Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of amendment No. 2 to the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017, offered by my friend, Representative Babin of Texas.

My colleague's amendment, of which I am a cosponsor, is a commonsense addition to this important piece of legislation, which will allow the government to take more reasonable steps to mitigate the damages of flooding and hurricanes.

Mr. Chairman, I participated in rescue operations in Texas in the immediate wake of Hurricane Harvey. The last rescue I personally responded to was early on Friday, around 1 or 2 in the morning, less than 2 days after Harvey's landfall.

The elderly gentleman we rescued told me something I will never forget. With tears in his eyes, he said: Sir, I have lived in my home since 1968 and it never flooded. In 50 years, I have seen this much water fall, but I have never seen this much water rise.

Mr. Chairman, no one in this body batted an eye when we approved hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency appropriations relief to the victims of this year's hurricane season. It is time we as the people's House move past the reactionary era of addressing the need to repeal and rebuild after natural disasters and start focusing on proactive solutions to mitigate potential damage before natural disasters.

A proactive spirit should be fully implemented in our regulations and how we invest in infrastructure. If we had invested, over the last few decades, just a small percentage of the people's treasure that we have granted postdisaster as emergency relief appropriations into premitigation efforts, such as the cleaning and maintenance of our existing water management systems, both natural and man-made, much of the resulting damage would not have occurred and many fewer American families would have suffered.

Representative Babin's amendment will allow a procedural tool for the FERC to review licenses for any project located in a region declared by the President to be a disaster area, which will allow us to better and more strategically manage our dams, floodgates, and reservoirs when we know storms like Hurricane Harvey are imminent.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Congressman Babin for introducing this amendment, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense solution, as well as the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, the image beside me is of a young lady named Halle Thompson, who was tragically killed in a car crash in my district. I penned this letter to her parents:

``Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thompson,

``Ryan, Janna, my own heart is rended as I pen this letter of encouragement and condolence.

``Your beautiful daughter Halle is, no doubt, in the presence of our beloved lady and our loving, forgiving Savior. You are each, no doubt, surrounded by the angels of Christ, as you endeavor each day to endure the grief of your loss, even as you present a strong and determined front to honor the life and spirit of your daughter.

``I have personal insight relative to your pain, having lost my own firstborn, my beautiful Daniela, long ago on the 10th day of November 1990.

``I wish to compassionately convey it has come onto my heart that your Halle is present at this moment with my own Daniela, looking upon you both with adoration as you prayerfully honor and respect our Lord's mysterious will.

``Please know that my prayers are with you and that my own quiet service to America and our fellow man is dedicated this day to the beautiful Halle, angelic now, as she lives amongst the Heavenly Host.

``Respectfully, I remain, your humble servant.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise unscripted to bring to the attention of the entire Nation the plight of the good citizens of Louisiana who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey last month. Beside me at this graph shows the rainfall, the water event of Hurricane Harvey as it impacted Texas and Louisiana.

As anyone can see, it was a tremendous water event, unprecedented rainfall, that overwhelmed any water management system. And, as anyone can see, the parishes of southwest Louisiana were impacted, as well as many counties in Texas, yet, as we discuss disaster relief, Louisiana is absent from our conversation. I point out, to all who would choose to witness, the State line of Louisiana, as defined by the Sabine River, and the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Harvey did not recognize the artificial State boundaries that we have created as a Republic, nor should we as we provide disaster relief for our citizens. Just after Hurricane Harvey had impacted Texas and Louisiana, my office drafted a letter to the executive branch to a President that I admire and respect, advising him of the impact, and begging his expedited approval of the disaster status once the formal request had been submitted by our Governor.

Sometime later, just 2 weeks ago, that formal request was submitted by the Governor of our State. Just after that submission, my office drafted and submitted a second letter requesting expedited approval of disaster status for these citizens of Louisiana, who were clearly just as impacted by this storm as many citizens in Texas.

Tomorrow, we shall send a third letter, this time signed by the entire Louisiana delegation. I ask that the Nation recognize the plight of the people I represent. The good and patriotic citizens of southwest Louisiana are suffering.

I respect and admire my President, I support him, I have supported him since day one, and I support him still. But it is important that we, as representatives of we the people, communicate clearly our intent and our service.

I beg that the leaders of the executive branch level would witness this clear evidence of the need for disaster declaration of the parishes of southwest Louisiana. And I beg that this message is received with the spirit with which it is delivered, which is respectful, yet in determined service of the citizens whom I have sworn to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding these precious moments to me.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me.

