a missile designed for Tel Aviv. An intercontinental ballistic missile is designed for New York City; for Washington, D.C.; for Atlanta, Georgia; for Los Angeles, California; and for Seattle, Washington; and for Chicago.

Our homeland security has been jeopardized because of this fatally flawed agreement. Iran will receive a sanctions relief jackpot. They have already received upwards of $100 billion so far. In my capacity as the chairman of the subcommittee that oversees sanctions, oversees the Treasury Department's implementation of sanctions, I can say that we have heard it. We have heard the reporting that, as a result of this agreement, Iran has not become pacified. Iran has actually accelerated its support for terrorist proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Nigeria. Because Iran's neighbors know that this deal reverses a decades-long bipartisan policy blocking Iran's nuclear program, this agreement continues to risk a nuclear arms race in the broader Middle East.

They are apologists. There are defenders of the Iran nuclear deal, and they say it is working. They say there is evidence of dismantling of the nuclear program, but we have the benefit of almost 2 years of implementation of the deal. We have the benefit of hindsight to see if this deal is actually working.

Here are the facts. The facts are that since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was implemented in January of 2016, Iran has continued to sponsor Hezbollah and other radical terrorist militias in the region. Its support for the Assad regime alone, including the use of planes to airlift military supplies, has helped claim an estimated 400 lives. Last April, even President Obama suggested that the Iranians were violating the spirit of the deal by engaging in these activities.

Rather than being deterred, in October, Iran sentenced three Americans to long prison terms on bogus charges. In January of this year, the country tested a ballistic missile in violation of U.N. Security Council resolution 2231. In April, just as a commercial airline manufacturer was announcing new sales to Iran as a result of the sanctions relief under the JCPOA, we learned that dozens of Syrian civilians, including at least 11 children, were gassed in an Iranian- supported chemical weapons attack.

Additionally, Iran has stated that it will no longer permit inspections of its military bases. It continues to attempt to intimidate our allies, and is facilitating the imports and exports of arms.

As of February 2017, Iran has fired as many as 14 ballistic missiles, and the leaders of Iran continue to chant ``death to America,'' and pledge to wipe Israel off the face of the planet.

So where do we go from here?

As the chairman of the subcommittee that oversees enforcement of sanctions, we have been working on additional measures that can be taken, including non-nuclear sanctions consistent with the JCPOA to hold Iran accountable for its malign activities.

On April 4, we held a hearing on the effectiveness of non-nuclear sanctions against Iran, where we determined that Iran Air, a state- owned commercial airline, has used its aircraft to transport fighters and weapons throughout the Middle East on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. As a result of these findings, I wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin urging him to ban the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran Air.

Similarly, I supported two appropriations amendments that would prevent the sale of aircraft to Iran and prohibit U.S. firms from financing such a sale.

Finally, I recently drafted a letter to the Treasury Department urging it to identify all entities it believes to have transacted business with the IRGC, a precursor to possible additional secondary sanctions.

These actions are all important and relevant in the aftermath of the President's correct decision to decertify the deal because it invites Congress to step in and offer constructive recommendations on how to address the flaws, the fatal flaws, in the JCPOA. These are some of those recommendations to the administration, and we hope the Treasury Department will respond accordingly.

Going forward, we must do the following to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions: We must designate the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. We must make permanent the sunset clauses on Iran's nuclear program and testing. This cannot be temporary prohibition of the Iran nuclear program. This must be a permanent ban on Iran ever having nuclear weapons capability and the capability of delivering those weapons.

Finally, we need to do a better job strengthening the agreement, revising the agreement, scrapping the old agreement, and actually getting to anytime, anywhere inspections. That means we have got to work with the P5+1 and our European allies to revise the JCPOA so that we mandate anytime, anywhere inspections of nuclear facilities, and so that we are guaranteed that the IAEA, that international and U.S. inspectors have access to all suspected sites within the territorial boundaries of Iran.

In conclusion, I want to thank Congressman Zeldin for the Special Order. I want to thank President Trump and his administration for their leadership on stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and for the important national security imperative of revisiting this flawed Iran nuclear deal so that we can actually achieve peace in the world.

Mr. Speaker, we thank Congressman Zeldin for his leadership in pursuing this very important objective.

