Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 425, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. I commend Mr. Dunn and Mr. Lamb for their leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. As Chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee I am committed to supporting a strong STEM workforce. In light of increasing global competition, we must do more to ensure workers are equipped with the STEM skills and knowledge employers need.

Veterans are a highly trained and highly motivated group. They have the skills, the determination, and the know-how to thrive in high- paying, secure STEM careers. H.R. 425 directs the National Science Foundation and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage existing data and programs to better support veterans in their transition to the STEM workforce. We need all hands on deck if we are to maintain our standing as the global leader in innovation. H.R. 425 is a good step in that direction. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. This bill ensures that Veterans in my district and around the country have convenient access to no-cost child care when visiting a VA facility for a medical appointment.

After a survey conducted by the VA last decade found that access to child care was a top reason as to why some veterans were missing their medical appointments, a pilot program providing no-cost drop-in child care service for veterans was established as part of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. I am proud that the Dallas VA Medical Center is one of four VA facilities that are currently piloting the program. This legislation would make the pilot program permanent across the country.

This program has made it easier for parents within my district to schedule appointments at the Dallas VA Medical Center without having to deal with the stress and worry of finding safe and affordable child care options for their children. I am pleased to see that thanks to this important legislation, child care facilities like the Carousel Academy at the Dallas VA Medical Center may soon open up across the country. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation because veterans nationwide should have access to the same quality child care services that veterans in North Texas have been fortunate to have for the past six years.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Rule XI, I hereby submit the Rules of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for publication in the Congressional Record. The Rule were adopted in an open meeting of the Committee on February 6, 2019, by voice vote of the Committee.

Rule I. General

(a) Application of Rules.

(1) The Rules of the House of Representatives (``House

Rules'') are the rules of the Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology and its Subcommittees with the specific

additions thereto contained in these rules.

(2) Except where the term ``Subcommittee'' is specifically

referred to, the following rules shall apply to the Committee

and its Subcommittees as well as to the respective Chairs and

Ranking Minority Members.

(b) Other Procedures. The Chair of the Committee, after

consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the

Committee, may establish such other procedures and take such

actions as may be necessary to carry out these rules or to

facilitate the effective operation of the Committee.

(c) Use of Hearing Rooms. In consultation with the Ranking

Minority Member, the Chair of the Committee shall establish

guidelines for the use of Committee hearing rooms.

Rule II. Regular, Additional, and Special Meetings

(a) Regular Meetings. The regular meeting day of the

Committee for the conduct of its business shall be on the

first Wednesday of each month, if the House is in session. If

the House is not in session on that day, then the Committee

shall meet on the next Wednesday of such month on which the

House is in session, or at another practicable time as

determined by the Chair.

(1) A regular meeting of the Committee may be dispensed

with if, in the judgment of the Chair, there is no need for

the meeting.

(2) The Chair may call and convene, as he considers

necessary and in accordance with the notice requirements

contained in these rules, additional meetings of the

Committee for the consideration of any bill or resolution

pending before the Committee or for the conduct of other

Committee business.

(b) Bills and Subjects to be Considered.

(1) The Chair shall announce the date, place, and subject

matter of any Committee meeting, which may not commence

earlier than the third calendar day (excluding Saturdays,

Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in

session on such a day) on which Members have notice thereof,

unless the Chair, with the concurrence of the Ranking

Minority Member, or the Committee by majority vote with a

quorum present for the transaction of business, determines

there is good cause to begin the meeting sooner, in which

case the Chair shall make the announcement at the earliest

possible date.

(2) At least 48 hours prior to the commencement of a

meeting for the markup of legislation (excluding Saturdays,

Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in

session on such a day), the Chair shall cause the text of

such legislation to be made publicly available in electronic

form.

(3) To the maximum extent practicable, amendments to a

measure or matter shall be submitted in writing or

electronically to the designee of both the Chair and Ranking

Minority Member at least 24 hours prior to the consideration

of the measure or matter, and the Chair may oppose any

amendment not so submitted.

(c) Open Meetings. Meeting for the transaction of business

an hearings of the Committee shall be open to the public or

closed in accordance with the House Rules.

(d) Quorums. A majority of the Committee shall form a

quorum, except that two Members shall constitute a quorum for

taking testimony and receiving evidence, and one third of the

Members shall form a quorum for taking any action other than

for which the presence of a majority of the Committee is

otherwise required. If the Chair is not present at any

meeting of the Committee or Subcommittee, the Vice Chair on

the Committee who is present shall preside at the meeting,

unless another Member of the Committee is designated by the

Chair.