On October 1 of this year, less than one week ago, my brother of the thin blue line, Corporal Michael Paul Middlebrook, a nine-year veteran of the Lafayette Police Department, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a ``shots fired'' call at a local convenience store.

Corporal Middlebrook is survived by his wife, three daughters, and his parents. During his tenure at the Lafayette Police Department, Corporal Middlebrook accumulated seven letters of commendation for acts of bravery and outstanding police work.

Michael understood that his job as a cop began with an oath. And that oath was not to a chief or a sheriff or a marshal. It was an oath of allegiance to the constitutional principles that his badge represents. Corporal Michael Middlebrook recognized unwaveringly the civil constitutional rights of the citizens he had sworn to protect and defend and serve.

In March of this year, Michael was awarded the highly prestigious Heart of Law Enforcement Award by the national nonprofit group Beyond the Badge. During the ceremony, Corporal Middlebrook was recognized by Louisiana's Governor and was presented a commemorative State flag. This award was given to recognize Corporal Middlebrook's ongoing contributions to the low-income community that he patrolled.

Michael regularly took donated food items from local convenience stores and distributed the food to the homeless and less fortunate. Michael also collected clothing on his off time and delivered the clothing to poor souls he encountered during his shift deep in the night while the world slept.

In the last 6 months alone, Corporal Michael Middlebrook was recognized for having saved a person's life by placing himself between the victim and the knife-wielding suspect, and for single-handedly apprehending an armed robbery suspect seconds after the 911 call was placed.

Corporal Middlebrook's chief, my friend and brother, Chief Toby Aguillard, provided this quote: ``For many in our community, Corporal Middlebrook was a spearhead that brought them to justice. For many others, Corporal Middlebrook was a cradle of compassion. He was an officer's officer, loved and respected by his peers. The void he leaves in our department, in our community, in our hearts will be felt for generations. He will never be forgotten.''

That quote was from Michael's chief.

Brother Michael, you have earned your rest. Your watch has ended. We have got it from here. The thin blue line will never forget your service. We shall always honor your memory, and we shall watch over your family.

May our Saviour bless your ascension, and may He hold your loved ones close to His own heart.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me.

How Did We Get Here?

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act. This much- needed legislation will drastically increase access to healthcare and support services for our veterans.

Most importantly, this bill will help ensure continued access to proven programs to address veterans' homelessness, healthcare, and benefits. It also includes provisions to assist veteran caregivers, husbands, wives, parents, and children of veterans who righteously dedicate themselves to the care of their loved ones.

Veterans and their families have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and we must uphold our promises to them. For too long, Congress has ignored the needs of today's veteran population. It is past time we focus on supporting our veterans, no matter when they served. The Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act addresses the priorities of today's population and ensures that the money follows the veterans.

As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and a cosponsor of several of the stand-alone bills included in this package, I am proud to see the committee and the House of Representatives come together on behalf of these patriotic Americans who risked their lives for our safety.

Mr. Speaker, due to a delayed flight I was unable to return to D.C. in time for the first round of voting. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 441 (H. Res. 502).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Fitzpatrick's amendment, which would restore necessary funds to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, to ensure that DHS is being run in the most accountable and cost-efficient way possible.

I am in full support of the increases we have made to both Defense and Homeland Security spending. However, it is imperative that the programs administered by these agencies be operated in a transparent manner that ensures the responsible expenditure of the people's treasure.

In its most recent semiannual report, OIG reported that it recovered $77.8 million from its audits and investigations and identified $32 million in questionable cost. OIG investigations during this time also resulted in 86 arrests, 128 indictments, 55 convictions, and 19 personnel actions. This is a needed amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to support it and vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.

I recognize my friend, Representative Jodey Arrington, as exactly the type of American that our Founding Fathers envisioned serving within the House of we the people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to highlight the importance of American agriculture and the spirit of the American farmer. Being raised on a horse ranch, I learned at an early age the value of work and that rural America wasn't just a place, but a way of life.

Now my wife and I live in a 1,000-square-foot, 65-year-old, wood- frame home in the middle of farm country in south Louisiana. We have nine pecan trees, two magnolia trees, and two bushes with flowers on them. I am not sure what they are, but I know she knows. She enjoys them. They bloom once a year.

Other than that, it is just an honor to represent my district, which is deeply agriculturally centered: farmers, ranchers, fishermen, oil and gas workers, petrochemical workers. They are salt-of-the-earth folks who know what it is to earn a living. They understand sweat. They understand labor. In representing my district in Louisiana, these are the industries that stand up our rural communities. They are the backbone of our economy.

