Floor Statements

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my amendment to H.R. 2740. My amendment would increase the funding for neonatal abstinence syndrome research by $2 million at the Centers for Disease Control to ensure adequate funding for this terrible condition.

The opioid epidemic plaguing our Nation is heartbreaking, and especially in my home State of West Virginia. Too many members of our communities know of its devastating effects far too well. Whether it be a family member, a friend, the person in line behind you at the grocery store, or even someone praying beside you in church, we all have seen the pain that it causes.

Sadly, many of our youngest citizens are suffering from the second- generation impacts of this crisis as well. West Virginia has one of the highest rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is the withdrawal symptoms experienced by infants who are exposed to opioids and other addictive drugs while inside the womb. For every 1,000 babies born in my State, 50 enter this world exposed to drugs.

In my hometown of Huntington, we are blessed to have facilities that are dedicated to caring for babies suffering from NAS, like the neonatal therapeutic unit at the Hoops Family Children's Hospital and Lily's Place, where First Lady Melania Trump made a very special visit last year.

I visited the hospital to see these beautiful, innocent babies who are battling insurmountable odds. My heart aches as they cry in pain, shivering and shaking. I see the care in the eyes of the doctors and the nurses who tend to them 24 hours a day, and I can feel the love from the volunteers who cuddle these tiny children and soothe them through the worst moments of their early lives.

There is still so much more to do. My colleagues, I stand before you to tell you that, today, we can do more. I ask you all to support my amendment to double the funding of NAS research and to improve the lives of our most precious and struggling citizens.

This is so very important to our little tiny babies who are exposed to the terrible epidemic that we have going on across our country, and I urge Members, please adopt my amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Judge Booker T. Stephens, as he retires from serving 34 years on the bench in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, McDowell County, West Virginia.

Judge Stephens was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, and raised in McDowell County, West Virginia. He graduated from Excelsior High School in War, West Virginia. In 1966, Judge Stephens obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Spanish from West Virginia State College (University). He served proudly in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. Upon completion of his tour of duty in the U.S. Army, Judge Stephens obtained his law degree from Howard University's School of Law in Washington, DC. He returned back to Welch, WV to practice law from 1972 to 1984.

Booker T. Stephens has served as a Judge in the Eight Judicial Circuit of McDowell County, West Virginia, ascending to the bench in 1985. He was elected to the Eighth Judicial Circuit and re-elected in 1992, 2000, 2008, and 2016. Judge Stephens is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. He serves as a member of the prestigious Supreme Court of Appeals Mass Litigation Panel and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Trial Court Judges with the American Bar Association. Judge Stephens has been appointed numerous times to sit as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia when a Justice has been recused from a case. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Minorities in the Judiciary of the American Bar Association; a member of the Supreme Court's Task Force to Study Perceived Racial Disparity in the Juvenile Justice System in West Virginia; and a former Adjunct Professor at West Virginia University's College of Law and Bluefield State College. Judge Stephens has served as an assistant prosecutor and a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Judge Stephens has received many honors during his years on the bench. He was named Outstanding Judge of the Year in 1993 and 2016 by the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He has been a recipient of the Governor's Living The Dream Award by the Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday Commission; The Fred H. Caplan Civil Justice Award by the West Virginia Association of Justice; Sara Lee Neal Community Award of the Year for Health, Science and Technology Academy; inducted into the West Virginia All Black Schools Sports and Academic Hall of Fame; presented the American Bar Association's Law Day Liberty Bell Award by Chief Justice Brent Benjamin; presented Judge of the Year Award by the West Virginia Association of Justice; presented the Achievement Award by the Mountain State Bar Association in 1985; a Fellow with the West Virginia Bar Foundation; honorary inductee to the West Virginia State University ROTC Hall of Fame; West Virginia Judicial Association Representative to the American Bar; selected by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph to be featured in the 2005 ``Pride'' Edition of Heroes and Legends; Layman of the Year recognition from the West Virginia Baptist State Layman's Auxiliary; Presidential Citation, National Association for Equal Opportunity in High Education; Diploma of Judicial Skills, American Academy of Judicial Education; Certificates of Achievement, The National Judicial College; Achievement Award, Mountain State Bar Association; Earl Warren Fellow, NAACP LDF; co-sponsored and Floor Leader of the Bill that created a West Virginia Holiday in recognition of Dr. Martin L. King's birthday. He is a member of the Board of West Virginia State University Foundation and a member of the Multi-Cultural Affairs Advisory Committee at Bluefield State College. Judge Stephens is a highly sought out speaker and lecturer. In 1996, Judge Stephens delivered a memorable and stirring commencement address during the commencement exercises of West Virginia State University.