(e) Postponement of Proceedings.

(1) Pursuant to clause 2(h)(4) of House Rule XI, the Chair

may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is

ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or

on adopting an amendment. The Chair may resume proceedings on

a postponed vote at any time after reasonable notice.

(2) When proceedings resume on a postponed question,

notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous

question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to

further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the

question was postponed.

(f) Time for Statements and Debate.

(1) Insofar as is practicable, the Chair, after

consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, shall limit

the total time of opening statements by Members at a

Committee meeting to no more than ten minutes, the time to be

divided equally between the Chair and Ranking Minority

Member, except in the case of joint Subcommittee hearings, in

which case the total time of opening statements by Members at

such joint hearing shall be no more than twenty minutes, the

time to be divided equally between the Chairs and Ranking

Minority Members. When requested, ex officio Members of any

Subcommittee shall also be recognized at a Subcommittee

hearing for five minutes each to present an opening

statement.

(2) The time any one Member may address the Committee on

any bill, amendment, motion, or other matter under

consideration by the Committee will be limited to five

minutes, and then only when the Member has been recognized by

the Chair. This time limit may be waived by the Chair

pursuant to unanimous consent.

(g) Requests for Recorded Vote. A record vote of the

Committee shall be provided on any question before the

Committee upon the request of three or more Members or, in

the apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member.

(h) Transcripts. Transcripts of markups shall be recorded

and may be published in the same manner as hearings before

the Committee, and shall be included as part of the

legislative report unless waived by the Chair of the

Committee.

(i) Motion to Go to Conference. Without further action of

the Committee, the Chair is authorized to offer a motion

under clause 1 of House Rule XXII whenever the Chair

considers it appropriate.

Rule III. Hearings

(a) Notice of Hearings.

(1) The Chair shall publicly announce the date, place, and

subject matter of any hearing to be conducted by the

Committee on any measure or matter at least one week before

the commencement of that hearing. If the Chair, with the

concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, determines there

is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the

Committee so determines by majority vote, a quorum being

present for the transaction of business, the Chair shall make

the announcement at the earliest possible date.

(2) The Chair shall publicly announce a list of witnesses

to testify at a hearing as soon as a complete list of

witnesses, including those to be called by the minority, is

compiled. When practicable, the Chair and the Ranking

Minority Member will seek to have a complete list of

witnesses compiled at or as soon as practicable after the

time that the hearing is publicly announced.

(b) Witnesses.

(1) Insofar as is practicable, no later than 48 hours in

advance of his or her appearance, each witness who is to

appear before the Committee shall file, in printed copy and

in electronic form, a written statement of his or her

proposed testimony and a curriculum vitae.

(2) Each witness shall limit his or her presentation to a

five minute summary, however additional time may be granted

by the Chair when appropriate.

(3) The Chair, or any Member of the Committee designated by

the Chair, may administer oaths to witnesses before the

Committee.

(4) Whenever any hearing is conducted by the Committee on

any measure or matter, the Minority Members of the Committee

shall be entitled, upon request to the Chair by a majority of

them before the completion of the hearing, to call witnesses

selected by the Minority to testify with respect to the

measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon.

(5) In the case of a witness appearing in a nongovernmental

capacity, a written statement of proposed testimony shall

include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of any Federal

grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, or contracts or

payments originating with a foreign government, received

during the current calendar year or either of the two

previous calendar years by the witness or by an entity

represented by the witness and related to the subject matter

of the hearing. The disclosure shall include the amount and

source of each Federal grant (or subgrant thereof),

cooperative agreement, or contract (or subcontract thereof)

related to the subject matter of the hearing; and the amount

and country of origin of any payment or contract related to

the subject matter of the hearing originating with a foreign

government. Such statements, with appropriate redactions to

protect the privacy or security of the witness, shall be made

publicly available in electronic form not later than one day

after the witness appears.

(c) Questioning of Witnesses.

(1) The right to interrogate a witness before the Committee

shall alternate between Majority and Minority Members of the

Committee. Each Member shall be limited to five minutes in

the interrogation of witnesses. No Member may be recognized

for a second period of interrogation until each Member

present, who wishes to be recognized, has been recognized at

least once.

(2) Notwithstanding clause 1, upon a motion the Chair, in

consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, may:

i. Designate an specified number of Members of the

Committee from each party to question a witness for a period

of time equally divided between the majority party and the

minority party, not to exceed one hour in the aggregate; or

ii. Designate staff from each party to question a witness

for a period of time equally divided between the majority

party and the minority party, not to exceed one hour in the

aggregate.

