Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 149 to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.

Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment with my good friend from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), to address an ongoing bureaucratic overreach of our country's ocean and inland economies.

Our amendment bans the use of Federal funds for the implementation of the previous administration's National Ocean Policy. Executive Order 13547, signed by then-President Obama in 2010, requires that 60-plus bureaucracies essentially zone the oceans and the sources thereof.

The National Ocean Policy's requirements are an encroachment into the powers of Congress as set forth in Article I of our Constitution. These activities have not been authorized by Congress, nor have any appropriations ever been made by Congress to fund those activities. Yet the bureaucracies continue to act as if those are irrelevant prohibitions against their activities.

Mr. Chair, since 2010, this body has voted eight times in support of this amendment in a bipartisan manner. This language also was included in the base text to the fiscal year 2018 Energy and Water, Interior, and Agriculture Appropriations bills. We are looking to get it in the CJS bill now.

We are offering this amendment again because concerns remain that the National Ocean Policy extends far beyond restricting ocean activities and that it significantly impacts inland activity as well.

This amendment simply stops the funding of unauthorized bureaucratic overreach. It does not have any impact on coordination, planning, or congressionally authorized activities to take care of our Nation's important oceans.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson).

Mr. Chair, in closing, the issue is not whether or not we want to take care of oceans. We all agree that we should take care of our oceans. We all believe in being good stewards of the environmental and economic interest in our oceans. But, Mr. Chair, we also believe in trying to make sure that we have a government that adheres to the Constitution.

Under Article I of the Constitution, all legislative powers are returned to Congress--not some, all. That is the issue at stake here. The Obama administration's National Ocean Policy has overstepped constitutional statutory bounds.

Congress did pass a bill in the 106th Congress to create an Ocean Commission to review and make recommendations. Since then, the 108th, 109th, 110th, and 111th Congresses each looked at those recommendations and decided to take no legislative action. This must have been what caused then-President Obama to move forward with his executive order and to try to go around Congress. There have been no appropriations for these activities.

Additionally, 81 groups have signed a letter asking the Appropriations Committee to include this language to address this unconstitutional bureaucratic overreach in their annual appropriations bills.

Again, this is a simple amendment that stands up for the constitutional rights of this body to create the statutes under which this activity can be conducted and to transparently appropriate the funds which authorize activities, should it so choose.

We are not against Ocean planning, as I said at the outset of this. What we are for, though, is the Constitution. Again, this amendment has been adopted with bipartisan support in this body eight times since 2010.

I want to thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), for his work on this amendment, as well as to thank Chairman Culberson for his consideration. I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward amendment.

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

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

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment that redirects $120 million from CMS overhead spending, which is a 3\1/2\ percent reduction, towards increasing funding in three specific areas: $40 million for pediatric research, $40 million for Alzheimer's research, and $40 million to address our country's opioid crisis.

The approval of this amendment will motivate CMS to modify its current punitive bureaucratic culture. Today, hardworking American families are demanding that their government find competent solutions for a struggling healthcare system, and CMS' failure to properly implement the Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act of 2012--or the TEST Act, as it is more commonly known--is a notable example of bureaucratic incompetence.

American families expect the Federal Government to work with healthcare providers, not against them, to ensure the efficient delivery of healthcare.

In 2012, the TEST Act was passed and signed into law due to the mandatory and harsh sanctions that CMS was then imposing on hospitals and labs that violated the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments Act--or CLIA, for short.

While CLIA regulations are necessary, in some instances, the sanctions that CMS imposed against hospitals and laboratories at the time that inadvertently violated the statute were found to be draconian and at odds with the efficient delivery of healthcare.

At the time the TEST Act was considered in 2012, Congress determined that there were instances where a hospital or laboratory's violations were accidental, unintentional, and resulted in no patient harm.

At the time, CMS lacked the flexibility to align the severity of the sanctions for minor and inadvertent actions at the lab, resulting in needless punitive penalties, such as revoking lab certificates and banning principals from owning or operating certified laboratories.

The TEST Act was passed in 2012 to provide CMS with needed discretion to substitute reasonable alternative sanctions in the event of minor or inadvertent violations. In lieu of the previously mandatory sanctions, the TEST Act allowed more appropriate remedies like directed plans of action, onsite monitoring, and/or modest monetary penalties.

Yet, despite being given this mandate and this flexibility, CMS has written its regulations and interpreted the underlying statute in a way that are clearly at odds with Congress' intent in the TEST Act. There are serious impacts when CMS fails to use their congressionally mandated discretionary authority to issue appropriate sanctions.

Healthcare providers are forced to divert scarce resources to severe penalties, to oppressive settlements, and/or to a costly appeals process. These would not be needed if CMS had properly implemented the TEST Act. This diverts scarce resources from patient care to dealing with an out-of-control CMS, and negatively impacts healthcare in our communities.

I have seen this firsthand in my district where a nonprofit faith- based community hospital committed an unintentional CLIA violation that resulted in no patient harm. The hospital then self-reported that violation, as we would expect any healthcare provider to do.

