Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young man whose thoughtfulness and generosity has stirred the hearts, souls, and patriotic spirits of people across my district in Arkansas.

Earlier this year, 6-year-old Huck Plyler from Hope, Arkansas, started what is now known as Huck's Military Care Package Project. Huck's project is comprised of putting together care packages for nearly 700 members of the Arkansas National Guard currently deployed to the Horn of Africa.

Huck's care packages include items such as nonperishable snacks, lip balm, sunscreen, personal hygiene products, socks, and more.

When asked why he decided to start this project, Huck's answer was: ``We do this because they help us, so we help them.''

Though simple, this reply is wise beyond his years.

Huck's dedication to this project has enabled him to collect enough donated items and monetary donations to send over 50 boxes to our troops thus far.

Mr. Speaker, Huck's kindness and thoughtfulness brings honor to himself; his parents, Caleb and Brianna Plyler; and to the benevolent people of Hempstead County and Arkansas.

I commend and thank Huck for his hard work and commitment to our military members serving overseas. It is young men and women like Huck that give me hope for the future, hope that the giving and caring spirit is still alive and well in our young people and country today.

Mr. Speaker, I was delayed in returning to the floor. If present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Stated against:

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 218, the King Cove Road Land Exchange Act. I thank Congressman Don Young for his tireless work on this pressing issue.

Nineteen people: the cost of decades of inaction by the Federal Government, Mr. Chairman, is 19 American lives.

Expedient access to a hospital is something most Americans can, fortunately, take for granted. For many, emergency services are an ambulance ride away. Not for the citizens of King Cove, Alaska.

Adjacent to the Aleutian Islands, the 1,000 residents of King Cove, Alaska, are connected to hospitals in the region via a small runway and a ferry. Harsh winter storms ground planes and prevent safe sea travel, cutting off residents from hospitals and necessary supplies.

In truly dire emergencies, King Cove residents have but two choices. Number one is to pray a boat captain will brave enormous seas. Or wait until the Coast Guard can dispatch a medivac helicopter.

Mr. Chairman, allow me to read some of the stories of those who have braved the sea, or held out until help arrived.

Take, for example, Lonnie Brandell, who had to hoist his ailing father out of a fishing boat during a blizzard. After a perilous 3-hour journey to Cold Bay, the sea was so rough his boat could not dock. Brandell had to tie a rope around his father and allow him to be pulled to safety. To quote Brandell: ``It was not a good scenario at all. But if we had stayed here one more day, even 10 or 12 more hours, he would not have lived.''

Or take Etta Kuzakin, who went into labor early. Unable to safely leave King Cove during a storm, it took the Coast Guard 8 hours to arrive to rescue her. ``I was lucky,'' she says. ``The Coast Guard was in the area. That is really what it was. They were in the area.''

Mr. Chairman, this is shameful. Our citizens should not have to wait hours for a medivac, or brave treacherous seas while we sit here and debate this issue. No American should have to perish while we argue whether or not a refuge would be better off with 81 or 70 miles of gravel road.

I urge my colleagues to listen to the stories of Etta Kuzakin, Lonnie Brandell, and others. I urge my colleagues to think about the 19 Americans who perished for want of a gravel road.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly support H.R. 218.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show my support for the ``Made in America'' Week initiative. It is an initiative to highlight the contributions of American workers and job creators.

Made in America brings to mind a combination of the American spirit of innovation and perseverance that is required to turn raw materials into manufactured goods.

I am proud of the contributions that my home State of Arkansas makes to the American economy. In Arkansas, 13 percent of the State's workforce is employed in the manufacturing industry, which is the second highest percentage in the South and the third highest percentage in the Nation. Twenty-eight percent of those jobs in Arkansas are in the Fourth District.

In 2016, manufacturers contributed $2.2 trillion to the American economy. For every dollar spent in manufacturing, an additional $1.80 is added to another part of the economy.

With abundant resources, a strong infrastructure, and a second-to- none work ethic, Arkansas is working to train the next generation of technicians and visionaries so that manufacturing can expand, promoting better careers, stronger families, and thriving communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is an extreme honor to note the accomplishment of a hardworking Arkansas Fourth District family. Mark and Shay Morgan and their daughter, Kate, of Clarksville, were named last December as the 2016 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, and will compete this coming October among nine other State winners to be the 2017 Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

The Morgans' diverse farm is best known for its Peach Pickin' Paradise which consists of 3,500 peach and nectarine trees on 17 acres. I was fortunate to visit Peach Pickin' Paradise last fall and sample some of their produce. With peaches making up 60 percent of the farm's operation, it also consists of 600 acres of hay used for their 300 head of beef cattle.

Beyond their hard work on the family farm, the Morgans are a vital part of their local community, participating in a number of organizations that display the hard work ethic they live by.