(3) Members of the Committee have two weeks from the date

of a hearing to submit additional questions in writing for

the record to be answered by witnesses who have appeared

before the Committee. The letters of transmittal and any

responses thereto shall be included in the hearing record.

(d) Claims of Privilege. Claims of common-law privileges

made by witnesses in hearings, or by interviewees or

deponents in investigations or inquiries, are applicable only

at the discretion of the Chair, subject to appeal to the

Committee.

(e) Publication of Transcripts. The transcripts of those

hearings conducted by the Committee, when it is decided they

will be printed, shall be published in substantially verbatim

form, with the material requested for the record inserted at

that place requested, or at the end of the record, as

appropriate. Individuals, including Members, whose comments

are to be published as part of a Committee document shall be

given the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the

transcription in advance of publication. Any requests by

those Members, staff, or witnesses to correct any errors

other than errors in the transcript, or disputed errors in

transcription, shall be appended to the record, and the

appropriate place where the change is requested will be

footnoted. Prior to approval by the Chair of hearings

conducted jointly with another Congressional Committee, a

memorandum of understanding shall be prepared which

incorporates an agreement for the publication of the

transcript.

(f) Pertinence of Testimony. At the discretion of the

Committee, brief and pertinent statements may be submitted in

writing for inclusion in the record. The Committee is the

sole judge of the pertinence of testimony and evidence

adduced at its hearing.

Rule IV. Reports

(a) Bills and resolutions approved by the Committee shall

be reported by the Chair pursuant to clauses 2-4 of House

Rule XIII.

(b) A proposed investigative or oversight report shall be

considered as read if it has been available to the Members of

the Committee for at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays,

Sundays, or legal holidays except when the House is in

session on such days).

(c) Every investigative or oversight report shall be

approved by a majority vote of the Committee at a meeting at

which a quorum is present. If at the time of approval of such

a report a Member of the Committee gives notice of intent to

file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views

that Member shall be entitled to file such views.

(d) Only those investigative or oversight reports approved

by a majority vote of the Committee may be ordered printed,

unless otherwise required by House Rules.

Rule V. Broadcasting

(a) Whenever a meeting for the transaction of business,

including the markup of legislation or a hearing is open to

the public, that meeting or hearing shall be open to coverage

by television, radio, and still photography in accordance

with clause 4 of House Rule XI.

(b) To the maximum extent practicable, the Committee shall

provide audio and visual coverage of each hearing or meeting

for the transaction of business in a manner that allows the

public to easily listen to and view the proceedings, and

maintain the recordings of such coverage in a manner that is

easily accessible to the public. Operation and use of any

Committee Internet broadcast system shall be fair and

nonpartisan, and in accordance with clauses 4 (b) and (f) of

House Rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee

and the House.

Rule VI. Subcommittees

(a) Committee Jurisdiction. The Committee shall have

jurisdiction over such matters as determined by the Chair.

(b) Subcommittees and Jurisdiction. There shall be five

standing Subcommittees of the Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology, with jurisdictions as follows:

(1) Subcommittee on Energy. Shall have jurisdiction over

the following subject matters: all matters relating to energy

research, development, and demonstration projects therefor;

commercial application of energy technology; Department of

Energy research, development, and demonstration programs;

Department of Energy laboratories; Department of Energy

science activities; energy supply activities; nuclear, solar,

and renewable energy, and other advanced energy technologies;

uranium supply and enrichment, and Department of Energy waste

management; fossil energy research and development; clean

coal technology; energy conservation research and

development, including building performance, alternate fuels,

distributed power systems, and industrial process

improvements; pipeline research, development, and

demonstration projects; energy standards; other appropriate

matters as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.

(2) Subcommittee on Environment. Shall have jurisdiction

over the following subject matters: all matters relating to

environmental research; Environmental Protection Agency

research and development; environmental standards; climate

change research and development; the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related

to weather, weather services, climate, the atmosphere, marine

fisheries, and oceanic research; risk assessment activities;

scientific issues related to environmental policy, including

climate change; other appropriate matters as referred by the

Chair; and relevant oversight.