Judge Stephens has presided over several noteworthy cases in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, which include H. Harvey Oakley, C.W. Ferguson, III and Elsa Louise Kingdon, as a widow and Executrix of the estate of Arthur R. Kingdon v. Glen B. Gainer, A. James Manchin, and Martha Merritt, No. 16584, May 31, 1985. Authored the Majority Opinion alone with Justice Chafin; Sam R. Harshbarger v. The Honorable Glen B. Gainer, State Auditor, November 23, 1988; TXO v. Alliance resources, 419 S.E. 2d 8870,1992 (Affirmed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals 5-0 and United States Supreme Court 6-3).

One of the many things Judge Stephens is proud of is the implementation of Law Day in McDowell County, an annual event that coincides with the American Bar Association's Law Day. In its 23rd year in McDowell County, Law Day provides an opportunity for students to learn how the judicial system works and stimulate an early desire to pursue a rewarding career in law. Judge Stephens often states, ``I know of no greater profession than being a lawyer.''

Judge Stephens along with his wife, Attorney Gloria Stephens believe in giving back to their community and have established an endowment scholarship fund at West Virginia State University. In recognition of this endowment, West Virginia State University's bookstore was named the Judge Booker T. and Attorney Gloria Stephens bookstore.

Outside of his legal work, Judge Stephens is a Life Member of the NAACP; a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. He is a 32nd Degree Mason and affiliated with the MWPHGL Jurisdiction of WV, Inc. F & A M; PM Excelsior Lodge No. 22; PM Kimball Lodge No. 13; and PG Trustee. Judge Stephens has taught bible study at Mt. Chapel Baptist Church, Golden Harvest Nursing Home, and Elkhorn Towers. He serves faithfully at his church, Heart of God Ministries, in Beckley, West Virginia.

Judge Stephens is married to Attorney Gloria M. Davis Stephens. They have two children, Attorney Ciara M. Stephens, of Los Angeles, California and Booker T. Stephens, II of Welch, West Virginia and a new grandson, Sebastian.

Over the course of Judge Stephens' successful law career, he has lived and practiced by the scripture in Luke 12:48 of the Bible, ``From everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required . . .'' Judge Booker T. Stephens has given much to his state and community in West Virginia.

As Congresswoman for the Third Congressional District of the State of West Virginia, it is my distinct honor to rise today to recognize the outstanding contributions, distinguished career in law and community service of Judge Booker T. Stephens in the State of West Virginia, as he retires on May 31, 2019, from serving 34 years on the bench.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize two of my constituents, Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustoe, who each earned the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe award.

The West Virginia Department of Education describes the Golden Horseshoe award as being ``unique in its statewide recognition of scholastic achievement.'' The award is given annually to two hundred and twenty-one 8th grade students who have outscored their classmates on a West Virginia history exam and essay about West Virginia current events. A minimum of two students from each county and one student from the West Virginia schools for the Deaf and Blind are selected for the award. In a ceremony during Golden Horseshoe Day, the state superintendent of schools uses an antique sword to dub each kneeling student either a lady or knight of the Golden Horseshoe Society. This is arguably one of the greatest awards of that school year for 8th- grade students.

Soon to be knighted is Isaac Pyle of Webster Springs. Isaac is the son of Jeremy Pyle and Dr. Allison Pyle. An exceptional student, Isaac is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School. As the winner of his school competition, he has qualified four times for the state Math Field Day and has qualified for the state spelling bee. Isaac proudly maintains a 4.0 GPA and is enrolled in advanced courses.

Emma Mustoe of Webster Springs will also join the rolls as a Lady of the Golden Horseshoe Society. The daughter of Tobby and Janna Mustoe, Emma is a talented writer and performer. She is a winner of the Webster County Young Writers Competition. She is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School and a winner in the Webster County Regional Literature Fair. Emma is also a member of the award-winning Webster County High School Showband.

