Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Greg Norris on the occasion of his retirement as Probate Judge for Monroe County, Alabama. Throughout his career, Judge Norris displayed deep devotion to Monroe County, where he has had an immeasurable impact on economic development and quality of life improvements.

Locally educated at Alabama Southern Community College, and then at Troy University, Judge Norris has a rich understanding of what matters to the people of Southwest Alabama and how to improve the local economy. Judge Norris began his term in office as Probate Judge in 2006. From the start, he was dedicated to the cause of Monroe County's economic future. In his role, Judge Norris also served as the Chairman of the Monroe County Commission, allowing him to provide an even greater service to the community.

During his term in office, Judge Norris created a renewed emphasis on serving the people of our area. He digitized all deed and marriage records, created an online renewal process for tags and driver's licenses, and oversaw 22 fair elections in the county.

As Chairman of the Monroe County Commission, he was able to secure roughly $33,000,000 in federal and state funds for the betterment of Monroe County. This included funds for road and bridge projects, airport improvement projects, a VA outpatient clinic, and many other projects that impacted the lives of countless residents.

His economic development achievements speak for themselves: the unemployment rate dropped from well over 20 percent during the recession to less than 6 percent today, he created the Monroeville/ Monroe County Economic Development Authority, brought critical new businesses to the community, and oversaw 6 industry expansions.

Judge Norris is also involved in the Kiwanis Club, Pilots for Christ, member of the first Leadership Now class of Monroe County, served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Delta Regional Authority Delta Leadership Institute Class of 2014-15, and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.

In his free time, Judge Norris serves as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon at Excel Baptist Church. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Terry, two children, and six grandchildren.

From the start, Judge Norris made a name for himself in reshaping the modern economy in Monroe County. Monroe County is better off thanks to his service, guidance, and direction.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, we honor Judge Norris for his incredible service and simply say: thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a true public servant, Colonel Charles ``Charlie'' Jones, on his retirement as Chief Deputy of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). Throughout his career, Col. Jones displayed a deep devotion to Baldwin County and exceptional leadership. He has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless members of our community.

Col. Jones began his career in uniform in 1980 as a volunteer for the Fairhope Police Department. This attitude of selfless service has been the theme of his entire career as a first responder in Southwest Alabama. In 1981, Col. Jones became a patrol officer with the Fairhope Police, and then in 1983 he transitioned to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

In the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Col. Jones proved himself as an outstanding officer in the Narcotics Division, quickly working his way up the ranks to be a Lieutenant in the Narcotics Division by 1991. Just seven years later, he was promoted once again to Captain in the Patrol Division, as well as the commander of the ERT (SWAT) teams. Since 2007, Col. Jones has served as the Chief Deputy, a testament to his leadership and incredible ability as a law enforcement officer.

Col. Jones has worked under three sheriffs of Baldwin County throughout his career and has received several awards and acknowledgements throughout his tenure with the BCSO. He was awarded Best Participant and the Officer Survival Training Award at the South West Alabama Police Academy; Officer of the Year by the Perdido Bay Optimist Club; and recognized twice by U.S. Customs Service for Outstanding Contributions to their operations. Perhaps chief among his accomplishments is that he organized the most progressive and longest serving Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force in Southwest Alabama.

He also serves on the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative Board of Directors, the 911 Board, is a member of the National Sheriffs Association and the Alabama Narcotics Association, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Spanish Fort Fire Rescue.

As he enters the next chapter of his life, I wish Charlie, his wife Debbie, children and grandchildren all the best as they get to enjoy more time with each other. I know that in this

new chapter, Col. Jones will continue to serve the public in every way he can through his tireless efforts to make our community a safer, stronger, and overall better place to be.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the incredible service of Col. Charlie Jones as he leaves a legacy of 38 years to a grateful community. It is difficult to express our gratitude in mere words, but on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, we simply say: thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend, Dr. Gary Branch, on his retirement as President of Coastal Alabama Community College (CACC). Dr. Branch leaves a legacy of deep devotion to his staff and students, exceptional leadership by example, and has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless members of our community.

Dr. Branch inherited an institution waiting for a leader such as himself. At the start of his tenure in 1981, he had to make the difficult decision to let go thirteen employees from then-Faulkner State College in the midst of a financial crisis. In true form, Dr. Branch was able to hire nearly all of them back to the college and has never faced another such crisis since.

Moving ever upward from his start, Dr. Branch oversaw immense growth in enrollment at CACC, from 1,100 students at one location in 1981 to now nearly 8,000 students in ten counties. Not only has he spearheaded increased opportunity for students in south Alabama, he also instituted the annual Student Leadership Retreat, Gatlinburg Getaway; the Black Ministerial Dinner and scholarship awards; the High School Counselor's Dinners; the Scholar Bowl; and has overseen the creation of a women's intercollegiate softball league, leading to an impressive softball stadium benefiting our entire community.

