Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment 191 to the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. This amendment prohibits funds from being used to issue a license relating to the sale of commercial passenger aircraft to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The JCPOA allowed for the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran Air, but it is an Iranian airline that the Treasury Department designated in 2013 for providing material, support, and services to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

What changed in those 3 years from that designation to the signing of the JCPOA? Congress has yet to see a report of good behavior on the part of the Iranians. The Ayatollahs continue to call America the ``Big Satan.''

The sales of these aircraft must be stopped so long as the Iranians continue to be the leading state sponsor of terrorism.

I thank Representative Roskam for his leadership on this issue and hope that it passes with unanimous support.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen's amendment No. 110 to the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, and I appreciate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) for taking leadership on this as well.

This amendment would prohibit funds from contributing to a number of United Nations agencies that endlessly single out our ally, the State of Israel, for poor treatment.

There are numerous issues with these agencies, but as for UNRWA, the very size of the agency is an underlying problem. UNRWA was created to address the short-term needs of refugees, but it has perpetuated the problem.

As of July 1, 2014, UNRWA had 30,252 employees for 5\1/2\ million registered persons in a number of Middle Eastern countries and territories, compared to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees staff of 7,700 in 2013, which provides support for 42.9 million refugees in more than 100 countries. The proportion is just way out of scale when you compare those kinds of agencies. UNRWA is out of control.

Additionally, UNRWA's grounds have been used to store rockets. Israel has been fired upon from UNRWA facilities, and UNRWA has employed individuals affiliated with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. These are just a few examples of how U.N. agencies have mismanaged funds. It is unacceptable that American taxpayer dollars contribute to this problem.

I thank the Congressman and Congresswoman for offering this important amendment, and I hope that my colleagues support it so that the United Nations can get to helping individuals who need it the most.

Mr. Chairman, I also applaud the leadership of Representative Gaetz on this important amendment No. 113 to the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill.

This commonsense amendment prohibits American taxpayer dollars from supporting Palestinian elementary schools that are named for Palestinian terrorists who have murdered innocent human beings. Many of these terrorists have murdered children who are no different than the very children in the schools named after them.

Dalal Mughrabi, as was mentioned earlier, a Palestinian terrorist, blew herself up on a bus in 1978, killing 37 Israelis, including 13 children. Her name is plastered on countless elementary schools, summer camps, and memorials around Palestinian Authority-controlled territories in Israel.

I applaud Denmark, Norway, and other countries that have frozen funds from U.N.-affiliated Palestinian organizations that name their buildings after terrorists like Dalal Mughrabi.

The United States Congress should have undivided moral clarity on this issue in this year's appropriations bill. We cannot use taxpayer dollars to fund Palestinian incitement to murder innocents, and that is why I introduced legislation to stop sending American aid to the Palestinian Authority until they end their practice of financially supporting terrorists and the families of terrorists. We must end U.S. contributions to the PA's campaign of incitement wherever we find it.

I thank Mr. Gaetz for offering this important amendment, and I hope it passes with unanimous support, as it should.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment is straightforward. It simply ensures that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is following current law, specifically section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act, by conducting a review of all threatened and endangered plants and wildlife at least once every 5 years.

Time after time, the Federal Government refuses to follow the original intent of the Endangered Species Act. The government designates land as critical habitat despite not meeting the ESA definition, and the government consistently refuses to remove plants and animals from threatened or endangered status even when these species are flourishing and are no longer in need of ESA protections.

But you may ask yourself: How does the government know when the species should be removed from the endangered or threatened list? How does the government know if a species is recovering? The answer can be found in the ESA and its requirement that the Federal Government review all plants or species that are currently listed as endangered or threatened every 5 years.

Under the act, the purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that threatened or endangered species have the appropriate level of protection. The reviews assess each threatened and endangered species to determine whether its status has changed since the time of its listing or its last status review and whether its status should be changed or maintained.