Congratulations to Mark, Shay, and Kate Morgan as they have exhibited exemplary testimony to the American Dream and to the Fourth District of Arkansas.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of H.R. 1873, the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act, and I thank Mr. LaMalfa for his leadership on this issue.

I would also like to commend the nonpartisan support for this bill, and associate my remarks with the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Schrader).

This bill is a commonsense piece of legislation that will reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the safety and reliability of our electrical grid.

How will this bill accomplish these objectives?

It is really quite simple. When we remove overgrown vegetation near our electric grid on Federal lands, we remove the fuel component of wildfires. By reducing the risk of wildfire, we reduce the risk of an interruption of our electrical grid.

Mr. Chairman, this is so much just plain common sense that it baffles me that we are having to debate it on the floor of the House of Representatives, but I think it is an example of how misguided some of our land management agencies have become, and the need for broader reforms.

This bill would streamline the Federal review process for removal of trees and vegetation that pose a risk to our power grid and promotes consistency among Federal agencies tasked with the decisions on removal.

If we want to move toward better protection of our forests on Federal lands and the electrical grid that moves through these locations, it is obvious that we should pass H.R. 1873.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Karrington Evans, John Paul Post of Altus, Randall Parker Ross of Hot Springs, Katie Welch of Pearcy, Briston Yarbrough of Danville. These star students from the Fourth District of Arkansas will have the honor of attending the service academies this Fall.

Briston will attend the Air Force Academy; Parker will attend West Point; John Paul and Katie will attend the Naval Academy; and Karrington will attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School.

Arkansas has a history of academy alumni. These include General Douglas MacArthur--Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific during World War II, and Brigadier General William O. Darby, leader of what would later become the Army Rangers. Their example is one of courage and excellence under any circumstances. With this rich tradition before them and through their own accomplishments, there's no doubt these students will do their very best--bringing honor to themselves, their families, and their state.

I wish them well in their service careers and success in whatever they pursue.

Mr. Speaker, the world has changed much over the last 100 years. If you want to know just how much, ask Mr. Hubert Mills of Hot Springs, Arkansas. The year of Mr. Mills' birth was eventful--the U.S. faced uncertainty as President Woodrow Wilson prepared our nation for World War I, the Chicago White Sox won the world series, and the man who would become the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, was born.

In his 100 years of life, Mr. Mills saw America win two world wars and put a man on the moon. He has lived through the administrations of 18 presidents of the United States and experienced the American dream.

During 100 years, he has worked a variety of jobs from driving a sprinkler truck at the local race track at age 20 to working as a driver for Railway Express. But Mr. Mills made a name for himself building homes in the Hot Springs region, retiring at the age of 95, though he still does work for his many customers.

At 100-years-old, Mr. Mills is surrounded by many loved ones, including his three children, six grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. As Mr. Mills celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, June 9, 2017, I would like to wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lieutenant Deputy Kevin Mainhart. A Yell County Sheriff's deputy, Kevin was killed during a traffic stop on May 11, 2017.

Lieutenant Mainhart had served as a police officer for 20 years in West Memphis, Arkansas, before returning to Yell County 5 years ago to protect and serve his hometown. He lived a life of service that his wife, Pam, and two sons, Lucas and Cody, can be proud of.

While words will never be able to console the pain and grief his family, community, and the State of Arkansas feel, we can take solace in the words of Christ, who said: ``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''

Yell County has lost a true friend and a servant. I thank Lieutenant Mainhart for his service and sacrifice and send my most sincere condolences to his friends, family, and all those affected by this senseless act of violence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of former Congressman Jay Dickey, who represented the Fourth District of Arkansas for 8 years. In the days since Congressman Dickey's death last week at the age of 77, tributes have poured in, with many noting his sense of civic duty, his love of family, and, most of all, his faith in God.

If you spent much time with Jay, you likely reached a point in the conversation where he would pause and ask a pointed question: When you die, where will you spend eternity?

I remember Jay asking me that question, and when I quickly responded ``Heaven,'' he didn't let me off easy, as he followed up with: How do you know? After which, we had a long discussion sharing our common faith in Christ.

There are current Members of this House who served with Jay, the first Republican to represent Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District. Regardless of political party, he was a representative of all Arkansans, and he genuinely cared about people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members of the House to join me and the Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation in observing a moment of silence in remembrance of Congressman Jay Dickey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who has served the people of Arkansas' Fourth Congressional District with dedication during the last two and a half years. My legislative director, Jonathan Shuffield, has led my legislative team since I took office in January 2015, bringing with him an extensive knowledge of federal lands, forestry, and how to navigate the legislative process in the House.