My district is home to the heart of sugarcane for the entire country. Cane farmers in south Louisiana account for about 20 percent of all sugar production in the United States.

My district is also home to the rice capital of America. Crowley, Louisiana, right in the heart of Cajun country, is home to more rice mills than anywhere else in our Nation.

Those two crops, alone, account for billions of dollars in economic output every year and employ tens of thousands of hardworking Americans.

Given a level playing field and opportunities to compete on a global scale, American farmers will always win.

That is why we are working to put American farmers first to open new

markets, expand American exports, and create jobs in our communities. We are rolling back regulations that slow growth, stifle innovation, and restrict the agricultural industry's access to the resources and manpower it needs to thrive.

We have made great strides this year to help our farmers, and we will continue to do so. Just last week, a groundbreaking rice export agreement with China, the world's largest rice consumer, was announced. This opens a massive new market to United States rice farmers.

These are the type of landmark policy victories that elevate American farmers and bring economic growth to our rural communities. I am committed to an America First agriculture policy where American farmers compete and win. Agriculture is a critical industry that bolsters economic growth and ensures American independence and national security.

In my home State, we understand that our economy is run on the sweat of hardworking American patriots.

As Congress moves forward, I will continue to work tirelessly with my colleagues on behalf of our farmers and producers to provide Louisiana's agricultural industry with critically needed support. I am proud to represent a district so strongly rooted in the spirit of rural America, and I am honored to stand with my colleagues today in loud and vocal support for the Americans who we serve in rural America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of passage of H.R. 2825, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017, of which I am honored to be an original cosponsor.

The threats facing American families are real and rapidly evolving. Since the original authorization 15 years ago, DHS has never been reauthorized, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of congressional oversight.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul and his staff for their work on making the reauthorization package a reality. National security is an issue that affects every man, woman, child, Republican, and Democrat in our Nation. This bill will go a long way to ensuring that DHS remains mission ready to continue protecting our homeland.

This legislation accomplishes several key things:

It creates efficiencies that protect the people's treasure and holds programs accountable;

It offers congressional guidance for agencies within DHS such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to bolster our Nation's response to illegal immigration; and

Supports the boots-on-the-ground and frontline defenders with much- needed resources.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2131) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department of Homeland Security to improve consistency regarding discipline and adverse actions in the Department's workforce, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my bill, H.R. 2131, the Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct Act, or the Department of Homeland Security FIRM Act, for short.

Mr. Speaker, employee misconduct and unethical behavior at any Federal agency can disrupt the daily operations of our government; however, these activities can have greater national security implications at Federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security due to its intrinsic mission. Incidents of employee misconduct within DHS do not only hinder the public's confidence in the Department, but also jeopardize the day-to-day working environment for Department of Homeland Security employees.

Since its inception, DHS has faced significant obstacles consolidating 22 preexisting component agencies, including instilling common, across-the-board policies. Time and again, the DHS Office of Inspector General has criticized the Department's lack of consistent policies.

Until recently, the Department was operating without an across-the- board overarching misconduct policy, and headquarters and a major component were operating without the assistance of a Table of Offenses and Penalties.

Issued in November 2016, the Department's discipline and adverse actions program directive put in place a Departmentwide policy to provide guidance in the adjudication and management of disciplinary matters.

My bill, H.R. 2131, will strengthen and support this policy by granting greater oversight to the Chief Human Capital Officer of the Department, allowing the CHCO to identify trends and causes of persistent employee misconduct and to establish working groups to address such misconduct.

H.R. 2131 promotes greater consistency in the use of discipline and adverse actions and improves collaboration between the CHCO components and human resources officials regarding the improvement of employee conduct at the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill to help ensure any misconduct and unethical behavior at DHS is properly dealt with.

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

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform,

Washington, DC, June 21, 2017.

Hon. Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning the

jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform in matters being considered in H.R. 2131,

the DHS Fixing Internal Response to Misconduct (FIRM) Act.

Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 2131 and

the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.

Therefore, while we have identified matters of jurisdictional

interest to the Oversight Committee in the bill, I do not

intend to request a sequential referral. This, of course, is

conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this

legislation or my decision to forego a sequential referral

waives, reduces or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is

currently investigating disciplinary processes and

procedures, including disparate tables of penalties, across

the federal government. Any government-wide table of

penalties created by legislation stemming from the Oversight

Committee shall supersede the tables established under this

legislation. I look forward to working with you to ensure a

uniform, consistent, and effective disciplinary process for

federal employees across the civil service.