Because the act grants extensive protection to a species, including harsh penalties for landowners and other citizens, it makes sense to regularly verify if a plant or animal is being properly classified or should be delisted. Despite this commonsense requirement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged that it has neglected its responsibility to conduct the required reviews for hundreds of listed species.

By enforcing the 5-year review--which is in the law--my amendment will ensure that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is using the best available and most current scientific information in implementing its responsibilities under that act, including incorporating new information through public comment and assessing ongoing conservation efforts.

Now, I am sure you will hear the ranking member say that the problem is that there is simply not enough money to comply with the law, but the reality is that megasettlements and overzealous regulators have caused the number of species listed under the endangered species list to balloon to unmanageable levels. For the recovery of a threatened or endangered species or plant to be successful, we must prioritize our limited resources to where they are most critically needed.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in ensuring that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service complies with the ESA and that we do not provide money in this bill that would violate current law. This exact amendment was added to the fiscal year '16 Interior Appropriations bill by voice vote and was added to the fiscal year '17 bill by a bipartisan rollcall vote.

Mr. Chairman, I ask Members to support this amendment for the third time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for that statement.

I will say to the gentlewoman from Minnesota that I would love to work with her on this. I know that, in the Natural Resources Committee, we are going to be looking at some of the different facets of the Endangered Species Act, and I hope we can continue this dialogue.

This amendment seeks to make the agency comply with the law. That provision is in there for a reason, so let's enforce what Congress, in its wisdom, put into the law many years ago.

Mr. Chairman, I ask for support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a tiny rodent with a body approximately 3 inches long, a 4-to 6-inch-long tail, and large hind feet adapted for jumping. This largely nocturnal mouse lives primarily in streamside ecosystems along the foothills of southeastern Wyoming south to Colorado Springs, in my district, along the eastern ridge of the Front Range of Colorado.

To evade predators, the mouse can jump, like a miniature kangaroo, up to 18 inches high. In 1998, it leaped onto the Endangered Species list, a move that has hindered development from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Wyoming.

Among projects that have been affected: the Jeffco Parkway southeast of Rocky Flats, an expansion of Chatfield Reservoir, and housing developments in El Paso County along tributaries of Monument Creek. Builders, landowners, and local governments in affected areas have incurred hundreds of millions of dollars in added costs because of this mouse.

Protecting the Preble's mouse has even been placed ahead of protecting human life and property.

On September 11, 2013, Colorado experienced a major flood event that damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, important infrastructure, and public works projects. As a result of the Preble's mouse being listed as an endangered species, many restoration projects were delayed as Colorado sought a waiver. In fact, FEMA was so concerned that they sent out a notice that stated: ``Legally required review may cause some delay in projects undertaken in the Preble's mouse habitat.'' It went on to warn that ``local officials who proceed with projects without adhering to environmental laws risk fine and could lose Federal funding for their projects.''

While a waiver was essentially granted, the scientific evidence simply does not justify these delays or the millions of dollars in taxpayer money that go toward protecting a mouse that is actually part of a larger group that roams throughout half of the North American continent.

Scientific studies have concluded that the Preble's mouse does not warrant protection because it isn't a subspecies at all and is actually related to the Bear Lodge jumping mouse. Even the scientist that originally classified this mouse as a subspecies has since recanted his work and agrees that the Preble's mouse subspecies designation is no longer defensible.

Moreover, the Preble's mouse has a low conservation parity score. What that means is that hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent on protection efforts that could have and should have been spent on other more sensitive species.

My amendment would correct this injustice that has been caused by the inaccurate listing of the Preble's meadow jumping mouse. It would refocus U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts on species that have been thoroughly scientifically vetted and that should be managed by the Endangered Species Act.

This exact amendment was added to the fiscal year '16 Interior Appropriations bill by voice vote and was added to the fiscal year '17 bill by a bipartisan rollcall vote. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment for a third time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) to weigh in on this issue.