As Congresswoman for the Third Congressional District of the State of West Virginia, it is my distinct honor to rise today to recognize the dedication and achievement that Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustoe have put forward in winning the Golden Horseshoe award, I congratulate them on being model students and exemplary West Virginians.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in opposition to H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act.

I represent West Virginia, an energy State. Our natural resources power the Nation, and our coal produces the steel that is the backbone of our country's infrastructure. The bill my colleagues across the aisle have introduced today is a direct threat to the economy of my State and to the security of our Nation.

When President Obama entered into the Paris Agreement in 2016, he made a shortsighted, hasty decision which passed egregious costs on to American consumers and sent $1 billion in taxpayer funds to subsidize other nations' energy agendas without congressional authorization-- while never offering a clear plan for our country to meet the commitments made, aside from the overall goal of killing energy production in the U.S.

This is an attempt to further the war on coal which decimated my State, killing jobs, destroying businesses, and exacerbating the opioid epidemic. We face a bleakness which we are starting to recover from, yet, now, Washington liberals are restarting the charge.

We have seen unrealistic proposals like the Green New Deal put forward which would not only bankrupt our country, but also kill our energy industry once and for all. I will not stand here and let that happen.

When President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2017, he showed leadership. He showed the world that he was willing to resist diplomatic pressure in order to protect American interests and ensure energy competitiveness.

Those who support this legislation aren't telling the whole story on America's energy production. The Paris Agreement, since its creation, has not accounted for the United States' abundance of natural resources and the hundreds of thousands of Americans employed by the energy industry.

Additionally, the Paris Agreement ignores that America produces affordable, reliable energy, including coal, oil, and natural gas, and it also ignores the importance that energy has to the United States' economy and national security.

In the past 5 years, there has been a 110 percent increase in coal exports, and we still have 259 billion tons of coal reserves, the largest in the world.

Since 2008, the U.S. has increased crude oil production by 48 percent and natural gas production by 53 percent; and looking forward, the increased access to undeveloped energy production could create as many as 690,000 jobs by 2030.

Energy has been our past, and energy is our future. It is important the United States is already leading the world in reducing greenhouse emissions through innovation and technological development. If my colleagues across the aisle were interested in working with Republicans to address climate change, then they would not ignore the fact that the United States has already had the largest absolute decline of carbon emissions among all the countries since the year 2000.

We did not need an international agreement to do it. Forcing America to reenter the Paris Agreement is not the answer for climate concerns. It is restarting a tried-and-failed approach which only leads to less jobs, a weaker economy, and a less safe America.

The answer to the climate debate is not a $93 trillion socialist restructuring of our country. It is innovation, and it is supporting new technology like taking rare-earth minerals and distilled water from previously used coal ash. It is supporting carbon capture moving forward. It is recognizing that, in the dead of winter when the renewable energy grids fall short, we can rely on coal to get us through the next polar vortex.

America cannot afford to reenter the Paris Agreement. We cannot afford to lose jobs. We cannot afford to lose security. We cannot afford the security risks. We cannot afford to weaken our economy. And we cannot afford to say ``no'' to innovation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize two of my constituents, Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustowe, who each earned the West Virginia Golden Horseshoe award.

The West Virginia Department of Education describes the Golden Horseshoe award as being ``unique in its statewide recognition of scholastic achievement.'' The award is given annually to two hundred and twenty-one 8th grade students who have outscored their classmates on a West Virginia history exam and essay about West Virginia current events. A minimum of two students from each county and one student from the West Virginia schools for the Deaf and Blind are selected for the award. In a ceremony during Golden Horseshoe Day, the state superintendent of schools uses an antique sword to dub each kneeling student either a lady or knight of the Golden Horseshoe Society. This is arguably one of the greatest awards of that school year for 8th- grade students.

Soon to be knighted is Isaac Pyle of Webster Springs. Isaac is the son of Jeremy Pyle and Dr. Allison Pyle. An exceptional student, Isaac is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School. As the winner of his school competition, he has qualified four times for the state Math Field Day and has qualified for the state spelling bee. Isaac proudly maintains a 4.0 GPA and is enrolled in advanced courses.