(3) Subcommittee on Research and Technology. Shall have

jurisdiction over the following subject matters: all matters

relating to science policy and science education; the Office

of Science and Technology Policy; all scientific research,

and scientific and engineering resources (including human

resources); all matters relating to science, technology,

engineering and mathematics education; intergovernmental

mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and

cross-cutting programs; international scientific cooperation;

National Science Foundation; university research policy,

including infrastructure and overhead; university research

partnerships, including those with industry; science

scholarships; computing, communications, networking, and

information technology; research and development relating to

health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; research,

development, and demonstration relating to nanoscience,

nanoengineering, and nanotechnology; agricultural,

geological, biological and life sciences research; materials

research, development, demonstration, and policy; all matters

relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and

innovation; standardization of weights and measures,

including technical standards, standardization, and

conformity assessment; measurement, including the metric

system of measurement; the Technology Administration of the

Department of Commerce; the National Institute of Standards

and Technology; the National Technical Information Service;

competitiveness, including small business competitiveness;

tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental

policies related to technological development and

commercialization; technology transfer, including civilian

use of defense technologies; patent and intellectual property

policy; international technology trade; research,

development, and demonstration activities of the Department

of Transportation; surface and water transportation research,

development, and demonstration programs; earthquake programs

and fire research programs, including those related to

wildfire proliferation research and prevention; biotechnology

policy; research, development, demonstration, and standards-

related activities of the Department of Homeland Security;

Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer;

voting technologies and standards; other appropriate matters

as referred by the Chair; and relevant oversight.

(4) Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Shall have

jurisdiction over the following subject matters: all matters

relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and

development; national space policy, including access to

space; sub-orbital access and applications; National

Aeronautics and Space Administration and its contractor and

government-operated labs; space commercialization, including

commercial space activities relating to the Department of

Transportation and the Department of Commerce; exploration

and use of outer space; international space cooperation; the

National Space Council; space applications, space

communications and related matters; Earth remote sensing

policy; civil aviation research, development, and

demonstration; research, development, and demonstration

programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; space law;

other appropriate matters as referred by the Chair; and

relevant oversight.

(5) Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Shall

have general and special investigative authority on all

matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee.

(c) Composition of Subcommittees.

(1) The Chair shall assign Members to the Subcommittees.

Minority party assignments shall be made only with the

concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. The Chair shall

determine the ratio of Majority Members to Minority Members

of each Subcommittee; provided that the ratio of Majority

Members to Minority Members on each Subcommittee (excluding

any ex officio Member) shall be no less favorable to the

Majority party than the ratio for the Committee.

(2) The Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee

shall be ex officio Members of each Subcommittee and shall

have the right to vote and be counted as part of the quorum

and ratios on all matters before the Subcommittee.

(d) Referral to Subcommittees. The Chair shall

expeditiously refer all legislation and other matters

referred to the Committee to the Subcommittee or

Subcommittees of appropriate jurisdiction, unless the Chair

deems consideration is to be by the Committee. Subcommittee

Chairs may make requests for referral of specific matters to

their Subcommittee if they believe Subcommittee jurisdictions

so warrants.

(e) Subcommittee Procedures and Reports.

(1) Subcommittee Chairs shall set meeting dates with the

concurrence of the Chair and after consultation with the

other Subcommittee Chairs with a view toward avoiding

simultaneous scheduling of Subcommittee meetings or hearings

wherever possible. No Subcommittee may meet or hold a hearing

at the same time as a meeting or hearing of the Committee

without authorization from the Chair.

(2) Each Subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,

receive testimony or evidence, mark up legislation, and

report to the Committee on all matters referred to it. For

matters within its jurisdiction, each Subcommittee is

authorized to conduct legislative, investigative,

forecasting, and general oversight hearings; to conduct

inquiries into the future; and to undertake budget impact

studies.

(3) Each Subcommittee shall provide the Committee with

copies of such records of votes taken in the Subcommittee and

such other records with respect to the Subcommittee as the

Chair of the Committee deems necessary to ensure compliance

with the House Rules.

(4) After ordering a measure or matter reported, a

Subcommittee shall issue a report in such form as the Chair

shall specify. To the maximum extent practicable, reports and

recommendations of a Subcommittee shall not be considered by

the Committee until after the intervention of 48 hours

(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when

the House is in session on such a day) from the time the

report is submitted and made available to the Committee.

Printed hearings thereon shall be made available, if

feasible, to the Committee, except that this Rule may be

waived at the discretion of the Chair after consultation with

the Ranking Minority Member.

(5) Any Member of the Committee may have the privilege of

sitting with any Subcommittee during its hearings or

deliberations and may participate in such hearings or

deliberations, but no Member who is not a Member of the

Subcommittee shall vote on any matter before such

Subcommittee, except as provided in Rule VI(c)(2).