Throughout his entire time as President, Dr. Branch has constantly pushed for greater accessibility to post-secondary education for all students in Alabama. To this end, he was chairman of the committee that created the Statewide Transfer Articulation and Reporting System, allowing associate-degree-holding-students to transfer to four-year universities in Alabama, and fought for CACC to benefit from state sales tax in Baldwin County. Possibly most notable, he oversaw the consolidation of Faulkner State and other institutions into Coastal Alabama Community College.

From my personal experience with him during my time as Chancellor of Alabama's Community College system, I can attest to Dr. Branch's steadfast commitment to Southwest Alabama, our students, and our economy. His impact will undoubtedly live on for many, many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the incredible service of Dr. Gary Branch as he leaves a legacy of 37 years to a grateful community. It is difficult to express our gratitude in mere words, but on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, we simply say: thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Senate to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Judge Kavanaugh has a clear record as a thoughtful jurist who respects and will defend our Constitution. Those who have worked with him over the years and know him best strongly defend his record as a good man who loves his family and our country.

I am ashamed we find ourselves where we are today. It is shameful the way that Judge Kavanaugh has had his name smeared, just as it is shameful that Dr. Ford has been used as a pawn in a political game. Frankly, my heart hurts for both of them.

Our government is only as good as the people who serve in it, and I am deeply concerned that this whole series of events will encourage fewer good men and women to take up the call of government service.

Mr. Speaker, this circus must end. The Senate should vote on Judge Kavanaugh, approve him to serve on the Supreme Court, and allow our great country to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate my friend and predecessor, Congressman Jack Edwards. Congressman Edwards proudly and ably served Alabama's First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1985.

Congressman Edwards has served our country and Southwest Alabama in numerous ways over the course of his life, starting in our nation's military. After graduating from high school, Congressman Edwards enlisted in the Marine Corps and served during the Korean War.

After graduating college and law school and a short time teaching at the University of Alabama, he moved his family to the Mobile area in 1954 and opened his own law firm. Congressman Edwards quickly became an active member of the Mobile community. He served as general counsel for the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad and was active on the Mobile City Planning Commission.

He was elected to Congress in 1964 as a Republican. In Congress, he established himself as a very effective legislator, forming invaluable relationships with many of his colleagues thanks to his kind and friendly personality. Many of those relationships continue to this day.

One of his most notable accomplishments in Congress was his steadfast support for our nation's military. He used his position on the Appropriations Committee to advocate for the rebuilding and strengthening of the U.S. military. He also made transportation a top priority, and he played a key role in advancing the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway project and other projects that benefited Southwest Alabama and our state as a whole.

As a sign of his success and popularity as our Congressman, Jack Edwards was re-elected nine times, and he never faced any serious opposition. He established a proud tradition of having strong constituent services in his Congressional office, and helped countless residents navigate the federal bureaucracy.

After leaving Congress, Congressman Edwards returned to Mobile and held various roles in the local community, including his work as Chairman of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and on the Mayor's Waterfront Advisory Committee. He deserves much of the credit for helping rebuild and revitalize Mobile, and it was his efforts that paved the way for the economic success we are experiencing today.

He also served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Alabama System from 1988 to 1999. He eventually held the position of President Pro Tempore of the board before his retirement.

Jack Edwards has long-served as a mentor to me, and I value our friendship. He was the one who first sparked my interest in public service and encouraged me to get involved in improving public education in Mobile County. As Congressman, I still am fortunate to benefit from his advice and guidance. My wife, Rebecca, and I consider him and his wife, Jolane, as dear friends.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I want to wish Congressman Edwards a very happy birthday. I look forward to celebrating many more in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life of Joseph Barton ``Bartee'' Greer,

Jr., who passed away on July 13, 2018 after a life very well lived.

A lifelong Alabamian, Mr. Greer was born on October 14, 1925 and attended Murphy High School in Mobile. He went on to attend the University of Alabama, where he played football for the Crimson Tide.

During World War II, Mr. Greer served in the United States Navy. He was stationed in Fort Worth, Texas where he worked as a medic for war victims as they returned home from combat.

Following his naval service, he started working with the family business, Autry Greer & Sons, where he worked for over sixty years. The family grocery business grew substantially during his time with the business and now operates in multiple states across the Gulf Coast region. After a very proud and successful business career, he retired as Chairman of the Board.