This hospital is my community's only level II trauma center and provides a significant amount of uncompensated care to the lower income population, including minority families. Yet, rather than working collaboratively with the hospital, CMS ignored the TEST Act and, instead, imposed crippling sanctions and forced the hospital to engage in a burdensome appeals process.

This action will cost this important community resource over $100 million per year. This arbitrary unwarranted action by CMS forces the hospital to divert finite resources toward an unnecessary bureaucratic process instead of taking care of patients.

CMS needs to change its implementation of the TEST Act to follow the law. In the meantime, my amendment sends a message that this is not how we expect our Federal Government to act in a time when we are articulating a new vision for building a better American healthcare system.

This amendment does this by reducing CMS spending on bureaucracy by $120 million and directing those funds toward true solutions for better healthcare by finding cures for pediatric cancer, Alzheimer's, and opioid abuse.

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

Mr. Chair, the bottom line is that hardworking American families are tired of having unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats ignore congressional intent when implementing legislation such as the important TEST Act.

We must send a message to CMS today. Now is the time to right this wrong. In the meantime, I ask my colleagues to support my amendment to cut CMS by 3\1/2\ percent, $120 million, and to increase research funding for pediatric cancer, for Alzheimer's, and for opioid treatment. This amendment is a win-win amendment for American healthcare.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Texas A&M University Women Former Students Network, known as ``Aggie Women.''

In the summer of 2007, a group of Aggie women started talking regularly and sharing ideas about ways to give back to Texas A&M University and contribute to its reputation as a world-class university. The original idea to form the Women Former Students' Network as a constituent network of the Texas A&M Association of Former Students came to fruition on December 21, 2007. At that time an interim board of directors was formed and the group branded themselves as Aggie Women. Fueled by the excitement of its formation, Aggie Women grew rapidly in its first year.

During its inaugural year of operations in 2008, in addition to recruiting nearly 200 charter members, Aggie Women established its first President's Endowed Scholarship through its ``45 Women Campaign'', which honored the 45 years of women's admittance to A&M. The year culminated in an inaugural meeting held November 14, 2008 on the campus of the University. Over 200 members and guests attended this historic day. Special guests included Former First Lady Barbara Bush, an honorary member of Aggie Women; members of the first graduating class of Aggie women; and many officials of Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students. The first member-elected Board of Directors was seated in January 2009.

The mission of Aggie Women is to enhance excellence at Texas A&M University by promoting the active engagement of women in the educational, charitable, and cultural life of the institution. The mission is fulfilled through increased engagement of Women Former Students in academic, research and service activities; through their expanded role as mentors of current women students, and future generations of women students; and through their increased philanthropic ties to the University and The Association of Former Students. The Network strives to value and promote inclusiveness and diversity in the representation of its membership and in all its activities.

Aggie Women have raised over $200,000 for President's Endowed Scholarships, three of which have been awarded, providing women students with needed academic funding.

Another Aggie Women initiative is the Eminent Scholar Award which is a joint project of Aggie Women and the President of Texas A&M University. It is designed to recognize outstanding research, scholarship, and service; and it honors the role these extraordinary women play in serving as models for all women students at the University. There have been three recipients of the Eminent Scholar Award and they received significant recognition on campus as well as a monetary stipend.

Over 400 students have been reached through Aggie Women's mentoring program. The program, known as ``JumpStart,'' is a unique and engaging initiative in which Aggie Women partner with student organizations to provide tailored programs that are flexible in topics and length.

The ``Aggie Women Legacy Awards'' program has honored thirty women to date who have achieved excellence as an Aggie student or Former Student, and whose accomplishments have had an impact on future generations of Aggie Women worldwide. Aggie Women who have received this award often go on to achieve Outstanding Alumni recognition from the Association of Former Students and the University.

Over fifty Aggie Women have signed up for another sponsored program entitled ``Aggie Experts.'' This endeavor engages Aggie Women in roles throughout the University by providing leadership and speaking opportunities for dynamic women to give back the University through their vast experience.

At an annual reception, Aggie Women honor those women achieving top student leadership positions, including the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and Student Government. Throughout each academic year, they also provide monthly programs for students on a variety of topics--chosen by the students themselves.

Mr. Speaker, Aggie Women are working tirelessly to continue the Aggie core values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. As an all-volunteer organization, Aggie Women continues to rely on the contributions of time, talent, and treasure of its board, its members and supporters. Together, they are building a legacy of strong women role models for all students--female and male-- who come after them.

My wife, Gina, and I, as well as all of the Aggie Network, are proud to honor Aggie Women today. We thank them for their hard work and commitment to making Texas A&M University a better place for current, former, and future Texas Aggie students.

I have requested that a United States flag be flown over our nation's Capitol today to

honor the Texas A&M University Women Former Students Network.

As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman for Texas sharing the story about Megan with this Chamber, and I look forward to supporting him in his efforts to try to keep these things from happening again in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Emil Ogden of College Station, Texas, who passed away on July 25, 2017.