Mr. Speaker, we rise to recognize the distinguished military service and retirement of Brigadier General Steven P. Bullard of the United States Air Force and the Kentucky Air National Guard. General Bullard was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and earned his wings as a navigator in the C-130 Hercules aircraft in 1985. Since that time, General Bullard quickly rose to vital leadership positions including: Chief of Staff of the Kentucky Air National Guard; Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Kentucky National Guard; and a member of the Joint Air Component Coordination Element (JACCE) staff for the Commander, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, South Korea.

Over his many years of service, General Bullard worked hard to establish meaningful and trustworthy relationships with Members of Congress to effectively communicate the policies and concerns of the Kentucky Adjutant Generals Office. Through his leadership, General Bullard helped improve the lives of U.S. service members and strengthened the national security of the United States of America. We honor his military service and sacrifice that have led to the betterment of our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3972) to clarify that family offices and family clients are accredited investors, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3972, the Family Office Technical Correction Act, which passed out of the House Financial Services Committee earlier this month with the unanimous support of my Republican and Democratic colleagues.

This timely legislation provides a technical clarification that makes it very apparent that family offices are considered accredited investors under regulation D.

Under Dodd-Frank, a family office or, in other words, a company that only has family clients, is owned by the family, and is not a public investment adviser can give financial advice to family members without the office registering under the Investment Advisers Act.

The rationale behind this was that family members will look out for one another. Thus, this legislation, for the same reason, allows family offices to count as accredited investors, which would allow them to make private placement investments.

The end result is that more capital will be available for investment in

businesses, resulting in more jobs and greater economic opportunity for Americans of all walks of life.

I want to thank Representative Carolyn Maloney and Chairman Hensarling for their leadership on this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues in the House to support the Family Office Technical Correction Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3898) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to place conditions on certain accounts at United States financial institutions with respect to North Korea, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to sponsor H.R. 3898, the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act, which imposes the most far-reaching financial sanctions ever directed at North Korea.

Since 2006, North Korea has undertaken six nuclear tests and, earlier this summer, test-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching United States territory. The most recent nuclear device that the country detonated on September 3 had an estimated explosive power 10 times greater than the bomb dropped at Hiroshima. We must not allow the North to threaten a U.S. city with such weapons.

In short, Mr. Speaker, this bill would impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that do business with virtually anyone that trades with North Korea. In addition, H.R. 3898 would essentially cut off Pyongyang's ability to earn hard currency through North Korean laborers working abroad, and it would use our leverage at the IMF, the World Bank, and other international financial institutions to incentivize countries to crack down on North Korea's illicit activities.

As many of my colleagues know, North Korea is already subject to both U.S. and international sanctions, the latter deriving from a series of U.N. Security Council resolutions. These sanctions have fallen short, however, for two main reasons:

First, they have not given sufficient attention to North Korea's enablers in third countries, especially foreign banks and middlemen in China, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world.

Second, even though U.N. Security Council resolutions are supposed to bind U.N. members to enforce them, implementation has been weak. As the U.N. Panel of Experts concluded earlier this year, member nations' compliance with sanctions has been so lax that North Korea retains access to the international financial system.

As the Trump administration has made clear, U.N. sanctions are a floor, not a ceiling, for U.S. action. H.R. 3898 embodies this principle through the use of secondary sanctions.

Here is how such sanctions would work, Mr. Speaker:

The front companies and middlemen that North Korea relies on in third countries still need banks. Those banks, in turn, use correspondent or payable-through accounts held at U.S. financial institutions to process international transactions. It is counterproductive for U.S. policy to permit foreign banks to do business in America as well as business that ultimately helps North Korea. It is time for those banks to choose between aiding and abetting the North Korean Government or standing for peace with America and its allies.

H.R. 3898 forces foreign banks to make that choice. Foreign banks can either do business benefiting North Korea or business with the United States. They cannot do both.

Under an executive order issued in September, the President authorized the Treasury Department to levy sanctions on foreign banks that finance North Korean trade. While this was a crucial step forward, H.R. 3898 would widen the net still further.

Under this legislation, Congress would be codifying mandatory sanctions on foreign banks. If someone is dealing with North Korea, there is nowhere to run or hide: a foreign financial institution is subject to sanctions for doing business with you, even if that bank claims that it is not directly financing the trade.

H.R. 3898 also covers more economic activity than any previous sanctions on North Korea, including the current U.N. sanctions round. That means this bill goes after banks involved with petroleum, labor, and virtually any kind of investment or North Korean use of shipping vessels.

In addition, H.R. 3898 targets the knowledge and technological support that North Korea needs for its weapons program and hacking activities. Pyongyang's threats against cybersecurity are critical for the regime to get its hands on financing.