Mr. Chairman, I will conclude by saying there is one other sort of a temporary element in this whole episode. And that is when you go from Colorado into Wyoming, the mouse is no longer threatened or endangered. There is a political boundary line between the two States.

In its wisdom, the Fish and Wildlife Service says that if you go north far enough across the State line, it is no longer threatened or endangered. There is an element of arbitrariness that I think also calls into question why this was ever done in the first place.

Mr. Chairman, I would ask support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major General Daniel L. York for his thirty-six years of distinguished service to a grateful nation. His tremendous leadership and commitment to excellence reflect the highest standards of our nation's military. MG York's steadfast devotion to our Creator and the Christian faith during his many years in the United States Army have surely left an enduring testimony with his family, friends and all who shared in his military career. I am very proud to be his friend and brother in Christ and I wish him many blessings in retirement.

Major General York most recently served as the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command Special Assistant to the Commander for Reserve Matters. As an Army Reservist, he has over thirty years of service commanding at the company, battalion, brigade, and division level. He earned the coveted Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Jungle Expert Badge, Rappel Master, and Expert Infantryman Badge.

Major General York graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a Masters of Divinity from Bethel (West) Seminary and a Masters of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.

As a civilian leader in his community, Major General York serves as the Director of First Cause, an International Leadership Development NGO he created in 2000, active in six countries. He is also a Senior Advisor for Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point. In 2012 he founded VetREST a non-profit created to help Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). He serves as the Board Chairman for VetREST and is helping the organization establish chapters nationwide. Major General York also started and pastored three churches and speaks both nationally and internationally on leadership and related topics.

Major General York is married to the former Kathleen Hardy and they have three children and three grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three heroes in the Colorado State Patrol.

Colorado State Patrol Deputy Chief Mark Savage, Patrol Sergeant Todd James, and Trooper Jeffrey Chmielewski selflessly and heroically acted quickly to save the life of Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge Michael Flanagan.

On May 3, 2017, RAC Flanagan and the CSP Troopers were mountain biking, off duty, in Fruita, Colorado. After a day of riding, the group went to dinner at a local restaurant. During the dinner, RAC Flanagan stated he didn't feel well and suddenly lost consciousness. Thinking that RAC Flanagan may be having an asthma attack, Sergeant James ran out to the vehicle to retrieve RAC Flanagan's asthma inhaler. While Sergeant James was retrieving the inhaler outside of the restaurant, Deputy Chief Savage and Trooper Chmielewski ascertained that RAC Flanagan had no pulse and was not breathing. Relying on their training, the troopers immediately began chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on RAC Flanagan. Sergeant James returned from the vehicle and took over chest compressions while Deputy Chief Savage called 911.

It is estimated that RAC Flanagan had no pulse for approximately six minutes and, upon their arrival, Lower Valley Fire Department paramedics had to use a defibrillator multiple times, to restart RAC Flanagan's heart. The paramedics transported RAC Flanagan to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU for repair to a damaged cardiac artery. RAC Flanagan stayed in the hospital for several days, made a full recovery, and is currently back to work on full duty status. The medical team stated that RAC Flanagan would not have survived without the quick-thinking action steps taken by the Troopers.

I know that I speak for the family, friends, and loved ones of Michael Flanagan when I offer deep and profound thanks to Mark Savage, Todd James, and Jeffrey Chmielewski. These heroes represent the best that Colorado has to offer and I am so pleased to honor them today.

Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Thornberry for yielding and for his great work leading us on the NDAA.

I would like to address two amendments that are coming up in en bloc packages.

First of all, on Iran, my amendment to the NDAA, No. 361, requires the President, along with various agencies, to provide the House with a report regarding Iran's use of commercial aircraft for illicit activities. I am doing this with Representative Roskam.

Diligent research from think tanks, such as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the American Enterprise Institute, have demonstrated the need for the intelligence community to provide Congress with a report of their activities.

In total, Iran Air, Mahan Air, Pouya Air, Cham Wings Airlines, and the Iranian Air Force operated at least 404 flights from Iran to Syria since the Iran nuclear deal was adopted on July 14, 2015.

