Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1144, the PUGET SOS Act, codifies the Environmental Protection Agency's existing restoration work in the Puget Sound and establishes a Puget Sound program office.

Puget Sound was one of the first estuaries designated within the National Estuary Program in 1987, and EPA has worked with Federal and non-Federal entities to coordinate restoration efforts. This bill ensures this important work will continue.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Madam Speaker, in closing, H.R. 1144 would continue the EPA's management of a competitive grant program to support projects that protect and restore the Puget Sound.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2008 reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program under the Clean Water Act.

Reauthorizing this program reinforces the Federal leadership that helps our State and local partners in their efforts to control nonpoint source pollution.

For example, my home State of North Carolina typically receives $1 million for competitive grant funding for watershed restoration projects. This money is put to good use conducting watershed restoration projects like stormwater and agricultural best management practices and restoration of impaired streams affected by nonpoint source pollution.

In my district, some of these grant funds are being used to reduce stormwater runoff volume on the campus of UNC-Wilmington.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, in closing, the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program has benefited water bodies all across the country and reauthorizing this program will reinforce this successful cooperative Federal, State, and local partnership to control nonpoint sources of pollution around the country.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1921, the Protect and Restore Lake Pontchartrain Basin Act, introduced by my friend Garret Graves from Louisiana, would reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program to provide assistance to the Federal, State, and local watershed partners in addressing the water quality challenges that are in this especially sensitive area.

I support the critical work these partners are doing to help restore the water quality of the lake, and this bill will help continue this work.

I commend Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves for his leadership on this issue, and I urge support of this legislation. I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who is the Aviation Subcommittee ranking member.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1921 would reauthorize an important program that supports the critical efforts of the Federal, State, and local watershed partners in restoring water quality in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of the great voices for American agriculture here in our Nation's Capital, Steven L. Kopperud.

His death this past year was sudden and a shock to all of us who knew him. Steve was always the same, from the first day I met him almost 25 years ago until the last time we talked. He was a great friend, one whom you could trust to shoot you straight. As are so many in the agriculture arena, he was a down-to-earth, great guy; the type you could pick up a conversation with as though you had just talked yesterday when, in fact, it could have been a year or more; the type who would always be there for you. And if it was a policy question, he always, always, had the facts. He believed in his work, and he was passionate about it.

After growing up in Minneapolis and attending the University of Minnesota, Steve started his career in journalism, writing for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the San Diego Union-Tribune. He eventually became the Washington bureau chief for Feedstuffs, which further introduced him to the world of agriculture.

From there, he launched a long, distinguished career in advocacy, lobbying on all things animal, everything from food, livestock, poultry, trade, and animal welfare, to biotech, among countless other agricultural issues. He was a founder of the Animal Alliance Association, and eventually started his own firm to represent clients across the Nation's agriculture sector.

Steve played an instrumental role in the passage of every farm bill in the past 35 years, from his first in 1985 to his last in 2018. He could always be found in the Halls of Congress, the White House, or USDA, making the case for commonsense agriculture policies critical to our producers and American consumers. And by the fortuitous nature of events early on in his career, he became a key voice with great expertise in the animal welfare policy arena.

Steve leaves behind his wife, Judith, of more than 45 years, and many, many friends. The contributions he made to agriculture were numerous, leaving a great legacy of advocacy that has benefited American producers and has helped to feed the world. His was a life very well-lived, and American agriculture is that much better because of Steve Kopperud, and so is our country.

Tribute to Carolyn Justice

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay particular tribute to an individual who has been an institution in the Cape Fear region for decades, my friend and former colleague in the State legislature, Carolyn Justice.

Carolyn served five terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing New Hanover and Pender Counties. Before her service in the State legislature, she served on Pender County's Board of Commissioners. She has also served as a trustee of New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Pender Memorial Hospital, and as chair of the Lower Cape Fear River Program.

Now, I got to know Carolyn while serving in the State Senate. She was a co-chair of the State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, while I was co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. So we got to know each other quite well as we went line by line of the State budget, making cuts to the programs under our purview.