When not working, he enjoyed golf, football, and flying. In fact, Mr. Greer constructed his own airplane in his garage, which he flew around the Mobile area. The plane is now on display at the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Greer was a steadfast supporter of the local community and a champion of those less fortunate. He served on numerous community and philanthropic boards, including his membership in the Rotary Club. He was the definition of a ``family man,'' and he took great pride in the many successes of his family and friends.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to share my deepest condolences with Mr. Greer's family and friends. I hope they take great comfort in knowing that his impact will continue to be felt in Mobile and throughout the region for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1027 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1027 provides for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5515, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

This NDAA process has once again been a textbook example of how Congress should work. After extensive hearings in the House and the Senate, lengthy committee markups, hundreds of amendments, separate passage in both Chambers, and a conference committee, we have reached the point of final passage.

This has been a process that has followed regular order and allowed so many Members to have a role in the process. Here in the House, that is a testament to Chairman Mac Thornberry, Ranking Member Adam Smith, and their very capable staffs.

This is the earliest the House has passed the final version of the NDAA in 41 years, which is a remarkable feat. A considerable amount of time and effort has been put into this product, and I know I join other Members of the House in expressing our deep gratitude for their efforts.

This year's NDAA offers the next steps in our effort to rebuild our military and reform the Pentagon. I know many of us have been deeply troubled by the readiness crisis that struck the military over the last several years. This has resulted in training accidents and failures that took the lives of our servicemembers.

To reverse that trend, this year's NDAA allows for increased funding for training, as well as $2.8 billion for the procurement of spare airplane parts.

In response to recent naval incidents in the Pacific, the NDAA directs the Navy to review their operational chain of command and current training plans for surface warfare officers. The strategy of peace through strength requires us to continue to produce and procure the best tools and resources possible.

In an effort to build toward President Trump's goal of a 355-ship Navy fleet, the NDAA authorizes the construction of new ships, including a Ford-class aircraft carrier, additional Virginia-class attack submarines, and three littoral combat ships.

Given the range of challenges in the nuclear domain, the NDAA supports the Nuclear Posture Review's recommendation to pursue a lower- yield ballistic warhead while also making important investments in our missile defense programs.

Very important, the NDAA authorizes a 2.6 percent pay raise for our servicemembers, which is the highest increase in 9 years. This is critical to recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest.

Additionally, this NDAA focuses on policies specific to Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, as well as provisions relating to nonstate actors and terrorist organizations.

I am also pleased that the conference report contains a compromise final version of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act. Congress has come together in a strong bipartisan manner to recognize the growing threat of countries like China in weaponizing financial investment, threatening our advanced technologies, and undermining our defense industrial base.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, is an interagency body led by the Treasury Department tasked with reviewing foreign investment for national security concerns. However, United States law governing CFIUS has not been modernized for more than a decade, and it is not designed to address today's modern, evolving threats.

The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act gives CFIUS much-needed additional authority to address real national security threats without unduly burdening foreign investment in the American economy and slowing American economic growth in the process.

I could go on and on about the important reforms and priorities in this legislation, but these should give you an idea of our focus on standing up to our adversaries and supporting our servicemen and - women.

Mr. Speaker, just this past weekend, I was able to spend time with some of these fine servicemen and -women in the Pacific, where they are taking part in the RIMPAC naval exercise, the largest in the world.

It is amazing to see the work these young men and women, some of them very young, do on a daily basis. Whether it is landing planes on an aircraft carrier or steering a massive warship, these individuals are asked to carry out incredibly complicated and dangerous tasks, and they do it exceedingly well.

It is the least we can do to show these courageous and patriotic Americans we have their backs by passing this NDAA on a strong bipartisan basis.

We deal with a lot of complicated and, frankly, divisive issues in this body, but, today, on this issue, I hope we can show, for our national security and the people who devote so much to keep us safe, we can rise above the divisiveness of today's politics.

Let's pass the NDAA for the 58th straight year and make sure all our servicemen and -women know we have their backs. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 1027 and the underlying bill.

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 remarks of the gentleman.

I would remind the gentleman that this so-called closed Congress has passed over 600 bills. Record numbers of bills have been passed by this Congress. This is a remarkably productive Congress, and all of us should take pride in the fact that over 80 percent of those bills were passed in a bipartisan fashion. So we have every reason to be proud of the work that we have done here not just this year, but last year as well.

I also want to address what the gentleman had to say about an AUMF. We, indeed, as a Congress have a role to play in the foreign defense policy of this country. The bill that underlies this resolution that we have today is the National Defense Authorization Act. It is several hundred pages of policy that is set by the Congress. So we are participating in a very active fashion, both in oversight and in helping set this policy.

I am very proud of the work that the members, Democrats and Republicans, in the House Armed Services Committee have done. This bill shows that Congress has a constitutional role that we are fulfilling. And I believe the very strong, bipartisan vote we are going to see on the bill demonstrates that all of us, or at least most of us, the vast majority of us, feel the same way.