Now, this report does not block the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran, but asks the intelligence community to take a serious look at these sales so Congress can determine if they should continue.

The other amendment I would like to address, Mr. Chairman, is No. 364 on boost-phase missile defense. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Thornberry for including this amendment, which was cosponsored by Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Franks, and Mr. Wilson from South Carolina, to advance boost-phase missile defense programs.

As you know, ballistic missiles are at their most defenseless when they are in their boost phase, the initial phase of flight. They are at their slowest, and they have not yet deployed decoys and countermeasures that would make it more difficult to shoot them down in later phases of flight.

This amendment will make Americans safer as we move towards advancing this absolutely critical technology.

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

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

The goal of this amendment is simple: given the rising nuclear and ballistic missile threat from North Korea and Iran, we have a renewed urgency to do everything we can to make sure that the Missile Defense Agency goes as fast and as far as possible. This includes cutting unnecessary bureaucracy.

This amendment would normalize the operational test and evaluation process for our ballistic missile defense system, simply treating it like every other major weapons system that we have.

This amendment fixes an outdated bureaucratic requirement which requires the Secretary of Defense, himself, to guarantee in advance a system will work before it can even be bought. This is such a high bar, we don't use it anywhere else.

Under this amendment, we will still have a robust, rigorous testing program, without the Secretary of Defense needing to get personally involved. The Director of OT&E, which is the Pentagon's testing office, would still be required by law to evaluate and approve testing plans, analyze and evaluate testing results, and publish an annual public report with this information. Congress and the Secretary of Defense will still have the power to say no. The difference is MDA won't have needless obstacles to prevent them from moving forward.

Let's free the Missile Defense Agency and unshackle it so it can better do its vital job of protecting us from missile attack.

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

Mr. Chairman, if there is any evidence that MDA or DOD does not favor this amendment, I sure haven't seen it, and I would like to see that produced so I could see that.

At this point, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

How much time does each side have?

Mr. Chair, as my colleagues know, just one successful ballistic missile attack on U.S. territory

or forward deployed forces or allies would carry an enormous cost of life and treasure. I am pleased that we are finally making some real progress in this bill at funding missile defense programs that have been underfunded for years. General John Hyten, who is in charge of missile defense, said recently: ``What really worries me the most is I'm worried that our Nation won't be able to go fast enough to keep up with our adversaries anymore.'' He argues that we need to empower our engineers with the authority and responsibility so they can go faster.

We have the greatest minds at the Missile Defense Agency. They are motivated people that serve our country every day when they come into work. We just need to let them do their job. But we must not let outdated, duplicative bureaucratic requirements keep us from defending ourselves from ballistic missile threats.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which would free the Missile Defense Agency to move faster to defend us from future threats.

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

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), my colleague. He is very sincere in what he says.

I believe we have so many checks and balances that we will not be buying things that don't work. But, we need to unshackle MDA so they can get their job done faster and better than they can right now.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), a valuable member of the Committee on Natural Resources, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are here to consider a bill that aims to remove barriers to improve our Nation's water and power infrastructure.

Just last Thursday, the House passed a bill designating the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency when it comes to permitting new and expanded water storage projects. Today, the bill before us seeks to clear up regulatory confusion over the development of new pumped storage hydropower.

Hydropower can and should be part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy now and well into the future. It is a reliable and emissions- free source of electricity that accounts for a majority of the Nation's total renewable electricity generation.

In my home State of Colorado, we have over 60 operating hydropower facilities that generate more than 1,100 megawatts, including new projects such as Carter Lake, South Canal, and Ridgway Reservoir. However, as is the case nationwide, there is potential for new hydropower generation in Colorado.

My bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act, H.R. 1967, looks to pave the way for additional clean hydropower generation by clearing up regulatory permitting confusion at existing Bureau of Reclamation facilities.