Emma Mustowe of Webster Springs will also join the rolls as a Lady of the Golden Horseshoe Society. The daughter of Tobby and Janna Mustowe, Emma is a talented writer and performer. She is a winner of the Webster County Young Writers Competition. She is a captain of the West Virginia History Bowl Team for Webster County High School and a winner in the Webster County Regional Literature Fair. Emma is also a member of the award-winning Webster County High School Showband.

As Congresswoman for the Third Congressional District of the State of West Virginia, it is my distinct honor to rise today to recognize the dedication and achievement that Isaac Pyle and Emma Mustowe have put forward in winning the Golden Horseshoe award. I congratulate them on being model students and exemplary West Virginians.

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to speak against the rule for H.R. 1585. Domestic violence is a major problem in our communities and throughout our country. I am in complete support of providing all the resources needed to the victims of abuse and for the law enforcement that protects these vulnerable women.

What could have been an opportunity to work together as a unified House of Representatives and to provide a great bill that we can all be proud of, our colleagues across the aisle dismissed our input on during the legislative process, silenced our voices, and put forth a bill which strikes the unique balance of overreaching where it is unnecessary and underperforming where resources are needed the most.

I don't dispute that my Democrat colleagues are well-intentioned with their legislation, but they missed the mark. In this bill, they diluted important funds meant to help the victims, handcuffed our law enforcement, and reduced their effectiveness. Additionally, they have taken a bipartisan issue and used it to weaken the Second Amendment, reduce religious freedoms, and even possibly cause further harm to victims.

As a woman, a wife, and a mother, as well as a grandmother, who represents a State where one in three women are victims of domestic violence, I say with assurance that my Republican colleagues are committed to reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act in a way that preserves and strengthens the law, provides the needed support for victims of domestic abuse, and strengthens our judicial system. We want to work together on this issue which affects so many people around the country. We can put forth a good bill together.

I have often said that good governance is finding the issues that we can all agree upon, Republicans and Democrats alike, and put aside our differences to come together, solve the problem, and make this country better.

So, put aside our differences to come together, solve the problem, and make this country better than before we got here. This could have been that chance. We can do better.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against the rule and vote against the underlying bill.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak against H.R. 1585. I stand before you as a woman, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I represent a State where one in three women experience domestic violence. This is a scourge on our society and must stop.

The Violence Against Women Act should have one clear goal, to protect women from domestic abuse. Any solution put forward must provide law enforcement and the justice system with the tools to do this to the best of their ability, and to keep this objective free from partisan manipulation, dilution of resources, or political games. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that.

My Republican colleagues, under the leadership of Ranking Member Collins and Mrs. Lesko, who has been a recipient of domestic violence, have sought to come together with our friends across the aisle to find a bipartisan solution to help women, to no avail.

Now is not the time to play politics. This is an issue where we can and should find common ground. It is not the time to hold the safety of women as a bargaining chip against infringements on religious liberty or weakening of the Second Amendment. We can and must do better.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation and come together to pass a bill that protects women, instead of trying to use it as a political pawn.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 540, which names a post office located in Fairport, New York, in honor of Louise and Bob Slaughter.

Louise Slaughter was a Member of the House body for over 30 years. From 1987 until she passed away last year, Representative Slaughter was a tireless advocate for the people of her upstate New York district.

In addition to her numerous legislative accomplishments, Representative Slaughter made a mark on this body as the first woman to chair the House Committee on Rules.

Representative Slaughter was an intellectual and a beloved Member of the House. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the gentleman's comments, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 829 introduced by Representative Lee Zeldin. The bill names a post office located in Mastic, New York, in honor of Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth.

Specialist Wilwerth joined the United States Army while he was still in high school. He felt called to defend our Nation after the terrorist attacks on September 11. After graduating high school, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In December 2005, Specialist Wilwerth was deployed to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On February 22, 2006, Specialist Wilwerth and two others in his unit were killed by an improvised explosive device.

Specialist Thomas Wilwerth was 21 years old when he gave his life in service to his Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin)

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill that makes a technical change to correct the address of a post office named last Congress.

The post office is named after Captain Humayun Khan, who sacrificed his life in service of our country.

Captain Khan served in the Army Reserves while he studied at the University of Virginia and was commissioned as an officer after he graduated in 2000. In 2004, he was deployed to Iraq, and he was killed on June 8, 2004.