The economic collapse of 2008 and 2009 had left the State budget in shambles, and it was our job to help balance it. These were not easy decisions, but, with Carolyn as a key partner, we made the budget numbers work while doing our best to fund the programs of most value to the citizens of the State.

Through her service and kindness to others, Carolyn Justice continues to leave an indelible mark on southeastern North Carolina. This is why it is so fitting that she was recently named by the Wilmington Star- News in March, which was Women's History Month 2021, as one of 106 women who have made the Port City area a better place.

I don't know of anyone who stands stronger for the Cape Fear region and the causes in which she believes. This is a well-deserved honor for a very distinguished public servant and my great friend and colleague.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of the late Mr. Harry Watkins of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. An architect for more than 40 years, Harry Watkins left a lasting imprint on Wrightsville Beach, Bald Head Island, Figure 8 Island and many other surrounding communities.

Harry got his start in architecture after studying at North Carolina State University, and went on to design many of the homes that still stand there today. He always held a special place in his heart for Bald Head Island.

Harry helped to grow Wrightsville Beach true to his vision:

``The architect must understand the community, the environment, and especially the characteristics of the specific site,'' Harry said of his design philosophy. He described his idea of what a good home can be as ``a joy when things were going well, and a comfort when they were not.''

Harry passed away late last year, at the age of 72. He left behind a legacy of architectural vision and excellence. Even more importantly, he is survived by his wife Vicki, his daughter Brooke, and an entire community of friends, neighbors and clients. Wrightsville Beach will be forever grateful for his passion for his community.

Madam Chair, I appreciate the courtesy of my good friend from Idaho. I certainly appreciate his help and support with this amendment that is included in this package.

Put very plainly, my amendment is designed to get the attention of the Army Corps of Engineers and for a very good reason.

In the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, language was included requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to work with localities that request a no-wake zone if there is a safety concern caused by speeding boats generating large wakes in stretches of federally maintained waters that run adjacent to a marina.

Southport, North Carolina, a beautiful waterfront community, has been waiting nearly 3 years to have a no-wake zone established. That is 3 years of speeding boats creating wakes that have caused fuel spills at Southport Marina and, thankfully, at least so far, only minor injuries to date.

Everyone back home knows this poses a significant safety concern. We just need for some who work in an agency known as the Army Corps of Engineers to understand it just as well.

Common sense tells us that at some point, there is going to be a major accident. This is a very high traffic area of recreational boats. Doing nothing, as the Corps appears to favor, is not an option.

Madam Chair, I thank my colleagues for their support of this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, after 72 years on the air, Carl Lamm, whom many know as the voice of Johnston County, retired as America's longest continuous radio broadcaster on Friday, March 29.

Mr. Carl, as many of us affectionately call him, has been co-owner and operator of WTSB-AM radio in Smithfield, North Carolina, since 1958. His daily programming was revered by millions throughout the State, Nation, and world who listened to him on the radio and online throughout the course of his career.

In more than seven decades on air, he brought some of the greatest musicians, top athletes, professionals of all stripes, and national political figures and commentators into the homes and businesses of his listeners to discuss current events and politics, to preach the Word of God, and much more.

He has witnessed the evolution of radio from the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry to the digital age of the 21st century.

Mr. Carl's many notable recognitions include North Carolina's highest civilian honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, as well as membership in the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame. However, what I admire most is his loyal faith in our creator.

Suffice it to say, we will all miss listening to Mr. Carl on the air at WTSB radio. It is not often that you get to know a legend in their own time. Mr. Carl is just that and a very dear friend to many as well.

As he enters this new chapter of life known as retirement, may God always continue to bless his path.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Florida, Representative Neal Dunn, who is not only a great colleague but a great friend.

Madam Speaker, it is not just Hurricane Matthew--pardon me, Hurricane Michael. In my district we had Hurricane Matthew in 2016--but it is also Hurricane Florence that devastated southeastern North Carolina and many other areas this past fall as well.

A lot of the previous speakers, colleagues who have come before me here today have talked about the need for disaster assistance, and they are exactly right. I want to complement what they have said, supplement what they have said, and paint a little bit of a broader picture here.