The goal, Mr. Speaker, is to show North Korea that the path they are on has devastating costs and leads to nowhere regardless. H.R. 3898 provides an off-ramp for North Korea if the country wants sanctions relief, but it is up to Pyongyang to take it. Until then, the sanctions we will be passing today hold tremendous economic pain in store for the Kim Jong-un regime and its foreign enablers.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we are honored to dedicate this bill to the memory of Otto Warmbier, a young man who traveled to North Korea to understand the country with his own eyes, and whose life was cut short by the regime's brutality. Otto was a student at the University of Virginia, my alma mater, and a special community that continues to mourn the loss of this special young man. Otto held out his hand in friendship to the people of North Korea, as we do. It is Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, though, that threaten what Otto represented: a world of openness, understanding, and a desire for peaceful relations between our country and North Korea. It is fitting that this legislation bears Otto's name, and that its goals embody his spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, appreciate the bipartisan work on this piece of legislation, but I just do have to respond to my friend, the gentlewoman from California, and her comments about the Trump administration and the shift in policy.

It is hard to dispute that President Trump's public statements and official actions on North Korea have gotten Beijing's attention in a way that previous American Presidents have not. President Trump's tough rhetoric and tough talk on North Korea matches a shift in policy away from strategic patience to one that uses enhanced pressure through sanctions and the credible threat of military force to give substance and meaning to our diplomacy.

Even the Democrat witness in our hearing on this legislation admitted that the President's strong language had made a difference in giving us additional leverage in our negotiations with China.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), the vice chairman of the Financial Institutions Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), a distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd), a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hollingsworth), another distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messer), another distinguished member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to act quickly to reauthorize the Community Health Center Fund, which expired last week on September 30.

Community health centers provide cost-effective and accessible primary care, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment for over 27 million patients nationally, including over 200,000 of my constituents in Kentucky's Sixth District.

The upfront Federal investment in community health centers leads to savings down the road by fighting the cycle of opioid addiction, preventing more complex health conditions, and diverting patients away from higher cost centers of care, such as the emergency room.

I have visited community health centers in my district, including White House Clinics, Sterling Health Solutions, Family Care of Bluegrass, and HealthFirst Bluegrass, and I have witnessed firsthand what a difference these organizations make in providing much needed care to at-risk Kentuckians.

Without the support of the Community Health Center Fund, these CHCs may soon be forced to cut back services, lay off staff, or even shut down clinics.

Mr. Speaker, admittedly, there is a robust debate in this country and a wide diversity of opinion about healthcare reform, the ACA, and what repeal and replacing the ACA should look like, but we should all agree that community health centers are part of the solution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in the Global War on Terrorism. I want to pay special honor to the families of the 120 Kentuckians who have given their lives in protecting our nation.

Petty Officer First Class Edward T. Earhart, USN, was the first Kentuckian killed when he lost his life during the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The last Kentuckian killed was Captain Matthew D. Roland, USAF, who lost his life in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015. Six of these brave heroes' final resting place is in Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Mark and Barbara Roland, parents of Captain Roland, were inspired to place a Gold Star Family Monument at Camp Nelson. They formed a grassroots committee, who then worked to raise the necessary funds and complete the project. This monument represents the sacrifice of the service members who were lost but also the sacrifice and loss felt by all their family members. The inscription on the monument reads, ``Dedicated to the families left to remember and honor the sacrifice of their loved ones in the service and cause of freedom to a grateful nation.''

Through this monument, may we forever be reminded of these brave heroes and their families. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

It is my honor to recognize our brave Kentucky heroes and their families before the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1235) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1235, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act.

Basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Dr. James Naismith in 1891.

I have the privilege of representing the Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. We affectionately know the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team as the greatest tradition in the history of college basketball; the winningest program in college basketball; eight national championships; and, of course, the greatest fans in the history of college basketball. We call them the Big Blue Nation.

While it may be to the surprise of many that a Kansas Jayhawk and not a Kentucky Wildcat invented the game, there is no doubt that this sport has helped many Americans learn the value of teamwork, sacrifice, and hard work.

Today, by some estimates, basketball is considered the fastest- growing sport in the world. With current megastars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Candace Parker, and Brittney Griner, we don't have to wonder why we are in the Golden Age of basketball again.

And while the sport is wildly successful today with rising stars like former Kentucky players John Wall, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the future is in good hands.