Rule VII. Vice Chairs

(a) The Chair of the Committee shall designate a Member of

the majority party to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee,

and shall designate a Majority Member of each Subcommittee to

serve as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee. Vice Chairs of the

Committee and each Subcommittee serve at the pleasure of the

Chair, who may at any time terminate his designation of a

Member as Vice Chair and designate a different Member of the

majority party to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee or

relevant Subcommittee.

(b) The Chair may assign duties, privileges, and

responsibilities to the Vice Chairs of the Committee or the

various Subcommittees.

Rule VIII. Oversight and Investigations

(a) The Committee shall review and study, on a continuing

basis, the application, administration, execution, and

effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, the subject

matter of which is within its jurisdiction, including all

laws, programs, and Government activities relating to

nonmilitary research and development in accordance with House

Rule X.

(b) Not later than March 1st of the first session of the

116th Congress, the Chair, after consultation with the

Ranking Minority Member, shall submit the Committee's

oversight plan to the Committee on Oversight and the

Committee on House Administration in accordance with the

provisions of clause 2(d) of House Rule X.

(c) Any investigation undertaken in the name of the

Committee shall be approved by the Chair. Nothing in this

subsection shall be interpreted to infringe on a

Subcommittee's authority to conduct general oversight of

matters within its jurisdiction, short of undertaking an

investigation.

Rule IX. Subpoenas

The power to authorize and issue subpoenas is delegated to

the Chair as provided for under clause 2(m)(3)(A)(i) of House

Rule XI. The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member

prior to issuing any subpoena under such authority. To the

extent practicable, the Chair shall consult with the Ranking

Minority Member at least 24 hours in advance of a subpoena

being issued under such authority.

Rule X. Deposition Authority

The Chair may authorize the staff of the Committee to

conduct depositions pursuant to section 103 of House

Resolution 6, 116th Congress, and subject to any regulations

issued pursuant thereto.

Rule XI. Committee Records

(a) The records of the Committee at the National Archives

and Records Administration shall be made available for public

use in accordance with House Rule VII.

(b) The Chair shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of

the Committee of any decision, pursuant to clauses 3(b)(3) or

4(b) of House Rule VII, to withhold a record otherwise

available, and the matter shall be presented to the Committee

for a determination on the written request of any Member of

the Committee.

Rule XII. Official Committee Website

The Chair shall maintain an official Committee website for

the purpose of furthering the Committee's legislative and

oversight responsibilities, including communicating

information about the Committee's activities to Committee

Members and other Members of the House. The Ranking Minority

Member of the Committee may maintain a similar website for

the same purpose, including communicating information about

the activities of the minority to Committee Members and other

Members of the House.

Rule XIII. Committee Budget

From the amount provided to the Committee in the primary

expense resolution adopted by the House of Representatives in

the 116th Congress, the Chair shall designate one-third of

the budget, after adjustment for the salaries of the shared

administrative functions for the Clerk, Printer and Financial

Administrator, under the direction of the Ranking Minority

Member for the purposes of minority staff, travel expenses of

minority staff and Members, and all other minority office

expenses.

Rule XIV. Amendments to Committee Rules

The rules of the Committee may be modified, amended, or

repealed, in the same manner and method as prescribed for the

adoption of committee rules in clause 2 of House Rule XI, but

only if written notice of the proposed change has been

provided to each such Member at least 3 days before the time

of the meeting at which the vote on the change occurs. Any

such change in the rules of the Committee shall be published

in the Congressional Record within 30 calendar days after

their approval.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Federal employees in my district and around the Nation.

For over a month now, 800,000 coastguardsmen, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers have been held hostage by President Trump's shutdown, a shutdown with far-reaching consequences.

Due to staffing shortages at Dallas' two major airports, shortages that have resulted from the TSA agents being forced to live the last 34 days without pay, aviation experts have warned that flying today is less safe than over a month ago.

Madam Speaker, since President Trump irresponsibly shut government down, I have heard from countless TSA agents and the national air traffic controllers in my district. They have all indicated that, while they are committed to their duties, they are also suffering financially and need the government reopened now.

I stand with them. Every member of our Caucus is standing together, calling on the White House to open the government now.

Mr. Speaker, many of the members who serve in this chamber, myself included, value the important relationship the United States shares with Taiwan. To this end, The House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation in the 115th Congress similar to the bill that is being debated today. Both bills direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in regaining observer status at the World Health Organization.