We worked with our colleague from central Washington State, Mr. Newhouse, on this bill. His interest stems from a real-life example of where it is unclear whether the Bureau of Reclamation or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have permitting jurisdiction on pumped storage hydropower projects at the Columbia Basin Project.

The project's proponents want to build a project that pumps water to and from two of the project's reservoirs for hydroelectric generation. But because of potential dual permitting requirements, there have been serious delays in bringing this potential 500 megawatt project online.

Similar to a public law authored in 2013 by our committee colleague and fellow Coloradan, Scott Tipton, that cleared up confusion on the Bureau of Reclamation's pipes and canals, my bill makes it clear that the Bureau of Reclamation is the lead agency that will oversee pumped storage development for projects exclusively utilizing the agency's facilities.

The regulatory clarification in my bill will help pave the way for more pumped storage by incentivizing developers who will, in turn, pay the American taxpayers for the use of Federal facilities.

In a hearing earlier this spring of the Water, Power, and Oceans Subcommittee, which I chair, even our friends on the other side of the aisle agreed that we should be doing all we can to incentivize clean, renewable hydropower generation at existing Federal facilities. That is why this bill was passed by the House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent in April.

I urge my House colleagues to join me in promoting clean, renewable hydropower generation as part of our Nation's all-of-the-above energy strategy by supporting this bill, the Bureau of Reclamation Pumped Storage Hydropower Development Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Focus on the Family, a vital American institution dedicated to preserving one of the country's most foundational pillars: the family.

While I cannot attend today's celebration in person, I am grateful that my good friend, Vice President Mike Pence, is in Colorado Springs to mark this wonderful occasion.

It would be impossible to fully quantify the impact Focus on the Family has had in our own Nation and across the world. Thousands of marriages have been revived, children have been lovingly discipled, and families have been reunited and strengthened.

Perhaps most important are the 382,000 lives saved through Focus on the Family's Option Ultrasound program, which helps mothers choose life when faced with unexpected pregnancies.

Those 382,000 lives and, indeed, our entire Nation owe you a debt of gratitude. So to founder Dr. James Dobson, Jim Daly, and the staff of Focus on the Family, I say, ``Well, done,'' and offer you my sincere congratulations.

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

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

Today, the House meets for the second day in a row to consider another infrastructure bill that has come from the House Natural Resources Committee and its Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans, of which I have the honor of chairing. My subcommittee has a strong infrastructure agenda, already hearing testimony on a number of bills aimed at improving our Nation's infrastructure and advancing an all-of- the-above energy and water strategy.

Many of our bills, including H.R. 1654, which we are considering today, apply simple solutions to expedite maintenance or construction of water and power infrastructure throughout the Nation. It is vital to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure, and one of the biggest roadblocks is the excess of regulatory red tape that applicants have to wade through before they can even move one shovel of dirt.

In Colorado, where I live, a water project was recently completed where water owned by the city of Colorado Springs was taken from a reservoir 60 miles to the south to the city of Colorado Springs for treatment and distribution. The project took 6 years to build. But before that could happen, there were over 200 permits and applications that had to be granted, any one of which could have stopped the whole thing, and that cost $160 million in application fees, lawyers' time, and mitigation. That took 8 years. That took longer than the project itself.

Congressman Tom McClintock's Water Supply Permitting Coordination

Act seeks to cut regulatory red tape by creating a one-stop-shop permitting process to the Bureau of Reclamation in order to streamline the current multiagency permitting processes for new or expanded non- Federal surface storage facilities.

However, this bill is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Mr. McClintock's bill allows water storage project sponsors the flexibility to opt out of this process and, instead, choose the agency and process that works best for them.

While the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act will allow for much-needed relief in the sponsor's State of California, this bill will benefit States throughout the West, including my own State of Colorado.

Mr. McClintock's bill goes hand-in-hand with language in the WIIN Act, which was signed into law last year, that supports additional water storage capacity across the West.