I could talk all day about the upcoming NCAA basketball season, but instead I want to turn my attention to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Established in 1959, the Basketball Hall of Fame has honored players, coaches, referees, and other basketball icons for their contributions to this great American sport. From Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Charles Barkley, Bill Russell, Jerry West, Patrick Ewing, Oscar Robertson, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Yao Ming, Shaq, TMac, A.I., the Millers, Swoopes, Coach Summitt, Coach Calipari, Magic Johnson, Dr. J., Wilt Chamberlain, Coach Adolph Rupp, Coach John Wooden, to Coach Dean Smith, the Basketball Hall of Fame allows fans, young and old, to reminisce or even discover the rich history of the game they love.

To the basketball lore of Chamberlain scoring 100 points in a single game, to the athletic heroics of Michael Jordan, to Lisa Leslie's dunk, to the UConn Ladies' streak of 111 wins, to Curry and company revolutionizing the game with a constant barrage of 3-pointers, the Basketball Hall of Fame is helping fans relive the greatest moments in basketball history while teaching important life lessons to youngsters through educational programs.

To honor 60 years of excellence in 2020 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, it is with great pleasure that I am on the House floor today encouraging my colleagues to support the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation requires the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for fans to collect and enjoy in celebration of this momentous occasion, in denominations of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins. Importantly, these coins would be produced at no cost to the taxpayer, and surcharges on the sale of these coins would go to support programs at the Hall of Fame after raising matching funds from the private sector.

I especially want to thank Congressman Richard Neal from Massachusetts, home to the Springfield location of the Hall of Fame; and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy from California, for their hard work on this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation honoring this great American sport.

Go Cats, go Big Blue.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas and, as I said before, the gentleman from Massachusetts for their advocacy of this bipartisan piece of legislation, again, honoring a great American tradition: the great sport of basketball.

Whether at the high school level, the collegiate level, or the professional level, it is true--the gentleman from Texas is absolutely right--this great sport unites our country. There is friendly competition--sometimes vigorous competition--in the rivalries that we see, whether it is Kentucky playing Louisville or North Carolina versus Duke, or if it is the Lakers and the Celtics from the 1980s or the Pistons and the Bulls in those great games in the 1990s.

There are a lot of people behind this legislation that deserve thanks and appreciation. I want to thank, in particular, Jim Host, who is credited for coining the phrase the ``Final Four,'' and Coach Calipari of the University of Kentucky, who has been a tireless champion of this effort. Without his leadership, I don't think this would have happened.

I want to also thank all of the members of the Hall of Fame who have come to Washington to talk to us. Jay Bilas came down here in the Ways and Means Committee and talked about the importance of this, and many of the other former players. I have to thank the players because the Hall of Fame recognizes their amazing skills and their talents, and if it weren't for their advocacy, this wouldn't have happened as well.

Finally and probably most important of all, the Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act that we are enacting here today is in honor of the fans who make this great sport possible, the American people who have fallen in love with this great American sport. We have to thank the fans for creating such excitement. Whether it is the McDonald's All American Basketball Game at the high school level, or if it is the Final Four in the national title in the NCAA in both men's and women's basketball, or if it is Game 7 of the NBA Finals, there is nothing more electric than this sport at crunch time.

Again, I urge my colleagues to come together and support the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2519) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2519, The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, which would require the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue commemorative coins in recognition and celebration of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion.

For nearly 100 years, The American Legion, which was formed for veterans and by veterans, through the support of Congress, has helped to provide services to wartime veterans and the communities in which they live across the United States and the globe.

On March 27, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt sent a telegram to Mr. William Marshall Bullitt of Louisville, Kentucky, and many more respected military wartime veteran leaders across the country which announced: ``A conference will be held at St. Louis about May 1 for the purpose of organizing an association composed of those who

have been in the land and naval forces of the United States in this war. A convention held in France has already organized forces there in an association called The American Legion and will have its representatives at this convention.''

Shortly after this first national gathering of unified veterans held in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States Congress officially chartered The American Legion on September 16, 1919.

Since this charter, The American Legion has grown to be one of the most influential, nonpartisan, nonprofit, and the largest veterans service organization in the United States, with a standing membership of over 2.4 million veterans in 14,000 posts worldwide.

The Legion annually raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, State, and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarships and other opportunities for deserving students.

