Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a very special person and dear friend of mine, David Drinkard.

David was a former art teacher at Warren High School in Warren, Texas and a renowned wildlife painter. We have been friends since attending Forest Park High School and Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. He was an expert at painting God's beautiful creations in nature. There is nothing prettier than a ``David Drinkard sky.'' His paintings hang in homes, businesses and galleries all over, including my own home and dental office.

David was a devout Christian, a loyal husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a strong conservative and an active conservationist, donating many paintings for auction to the Coastal Conservation Association and other groups to help raise funds for conservation projects and causes. He was an excellent hunter and probably ranked as one of the best fishermen with whom I ever had the privilege of casting a lure.

I am honored to have one of his paintings prominently displayed in my congressional office in Washington. It depicts David and me catching speckled trout on Sabine Lake in Texas. Some of my children and I even took art lessons from him in his hometown of Warren years ago. David Drinkard has a very special place in our hearts and we will miss him dearly.

David passed away on December 26, 2016. His wife Beverly and family will continue to be in our prayers.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor two young men who gave their lives in service to the State of Texas and the United States when their Apache helicopter crashed in Galveston Bay, Texas, during a training mission last week in my congressional district.

My deepest sympathies go out to the families of Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lucas Lowe of Daisetta, Texas, a resident of the 36th Congressional District, which I represent, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dustin Mortenson of League City, Texas.

The heartbreaking loss of these two fine Texas Army National Guard pilots, assigned to the First Squadron 149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division, has been felt throughout our southeast Texas community. Both men tragically leave behind a wife and family. Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Lowe's wife, Kami, was also pregnant with twins due next month, in February.

As a former Texas Guardsman myself, my prayers remain with all those who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. As the U.S. Congressman for District 36, it is my commitment and duty to the families to see that they get the support they need during this very difficult time.

Please keep these families in your thoughts and your prayers. May God bless these two soldiers, their families, and all who serve their country.

I thank the gentleman from Mississippi and the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation is an important step forward in our efforts to build a stronger and more focused NASA.

Let's face it: NASA is the only Federal agency that has human spaceflight as its mission. However, in recent years, NASA has branched into areas that divert attention and funding from its critical mission. This bill before us begins to bring human spaceflight back into focus as NASA's key mission. It provides strong funding for vehicle development that will enable NASA to reach the Moon and beyond, putting us on a clear path towards deeper exploration into our solar system.

Having met with top officials at the Johnson Space Center in my district just this past week, I can attest that they are very excited about this new focus. I am aware of NASA's challenges, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead and some of the successes that we have had over the past few months.

Our bill supports NASA's Orion spacecraft, it expands America's access to the international space station, and it funds a robust Commercial Crew Program to launch American astronauts on American rockets.

I urge my colleagues to join in support of this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Chair, on roll call no. 62, Connolly Amendment, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted No.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 596, legislation that I have cosponsored to fully repeal ObamaCare.

My constituents sent me to Washington to repeal this disastrous law, and that is what we are doing today, the number one issue in my district.

As a health care provider myself for 38 years, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of ObamaCare and how it undermines the doctor- patient relationship.

It is costing us jobs and work hours and has led to millions of Americans losing their health plans that they had and wanted to keep and were promised such. Restoring the patient's right to choose a plan that they want and can afford is just plain common sense.

Our bill does this by repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with free market solutions. We put America on a path toward patient-focused care, rather than government-directed care. The traditional doctor-patient relationship would be restored.

Let's show the American people that we are listening and rid the Nation of this terrible law and replace it with policies that work.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 351, the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act.

America's energy producers and the tens of thousands of Americans they employ stand ready to meet the demand for a reliable and secure source of natural gas from America and the world.

They have completed their reviews, have passed their tests, and are ready to get to work, but there is one big problem--the Obama administration is standing in the way. The President and his anti- American energy agenda have placed a de facto ban on LNG exports by logjamming their requests and using bureaucratic red tape to block America's progress.

This bill breaks the bureaucratic gridlock and expedites the approval of LNG exports. I have seen firsthand the jobs and the opportunities that an LNG facility has created for the people of east Texas, in my district. Let's help the American worker by approving H.R. 351.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. It is plain wrong to use America's hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions.

On September 9, 2009, President Obama told the joint session of Congress:

One more misunderstanding I want to clear up--under our plan, no Federal dollars will be used to fund abortions,

and Federal conscience laws will remain in place.

Those of us in the pro-life community knew that this was simply not the case, and last September, the Government Accountability Office confirmed that, under ObamaCare, abortions are being paid for with taxpayer funds by more than 1,000 ObamaCare exchange plans across the country.

Our bill ends taxpayer funding for abortion, fulfilling one of the promises that this President has broken. Let's pass this bill and end the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion in American history.

Mr. Chairman, the United States is a nation of immigrants. It is also a nation of laws, and our Nation's leaders have a sworn duty to abide by those laws. On countless occasions, President Obama said that he lacked the authority to grant broad amnesty; however, in November, he reversed his course and unilaterally declared amnesty.

I rise in strong opposition to his executive amnesty and in strong support of legislation to defund his unlawful and unconstitutional actions.

Changes in immigration law--or in any law for that matter--rest with the legislative branch of the government, the United States Congress. Granting amnesty through unilateral executive action makes a mockery of our laws, and Congress must rein it in.

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act. Key provisions of this bill will be offered as amendments to this appropriations bill. We will deny the administration funding to implement his amnesty.

As a past mayor, a hospital staff member for many years, and a local school board member, I know firsthand how this administration's plan is taxing the budgets of our local governments, including our schools, our hospitals, and our jails. This massive unfunded mandate must be repealed.

Amnesty also undermines our national security by perpetuating open borders, making Americans less safe. Finally, it leaves behind millions of American citizens who are unemployed at this time, making it even harder for them to find good-paying jobs.

To make the United States stronger, we must rein in this President. We must repeal unilateral amnesty, and we must return to the rule of law. I call on my colleagues to support H.R. 240 and the Aderholt amendment and to pass the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. For far too long, President Obama has impeded construction of the Keystone XL pipeline--costing the American people thousands of good-paying jobs and blocking an affordable source of energy. In the face of his continued obstruction, I proudly joined a strong bipartisan group of my colleagues voting to put an end to Obama's obstruction and approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

This legislation is not only good for America, but it is also uniquely important to the 36th District of Texas. The pipeline will bring an economic boost to our area through its construction and new energy supply. For six years President Obama has put politics above what is good for the American people and our local and national economy. This is an important step in putting more Americans back to work, creating opportunity to good jobs and growing our national economy.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 10 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Personal Explanation