Emil Ogden was born on September 15, 1927, in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He was raised by his loving mother, Mary Ogden, in Bowling Green, Missouri. Growing up during the worst of the Great Depression, Emil experienced poverty firsthand and lived in a one-room house. To provide for her son, Emil's mother worked as a maid at his grandfather's hotel for $2 a week. To help the family, Emil worked any odd job he could find.

During this time, an act of kindness from a member of the local Rotary Club would change his life. Emil was enamored with baseball and would often visit the local hardware store owned by Rotary Club member Ed Dunlap. Ed noticed that Emil loved baseball but could not afford the equipment. He sent a bat, a glove, and a ball to Emil. The care that Ed and the Rotary members showed to Emil put his life on a better course.

Emil valued their support, once stating: ``I could have been very rebellious as a child. Things like poverty can make you grow up with some resentment. But all of a sudden, I had a whole town of surrogate fathers, and they cared about me. It motivated me to be a better example as a young man. The leaders of the community who we respected were all members of the Rotary, and I didn't want to disappoint them after they had taken an interest in me.''

In 1945, Emil joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to the 503rd Army Air Forces Base Unit, better known as the Brass Hat Squadron. The Brass Hat Squadron was a group of esteemed Army pilots whose job it was to fly high-profile persons around the world to significant events.

Based out of Washington National Airport, the squadron flew senior government officials, including senators and congressmen, U.S. and foreign dignitaries and, military leaders, among others.

Personally, Emil flew dignitaries to events such as the Nuremberg war trials, the atomic bomb tests on Bikini Atoll, and the national independence celebration in the Philippines. Due to his service in the military, Emil had visited more than 30 countries before his 20th birthday.

In 1947, Emil married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Clementine Lindeman.

Clementine was the center of Emil's life for over 69 years. Her support and encouragement always kept Emil grounded. Their love and commitment to each other, their Catholic faith, and the values upon which they built their lives, endured until his death. Together they had six children, whom they both loved dearly. At the time of his passing, their legacy included 22 grandchildren, and 12 great- grandchildren.

After his service in World War II, Emil went on to play professional baseball in the minor leagues, playing for both the Brooklyn Dodgers' and the Baltimore Orioles' organizations. His career lasted from 1949 to 1953. His baseball career took place in west Texas, first for the Midland Indians and then for the Odessa Oilers. During his playing days, Emil met several baseball legends, including Jackie Robinson.

Emil's baseball career came to a close when Clementine gave him an ultimatum: either stay married or keep playing baseball. Emil was a wise man, and he chose to focus on marriage.

Emil began college at Texas A&M University as part of the class of 1953. In the 1980s, he finished a degree in philosophy while he was in his sixties. Upon finishing his degree later in life, Emil said: ``Too many of us grow older and we sit back and say, `Well, I've lived my life. There's nothing else to do. I'll try to live on my past experiences and past knowledge and hope that I survive with some dignity.' I think that person has already partially died.'' Emil's love for learning and his intellectual curiosity would continue through the end of his life.

In 1953, Emil returned to Abilene, Texas, to begin his career in the oil industry. While starting his career, he worked odd jobs to help make ends meet for his growing family. One of those odd jobs was playing the trumpet in local dance bands on the weekends.

In 1973, his independent oil and gas operations hit it big when the properties he was leasing dramatically increased in value, creating the nucleus of Emil's business success. The oil and gas business eventually brought Emil back to College Station in 1979, where he would be instrumental in developing the successful Bryan Woodbine Oil Field in the 1980s.

Passionate about educating youth, Emil helped found the Ogden- Chaparral Entertainment Company, where he produced an educational children's television show called ``ImagineLane'' in the 1990s. The first show aired on KAMU-TV in the Brazos Valley and was eventually shown on stations all across the United States.

Even with all of his business accomplishments, Emil will best be remembered for his philanthropic efforts in the Brazos Valley. His upbringing in poverty and struggles during early life are something Emil never forgot, and it made him empathize with those in need.

He served on the board of directors for the local Boys & Girls Club, in multiple positions for the Knights of Columbus, as chairman of the Arrow Moon District of the Boy Scouts of America, and he was also a member of the Bryan Rotary Club.

A lifelong conservative, Emil also gave to many conservative causes, including donating the seed money to the 40 Days for Life campaign, which began at College Station and advocated for pro-life causes around the world today.

He also sponsors three Habitat for Humanity homes, saying that it was ``my way of giving thanks.''

Mr. Speaker, Emil Ogden worked tirelessly for the Brazos Valley. He is loved in Bryan-College Station and certainly left an enduring impression on our community. He will be forever remembered as a great philanthropist, humanitarian, businessman, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pro-life champion, and friend.

My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Ogden family. We also lift up the family and friends of Emil Ogden in our prayers.

I have requested that the United States flag be flown over the Nation's Capitol today to honor the life and legacy of Emil Ogden.

As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us from threats here at home.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Upton for yielding me time in his effort to bring this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2910. Thanks to the shale revolution, America is a top global producer of natural gas, and in the past several years, natural gas has become the top fuel choice for generating electricity in our Nation.