I commend my colleague, Mr. McClintock, for bringing up this commonsense piece of legislation that simply looks to cut regulatory red tape for water storage projects that are essential to survival in the West.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my House colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. McCarthy), our majority leader.

Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from California.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the Centennial State of Colorado (Mr. Tipton).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from California.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Gosar), who is also a subcommittee chairman on the Committee on Natural Resources.

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

As I close, I do want to point out a bit of circular reasoning that my friend from California is using. He says that it is not the environmental regulations or the red tape that slows down the construction of dams, it is the high cost. But what he doesn't recognize or is not willing to admit is that the high cost is caused by all the red tape and environmental regulations. So that is arguing in circles, and I don't accept that.

Again, I commend the bill's sponsor for this bill that looks to promote additional and much-needed water storage throughout the West.

Mr. Chair, I urge the passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

We support the amendment. It improves the bill by expanding opportunities for increased water storage across the West. I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Focus on the Family, a vital American institution dedicated to preserving one of our country's most foundational pillars--the family.

Forty years ago, there were dire warning signs of the erosion of the family and the Judeo-Christian roots that have brought such benefit and blessing to the United States of America, and to the entire world. Dr. James Dobson saw these threats and could not ignore them.

In Psalm 11:3, King David asks, ``When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?'' That question has been viewed by some as a lament--a rhetorical question that signals defeat or resignation. But others take it as a rallying cry--to weigh that question, to search one's heart, and to resolve to do something about the foundations that are being destroyed.

It was in this spirit that Dr. James Dobson founded Focus on the Family. Instead of retreating or shrugging off the problem to the next generation, Focus on the Family has proven what the righteous can truly do. Under the vision and leadership of Dr. Dobson and more recently Jim Daly, by the grace of God, incredible things have been accomplished to preserve, promote, and protect the family.

It would be impossible to quantify the full impact that Focus on the Family has had in our own nation as well as across the world. We do know that thousands of marriages have been revived, prodigal sons and daughters have been brought home, life changes have been successfully navigated, young adults have been equipped, children have been lovingly discipled, and families have been encouraged and strengthened.

I do want to highlight a significant impact that can be quantified. Through Focus on the Family's Option Ultrasound, over 720 grants have been awarded to pregnancy centers to purchase ultrasound machines. As a direct result, over 382,000 lives have been saved by mothers choosing life over abortion.

In Colorado Springs, our local pregnancy centers have benefitted greatly from the generosity of Focus on the Family. Many of the materials given to women facing unexpected pregnancies come from Focus. In fact, since Life Network obtained its very first ultrasound machine through Focus on the Family, over 2000 women who have seen their babies on ultrasounds have chosen life. What an incalculable, multi- generational blessing.

Although Focus on the Family was founded in California, we are glad that they saw the light and relocated to Colorado Springs when they did in 1991. I wonder for how many children around the country--even the world--their first knowledge of Colorado Springs is through Adventures in Odyssey.

It is truly a privilege to celebrate with Focus on the Family on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. Focus on the Family has fortified our families and our country, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the proud and important Western Heritage of Colorado Springs.

Whether it is the 81st Western Street Breakfast, the 77th Annual Pikes Peak of Bust Rodeo, or the 68th Pikes Peak Range Ride, our Colorado Springs community has supported this heritage for many generations. I would also like to note that the proceeds from these events go to supporting our brave men and women in uniform at our five local military installations.

If you are one of the 10,000 people at the Street Breakfast, the many thousands at the Rodeo, or the two hundred plus Range Riders, you are taking part in a long and commendable tradition. And, with your continued enthusiastic support, it's one I know will last forever.

Thank you so much to the staffers, board members, and dedicated volunteers who make each of these events possible. Each June and July Colorado Springs shows the entire world what is so special about the heritage of the West.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues Ms. Pingree of Maine and Mr. Moulton of Massachusetts, in strong support of the small but strategically important country of Montenegro. This past weekend, Montenegro celebrated the eleventh anniversary of its independence. This week, President Trump will attend the NATO Summit in Brussels, where Montenegro will be officially welcomed as a new Member.