As a cosponsor of H.R. 3320 in the 115th Congress, I commend the gentleman from the great state of Florida for bringing this bill to the floor early in this Congress. Taiwan has been a model member of the global health community, having served as an observer in the World Health Assembly from 2009 until 2016. Taiwan has also contributed in enhancing regional and global disease prevention networks, along with working with other countries to ensure the World Health Organization's vision of health being a fundamental human right is successfully met.

While some outside actors try to prevent Taiwan from contributing to the global health community as an observer at the World Health Organization, it is important for all of us to realize that the best way to address the challenges of today and tomorrow with regards to global health is to work together, rather than exclude parties due to geopolitics. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 353.

Madam Speaker, today marks the 26th day of President Trump's irresponsible and destructive government shutdown. Not only has the shutdown resulted in hundreds of thousands of Americans being put on furlough, but it has also inflicted long-term damage to our Nation's research and development enterprise.

During my 26 years on the Science Committee, I have witnessed the consequences of our Federal science and technology agencies being forced to shut their doors; namely, science suffers and U.S. innovation falters. We fall behind and fail to compete globally as our competitors strengthen their own investments in R&D.

Researchers who rely on regular funding from now-closed agencies are struggling to keep their projects afloat as they miss important deadlines and have crucial gaps in data. We are seeing contractors that work in coordination with the Federal Government being furloughed, with no promise of back pay when the President's temper tantrum is finally over.

We hope to get back on course. If we want to remain a global leader in innovation, we must end this shutdown.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the gentleman from South Carolina's resolution condemning the recent remarks of our colleague Steven King.

As we celebrate the 90th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he indicated that ``there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him that it is right.''

Unfortunately, the recent rhetoric of Mr. King not only highlights the wrongs of our nation's dark past, but it promotes a spirit of division, bitterness and fear.

At a time when our nation is looking to its leaders to bring confidence and security, we must take the steps toward unity and seek out understanding and denounce thoughts that are divisive.

There is no room for such rhetoric in the most diverse Congress ever and I stand with my colleagues to censure Congressman Steven King.

Madam Speaker, I want to state my support for H.R. 206, the Encouraging Small Business Innovators Act and H.R. 246, the Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2019. I thank Chairwoman Velazquez, Congressman Rouda, Congresswoman Finkenauer and other colleagues on both committees for their work to advance these bills to the House Floor.

Through competitive research and development grants and contracts, the SBIR and STTR programs provide opportunities for innovative small businesses to participate in the federal research and development enterprise. The Federal R&D enterprise supports innovation by funding the best and brightest at our great research institutions, our national labs, and small businesses across all sectors of our economy. The SBIR and STTR programs have proven to be an important part of that investment. Over the years, the Science Committee has supported strong funding as well as improvements in policy and oversight for the SBIR and STTR programs. Last Congress, several important pilot programs were extended and other updates were made in law that help make the programs more effective and efficient. These include supporting more early-state funding for small business innovators, providing funding for important agency outreach and program administration, and streamlining reporting requirements.

The Science Committee considered several of the provisions in H.R. 246 in the 115th Congress. As these two bills advance, the Committee looks forward to working with our colleagues on the Small Business Committee to review and adopt policy changes in the SBIR and STTR programs that continue to strengthen the partnership between innovative small business and our federal research agencies. Further, I hope we will continue working together to ensure that the agencies prioritize outreach and other activities to increase the participation of women and minority-owned innovative small businesses in the SBIR and STTR programs.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 206 and H.R. 246.

Madam Speaker, as the representative of the 30th Congressional District of Texas, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Mr. Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines.

Herb Kelleher was one of a kind. He embodied the colorful spirit and joyful nature of the airline he cofounded. He exuded this bright personality whether he was on television, in a room full of people, or speaking to just one individual. Beyond instilling the value of fun in his company, he revolutionized air travel by making the low-cost, low- fare airline accessible for many Americans.

Born in New Jersey, he studied English and philosophy at Wesleyan University and then law at New York University. It was his wife, Joan, whom he met on a blind date, who persuaded him to set up a law firm in Texas. Southwest Airlines was born not on the back of a cocktail napkin as he later liked to boast, but when one of his legal clients, Rollin King, owner of a small commuter airline, and his banker, John Parker, came to his office. Both men found travelling between the cities of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio inconvenient and expensive and thought they could do it better. With Herb Kelleher's help, they succeeded.

Since it's conception as a public company in 1971, Southwest has succeeded by just about every measure. In more than 45 years, in an industry filled with bankruptcies and mergers, Southwest has never had a year where it lost money. Under Mr. Kelleher's leadership, Southwest broke through in an industry entrenched with big names to offer a new spin on commercial air travel. In addition, the company promoted a healthy work environment before the idea became a widely-embraced corporate concept.