My constituents in Texas have seen the dramatic benefits of the shale revolution and pay some of the lowest electricity costs in the Nation. For example, last April, the residential price for electricity was just over 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. However, the average price in Massachusetts was almost 21 cents per kilowatt-hour.

America's domestic energy outlook has completely flipped from scarcity to abundance, yet why do some parts of the country, primarily in the northeast, pay twice as much for electricity? There is one clear reason: some areas lack the needed pipeline infrastructure to bring natural gas to consumers.

The reason for this is that some State and Federal agencies are failing to make timely decisions on the necessary pipeline permits to deliver natural gas to consumers.

We can and we should modernize our pipeline infrastructure to match our abundant natural gas resources. Making the permitting process more efficient enables and encourages a more robust and reliable pipeline infrastructure system; that way, all parts of the country can realize the benefits of clean, affordable, and abundant natural gas.

My bill, the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, builds on important permit reforms under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by bringing greater accountability, predictability, and transparency to the process to approve interstate natural gas pipelines.

This bill requires early notification to all participating agencies, States, and Indian Tribes, and it reinforces FERC's status as the lead agency for coordination.

It further establishes a clear process for consultation and concurrent reviews among Federal and State agencies and Indian Tribes, and sets deadlines for final decisions.

Mr. Chairman, these are commonsense reforms that reduce interagency bureaucracy, and I think that we can all agree that permitting should be more transparent and more accountable.

H.R. 2910 enhances certainty for pipeline applicants, but it is important to note that this bill does not guarantee an outcome, it does not guarantee an approval on any application, and it does not change any existing environmental laws. So all the rhetoric we just heard over the last few minutes about it changing the environment is absolutely 100 percent false.

It does not change any eminent domain laws or adversely affect private property rights. So all that argument we heard a few minutes ago is false. So

we could conclude this debate pretty quickly if the other side will acknowledge the fact of what this bill really does do and what it doesn't do.

It does, however, ensure that involved agencies do their job and that they act on appropriate projects in a timely manner.

Similar provisions have passed the House as stand-alone legislation and were also included in the comprehensive energy bill that passed the House last Congress. Additionally, H.R. 2910 passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on a bipartisan vote.

My bill enables more reliable infrastructure to deliver affordable, environmentally friendly natural gas to consumers.

This American energy resource serves as an important energy source for hardworking families and powers our economy.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2910.

Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the motion to recommit and to vote ``yes'' on final passage.

I am going to make everybody happy because I am going to be really quick about this. This MTR is just a rehash of an amendment that the other side of the aisle tried to introduce during the original bill. That amendment was not germane, and the reason it wasn't germane is because this bill does not affect eminent domain in any way whatsoever.

So the bottom line is, that this is just another procedural motion to deny the important benefits of this legislation to American workers, to American businesses, and to our collective energy security. It fits a pattern of delay and obstruction that we simply cannot support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge our Members to oppose this procedural motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Reverend Wilbert Austin of Waco, Texas, who passed away on June 19, 2017.

Wilbert grew up poor in a small shack in the southern part of Waco in a racially segregated area called Sandtown. His father was a day laborer who picked cotton for a living, while his mother was a laundress and cafe worker. Wilbert used to play by the old rendering plant that was next to the cemetery in Sandtown.

Even in their poverty, Wilbert's parents were able to raise five children. His meager upbringing is something that would shape him for the rest of his life and molded him into a great servant.

During his life, Wilbert worked many jobs, including working for a glass bottle manufacturer, Owens-Illinois, and as a leader of the local chapter of the NAACP. During his time at the NAACP, he was known for advocating for civil rights in Waco. Always seeking to make Waco a better place, he would often make sure that children and families had a safe area to play and enjoy by keeping out drug dealers, doing so on a face-to-face basis, if needed.

Wilbert was a passionate advocate for his Christian faith and decided to share his faith in the pulpit. He became a pastor of Moody's Peaceful Rest Baptist Church, where he would serve for 38 years. He was known to his congregation and around Waco as someone with a servant's heart. Wilbert would mow lawns for the elderly and collect gift cards at Christmas to distribute to needy families.

In 1974, Wilbert led an effort to change local city government, and that made him an important part of Waco's history.

In the 1950s, the city had adopted an at-large district after an African-American individual nearly won a city council seat. As a result of his tireless and dedicated efforts, Waco dropped the at-large system and divided its city into five districts, with each district having a single elected representative. His perseverance changed the at-large system because it did not fairly represent the electoral choices of the African-American areas of Waco.

Though he never believed he would run for city council, Wilbert's desire to serve eventually led him to campaign for a seat. Wilbert showed great perseverance as he ran for city council five times, ultimately winning a seat in 2006.

He went on to serve as the councilman for District One for 11 years before having to step down earlier this year due to declining health. Today's Waco is a diverse and inclusive city because of his community service.