Even in the Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky, which I proudly represent, The American Legion continues to be a strong and aggressive advocate for wartime veteran-centered issues. Just yesterday, I met with many of The American Legion Nicholasville Post veterans right there serving and honoring the Gold Star families at Camp Nelson in Jessamine County, Kentucky.

The American Legion Department of Kentucky has established 139 posts, 3 areas, and 11 districts in our Commonwealth of 120 counties. The American Legion continues to strive to achieve what has always been held as a sacred duty to every good American since General George Washington's vision to promote the importance of providing provisions for the adequate care for war disabled veterans and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Massachusetts and his leadership. I do recognize the great game of basketball was, in fact, invented in Massachusetts. That is okay, because Massachusetts gave us Coach Calipari along the way. We really appreciate his leadership.

This would not have happened without the leadership of the gentleman from Massachusetts. It is my honor to work with him on this bipartisan piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, once again, in support of The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, I want to share a story from just yesterday in Nicholasville, Kentucky, where The American Legion was there, as they always are, supporting our veteran families.

We were at Camp Nelson--which was originally a Union Army cemetery, but since the Civil War, has become a final resting place for many of our heroes--yesterday to honor many of the Kentucky Gold Star families who had lost loved ones, heroes, in the war on terror.

The first one was a U.S. Naval officer killed on September 11, 2001, in the Pentagon. And most recently, Captain Matthew Roland, a captain in the United States Air Force, was killed in action in August of 2015 in Afghanistan. And the families of these fallen heroes were there. We were there to honor those fallen heroes and unveil a dedication, a memorial to those Gold Star families who had sacrificed so much. Not only did those heroes sacrifice everything for this country, but those families have sacrificed because they have lost their loved ones, and they are missing anniversaries, birthdays, and their children growing up and walking down the aisle.

But who was there to honor those Gold Star families?

The American Legion. And The American Legion was there holding those American flags high, and they were there to deliver the three-volley salute in honor of those fallen heroes.

The American Legion is, first and foremost, a local organization. They pride themselves in that, and that is what they were in Jessamine County, Kentucky, honoring those Gold Star families. Yes, they represent a country of heroes and servicemembers and veterans, but they are local, and they showed that yesterday in the Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky, and they show that all over this country.

I would just note also, Mr. Speaker, that when we think of how to honor our veterans, we have to remember what General George Washington--who, of course, was the Founder of our country, and who, of course, was that famous general during the American Revolution who arguably was the first veteran--said. And what General Washington-- President Washington famously said about our country and veterans was that the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars and how they were treated and appreciated by our Nation.

The American Legion embodies that. They are a group of patriots, of veterans who know that it is critically important to instill in other Americans the importance of patriotism, love of our country, love of the American flag, so they help us and future generations respect our veterans and their service and their sacrifice.

We appreciate the fact that we have a piece of legislation before this body today that honors that great organization--The American Legion--that provides that level of patriotism and support to our men and women in uniform and veterans who have served this country so heroically and patriotically.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz), the legislation's sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment of my friend from Illinois. The gentleman has shown great leadership on this issue prohibiting the Office of Foreign Assets Control from using funds to issue a license allowing U.S.-made aircraft to be sold to Iran, and also prohibiting OFAC from using funds to authorize U.S. financial institutions to finance the purchase of military fungible aircraft to Iran.

As the chairman of the subcommittee with oversight over treasury implementation of sanctions, it is just unacceptable and unnecessary to expose the

U.S. financial system to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism in a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.

At a hearing in April, the Committee on Financial Services heard testimony that Iran Air's role in the Syrian conflict continues. That same day, the public received reports of a chemical weapons attack killing dozens of Syrian civilians.

What we know is that there is significant evidence suggesting that Iran Air flights are now being used to transport personnel and material supporting the IRGC and its efforts to assist the Assad regime and Hezbollah.

Mr. Chairman, I applaud the gentleman's amendment and I support it. We should not be assisting the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism with commercial aircraft.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman's leadership on this, and, with all due respect to my friends on the other side of the aisle, this amendment is not about protecting consumers. This amendment is about protecting bureaucrats from accountability from the American people.

You know, I don't know, for the life of me, why Members of Congress would not defend this institution, both Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the aisle defend this institution. Why on Earth would we give away the most complete and effectual power of

Congress--as James Madison said, ``the power of the purse''--away to unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in the executive branch?

When I asked Chair Yellen whether she approves the budget of the Bureau, she didn't know the answer to that basic question. We know that the CFPB is not accountable to the American people through their elected Representatives in Congress. That is by statutory design. That is what Dodd-Frank says. But we would hope that they would at least be accountable to the source of their funding, and they are not even accountable to the Fed.