Prior to serving the people of Arkansas, Jonathan worked as a legislative assistant for Congressman Steve Pearce of New Mexico beginning in January 2011 and the Congressional Western Caucus, where he served as executive director until December 2014.

While I am disappointed to lose a valuable member of my office's senior leadership, I know Jonathan will continue to make an impact on the important issues in the years ahead. I thank him for his work on behalf of the people of Arkansas and wish him well as he moves forward in his career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the outstanding achievements of four young men in my district. The Hermitage, Arkansas, FFA Forestry team not only placed first in Arkansas but also won the 37th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational and the National FFA Forestry Career Development Event.

The Hermitage FFA Forestry team was comprised of: Ethan Boykin, Hunter Saunders, Cade Wilkerson, and Connor Wilkerson, all of Hermitage, Arkansas. During the Forestry Invitational, teams competed for overall team and individual awards in events such as tree identification, insect and disease identification, forest evaluation, and a written forestry exam. The National FFA Forestry CDE tests students' skills and knowledge in forest management.

As a forester serving in the House of Representatives, I recognize the many hours that these young men dedicated to competing on a national level, and I admire them for their hard work.

Additionally, special recognition is due to Mr. Taylor Gwin, who coached the Arkansas Forestry team, the parents of the team members, and the Bradley County Extension Services. They all played a crucial role in making this victory possible.

Mr. Speaker, agriculture and forestry are the main economic engines in Arkansas, and there is little doubt, in my mind, that one day soon, talented and passionate young people, such as these, will be called upon to lead our State into the future.

Once again, I offer them my most sincere congratulations and wish them the best as they continue to pursue their passion for forestry.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening ceremonies of the Traveling Wall That Heals in Mena, Arkansas.

The Traveling Wall is a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington and brings the names of the fallen to cities across our great nation. According to Mena VFW Post 4451 Commander Linda Johnson, ``Bringing the Wall to communities across the country spreads its healing legacy to millions.''

I want to thank Commander Johnson, members of VFW Post 4451, and the citizens of Mena for their leadership in bringing this important piece of history to the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas. May the lives of those killed during the Vietnam War never be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 69, a bill to use the Congressional Review Act to repeal a rule issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service to restrict hunting within national wildlife refuges in Alaska.

I would like to commend Congressman Young for his leadership on crafting this legislation and for defending his constituents' right to manage the wildlife in their home State.

Mr. Speaker, the assertion that the repeal of this rule would allow unethical management and hunting practices is utterly false. Alaskans have hunted and managed their land for generations, and this overreach by the Fish and Wildlife Service simply impedes their ability to do just that.

Allow me to read from the 2016-2017 Alaska Trapping Regulations, one of many sound management documents usurped by this bureaucratic overreach:

``Wolves and bears are very effective and efficient predators of caribou, moose, deer, and other wildlife. In most of Alaska, humans also rely on the same species for food. In Alaska's Interior, predators kill more than 80 percent of the moose and caribou that die during an average year, while humans kill less than 10 percent. In most of the state, predation holds prey populations at levels far below what could be supported by the habitat in the area. Predation is an important part of the ecosystem, and all . . . wolf management programs, including control programs, are designed to sustain wolf populations in the future.''

Additionally, the regulations go on to say:

``You may not: disturb or destroy beaver houses or any furbearer den.'' Such as wolves, coyote, or mink.

Mr. Speaker, the claim that this bill will allow Alaskans to hunt wolves in their dens is simply false rhetoric, designed to mislead the public, while bureaucrats take away the rights of Alaskans. The people of Alaska rely on these lands to provide for their families, and this Fish and Wildlife rule attempts to insert Washington bureaucrats into that process.

Mr. Speaker, I cringe to think about U.S. Fish and Wildlife usurping established law. I cringe to think about U.S. Fish and Wildlife legislating themselves more power through the rulemaking process. I cringe to think about U.S. Fish and Wildlife expanding the regulations in Alaska, and I sure as heck don't want them expanding them in Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, this is a slippery slope, and I urge my colleagues to rescind this overreach and support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a milestone for Little River County, Arkansas. On March 5, the county will celebrate its 150th birthday.

According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Little River County came into existence following an act of the Arkansas General Assembly, officially separating from Hempstead and Sevier Counties in 1867.

During its century and a half, the citizens of Little River County have shown resilience and innovation as they weathered the Great Depression, sent its men to fight in World War II, and grew the local economy in the years since. In recent years, Little River County has withstood severe flooding, but they have come back strong and resilient.

Little River County is blessed with natural resources, including forestry, agriculture, and minerals that all provide the inputs for manufacturing jobs that play a big role in the local economy, and will continue to do so in Little River's next 150 years.

I am proud to call Little River County part of the Fourth Congressional District, and I congratulate its citizens on 150 years of progress.