Wilbert was also a devoted and loving husband to his late wife of 50 years, Annie Pearl Austin, who passed away from breast cancer in 2012. Annie was supportive of her husband's efforts to help Waco and would often tell her children: ``No matter what or why he's out in the public, always love your dad and support him.'' They were blessed with 5 children, and they were the grandparents to 10 grandchildren.

During the last years of his life, Wilbert fought a battle with cancer that he ultimately lost. Throughout his battle, he never lost sight of where he was going. In a farewell address at his retirement party, Wilbert stated: ``I'm all packed up. When you hear of my passing, don't grieve for me. I'm just another soldier going home to be with the Lord.''

Mr. Speaker, Wilbert Austin worked tirelessly to better our central Texas community and did so by serving his congregation, his community, reducing crime, and serving in elected office.

He is loved by our community and certainly left an enduring impression on the greater Waco area. He will forever be remembered as a community leader, pastor, civil rights activist, servant, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Austin family. We also lift up the family and friends of Wilbert in our prayers.

I have requested that a United States flag be flown over the United States Capitol to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Wilbert Austin.

As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us here at home.

Honoring General Joe Hanover

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor General Joe Hanover of Woodway, Texas, who passed away on May 22, 2017.

Joe was born in McGregor, Texas, on February 10, 1918. He grew up in a farming community and attended grade school in Wheelock before graduating from Franklin High School in 1938.

Wheelock was a special place to Joe because it is where he met the love of his life, Lucille, in the first grade.

During his high school years in Franklin, Joe became interested in engineering, an interest that would guide much of the rest of his life. Upon graduation from high school, Joe went to Texas A&M University in College Station, where he would go on to earn a bachelor of civil engineering degree in 1940. In 1941, he married Lucille and started his engineering career by working for the Texas Highway Department in Hearne.

World War II interrupted Joe's early career and family life, as he was called

into Active Duty in 1941. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army 10 months prior to Pearl Harbor and still carried his original orders to report to Camp Wallace, Texas, until the day he passed away.

During his service in World War II, George served in the European theater, notably in Belgium and France. He served in the 54th Coastal Artillery, a division that had 3,000 African-American soldiers in it.

At the conclusion of the war, Joe was given command of a German prisoner of war camp in Marseilles, France. In an interview with the local newspaper, Joe was quoted as saying: ``I started as a commander of Black soldiers, fighting against the world's greatest racist, Adolph Hitler, and finished as the commander of a prison holding German soldiers who had tried to carry out Hitler's plans.''

Joe's enlistment lasted 5 years, and he was given orders to go home in February 1946. He also joined the Army Reserve, from which he retired in 1971 with the rank of brigadier general. When he returned to the United States, he went back to work for the Texas Highway Department, embarking on a career that would last for more than 35 years.

Joe worked on numerous projects throughout the State and is best known in College Station for overseeing the completion of the University Drive overpass. On the 50-year anniversary of the opening of that structure, the City of College Station declared March 21 of each year going forward to be Joe Hanover Day.

Texas A&M played a large role in Joe's life, and he was known for his great love of the university. He regularly attended Fightin' Texas Aggie sporting events, especially baseball and football games. When recounting the best days of his life, Joe would routinely tell you that the day he married Lucille and the day he was baptized were the two greatest days of his life.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Hanover fought in service of our country and worked tirelessly to better the Bryan-College Station area. He is loved by our community and certainly left an enduring impression on the Brazos Valley. He will be forever remembered as a hero, community leader, husband, and friend.

My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Hanover family. We also lift up the family and friends of Joe Hanover in our prayers.

I requested that a United States flag be flown over the Capitol to honor the life and legacy of General Joe Hanover.

As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us here at home.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, May 22, 2017, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks made during this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize KBTX-TV, who, on May 22, will be celebrating 60 years of service in the Brazos Valley of Texas.

In 1957, KBTX began broadcasting from a four-room brick studio on East 29th Street in Bryan, Texas. Today, the studio is still located at the same location, but just like the surrounding area, it has grown immensely.

Starting out, KBTX was both a CBS and an ABC affiliate. In 1984, they became a CBS affiliate exclusively. The station prides itself on its commitment and dedication to responsible reporting and community involvement. Fittingly, the station's slogan is ``The People You Know, The News You Trust.''

KBTX has set the standard for television and news in the Brazos Valley. They were the first television station in the Brazos Valley, and over the past 60 years, they have had many more impressive firsts in the Brazos Valley, including the following:

The first television station capable of color transmission and the use of videotape;

The first television station to use color news film;

The first to cover live sports, news, and weather, as well as community events using remote, live trucks with cameras and out-of- studio editing capabilities;

The first television station with Doppler radar;

The first 24-hour television station; and

The first commercial television station to broadcast in high- definition television.

The KBTX news and creative services teams have also received many prestigious awards, which include the following: multiple Lone Star Emmys; multiple Telly Awards; multiple Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Awards, including the 2013 TAPB Overall Excellence in Television Award; multiple ADDY Awards; and the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2013.

I would like to congratulate KBTX-TV on all of their achievements and for their 60 years of service to the Brazos Valley. It is an honor for me to represent in Congress such a great team and a pillar for our community.