Defeat this amendment, support accountability, support the Constitution and restoring the power of the purse to the elected Representatives of the Congress.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, the examples raised by my friend, the gentleman from Minnesota, really have nothing to do with the provisions of the bill that the amendment seeks to strike. What the bill does do, the underlying bill, and I thank the gentleman from Georgia for including this in the Financial Services Appropriations bill--what the bill does is make targeted adjustments so that manufactured home loans are available in the market.

Again, consumer protection is not denying people access to affordable housing, and that is what the gentleman's amendment would do.

The Dodd-Frank Act does prevent predatory lending, but nothing in this language changes that at all. Instead of unrelated stories about consumer protections that the bill's provision will not change, let's get back to talking about how consumers are actually harmed by the rules we are seeking to change.

Look, let's talk about real people who are affected negatively by overreach by the CFPB and Dodd-Frank, people in my district in Kentucky, in rural Kentucky where manufactured housing is one of the best affordable options and less expensive than renting.

Let's talk about the hospital worker in Paducah, Kentucky, who was denied a loan of $38,500 to finance a manufactured home. He had an 8 percent down payment. His monthly income was $2,200 per month, plenty to cover the all-in housing costs of $670 per month.

The payment for his own home would have been less than what he was spending on rent, but he was unable to get financing. Why? Because of the CFPB; because of Dodd-Frank; because of overregulation. He contacted his local banks and credit unions, but they no longer financed manufactured homes because of overregulation.

Those harmed include those who currently live in and those who seek to purchase a manufactured home: retirees, veterans, working families, et cetera.

And the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data is clear. Consumers have been shut out of the market for quality affordable housing because regulations have caused financing to be less available for manufactured homes.

I want to reserve the balance of my time, and I want to give some other Members an opportunity to say something about this, but I do want to just conclude by saying, this amendment, again, is not about consumer protection. The amendment protects consumers right out of their homes. That is not consumer protection. Keeping access to affordable homeownership is the American Dream. We shouldn't be denying that to people, especially in rural America.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time, and may I ask how much time I have left.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

Mr. Chairman, just to conclude, this is not about raising costs for people. This is about actually making it more affordable to own a home. There may be, in some cases, a higher interest rate for a manufactured home than a site-built home.

But, remember, a manufactured home can be less than half the cost of a site-built home. So you are talking about overall affordability.

Why would we deny people the opportunity to have overall affordability, as opposed to being forced into higher cost rent where they don't even own the American Dream, or being in a position where they can't afford at all?

The only option available is a site-built home, a nonmanufactured home.

Defeat this amendment, preserve access to rural affordable housing, be pro-consumer, and oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Congressman Jenkins for his leadership on this important issue.

Mr. Chairman, I join my colleague from West Virginia in introducing this amendment, which seeks to increase funding to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program by $6 million. Frankly, that is not enough, but it is an improvement over the status quo. This program is a proven program, established to help combat the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics.

I am greatly concerned about the current and future well-being of this Nation and States like my home Commonwealth of Kentucky, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control, has the third highest rate of fatalities due to drug overdose in the Nation, falling close behind West Virginia and New Hampshire.

Members of my Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky Drug Abuse Task Force, which is comprised of local, State, and Federal experts in the fields of law enforcement, drug treatment, recovery, education, and prevention efforts, recommended increased funding for HIDTA initiatives to help fight this crisis.

We hear it from our constituents, the heartbreaking stories of loved ones who have succumbed to addiction and the heartbreaking stories of first responders who are called to the scene of overdose deaths.

In 2016 alone, HIDTAs took $17.3 billion of illicit drugs off the streets and out of our communities, which equates to a return on investment of $75 for every $1 in HIDTA budgeted in 2016.

We can prudently use this return on investment to continue to help take narcotic drugs out of our communities while helping to provide funding for treatment and prevention efforts for nonviolent drug abusers.

Mr. Chairman, we all personally know someone who has fallen to addiction by drugs or even fallen victim to a drug overdose. I ask my fellow colleagues to support this important amendment, which would truly make a difference in helping our communities fight this alarming epidemic.

It is a workforce development issue. Many of the employers in Kentucky--and I know, in West Virginia as well--talk about the labor supply difficulties as a result of the addiction crisis, but even worse is the human tragedy.