I want to say this very clearly. The young men and women who serve us every day abroad and put their lives at risk deserve from us not partisan divisiveness on this day, they deserve our unity. They deserve to hear from us that we are not going to sit and have some partisan bickering but that we have their back. If we can't do that on this day, then we need to all go home this August and reexamine our consciences.

There are other days and other times to debate other issues, but on this day, let's stand up as one House and as one country for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, a vote against the previous question is a vote against this bill, which is there to defend America and support our servicemen and -women.

Make no mistake about it: You can't change the subject. The subject is the defense of the country. The subject is standing behind our servicemen and -women.

Now, let's make this clear. It was under the previous administration that Russia meddled in our elections, not under this administration. It was under the previous administration that Russia illegally seized Crimea. It was under the previous administration that we refused to arm the Ukrainians, who were simply trying to defend themselves. We are now arming them. This administration is doing that.

I remember in the Presidential election of 2012, the Republican nominee for President said that the biggest threat to the United States of America is Russia, and he was laughed at. They are not laughing now.

This bill provides what we need to have to pushback against Russia, to arm the people who want to fight against Russia, and to stand with our servicemen and -women. To try to distract from that with some debate over a previous question on something that has nothing to do with defending this country, I wish we wouldn't do that in this House.

But I understand we have to make some partisan points before we leave here for August, and I a disappointed we are making those partisan points. We have an opportunity to stand up as one body and as one nation for our servicemen and -women.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that today Russia faces more sanctions than they have faced since the end of the Cold War; more sanctions today than under the previous administration. This Congress and this President is pushing back against Russia. I am proud of what we are doing to push back on him, and we may not be done with that yet. We may need to do more. I stand ready to do more.

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 would remind the gentlewoman that in this bill, ZTE is prohibited from doing any business with the United States Government, and any company that does business with the ZTE is prohibited from doing business with the United States Government.

If we did what she suggested we do, we would have to find some way to save a billion dollars out of mandatory spending under the Defense Department. There is very little mandatory spending over at the Defense Department.

Let me tell you what it is. It is the retirement. It is what we require people to pay for their TRICARE, the people who have already served in the armed services. We have to make them pay more money for their healthcare.

I don't want to penalize those people who have already served our country. I stand with them. For that reason, I think this bill is plenty strong against ZTE. I think we have reached a good compromise here.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the gentleman's amendments were included in the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we are here to talk about not only defending the United States of America from all of our adversaries, Russia, especially, but to stand behind the men and women in uniform. And, yes, I do associate myself with them.

I am not one of them, but I am one of their supporters. And I hope that the vast majority of us in this body will stand up with them and be their supporters today both on the previous question on the rule and also on the bill when it comes before the body.

If we really want to push back against Russia, we will stop the games, and we will pass the rule, and we will pass the bill. That is how we stand up against Russia. Having a bitter, partisan debate before we do so only helps our enemies.

Let's stand together on this issue. We will come back after the break in August and debate the other issues, but let's send a clear message to those brave young men and women, that we have their back. We can do that by doing our duty today.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1027 and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, we have a skills crisis in our country. We actually have more job openings than we have unemployed Americans. This is keeping our economy from reaching full potential.

So how do we solve this problem? Well, a big way is through expanding career and technical education programs. As the demands of the workforce continue to change and become more complex, these programs are critical to building the workforce of the 21st century.

I have seen these programs firsthand back in Alabama in our high schools, when I was the chancellor of post-secondary education, and I saw it at work in our 2-year colleges.

They benefit the local economy by helping fill open jobs, but they make the lives of our students intrinsically better by connecting them with the skills they need to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and show the strong bipartisan support that we showed when it passed the House the first time.

Career and technical education is for everybody in America, and America's House needs to stand up and support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Mack Morris on his 50 years of ministry. Dr. Mack Morris currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Woodridge Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama.

Dr. Morris, a native of Dothan, Alabama, has faithfully served the Lord, our local community, the people of Alabama, and beyond for over half a century. Dr. Morris felt the call of the Lord and surrendered to the ministry at Maple Avenue Baptist Church in Geneva, Alabama in 1967. He was licensed to preach at the White House Baptist Church in Bay Minette, Alabama in 1968.

Within his period of dedicated service, Dr. Morris was called and served faithfully at all the following churches in Alabama: White House Baptist, Bethel Baptist, Tillman's Corner Baptist, Heritage Baptist, Old Spanish Fort Baptist, Jubilee Baptist, and Woodridge Baptist. Dr. Morris has been a supportive, faithful, and loyal advocate for his community throughout his ministry.