As I close these remarks, I ask everyone to continue praying for our country, our military, and our first responders who selflessly serve and sacrifice to protect us.

Honoring J.B. Owen, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor J.B. Owen, Jr., of Woodway, Texas, who passed away on March 5, 2017.

J.B. was born in Mathis, Texas, on November 19, 1928. He attended grade school in this small community with just three other students. Upon graduation from Mathis High School, J.B. went to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, where he would go on to earn a bachelor of business administration in general business.

He began his career by teaching business classes in Dilley, Texas, before a diagnosis of tuberculosis landed him in the hospital for 15 months. Thankfully, J.B. made a full recovery and set out to become an insurance agent with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company. J.B. was an exemplary leader at Farm Bureau for 41 years before his retirement in 1992.

In 1965, J.B. married Lillian Holley Rector, known as Lil, a Georgia peach he met on a blind date with the help of a coworker. In their 50- plus years of marriage, Lil and J.B. raised three children--Richard, Holley, and J.B. III. They were blessed with nine grandchildren, including triplets, who were born in 2001.

Along with being loving grandparents, J.B. and Lil enjoyed traveling, both in Texas and beyond.

J.B. is recognized as an exemplary steward for the greater Waco community. He was an active volunteer and community member, serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Community Development Board. He also served as an elder at Highland Baptist Church and taught Sunday school for 35 years.

J.B. served as the president of the Northwest Waco Rotary Club, president of the Harlingen PTA, and as president of Kids & Co., a childcare center. He was also a member of Gideons International, a Christian business association.

Mr. Speaker, J.B. Owen worked tirelessly to better our central Texas and Waco communities. He is loved by his city and certainly left an enduring impression on central Texas. He will be forever remembered as a great philanthropist, community member, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Owen family. We also lift up his wife, Lil, and family and friends of J.B. Owen, Jr., in our prayers.

I have requested that a United States flag be flown over the United States Capitol to honor the life and legacy of J.B. Owen, Jr.

As I close these remarks, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women, and for our first responders who protect us here at home.

Honoring Bob J. Surovik

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Bob J. Surovik of Bryan, Texas, who passed away on February 7, 2017.

Bob was born in Glen Rose, Texas, on October 27, 1936. In 1954, he graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and went on to Texas A&M University, an institution he cherished for the rest of his life. At Texas A&M, Bob was active in the student body as the president of the Student Senate and in the Singing Cadets. He also served in the Town Hall, the Prelaw Society, the Accounting Society, and the Memorial Student Leadership Council.

He was named as a ``Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

After graduation from Texas A&M in 1958 with a degree in business administration, he married the love of his life, Elaine Maedgen. Later that year, he and Elaine moved to Austin, where Bob pursued a law degree, and Elaine pursued a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. Bob earned his law degree in 1961, and Elaine earned her undergraduate degree in 1960.

Upon graduation from law school, Bob joined the United States Army. While serving his country, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

He began his legal career in 1963, starting out with the McMahon Law Firm. In 1973, Bob was named as the State Junior Bar Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year and was admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States. He would go on to become president of McMahon, Surovik, Suttle, P.C., where he practiced for 50 years.

Bob was an exceptional steward for Texas A&M in the Abilene community. He was the president of the Abilene A&M Club, a member of the Texas Aggie Bar Association. He was an avid Fightin' Texas Aggie football fan and attended almost all home games at Kyle Field.

In 2011, Texas A&M named him Aggie Lawyer of the Year and in 2012 named him as a Distinguished Alumnus, the highest award that can be given to a former student of Texas A&M University.

In Abilene, Bob was known for his community service, coaching Little League baseball, serving as a director of the chamber of commerce, president of the Abilene Bar Association, and chairman of the Community Foundation. He was also an active parishioner at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where his favorite activity was teaching Sunday school to the kindergarten class, which he did for 15 years.

Mr. Speaker, Bob Surovik worked tirelessly to better the Abilene and Texas A&M communities and to help those around him. He is loved in these places, and he left an enduring impression on countless Texans. He will be forever remembered as a great philanthropist, community member, husband, father, and friend.

My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Surovik family. We also lift up the family and friends of Bob Surovik in our prayers.

I request that a United States flag be flown over the United States Capitol to honor the life and legacy of Bob Surovik.

As I close these remarks, I urge all Americans to continue to pray for our country during these difficult times and for our military men and women who sacrifice to protect us.

Honoring Elwyn L. Bass

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a person who is very special to my family and me. Today I am celebrating the life and legacy of my father-in-law, Mr. Elwyn L. Bass. Mr. Bass was more commonly known as Sam to his friends, and he passed away on April 26, 2017.

Sam was born in Vealmoor, Texas, on January 26, 1934. At the young age of 16, he graduated from Ackerly High School. Upon graduation from Ackerly, Sam married a beautiful young woman, Johnette Carr, and went on to attend Baylor University in Waco. While at Baylor, he joined the United States Army.