To Mr. Kelleher, Southwest Airlines was more than just another company; to him, it was a cause. His goal was to keep fares low and fly to as many cities as possible. In his words, the focus was to ``democratize the skies'' by making it as easy, affordable, and flexible for everyday Americans to travel. Such a mission may seem quaint today, but it was a revolutionary aspiration back when he first began.

Madam Speaker, the life of Herb Kelleher that we celebrate today is a testament to the value of great character and honesty. Because of Mr. Kelleher, Southwest Airlines made an essential contribution to America's quality of life. And most importantly, for Dallas and Texans statewide, Mr. Kelleher made an essential and long-lasting economic contribution to our region. Today as we reflect on his life, it is safe to say that the late Mr. Kelleher made a very real contribution to our world, and we are all witnessing the benefit of those contributions today.

Mr. Speaker, healthcare is important, and no one knows that better than our country's nurses. As the first registered nurse elected to Congress, I know how the Affordable Care Act has improved our country's healthcare, especially for the 133 million Americans living with preexisting conditions, including 11.5 million who live in my home State of Texas, the most uninsured State in the Nation.

Today, we are bringing a resolution to the floor which will empower the House of Representatives, the people's House, to intervene in a lawsuit that Republicans have brought solely to throw the American healthcare system into chaos. I urge my colleagues to support the Allred resolution and vote to protect the healthcare of millions of our fellow Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend and a true East Texas treasure, Pettis Norman.

Pettis Norman, once known as one of the premier athletes in the National Football League and a long-time Dallas Cowboy, is recognized as a successful businessman with a keen sense of civic responsibility and boundless energy. With more than forty years of business experience, this former Cowboys star has achieved record success on and off the field. Norman was active in changing the segregationist climate within the Cowboys and later the city of Dallas, helping organized marches during the civil rights movement influencing the changing of the team's roommate assignments and breaking social barriers.

During his collegiate and professional careers, Pettis was a stellar athlete. He was voted a First Team, Currier All-American in 1962, while attending Johnson C. Smith University as a physical education student. Upon graduating, Pettis joined the National Football League and won three championships as a starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers over nine seasons.

In addition to his professional sports endeavors, Pettis pursued a career in banking with South Oak Cliff State Bank in Dallas. Pettis was initially hired to work in Public Relations, but quickly rose to the position of Assistant Vice President in Business Development. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Vice President, becoming the first-ever African-American Banking Officer in the region.

Pettis furthered his business interests by also venturing into real estate and restaurant franchising over the course of three decades. To date, Pettis has created four companies under the umbrella known as PNI Industries. He also created The Dallas Together Forum, consisting of approximately 20 CEOs from Fortune 500 companies, to address the pressing issues of minorities and female participation in the ``bounties of our nation''. The Dallas Together Forum became a successful model that had been replicated across the nation.

Pettis Norman is well-regarded and is highly respected within the Dallas community. I would like to recognize him on his birthday, and I thank him for his leadership to this community and to the city of Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life of a man whose artistic abilities and musical prominence were born of my hometown. Roy Hargrove was a world-renowned jazz trumpeter, who won two Grammys in his career for best Latin Jazz performance in 1998 and then best jazz instrumental album in 2003. The impact of his musical career, however, was defined by much more than the five albums he released or the many awards he won.

A Waco, Texas native, like myself, Mr. Hargrove moved to Dallas at a young age, where he attended the Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts to study music. Though only 49 years old when he passed, Mr. Hargrove earned respect for his musical abilities from his peers while in his teens. For over 30 years, Mr. Hargrove's musical genius was celebrated by accomplished musicians who's path he followed. These musicians included Dallas' very own David ``Fathead'' Newman, who inspired Mr. Hargrove to continue pursuing his passion for music in the 1980s. After beginning his performing career in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex during his teenage years, Mr. Hargrove moved to New York City to continue his studies of music. In addition to launching his professional career, it is here that he founded The Jazz Gallery, a space that serves as a hub for new music.

It is noted by those who value his career that Mr. Hargrove created a unique sound that bridged traditional jazz with hip-hop and R&B. He was instrumental in bringing neo-soul to prominence. Mr. Hargrove will be most remembered as both an exceptional soloist and a brilliant collaborator.

Mr. Speaker, jazz is one of my favorite genres of music, and Dallas is my hometown. Roy Hargrove represents both of these two things, which are dear to me. Today, I wish to offer my condolences to the Hargrove family and the Booker T. Washington family who have lost one of their most adored members. Let us remember the joy Mr. Hargrove brought to others through his music and continue the tradition of passing on his passion through the teaching of music to the young people of this country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of S. 3277, the Space Frontier Act of 2019.