Dr. Morris has served on the Alabama State Board of Missions and Executive Board of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, as Moderator of the Mobile Baptist Association, as the first president of the Board of Regents at the University of Mobile, and as a trustee at the University of Mobile for eleven years.

During his 50 years of ministry, Dr. Morris has spread the Word of the Lord and His Saving Grace by officiating over 165 weddings, conducting over 547 funerals, and has seen the salvation and baptism of over 2,500 men, women, and children.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless people his ministry has impacted, I want to recognize and share my deep gratitude with Dr. Mack Morris for his tireless service to our community.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer a straightforward amendment to prohibit any effort to redirect funds allocated under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which is commonly known as GOMESA.

For those who don't know, GOMESA calls for a Federal revenue sharing agreement between the Federal Government and four Gulf States: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The program is designed to split up revenue from selected oil and gas lease sales in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.

The neat thing about GOMESA is it ensures appropriate funding for the coastal areas that provide the workforce, assume the environmental risk, build much of the infrastructure, and support the offshore oil and gas industry. It only makes sense that the coastal areas should receive an adequate share of the revenue.

Previously, there have been administrative efforts to direct the money away from the Gulf States, and, instead, devote the resources to national projects. While I appreciate the Trump administration not including any such proposal in this year's budget, I still believe it is important for Congress to send a clear, bipartisan message that we do not support moving GOMESA funds away from the Gulf Coast.

In fact, just this year, the Department of the Interior disbursed almost $188 million to the four Gulf oil and gas producing States. Alabama received $21 million this year, and the two coastal counties in Alabama received an additional combined amount of $5 million.

I have seen these GOMESA funds put to good use back in my home State of Alabama, whether it was for environmental rehabilitation protection projects or programs that boost the coastal tourism economy. GOMESA is working by supporting and promoting our Gulf Coast communities. If you talk to our local mayors and county leaders, they will tell you how critically important GOMESA funding is for their region.

It would be detrimental to go against congressional intent and redirect these funds away from our respective coastal communities. By including this amendment, we can make clear that Congress does not support reallocating these resources and show our strong support for the Gulf Coast.

Mr. Chair, I ask for an ``aye'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 995.

As many of us have stood on this floor and said, We have planes that can't fly, ships that can't sail, and troops that can't deploy.

Under the Obama administration, we saw an alarming trend where we allowed our Armed Forces to be hollowed out, and we allowed a critical readiness crisis to develop.

Over the last 2 years, members of the House Armed Services Committee and others have fought tirelessly to ensure our military gets the level of funding they need, not only to fix our current readiness crisis but also to build up our force to a size to match the current threat environment, which is the most complex one we have faced since World War II.

While I am proud of the work we have done so far to raise the top line Defense number, there is another critical piece to the puzzle. Continuing resolutions are just as detrimental to our national security as the Budget Control Act caps. Every day we don't pass the Defense Appropriations bill, we are denying resources to our servicemembers and making it harder for them to do their job.

Continuing resolutions and budgetary uncertainty also end up costing the taxpayers more money. The Secretary of the Navy has said that the Department of Navy alone wasted $4 billion since 2011 because of continuing resolutions. That is $4 billion of real money that could have been used to fund more ships, more planes, or more maintenance.

Under a continuing resolution, the Department of Defense and the services are not allowed to enter into any new contracts. Every year we have delayed the timelines of scheduled maintenance availabilities and procurement schedules. All of these things are crucial to maintain deployment rotation and ensure the U.S. presence is felt around the world.

Compare this to your personal finances. For half the year you are able only to pay your current expenses, like car payments and utilities. You know you will get money later in the year for new things you want to buy or invest in; however, you don't know how much you will get or whether you will get it. Does that sound frustrating and ineffective?

We have the world's greatest military. Yet, we are hamstringing them with an irresponsible funding cycle. Let me put this in very blunt terms. The inability of Congress to pass government funding bills on time has endangered the health, safety, and lives of our servicemembers. Just look at the aviation accidents and recent collisions of Navy ships. These incidents can be blamed, at least in part, on the readiness crisis.

As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility here. We are not the ones on the front lines and deployed around the world, but we play an integral role: getting those servicemembers their funding on time.

In a time where we face great power competition with Russia and China, radical Islamic extremism in the Middle East, and Iran and North Korea, there is no shortage of national security priorities.

Here, in the House, we have passed our Defense funding bill on time yet again, but we need our colleagues in the Senate to follow suit. I know it is a priority for my Alabama colleague, Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby, to get our military funded, so I hope we can do our job responsibly and on time.