We know that this works. In Madison County, Kentucky, it has worked. Many other counties are applying for this money, and with that, there is more demand for more funding.

Please support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, as many of you know, manufactured homes are the only form of nonsubsidized housing that is directly regulated by HUD. Statute dictates that HUD is required to facilitate the availability of affordable manufactured homes to increase homeownership for all Americans.

Recently, the Department has imposed excessive and contradictory regulations on manufactured housing. HUD is impeding on some State functions, reinterpreting regulations to the detriment of longstanding and accepted building practices, and implementing rules that unnecessarily limit consumer choice and increase costs.

As the primary regulator of manufactured housing, HUD should work with the industry, not against it, to ensure regulations are streamlined, cost-effective, and applied fairly and transparently, while also working to keep manufactured housing as an affordable housing alternative for all American families.

In central and eastern Kentucky and many other parts of rural America, manufactured housing offers a very affordable option and a good option for housing for many folks. For the life of me, I do not understand why the Federal agency charged with the responsibility of providing affordable housing would be limiting choices and access to this very affordable and very good option for housing for many rural Americans.

My limitation amendment would fix three problems where HUD's regulation of manufactured housing exceeds and, at times, even contradicts statutes. These three problems are intrusive installation programs, burdensome and unnecessary onsite completion of construction rules, and shifting guidelines on alternative construction.

Mr. Chairman, what I am offering here tonight is an important limitation amendment. Addressing these issues will help mitigate the ongoing negative impact that these regulations are having on access to affordable housing across America.

I urge my colleagues to support this important work where Congress can work together to eliminate impediments to the manufactured housing market so that all Americans can have access to affordable housing.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's arguments in opposition. However, I would argue that the best consumer protection is competition and choice, and what these misguided regulations do is take away access, take away competition, take away choices for consumers. That is not consumer protection. It is certainly not consumer protection to say to rural Americans looking for access to affordable housing: You can't have access to a manufactured home.

That is not consumer protection. That is hurting consumers.

And what I would say also is that this is a bipartisan amendment. There are Members of the party on the other side of the aisle who recognize that in rural America and other places, we need a bipartisan fix to bureaucratic overreach, and these are new requirements that are not thoughtfully conceived, as the gentleman would argue.

In fact, these are new requirements imposed without warning, without any evidence of consumer harm, without any thoughtful process at the agency.

So, again, I would urge my colleagues to join us in a bipartisan amendment to fix a bureaucratic overreach, which denies low-income Americans with access to affordable housing.

Why in the world would we tolerate the agency that is supposed to be the

advocates of poor and low-income Americans denying them access to affordable housing?

Support this bipartisan amendment, support low-income Americans, support rural Americans, and support manufactured housing.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Mr. Charles E. ``Charlie'' Wilson, of Carlisle, Kentucky, for his distinguished military service during World War II. Mr. Wilson, a part of the greatest generation, served our nation in the United States Army.

Mr. Wilson was just eighteen years old when he registered for the draft and became a member of the United States Army in 1943, where he served until the end of the war. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division just five days before the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

After clearing Utah Beach, the 4th Infantry Division was sent to liberate Cherbourg. Mr. Wilson served as a forward observer, keeping the infantry safe. During his second rotation to the front, he was injured badly by German shells. The injury left him paralyzed for fifteen days. To this day, Mr. Wilson suffers from pain from this injury.

Mr. Wilson returned to his unit and became a tank driver for the rest of the war. On August 25, 1944, Wilson's 19th birthday, he helped liberate the city of Paris. During the battle of Hurtgen Forest, Mr. Wilson was injured again. He was found half-buried, unconscious, and bleeding. He was treated and rejoined the effort. The Army went on to free all of France and kept pushing the Germans until the war was won. As the end of the war neared, in April 1945, Mr. Wilson helped to identify the Dachau Concentration Camp, saving the lives of many Jewish people.

After the war, Mr. Wilson returned home and became an educator. He served as Principal of Nicholas County Elementary School. He has spoken to numerous school classes about his war experiences.

Mr. Wilson was invited by the French Government to Normandy in 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. He returned in 2015 for his third trip to France, where he was awarded the Legion of Honor. Mr. Wilson spoke at the event and his words are recorded in the French archives.

The bravery of Mr. Wilson and his fellow men and women of the United States Army is heroic. Because of the courage of individuals from Nicholas County and from all across our great nation, our freedoms have been saved for our generation and for future generations. He is truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an American patriot and hero, Mr. Troy Bowling of Lexington, Kentucky, who completed his life's service on June 17, 2017, at the age of 90 years old.