You have got to understand that agriculture, in particular, has faced 5 years of really, really low prices; so farmers, whether they are in North Carolina and have suffered from the flood of Hurricane Florence, or whether they are in Georgia or Florida or anywhere else and have suffered from Hurricane Michael, or the floods in Nebraska, for example, they have no equity left.

They have suffered 5 years of really, really low prices. We had a farm bill in place that, quite honestly, was not adequate in terms of the safety net that was in place and, as a result, they have no equity.

And think about this: Think about all those out there--and for those who are not involved in agriculture, think about it this way--assume that you have invested millions and millions and millions of dollars that are plowed, literally plowed into the ground, but have no opportunity to produce a crop.

You have no equity left. You just took a loan out from the bank. You are highly leveraged because of 5 years of low commodity prices. You have taken that loan out. This is the one year that you had available to you to make up the difference, to begin to turn it around financially.

And lo and behold, you get hit by Hurricane Florence, totally flooded early September, no opportunity to harvest your crop, and there you are.

That is the scenario. That is the picture. That is what so many farm families all across Eastern North Carolina, all across the Southeast are facing today.

Meanwhile, you have got Members of the House and the Senate who care very deeply about their constituency, who have been working very, very hard to get an ag disaster package, and find it incredibly frustrating that here, in April, months after these storms have hit, we have made no progress. And there are a variety of reasons for that.

But the fact of the matter is, this Chamber and the Senate Chamber need to come together with the White House to get this ag disaster package done just as quickly as possible.

In North Carolina, agriculture is an $87 billion industry, the largest industry, by far.

And let me make one final point. When these farm families are gone, when these farms are gone, they are not coming back; they are growing houses instead. They are not coming back.

This agriculture disaster package is so critically important. We have got to get it done. I thank the leadership and the spirit of my good friend from Florida, Neal Dunn, and I really, really commend him and my other colleagues for putting forward the effort tonight to raise awareness of this issue. It is so critically important, not only for my home State of North Carolina, but for America.

Mr. Speaker, Jessica and Brandon Batten of Johnston County, North Carolina, have received the distinct honor of being selected as the 2019 National Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year. No couple is more deserving of this award than Jessica and Brandon.

Brandon has been farming his entire life. He is a sixth-generation farmer and the third generation of his family's operation Triple B Farms, Incorporated, where he and his family produce tobacco, wheat, rye, soybeans, corn, and hay, along with beef cattle. His wife, Jessica, is an environmental engineer, providing innovative conservation plans to help increase farm productivity.

Not only are the Battens helping to produce our food supply, they are also very active members of their community. Brandon is a first responder for Strickland's Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, and both are active in their church.

During a time when North Carolina's farm families have been facing a great deal of uncertainty, Brandon has been a strong advocate for his occupation through various farm organizations as well as the promotion of research and technological advancements in agriculture to help the industry remain strong.

Mr. Speaker, these are two great young Americans who deserve to have their hard work and efforts rewarded, and I congratulate them on being selected for this very distinguished recognition.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to bring to the attention of this distinguished body Mr. Edward Winfield Taylor of Clinton, North Carolina, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Mr. Taylor is a dedicated community leader in Sampson County and in commemoration of Mr. Taylor's outstanding achievements and service to the community, Mayor Lew Starling of Clinton proclaimed Saturday, February 9, 2019, as ``Edward W. Taylor Day.''

This is a well-deserved honor. Mr. Taylor helped shape countless lives during his 36-year tenure as an admired teacher and band director at Clinton High School. He even went on to earn induction into the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Mr. Taylor helped make a small-town band competitive with some of largest bands across the state, marching in several national parades such as the Lion's International Parade in New York and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Taylor's service to the community extended beyond his role as a teacher and band director. He taught Bible school at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church for twenty years and coached baseball and football at the Clinton Recreation Department for fifteen years. Not only has he dedicated his life to serving his community and youth, he also served in the United States Air Force where he was a drum major for the marching band.

Edward Taylor and many others just like him brought liberty to millions throughout the world during a very dark time of world-history, and he is one of the giants of his time who made America great by doing his part day in and day out to influence the lives around him and serving our country every step of the way.

Congratulations to Mr. Taylor on 90 great years. May God continue to bless him.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the proclamation of the mayor of Clinton.