Mr. Speaker, let's not let petty political games get in the way of funding our Nation's military, protecting our servicemembers, and ensuring the safety and security of the American people. Let's pass this resolution and demonstrate our strong commitment to passing a Defense funding bill before the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 965 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 965 provides for consideration of H.R. 200, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act.

This structured rule makes in order 11 amendments, including 4 minority and 2 bipartisan amendments.

Mr. Speaker, I was born and raised in coastal Alabama, so I have spent my entire life experiencing the long-held tradition of fishing off the Gulf Coast. Some of my best memories growing up were fishing with my family, and I have carried on that same tradition with my children. I look forward to fishing with my grandchildren once they get a little older.

This isn't a tradition unique to the Gulf Coast. All along America's shores, countless families and friends have made so many memories while fishing.

No one wants to be a better steward of our Nation's fisheries than those of us who actually enjoy fishing. No one wants a healthier fish stock than those of us who have spent our lives on the water.

That is where H.R. 200 comes in. This bill includes commonsense reforms to ensure that our Nation's fisheries remain strong, while also being accessible to fishermen from every walk of life.

Now, I know this bill is about much more than just those of us who like to fish recreationally. Commercial fishing is a major economic engine in many of our coastal communities, so the bill also ensures access to our oceans and ocean resources for our commercial fishermen.

Just consider these numbers that demonstrate the overall impact of fishing on the U.S. economy:

In 2015, the fishing industry generated $208 billion in sales and supported 1.62 million American jobs.

Approximately 11 million saltwater anglers spent a total of $60.9 million on fishing trips, which generated roughly $22.7 billion in income.

And I want to make one other point. The underlying bill will also ensure that all Americans have access to fresh, sustainable seafood. That is important to our Nation's restaurants, but it is also especially important to seafood lovers like me.

If you doubt the importance of the fishing sector, let me tell you about red snapper fishing in my home State of Alabama. It is a major economic driver for our coastal communities. From restaurants, to gas stations, to bait and tackle shops, to the charter boat industry, red snapper fishing is critically important to the economy in our coastal communities and surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, the Federal Government has failed for years to adequately count the number of red snapper in the Gulf. This has resulted in ridiculously short red snapper seasons, which hurt our fishermen and the economies in our coastal communities.

So, how bad was the Federal Government in counting red snapper? Well, they weren't even sampling for red snapper on reefs, despite the fact that red snapper are reef fish. It made absolutely no sense.

Colleges and universities, like the University of South Alabama, have been able to do a much better job of assessing the health of the red snapper stock with far fewer resources. Their data has proven to be much more accurate and up to date.

Thankfully, along with my Gulf Coast colleagues, we have been able to work with the Trump administration and the Commerce Department to ensure adequate recreational red snapper seasons over the last 2 years. But this bill includes reforms I authored to help fix the mismanagement of red snapper for all sectors, once and for all. That means allowing for greater State control, especially as it relates to stock assessments and data collection.

That is one of the best things about H.R. 200. The bill eliminates unscientific timeframes to rebuild fish stocks that unnecessarily restrict access to fisheries. Our national fishery policy should be based on sound, accurate data.

The bill goes against the Washington-knows-best approach that has failed so many times in the past. By providing greater flexibility to fishery managers, we can allow for better management strategies that reflect regional needs and demands. We should empower people who live and work in the local communities, instead of letting bureaucrats in Washington decide what works best.

As I mentioned earlier, the bill will allow more Americans to have access to fresh, sustainable seafood. Currently, around 90 percent of seafood consumed in the United States is imported. This is especially troubling when you consider that we have an abundance of fish right here in our own waters. With reforms included in this bill, we can boost access to affordable domestic fish.

Mr. Speaker, by passing H.R. 200, the House can support our Nation's fishermen, American consumers, our coastal communities, and the overall American economy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 965 and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

The gentleman referenced a letter from the Seafood Harvesters of America. In their letter dated June 21 of 2018, this group claims that section 12 of the bill repeals a section of the MSA. There hasn't been a section 12 in this bill since November of 2017. There is no section 12.

The letter also claims that section 4 undermines rebuilding timelines. Section 4 of this bill simply states that all references in H.R. 200 are to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, unless otherwise stated; doesn't do anything like what is claimed.

As the most egregious example, this group is so committed to opposing this

bill, no matter what changes we make, they reference a bill that, for all intents and purposes, no longer exists.

The gentleman also said something about this bill being job- destroying.

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you about the destruction of jobs. When the present regime was running the fishery in the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper, they limited the number of days for fishing to such a small number that it destroyed hundreds, if not thousands of jobs across just my part of the Gulf Coast when people were no longer allowed to go out and go snapper fishing.

Charter boat folks lost their jobs. People that sell ice or bait lost their jobs. It was the Federal bureaucracy that was destroying jobs.