This bill corrects the address, to ensure that the correct facility is named in Captain Khan's honor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise today to speak in opposition to H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act. I am a mother and a grandmother. I have raised two boys and one husband. I have owned businesses, managed employees, made payroll, served in the State legislature, and herded buffalo. I don't need any more men trying to tell me that they need to protect me from being paid less. I am perfectly capable of negotiating a fair wage for a fair day's work and choosing exactly what is important to me when making my own decisions.

The bill proposed by my colleagues across the aisle tells young women entering the workforce that they are unable to negotiate for their own jobs or take control of their own life and that they need to be coddled by the government in order to succeed. What arrogance.

We are not some delicate and helpless group that needs men to tell us just how bad we have it and just how much they need to make sure that we are looked after. I can take care of myself, thank you, and so can every single woman in this country. This bill is nothing more than a trial lawyer's dream and a job creator's nightmare.

The Equal Pay Act already makes it illegal to pay unequal wages for equal work. The men can go try to find somebody else who needs their help. In the meantime, I am going to focus on actually helping women earn more by creating good-paying jobs, by growing our economy, and by building a system that allows for flexible work schedules and nurtures entrepreneurship.

We can't legislate respect any more than we can legislate common sense. Women know real respect is earned. We don't need the men's help, and we don't need the government's help. We just need them both to get out of our way.

I wholly oppose this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, if this unanimous consent request cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and

the majority leader to immediately schedule this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we must secure our border. We are in the midst of a national security and humanitarian crisis on our southern border which must be addressed.

Earlier this month, Congress secured important and necessary funding to protect over 55 miles of our most dangerous border where it has been so desperately needed. We have also provided funding for over 600 new border officers.

This was a good step in the right direction, but as we see again today, our colleagues from across the aisle remain unwilling to address our intensifying border crisis. With the national emergency declaration, President Trump is taking the steps our country needs to stay safe and secure.

Yes, this is an emergency. Cartels, human traffickers, and drug smugglers take advantage of our weak border for their own gain, and it must be stopped.

We need to stop traffickers from bringing young girls and women into our country where they are sold into prostitution and slavery. As a mother and a grandmother, this breaks my heart.

We need to stop violent gangs like MS-13 from entering our cities and bringing their violence and evil onto our streets.

Mr. Speaker, we need to stop violent gangs like MS-13 from entering our cities and bringing their violence and evil onto our streets. We need to stop the drug smugglers from devastating our communities and flooding our towns with opioids, like heroin and fentanyl.

My home State of West Virginia has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and especially from illegal drugs smuggled across the border. Just several weeks ago, Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to kill every person in West Virginia 32 times over. Imagine how much more is still slipping through the unsecured areas.

Our country cannot afford inaction any longer. We need to build this wall.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand for life.

I am a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I have felt life quicken in my womb. I know the blessing of children, all of whom are created in God's image. And that is why I am so saddened by the pro-abortion discussions taking place around the country and in places like New York, Virginia, and others, where State legislatures are debating and legalizing abortion all the way up to birth and, in some cases, after a child is born.

I am sickened that laws are being written which allow for a baby who survives an abortion attempt to no longer receive support and care once they are born. This is infanticide. There is no other way to say it. This is an affront to life.

We must demand more from our country and our citizens. We must ensure protections for the youngest and most innocent of our citizens, both inside and outside the womb. We must take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. We must take care of our children. We must take care of and respect and cherish life.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Hershel ``Woody'' Williams for his service and commitment to the ideals that make our Nation great.

Woody was stationed in the Pacific theater during World War II. A young marine, he fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal and in Guam, before landing in Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945.

On the day the flag was raised, Woody's unit was surrounded. Under a barrage of enemy fire, Woody charged ahead, flamethrower in hand, attacking the enemy and opening a gap in their defenses that enabled his fellow marines to forge on. We won.

For his display of heroism, President Truman awarded Williams the Medal of Honor. As part of his ongoing legacy, the U.S. Navy christened the USNS Hershel ``Woody'' Williams in 2017, and the VA named their Huntington medical facility in his honor. He also flipped the coin at the 2018 Super Bowl. What a guy.

A lifelong West Virginian who resides in Ona, Woody continues to advocate for Gold Star families throughout the country. I am proud to call Woody a friend, and I thank him for his service.