Along with the gentlewoman from Maine, I chair the Congressional Montenegro Caucus. The goal of the Caucus is simple: to educate Members of Congress on U.S.-Montenegro relations and show the people of Montenegro that they have friends here in the United States, including the U.S. Congress.

Over the last year, the relationship between the United States and Montenegro has received greater attention here on Capitol Hill. I rise today to ask my colleagues to continue to devote time and attention over the year ahead on this important alliance.

Indeed, in an overwhelming display of bipartisanship on March 28th the Senate ratified accession of Montenegro to become the 29th member of NATO. On April 11th, President Trump signed a Presidential Memoranda codifying this significant landmark.

I am proud to also share that on April 27th our counterparts--the elected representatives in the Montenegrin Parliament--voted 46-0 to ratify accession to NATO.

Eleven years ago this week, the people of Montenegro voted in favor of peacefully becoming an independent state and dissolving the union with Serbia. Shortly thereafter, all five members of the United Nations Security Council recognized the newest country in the world, beginning a new chapter in the history of trans-Atlantic relations regional and history.

The events of the last few weeks and the last 11 years demonstrate the truest form of representative democracy. Civil debate here on Capitol Hill and in Podgorica among elected leaders representing the will of our constituents has shown the world that democracy remains the best form of government, despite its imperfections. As Churchill said, ``No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.'' [Churchill By Himself, 2013]

The inclusion of Montenegro into NATO will strengthen regional and trans-Atlantic security, and sends a strong message of the importance of democratic values. As my colleagues know, democratic values-- transparency, equal justice and rule of law--must constantly be fostered. Accession into NATO has allowed Montenegro to advance toward these values. It is our responsibility as a Congress to help this new nation further embrace Euro-Atlantic integration and to increase its ability to fight organized crime and corruption.

Meanwhile, American business leaders likewise play a vital role. For example, the Stratex Group, the largest American investor in Montenegro with roots in Massachusetts, continues to work alongside our Embassy to foster stronger bilateral relations and a commitment by all Montenegrin elected officials--local and federal--to these democratic values we all hold dear. Only two places in Montenegro fly the American flag: the U.S. Embassy and the Stratex properties.

Beyond strengthening our formal diplomatic alliance, my colleagues here in Congress must endeavor to creatively promote stronger ties in at least two ways.

First, the State Partnership between the Maine National Guard and Montenegro has been successfully building relationships for over a decade, linking a unique component of the U.S. Department of Defense with the armed forces of Montenegro in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship. Through this program, the U.S. National Guard conducts military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals but also leverages whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to facilitate broader interagency and corollary engagements spanning military, government, economic and social spheres.

Second, we must support business and cultural diplomacy--in Montenegro and around the world, encouraging our diplomats to have a greater appreciation for American investments in emerging democracies. To attract additional investment, Montenegro must fully commit to the rule of law, transparency and an independent judiciary. With the continued focus from the United States, I am confident Montenegrin government leaders will continue down the path of reform.

The Congressional Montenegro Caucus congratulates Montenegro on their achievements as they finally have a seat at the table at this week's NATO meeting, and stands in support of a stable, secure Europe based on collective self-defense, economic freedom, the rule of law, and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, every day, courageous men and women in America's law enforcement leave the safety of their homes to go into volatile situations, not knowing whether or not they will even return home safely. These brave police officers and first responders have dedicated their lives to ensuring our safety, as well as the safety of our neighborhoods and communities. I honor these fearless men and women and recognize the sacrifice they and their families make.

But merely saying thank you is not enough. The Thin Blue Line Act will protect law enforcement officials by giving harsher penalties to criminals targeting the police and first responders who put their lives on the line daily to protect and defend us.

It is my duty and privilege to support efforts that give our dedicated law enforcement officials the best possible chance of coming home safely every day. Mr. Speaker, this is how I can show my gratitude. Each House Member should join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 215.