This bill will give us a commonsense regime that will restore jobs. So, far from being a job-destroying bill, this bill is going to create jobs.

The gentleman also referred to a bottoms-up approach. I have been working on this issue for over 4 years, and I can tell you, the bottom, which is us recreational fishermen, we haven't been listened to one single time by the Federal bureaucracy. They closed their doors in our face.

If you want to have a bottoms-up approach to this sort of thing, this bill supplies it. What we have got right now certainly doesn't do it.

One of the most important things that is involved here is, who does the science? Do you let a bunch of Federal scientists far away from where the fisheries are make these decisions? Or do you let scientists that are in the areas where the fisheries exist, do you let them do the science?

I am not talking about just any Tom, Dick, or Harry out there that calls himself a scientist. I am talking about Ph.D. scientists with accredited universities who know the fishery. This bill would allow that to happen, so that you could get good, accurate data, because they don't have it today.

Let me go back to what I said initially on the red snapper issue.

The Federal scientists were sampling for red snapper on sandy bottom. These are reef fish. You are not going to find reef fish on sandy bottom. You find them on reefs. And if you talk to real scientists, they will tell you there is no way you are going to get an accurate assessment of this fish stock if you are looking for them on sandy bottom. You have got to look for them on reefs.

Let me tell you, there are over 170 groups that have signed on to being supportive of this bill. I do not have time to read all the names to you, but let me just read a few. The first one is the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. I go to their events up here, like many other Members of Congress. When I was at one just recently, there were hundreds of Members of Congress there from both parties. It couldn't get to be any bigger, and it couldn't get to be any more bipartisan.

The Coastal Conservation Association, the Premier Recreational Anglers Association in America, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which the gentleman referred to as if they were opposed to it. They support the bill.

The National Coalition for Fishing Communities and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. This is a very broadly, deeply supported bill among people who are actually fishing.

Now, it may not be supported by people who don't fish and who don't know anything about fishing; but for those of us who do fish, whether we are commercial fishermen or recreational fishermen, we like it.

And it is time for Congress to understand that the waters of the United States of America do not belong to the Congress, and they do not belong to these Federal departments and agencies. They belong to the people of America, and the people of America have a right to fish in their waters. This bill will help restore that.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. I want to make sure that I can assure him and everybody in this House this bill doesn't cut funding to anything. It's an authorization bill, and it reauthorizes the Magnuson- Stevens Act with some changes, but those changes do not include a reduction in funding.

But here is the thing about fishing that people that don't fish don't understand. Those of us that fish, we care about this fishery more than anybody else because if we overfish the stock, we don't get to fish anymore. No one has a greater interest in making sure that the species in our waters are maintained than those of us that fish, whether we are commercial fishermen or recreational fishermen. So there is no interest here that is being served to try to somehow harm our fishery.

We believe, and it has actually been demonstrated to be true, that local communities, regional people, can better regulate, sample, bring science to the health of these fish stock than giving it to some bureaucrat in Washington that doesn't know one single thing about our fishery.

We care. We care deeply, because it is a way of life for us, and the last thing we want to do is do anything that would harm these fish stock out there.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today to talk about the fisheries of America. If the folks on the other side of the aisle want to address the issue that they just referenced, then I am sure they could foreswear taking any corporate contributions, any anonymous contributions to their accounts for themselves. So they could lead by their example, and I look forward to seeing them do that.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today to talk about the fisheries of America, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. There are bipartisan cosponsors to this bill. This is a bipartisan bill.

What is this bill really about? It is about freedom. It is about the freedom of the American people to be able to use their own waters, to fish in their own waters, something the American people have done since before we were a nation.

There is a really great book that just came out that won the Pulitzer Prize called ``The Gulf,'' about the Gulf of Mexico. It recounts the history of our area and how long we have been fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and what it has meant for generations upon generations of both commercial and recreational fishermen.

I have commercial fisherpeople in my family, and they are wonderful people, have a great business. It is important to them and it is their way of life. We need to make sure we do everything to preserve that way of life.

I am a recreational fisherman, and we have been doing it in my family for generations, and I want to preserve that as well.

My grandfather was one of the founders of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, one of the oldest and largest fishing tournaments in the United States of America. It is really great to see, summer after summer, generations of people who have been fishing in that tournament, literally for three or four or five generations, come down there on Dauphin Island and bring the fish that they catch, so proud of what they have done.

And what have they just done? They have gone out in their own boat at their own expense, spent a day in the open air on a beautiful summer day, or maybe 2 or 3 days, and got some time to spend time together as a family, with friends, and do something Americans have been able to do without the Federal Government trying to tell them how to do it for a couple, 300 years.