I say ``reluctant'' because the process that brought us to this point is extremely disappointing. Many of the provisions of this bill have not been seriously vetted by the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I doubt very much whether they were at all vetted by anyone in the Senate. And this bill makes some potentially significant changes to space policy in the United States.

This is no way to legislate.

However, there are some good things in the bill. I very much appreciate that the end date for the International Space Station is pushed back to 2030. Now, I don't know if that date is the proper one, but I do know that the arbitrary decision made by the Trump administration to end the International Space Station by 2024 was wrong. As we move into the next Congress, this is something that I hope to be looking into.

I am also glad to see commercial remote sensing language that will help the industry grow, while still considering the government's legitimate security interests.

In short, I will be voting for this bill, in part, because I support the development of commercial space activities and want them to flourish, while still protecting the public interest.

However, as the presumptive chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the next Congress, I certainly will be revisiting some of the other items in the bill. For instance, this bill creates a $150 million office at NASA and doesn't specify where the money is to come from within NASA, or provide any real specifics to how it will be spent.

I would also note that NASA's vital education programs receive less money than that, so this is a major new initiative and it is something that requires review.

I could go on, but, unfortunately, it is clear that there is not going to be time today for a thoughtful discussion of any concerns with the bill or any opportunity to address them. That will have to wait until we have a new Congress.

I plan to submit a longer statement in the Record which will highlight some of my concerns. For now, it is enough to say that I support NASA's mission and a robust U.S. space industry and, for that reason, I support this bill, in spite of the awful process that got us here.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. But I would like to say, on behalf of my retiring chair, that it has been a challenge. I have learned a lot. I respect and like him. I wish him well for his future, and I hope that he will visit us now and then to see that we will have a little bit of a change in the committee.

I hope that we will pass this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in support of H.R. 5509, the innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act. I comment Majority Leader McCarthy for his leadership in addressing this important issue with this legislation.

I am heartened to see so much attention being paid to the importance of developing a STEM workforce that is equipped to meet the demands of an increasingly automated and technology-driven economy. As Ranking Member of the Science Committee, I am committed to ensuring all students and individuals seeking a career change have access to the education and technical skills training they need to pursue high- paying, meaningful STEM careers.

It is high time we as a society recognize the value of apprenticeships as avenues to high quality careers. We have work to do to change the perception of skilled technical labor and it starts by recognizing that our STEM workforce includes so much more than just those with advanced STEM degrees.

A strong STEM workforce is built on the foundation of blue collar STEM workers--workers who use their extensive STEM knowledge and skills day in and day out without the need for a traditional four-year degree.

Blue collar STEM workers contribute to our nation's economic competitiveness in immeasurable ways. What good is it for a company to have the most innovative engineers and scientists if they don't have the laboratory managers, technicians, mechanics, IT workers, machinists, and welders to transform their ideas into reality? We will need more blue collar STEM workers if we are to keep pace with our global competitors.

One key barrier to developing a strong STEM workforce is the misalignment between the education and training provided at community colleges and universities and the knowledge and skills employers need. H.R. 5509 takes us in the right direction by directing federal support for developing and improving STEM associate degree and applied learning programs in partnership with local employers.

In the new congress I look forward to continuing to explore ways in which Congress can help strengthen the blue collar STEM workforce that is so vital to our success.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I support passage of S. 7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2018''.

NASA's enhanced use leasing or ``EUL'' authority provides the agency with tools to help manage its real property. NASA has, for example, used EUL to preserve underutilized property and make improvements to facility conditions.

EUL allows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--NASA-- to enter into agreements with state and local governments, academia, private sector entities, and other Federal government agencies to lease non-excess and underutilized properties at NASA.

According to NASA, in Fiscal Year 2017, NASA used enhanced use leasing resulting in a total of approximately $5.4 million in net revenue for the agency.

Congress first granted NASA authority to demonstrate enhanced use leasing in the early 2000s. Since that time, Congress has expanded and extended the agency's EUL authority.

The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017--Public Law 115-10-- extended NASA's EUL authority until December 31, 2018.

The bill we are considering today provides a clean one-year extension until December 31,

2019. This extension will allow NASA to continue existing EUL arrangements and to make progress on developing new arrangements that are currently underway.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes and pass S. 7, the ``NASA Enhanced Use Lease Extension Act of 2018.''