After finishing his service in the Army and following his graduation from Baylor, Sam devoted his career to public education. He began that career by serving as a teacher and principal at Dawson High School. He later served as superintendent for Grady ISD in west Texas, followed by service as superintendent for Follett ISD, a small town in the Texas Panhandle. His next position was superintendent of schools at Stratford Independent School District in my hometown of Stratford, a Texas community in the northwest part of the panhandle.

In 1990, Sam retired after 35 years of service to the Texas public school system. At that time, he was so beloved by the Stratford community that our local sports stadium was named E. L. ``Sam'' Bass Stadium in his honor.

At the beginning of his retirement, he moved to east Texas and lived in a home that he constructed with his own hands and with a little help from friends and family.

Sam suffered a loss in 1992 when Johnette, his beloved wife of 42 years, passed away.

In 1994, he married Jo Anna Morton. Soon thereafter, he returned to education, teaching and coaching basketball for 10 years at Faith Lutheran School in Sugar Land, Texas.

Sam was known as a generous and caring man who was active in the community. He remained active throughout his life in the churches he attended, serving as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Stratford and on the board at Parkway United Methodist Church in Sugar Land. Sam was known for his strong Christian faith and for his love of old hymns, a few of which he sang off key. His friends and family will always remember how he saw the good in people and his positive outlook on life.

Mr. Bass' life reminds me of a passage from a book, entitled, ``The Applause of Heaven,'' written by Max Lucado. In that book, he has a moving passage which describes all of our lives. The passage reads as follows: ``You'll be home soon. You may not have noticed it, but you are closer to home than ever before. Each moment is a step taken. Each breath is a page turned. Each day is a mile marked, a mountain climbed. You are closer to home than you've ever been. Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come; you'll descend the ramp and enter the City. You'll see the faces that are waiting for you. You'll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And maybe, just maybe--in the back, behind the crowd--the One who would rather die than live without you will remove his nail-pierced hands from His heavenly robe . . . and applaud.''

Mr. Speaker, Sam Bass worked tirelessly for the youth of Texas and to better the communities around him. He is loved by his family and friends, of which there are many.

Sam left an enduring impression on the lives he touched. He will be forever remembered as a great educator, community member, husband, father, great-grandfather, and friend. I am certain that when he took his last breath on Earth, Jesus welcomed him with the words of Matthew 25:23: ``Well done, good and faithful servant.'' His friends and I will continue to pray for his family over the coming days and weeks ahead.

I recently requested that an American flag be flown over the Capitol to honor the life and legacy of my father-in-law, Sam Bass.

Mr. Speaker, as I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us at home.

It is particularly poignant this week that it is National Police Week, and so we should recognize those police who serve us. In 2 weeks, we are going to celebrate Memorial Day, and it is important that we recognize our men and women in uniform of the United States military.

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

Mr. Speaker, I was at the White House for a signing ceremony. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Hugh Hanlon, who is retiring after 30 years of service to our county in the United States Air Force.

Colonel Hanlon graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987, and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Wayland Baptist University in 1998. He served for 30 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, where he served as the Chief of CENTCOM strategy for the Air Force Checkmate Division and, among other assignments, as the Chief of Long Range Strategy during the Afghanistan War. During his 30 year career, Colonel Hanlon also served as an instructor pilot, flight examiner, operations officer, squadron commander, and Vice Wing Commander. During those years, he served in Hawaii, Japan, and Korea, prior to his current position as the Commander of Corps of Cadets Detachment 805 at Texas A&M University.

Over his three decade military career, Colonel Hanlon was awarded 12 awards and badges, including the National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. He further distinguished his service by earning the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, a Medal given to those who display acts of heroism or meritorious service. In addition, Colonel Hanlon earned the Legion of Merit Award, given to those who display exceptionally meritorious conduct, and the Defense Superior Service Medal, awarded to those in the Department of Defense who display superior meritorious service in positions of significant responsibility.

Colonel Hanlon has demonstrated his gifted skills as a pilot through over 3,500 flight hours, with 325 of those hours being in combat. He reached the rank of Command Pilot, and flew four different military aircraft during his service, including the T-37, T-38, A-10 and F-16.

I also would like to honor Colonel Hanlon for his service to the Texas A&M University. For nearly four years, he has served as the Commander of Detachment 805 of the Corps of Cadets, as well as teaching at the University as a Professor of Aerospace Studies. He has embodied the core values at Texas A&M, especially the core values of excellence and selfless-service.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's history is grounded in the efforts of our men and women who have served in uniform. Those who protected and defended the United States of America deserve our highest praise and thanks. We also wish them Godspeed as they transition to the next chapter in their lives.

Today, I have requested that a United States flag be flown over the United States Capitol to honor the many contributions of Colonel Hugh Hanlon. As I close, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our country during these difficult times, for our military men and women who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who protect us here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the gentlewoman for yielding the balance of her time to me.

Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the House companion to S.J. Res. 34, I rise to strongly urge my colleagues to support the resolution before us today. Like all of my colleagues in the House, I care deeply about protecting the privacy of our constituents, but I cannot support the Federal Communications Commission's counterproductive rules that will actually harm consumers and stifle innovation.