``Edward W. Taylor Day''

Happy 90th Birthday

Whereas, family and friends will come together at Coharie

Country Club, 101 Coharie Lane, Clinton, NC, on this day,

Saturday, February 9, 2019, and celebrate the life of MR.

EDWARD W. TAYLOR; and

Whereas, February 12, 2019, will mark the 90th birthday of

this outstanding man of Clinton, Sampson County, North

Carolina; and

Whereas, Mr. Edward W. Taylor was born February 12, 1929 in

Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; and

Whereas, he has been blesed throughout the years and others

have been blessed by him in many ways. He has contributed

much to the City of Clinton and surrounding areas as a band

director at Clinton High School for 36 years that won titles

at the state and national levels in some of the most

prestigious events; and

Whereas, his name is known throughout the land: he led

Clinton High School bands that marched the Lion's Club Parade

in New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans and won events at the

Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC; the Dogwood

Festival in Knoxville, TN; and the Apple Blossom Festival in

Winchester, VA; and

Whereas, he also served as choir director at Graves

Memorial Presbyterian Church for several years.

Now, therefore, I, Lew Starling, Mayor of the City of

Clinton, North Carolina, do extend good wishes and hereby

proclaim this day, Saturday, February 9, 2019, as: ``EDWARD

Mr. Speaker, Senator Louis Pate, of Mount Olive, North Carolina, recently retired from the North Carolina General Assembly after more than 16 years of serving the great people of eastern North Carolina. I had the pleasure and honor to serve with Louis in the North Carolina Senate. We shared representation of Wayne County, and I can attest to what a great member he was.

Senator Pate is known across the State for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to public service. He is a Vietnam war combat veteran, having served 20 years in the United States Air Force earning multiple service medals for his bravery while defending our country. His commitment to advocating for those who serve our country was a top priority during his time in public office, and I know he has been honored to represent the fine men and women serving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

During his tenure in the State senate, Louis spent much of his time working to implement policy to strengthen and improve access to quality healthcare, including major reforms to Medicaid so the program would better meet the needs of those for whom it was designed to help.

Senator Pate's legacy as a statesman, mentor, and friend to many will continue to impact all those who cross his path. I wish him and his family many blessed days ahead.

Madam Speaker, many in North Carolina and around the country are mourning the passing of our friend and colleague, Congressman

Walter B. Jones, just as much as we are. Our dear friend humbly served the great people of eastern North Carolina in the State legislature and in Congress for more than 30 years. Having known Walter for more than 23 years, I can attest to his great faith in our creator and his servant's heart.

Congressman Jones was elected to Congress with the 1994 class, and it was in his first term that I met him. I was brand new to the Hill myself, working for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms at the time. Senator Helms and his wife, Dot, quickly became great fans of Walter, so much so--and many may not know this--that even after Senator Helms passed, Dot Helms would cut radio ads for him up until her passing just a few years ago.

What Dot and Jesse Helms admired about Walter was no different than what everyone else across the State of North Carolina and throughout the country who knew him admired: his character, his adherence to his convictions, and his commitment to serving others.

He was a staunch advocate, of course, for those who made the greatest sacrifice of all while serving our country. He constantly worked on behalf of our troops and veterans every single day, especially those who were based in his district at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville and Cherry Point in Havelock.

Congressman Jones dedicated his life to serving others. He stood strong for his beliefs and even stronger for his faith, always choosing to do what he believed to be best for his constituency, our State, and our Nation.

The citizens of this State and country have lost a great friend whose life made a real difference for so many. His honesty, faith, and integrity will not be forgotten.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good colleague and friend, Austin Scott, for his leadership on this, as well as, certainly, the chairman, Chairman Bishop from Georgia, whom, by the way, I have heard lots about for many, many years from many mutual friends that he and I both have. I look forward to working with him not only on this, but on many other matters as they come before us.

There is absolutely no question: agriculture all across the Southeast has been significantly damaged, devastated in many, many parts.