His military service during World War II and his commitment to supporting our veterans and the men and women in uniform throughout his life is an inspiration to us all.

At the age of 19, Mr. Bowling began his service as a United States marine and was a proud member of the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Division. During the United States campaign to end the war against Japan, Mr. Bowling's unit was among the first to arrive on the beachheads of Iwo Jima.

While attempting to secure Mount Suribachi, his unit came under intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming his unit. Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling in the chest and leg, leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield.

At that moment, Mr. Bowling said he looked to the heavens and committed to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he survived. Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team then carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft, where he witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, an iconic image that persists as one of the most legendary and triumphant moments of the war. The U.S. Marines eventually took control of the island. However, this victory came at a heavy cost, as over 6,800 U.S. servicemembers gave their lives during the battle of Iwo Jima.

In keeping faith with his commitment to God made during that battle, Mr. Bowling devoted over 78,000 hours of volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical Center. For over 66 years, Mr. Bowling rose through the ranks within the Disabled American Veterans organization, holding nearly every position possible, including State commander.

The Bible teaches in Proverbs 21:21 that ``He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.''

Mr. Bowling has brought great honor upon himself through his dedication, determination, and love for serving the people of our community. Without a doubt, he has remained true to the commitment he made on the rocky terrain of Iwo Jima.

Mr. Bowling embodies the best of American ideals, values, and commitment to serving others, never abandoning the Marine motto of semper fidelis, ``always faithful.''

On behalf of a grateful nation, I would like to thank Mr. Bowling, a model member of the greatest generation, for his many years of service to our country and our community. He is truly an outstanding American and an inspiration to us all.

Troy Bowling, may you rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake: the anti-arbitration rule recently finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is not consumer protection. It is a giveaway to special interest trial lawyers that will expose financial firms to ruinous liability; limit consumer access to affordable, high-quality financial services and products; and undermine consumers' ability to resolve disputes more quickly and more cost-effectively than class action lawsuits.

The Bureau's own study found that, while trial lawyers earn millions of dollars in fees, in 90 percent of class action lawsuits, consumers were awarded absolutely nothing--nothing. Of the remaining 10 percent, the average payout to consumers was a mere $32. That same CFPB study found that the average arbitration payout was almost $5,400, or over 150 times more than the average class action recovery.

Even more troubling, the Bureau's unilateral decision to ban alternative dispute resolution will result in increased litigation costs for financial services firms, undermining their safety and soundness, forcing consumers to pay higher prices and making it more difficult to obtain credit cards and other financial services and products. That is not pro-consumer.

For these reasons, I am a proud cosponsor of Congressman Rothfus' bill that would disapprove this misguided resolution to the Congressional Review Act.

Congress should be making the laws of the land, not unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats at the CFPB circumventing the democratic process. That is why, in addition to invalidating this bad anticonsumer, pro- trial lawyer, anti-arbitration rule, Congress must act swiftly to rein in the Bureau and subject this agency to the congressional appropriations process, reclaiming Congress' constitutional power of the purse over this out-of-control agency.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution of disapproval to block this ill-advised, anticonsumer rule and reclaim its authority under Article I of the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a very special organization, the Garden Club of Lexington as they celebrate their 100th anniversary.

The Garden Club of Lexington was formed in 1917, and in 1924, they were invited to join the Garden Club of America. For their first large civic project, members planted trees along Richmond Road. This provided an attractive and lasting entrance to the city of Lexington.

One of the major undertakings of the Garden Club of Lexington was the establishment of public gardens at Ashland, the historic home of the renowned Henry Clay. Clay represented Kentucky in the United States Senate and in the House of Representatives, where he served three terms as Speaker. Club members over the years raised funds, designed, and established beautiful garden areas at Ashland, including the Saunder Peony Garden. The award winning gardens are enjoyed by countless citizens and visitors to Central Kentucky.

The Garden Club of Lexington organizes many other civic projects designed to beautify Lexington and to provide the public with wonderful opportunities to enjoy nature. As this outstanding organization celebrates its first 100 years, I applaud them for past accomplishments and wish them a bright future.

It is my honor to recognize the Garden Club of Lexington before the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an amendment I introduced to Rules Committee Print 115-10 on H.R. 1215:

Add, at the end of the bill, the following (and amend the

table of contents accordingly):