For 20 years, the Federal Trade Commission--or the FTC, as we call it, frequently--oversaw consumer privacy for the entire internet ecosystem: content providers, advertisers, and internet service providers, or ISPs. The FTC's privacy program focused on preserving sensitive consumer data and took the context of a consumer's relationship with businesses into consideration. The FTC's experience in implementing a wide range of rules and regulations has resulted in over 500 cases protecting consumer information, ensuring their privacy online.

In a flawed political move, absent any finding, complaints, or investigations to determine whether broadband providers have violated consumers' privacy or that the FTC had failed at doing its job, the FCC proceeded with a partisan vote to target ISPs and to expand its regulatory footprint.

After stripping the FTC of its authority over the privacy practices of internet service providers, the FCC subsequently adopted rules that would harm consumers and split the internet, creating an uneven playing field between service providers and content providers. Congress must fix this overreach so the new administration can create a comprehensive, consistent set of privacy protections.

Consumers expect their privacy to be protected the same way no matter what type of entity holds their data. Having two sets of requirements creates confusion for consumers and may jeopardize their confidence in the internet.

Our internet economy has thrived under the privacy regime created by the FTC. Yet the FCC, under its previous Chairman, Tom Wheeler, wanted to undermine that success by bifurcating privacy protections to serve outside political interests, not the American consumer.

By contrast, the FCC's approach did not base its requirements on consumers' preferences about sensitive information and to set opt-in and opt-out defaults. Accordingly, its overall approach was top-down, heavyhanded regulation in stark contrast to the FTC's greater reliance on markets and consumer preferences.

The FCC's rule has a number of problematic issues:

The first is that the opt-in/opt-out regime reduces consumer choice and would be detrimental to the survival of many businesses in this country.

The second is that the FCC would have prohibited unforeseeable future uses of collected data regardless of what consumers actually preferred and businesses may need.

Third, the FCC would also have unjustly applied its heavyhanded approach to broadband providers, treating them more harshly than other players in the internet ecosystem.

In sum, the FCC's broadband privacy protection approach would have rejected free markets and ignored sound economics.

Alternatively, the FTC private enforcement is market oriented and flexible and adaptable to changes in consumer preferences and markets. It also treats companies and players neutrally, fostering an environment of competition and innovation.

This resolution rescinds the FCC's rule, but it does provide the FCC the opportunity to provide oversight more in line with the FTC, which has been successfully regulating online privacy for nearly two decades.

This joint resolution does not lessen or impede privacy and data security standards that have already been established. We are simply restoring a more stable regulatory playing field to ensure that consistent, uniform privacy security standards are maintained to protect consumers and future innovation.

Once Congress rejects these rules, the FCC can turn back to cooperating with

the FTC to ensure that both consumer privacy across all aspects of the internet is provided through vigorous enforcement and also that innovation is allowed to flourish.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the GOP whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. Speaker, we are thinking that the gentleman's comments do not pertain to this resolution, that this resolution in no way is going to allow any of the activities that were described, whether it is cuddling or anything that is going to get in the way of any of that or allowed to be sold.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins).

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

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

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

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

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

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

We have heard a lot of interesting claims today in the discussion about this fairly simple resolution to roll back overreaching regulation from the FCC that were passed late in the Obama administration's time.

I would remind everybody, Mr. Speaker, that this CRA has nothing to do with the President's tax return, it has nothing to do with Russian hacking, and there have been some gross mischaracterizations of what this resolution does.

Why do we need this resolution?

The three reasons are, as Chairwoman Blackburn opened up at the beginning:

First of all, the FCC swiped jurisdiction from the FTC.

Second, two cops on the beat create confusion among consumers and among the ISP providers.

Third, the FTC already has jurisdiction over this space.

Let me close with this: this resolution of disapproval only rescinds the FCC's rule, but it still provides the FCC the opportunity to provide more oversight more in line with the Federal Trade Commission, which has successfully been regulating online privacy for nearly 2 decades.

This resolution does not lessen or impede the privacy and data security standards that we already have established. We are simply restoring a more stable regulatory playing field to ensure that consistent uniform privacy standards are maintained to protect consumers and future innovation.

Once Congress rejects these rules, the FCC can turn back to cooperating with the FTC to ensure both the consumer privacy across all aspects of the internet is protected through vigorous enforcement and that innovation is allowed to flourish.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard numerous comments from the left extolling the virtues of ObamaCare, and I think it is instructive to hear the words of a former Democratic President that is beloved by the left. Here is what he said less than 6 months ago: ``So you've got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have health care and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half. It's the craziest thing in the world.''

Mr. Speaker, hardworking American families in my district, they don't want crazy. They want the American Health Care Act, a sane plan that gives them their freedom back.

In a few minutes, Mr. Speaker, you are going to hear somebody from the other side say that a bunch of my constituents are going to lose coverage. That is absolutely false. Those constituents are getting their freedom back to choose whether or not they want healthcare coverage and what kind of healthcare coverage they want. I say vote ``yes.''