In North Carolina, we are still reeling from the hurricane in 2016, Hurricane Matthew. And then, of course, Hurricane Florence came and hit not only the same areas that Hurricane Matthew hit, but hit a much broader area of North Carolina. In fact, why don't we just say it really devastated and inflicted a lot of harm all across eastern North Carolina, this on top of a 5-year decline in farm income not only in North Carolina, but across the country.

So you have had a significant shortfall in income for all these farm families all over the country, North Carolina included.

Then comes Hurricane Matthew in 2016, floods all those out who are in its path. And when I say ``floods,'' I mean a real flood, flooding that you have not seen in many, many years.

And then Hurricane Florence comes in 2018. It is not only the same areas that Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, but hits a much broader geographical region in North Carolina and elsewhere.

So over the last 5 years, you have not only had a huge decrease in farm income, you have had all kinds of natural disasters--not just in North Carolina, but elsewhere. As a result, all these farm families have lost all their equity. They have no equity left.

Without the disaster recovery package that Congress has previously passed and what we hope to pass eventually here, that is contained in this body of work today, will be a start to rebuild, to enable these folks to cash-flow, to enable them just to get the financing that they need to put in the ground a new crop for the year 2019.

So I commend both of my colleagues for their help and their support on this, and I encourage the rest of the body to join with us and adopt this amendment.

Madam Speaker, Columbus County and many throughout North Carolina and beyond are mourning the passing of Mr. James C. High, known to his many friends and colleagues as Jim.

As the publisher of The News Reporter, a family-owned newspaper in Whiteville for 61 years, Mr. High was a strong advocate for a free press and was highly recognized in the industry for making The News Reporter a leading community newspaper.

He has been long admired in the community for his years of dedicated leadership, service to others, and distinguished contributions to Columbus County.

Mr. High's impact went beyond just the newspaper. He helped lead the effort to create the Committee of 100 to bring industry and jobs to Columbus County.

He was influential in many different capital campaigns, including those for the Carolyn T. High Memorial Library, the Whiteville High School gymnasium, the Angel House Hospice Care Center, and many others too numerous to list.

Jim High was a vital part of Columbus County, and he will be greatly missed. His was a life lived well, and he leaves a great legacy of enrichment that will continue to benefit many.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for leading this Special Order and her great leadership in so many respects and, particularly, in this regard.

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no question about it. Our Nation is in the midst of a humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border, one that is growing by the day, and its impact is far- reaching.

Unfortunately, many of these illegal aliens are very dangerous individuals with criminal records, members of gangs, and others coming for nefarious purposes who are exploiting the loopholes and current immigration laws. This has led to an increase in human trafficking and a lethal spike in drug trafficking that is striking rural and urban communities, alike, all across this great land.

During the past 2 years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults and nearly 30,000 sex crimes.

Data shows that 31 percent of women and nearly 17 percent of men are sexually assaulted en route to the border. The situation is so bad that nearly 70 percent of migrants are victims of some form of violence during their travel.

Now, let's talk about the drugs.

Heroin and fentanyl are hitting rural and urban America in epidemic proportions. Just this past year, there was a 73 percent increase of fentanyl and 22 percent increase in heroin brought across the southern border. In fact, approximately 90 percent of the heroin brought into this country is smuggled across.

According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2017 alone, more than 70,000 lives were lost due to drug overdoses. They published this just this past December 18, more than 70,000 lives.

The drugs coming in across the border are destroying lives, separating families, and robbing this country of great talent that is so badly needed. Almost every business owner I talked to tells me what a hard time they have trying to find workers because, in so many cases, they can't pass a drug test.

My home State of North Carolina also suffers greatly from the prevalence of human trafficking. In so many cases, this, too, starts at the southern border.

Here is the bottom line: Criminal organizations and others are utilizing illegal immigration as a way to make billions in profit and cause harm to countless victims in the process. A barrier in the right places makes a lot of common sense. The President is asking for a little more than 230-some square miles of steel barrier out of almost 2,000 miles of border. This shouldn't even be a debate. Give me a break.

Mr. Speaker, this is a crisis that requires bipartisan action. I applaud President Trump and his commitment to securing the border, and I am proud to stand with him until it is done.

I urge our Democratic colleagues to come to the table. This is a negotiation. This is a process. Come to the table and let's work it out, and let's do what is right for the American people.