It is time for us to restore back to the American people the control of their waters. That is what this bill does. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 965 and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel Frank E. Wendling upon his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps. Wendling most recently served as the Senior Marine Liaison Officer to the Commander Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, Florida.

Colonel Wendling, a native of Dearborn, Michigan, has served our nation in the U.S. Marine Corps for over 29 years. Within this period of dedicated service, Colonel Wendling received designation as a Naval Aviator, completed two Mediterranean deployments with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, taught on the Air War College Faculty as a Seminar Director and Leadership and Warfighting Professor at Maxwell Air Force Base, and accumulated over 3,675 flight hours, amongst many other designations.

Colonel Wendling graduated from The University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1988. In 2004, Wendling earned a Master's Degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2006, he earned a second Master's Degree from Maxwell Air Force Base in Air Power Art and Science. In 2009, Wendling earned a third Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College at Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island.

Colonel Wendling has accumulated a commendable number of awards for his time served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion

of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the single mission Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, as well as others.

Mr. Speaker, it is people like Colonel Wendling who make the United States the greatest nation on the face of the earth. His commitment to serving our country and his community should serve as a shining example to the next generation.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless people his leadership has impacted, I wish Colonel Wendling all the best upon his retirement. His tireless service to our country will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to congratulate Dr. Bill Lawrence on his retirement after over 30 years as a principal in southwest Alabama.

For the last 21 years, Dr. Lawrence worked as principal of Foley Elementary School in Baldwin County. Prior to that, he served for 10 years at W. H. Council Traditional School in Mobile County.

Being a principal is a tough job, but Dr. Lawrence thrived in the role throughout his career. He overcame many obstacles and always provided steady leadership for his students, teachers, faculty, and parents. I know that personally because I am one of those parents.

Dr. Lawrence would always go above and beyond the job description. He said that one of his proudest accomplishments was starting the Turkey Takeout program to help provide families in poverty with a free Thanksgiving meal.

On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless students positively impacted by Dr. Lawrence over his career, including my daughter, Laura, I want to wish him all the best upon his retirement.

Foley Elementary School and public education in Alabama will not be the same without him.

Congratulating Victor Helmsing

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Victor Helmsing on his retirement after 35 years serving as a teacher at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile.

Throughout his time at St. Paul's, he held a range of teaching positions, including everything from senior government and economics to AP U.S. Government and politics, to Western civilization.

He also helped lead various extracurricular programs, including the Key Club for 28 years, and serving as senior class sponsor for 35 straight years. He has also been a leader among his peers, serving as chair of various administrative committees.

During various time periods, Victor served as associate headmaster, assistant headmaster, and director of the upper school, but his true passion has always rested in the classroom. I know every former student has their own story about something Victor Helmsing taught them or a way he had a lasting impact on their lives. That is just the type of teacher and leader he has always been.

So on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to wish Victor and his wife, Vaughan, all the best upon his retirement. His impact on St. Paul's and his former students will be felt for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I appreciate her steadfast leadership on behalf of our Nation's servicemen and -women.

Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of a long-needed rebuilding of our Nation's military, and this funding bill will ensure the rebuilding process continues.

I have spoken on this floor many times about the readiness crisis facing our military. We are finally getting our planes back in the air and troops who are fully prepared to deploy. This readiness crisis hurts our overall national security. But, Mr. Speaker, it also puts our servicemen and -women at great risk.

Last year, we lost four times as many servicemembers in training accidents as we lost in combat. We owe it to these men and women to do everything in our power to avoid more of these accidents. That duty requires consistent and robust funding for all aspects of our defense.

I am pleased to say that this funding bill builds on the progress made over the last 2 years, and I am proud to support the Defense Appropriations bill and this rule.

This bill sets aside $674.6 billion for the Department of Defense, which is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of this body earlier this year.

Importantly, the bill will help us recruit and retain the greatest fighting force on the face of the Earth. That includes full funding for a 2.6 percent pay raise for the military and an increase in overall end strength.

The bill makes much-needed investments in training and equipment acquisition to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources and tools they need to safely and successfully defend or country.

As vice chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to see the bill make progress toward rebuilding a 355-ship Navy fleet. The bill funds the construction of 12 new Navy ships, including three littoral combat ships.

The bill also funds the procurement of additional F-35s, F/A-18 Super Hornets, Black Hawk helicopters, Abrams tanks, and C-130J aircraft, among many others.

Given the current threat environment, the bill invests in our Nation's missile defense programs and ensures support for some of our key allies around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, peace through strength should always be the position of the United States. There is no greater deterrent to war than a strong, fully equipped U.S. military.

I want to thank Chairwoman Granger and her subcommittee for their work on this legislation, and I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote later this week.