The Oversight Committee has historically been a strong

defender of the Inspector General community. It is our

understanding that nothing in this legislation creates a

negative inference related to the authority of other

Inspectors General under the Inspector General Act of 1978 at

other departments and agencies within the federal government.

I appreciate your willingness to work together to ensure that

all Inspectors General are given the authority needed to

accomplish their important mission.

I ask that a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging our jurisdictional interest will be included in

the committee report for H.R. 2131 and as part of the

Congressional Record during consideration of this bill by the

House. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform also

asks that you support our request to be conferees on the

provisions over which we have jurisdiction during any House-

Senate conference.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Trey Gowdy,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his wisdom and counsel.

I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2131, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to report my absence on the vote of the H. Res. 378, the combined rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2581 and S. 1094, as well as the vote on the previous question. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 302 (Previous Question on H. Res. 378), and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 303 (Adoption of H. Res. 378).

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2213, the Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about standing up for Border Patrol cops. Border Patrol is woefully undermanned. This bill addresses this serious issue. In order to stand strong against jihadist terror and cartel organized crime, we

must have an adequate number of boots on the ground.

Mr. Speaker, I served my community for many, many years as a street cop. I know exactly what it is to work patrol under dangerous, exhausting conditions. My Border Patrol brothers and sisters of the thin blue line are stretched too thin.

Hear my words: These are high caliber law enforcement professionals, but they are well below the staffing levels mandated by Congress.

This bill is not about lowering standards, as some critics claim. To the contrary, this bill allows for a commonsense approach to hire experienced, highly qualified patriots to fill the ranks of our front lines. This bill allows reasonable degrees of discretion that streamline the vetting and hiring process at Customs and Border Patrol.

I would like to thank Chairwoman McSally for introducing this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the law enforcement community and vote in favor of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise unscripted and sober in respectful support for my brothers and sisters of the thin blue line from sea to shining sea. These men and women behind the badge rise each day and serve each night as we work and as we slumber, sure to face dangers unknown, certain to face enemies unseen, and sometimes to be completely unappreciated. This week, we recognize them and we celebrate them.

To my brothers and sisters of the thin blue line, please hear that your support within this body is unwavering and shall not falter.

God bless you, one and all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, Chairman Smith, for yielding me time to highlight my support for H.R. 353, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.

This past weekend, deadly storms ravaged Louisiana's Third District, my district, tragically taking the lives of Francine Gotch and her 3- year-old daughter, Nevaeh Alexander, when their singlewide trailer flipped during high winds produced by a tornado.

The United States was once at the forefront of weather forecasting; however, that ability has diminished over the years with the capabilities of some other countries now paralleling or even exceeding our own.

I do not know if a better weather forecasting service would have made a difference this past weekend. However, as elected officials, we must make it a priority to protect American lives and property to the fullest extent.

We must never waver in this most significant responsibility. This legislation will put America back on track to lead the world in accurately predicting severe weather events with a renewed focus on increasing weather research and placing new technologies into operation.

More specifically, this bill also creates a tornado forecasting improvement program to develop more accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts that will allow for increased tornado warning lead times, which is crucial to saving lives and would perhaps have saved the lives of that mother and her young daughter this past weekend.

Mr. Speaker, with the number of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes that have hit Louisiana in the last few decades, my constituency knows all too well the danger that mother nature can pose, as well as the need for reliable information to adequately prepare for such occurrences.

Constituents in my district need good, commonsense legislation like this to protect their families and their property. I applaud the efforts of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Smith and Representative Lucas for leading this effort to protect Americans from severe weather.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1431, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act, of which I am an original cosponsor.

This bill intends not to deny science, but to deny manipulated science. This is a commonsense, good-government piece of legislation that will discourage ideologically based decisions by the Science Advisory Board and set it back on a path of making objective, science- based conclusions as originally intended by Congress.

Further, this bill would promote accountability within SAB, while also strengthening public participation, ensuring that there is a diverse makeup on its various boards and panels, reinforcing a strong system of peer-review requirements that work toward reducing conflicts of interest, providing ample opportunity for dissenting views by panelists, and, most importantly, requiring conclusions and reasonings be made available to the public.

Mr. Speaker, this is a crucial piece of legislation. The rules and regulations coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency have real-world implications on families in my State of Louisiana and, indeed, across the Nation.

The current system in place allows for the EPA to set forth ideological, biased, and nonscience-based rules and regulations. The standards set forth by this bill promote the use of good science and a strong and open system of transparency and peer review.

I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1431.