Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I am proud to have introduced the Apollo I Memorial Amendment to H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo I spacecraft fire that claimed the lives of three American heroes. With this Amendment we ensure that these three courageous astronauts, who gave their lives in service to our great nation, will be appropriately honored.

On January 27, 1967, Astronauts Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee were killed in an electrical fire that broke out inside their Apollo I Command Module on Launch Pad 34 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The accident led to a detailed internal investigation and congressional hearings. As a result of their sacrifice, NASA made needed changes to the Apollo program which ultimately resulted in the successful Apollo 11 landing on the moon two years later.

My Amendment requires the Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to construct a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery in their honor. This marker corrects an unfortunate omission, namely, that these three fearless astronauts, who were set to be the ones to fly the first Apollo mission into space, have not received a memorial at Arlington as was done for the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews. As Arlington National Cemetery is where we recognize heroes who have passed in the service of our Nation, it is fitting that on the 50th anniversary of the launchpad accident we acknowledge the sacrifice of the Apollo I Astronauts.

Mr. Chair, it is past time to install a memorial marker at Arlington so that current and future Americans never forget their sacrifice as we continue to reach for the stars.

Before closing, I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who supported the original bill from which this Amendment was drawn, H.R. 703, the Apollo Memorial Act. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to both Mr. Hollingsworth of Indiana and Mr. Posey of Florida who both offered to cosponsor this Amendment.

I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will continue to come together to support this amendment honoring these heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the beginning of the Diamond Jubilee for the North Texas lsmaili Muslim community, and the broader Ismaili Muslim community across the world.

On July 11, 1957, The Aga Khan became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. In these past six decades, the Aga Khan has guided the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims in both their spiritual and material lives, providing religious interpretation, ensuring their safety, and improving the quality of life for the community.

While serving as the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan has also played a major role in the philanthropic arena. The Aga Khan Foundation, established by the Aga Khan in 1967, works on projects such as disaster relief and historical restoration of cities and artifacts through the various programs in the Aga Khan Development Network. The AKDN along with its partners across the globe provides quality education and healthcare, along with promoting social and economic development to some of the world's most impoverished and isolated communities.

The Ismaili Muslim community has contributed greatly to the cultural diversification and economic development in North Texas. Their volunteers have served the North Texas community by participating in local cleanups efforts after severe weather. The volunteers have also worked alongside other faith based groups and local nonprofits to provide meals to those who are less fortunate.

Mr. Speaker, the Diamond Jubilee presents an opportunity to the Ismaili Muslim community to reaffirm their faith and serve the communities in which they live through various programs established by the Aga Khan. I congratulate the Aga Khan and the Ismaili Muslim community on this momentous milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize country music singer, guitarist, performer, and business owner, Charley Pride. Mr. Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and is one of only three African Americans to have been inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His rise to stardom was an amazing feat given his humble beginnings and the obstacles he faced. Nonetheless, he developed a passion for music that could not be satiated. At the tender age of fourteen he purchased his first guitar, taught himself to play by listening to country music on the radio, and the rest is history.

Throughout his musical career, Charley Pride has accomplished what other artists can only dream of: 36 #1 singles, 12 gold albums, 52 top- 10 country hits, millions of records sold worldwide, three Country Music Awards, one Grammy Award, and becoming the first major Black country music star.

A man of many talents, Pride also played for the Negro American League's Memphis Red Sox and the East Helena Smelterites before being signed by RCA Records in 1966. The sacrifices he made in order to craft masterpieces such as ``Just Between You and Me'', ``The Snakes Crawl At Night'', and ``Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'' will forever pale in comparison to the sacrifice he made by putting his musical and professional baseball careers on hold to serve our country.

Despite his undeniable musical talents, Pride faced innumerable obstacles as he--a black man in a field predominantly occupied by whites--pursued a career as a country musician. Despite the heartaches and the challenges, Charley Pride has become one of the most successful artists in the history of country music. From being born in Sledge, Mississippi to a sharecropper, to becoming a special investor and a minority owner of the Texas Rangers, he has lived a life that his parents could not have fathomed. Times have changed, but the love of his three children and his wife, Rozene, have remained consistent.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call this man my constituent. I congratulate and thank him for his role as a trailblazer in music and an inspiration for so many. Mr. Speaker, the work and life of Charley Pride are worth placing these sentiments in the permanent Record of the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with Congressman Barton, to recognize the birthday of Luci Baines Johnson. Ms. Luci Baines Johnson is the Chairwoman of LBJ Holding Co. She also serves as Vice President of The Business Suites and as a Director of LBJ Broadcasting Co. Ms. Johnson is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Wildflower Research Center, a member of the advisory boards of both the Center for Battered Women and of ``Believe in Me'', and a life trustee of Seton Fund. After many years of service, we are pleased to recognize her today. On Sunday, July 2, 2017, she will be celebrating her 70th birthday.

Ms. Johnson has degrees from Georgetown University School of Nursing, the University of Texas, and St. Edward's University. Ms. Johnson has served as a Trustee of Boston University, is a past chairman of the Affiliate Fund-raising Drive for the American Heart Association, a former chairman of the University of Texas System School of Nursing, and a former member of the Board of Review of the National League of Nursing.

Through our shared passion for public service, we have developed a close relationship that continues to grow stronger by the year. Much like her parents before her, she has dedicated her life to public service and it has been an honor to see the contributions she has made throughout the state of Texas.

Throughout her life, she has constantly displayed the virtues of compassion, passion,

and integrity. By staying true to herself in the midst of adversity, she has managed to accomplish so much. Through her philanthropic efforts, she has been able to turn dreams into realities for so many.

Mr. Speaker, we congratulate Luci Baines Johnson on her successes, and we wish her a happy 70th birthday. We wish her success as she continues to fight for so many people, not only in the Great State of Texas, but across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, the recognition of the birthday and accomplishments of Luci Baines Johnson are worth acknowledging.

Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 334.

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Barr

Mr. Speaker, this country faces a terrible opioid epidemic that must be confronted head on. In 2015 alone, 33,091 Americans died from opioid overdose. The use of illegal, destructive drugs like heroin and the abuse of prescription drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone are keeping hardworking Americans out of commission.

As members of the United States House of Representatives, it is our duty to prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring. In 2015, a total of $36 billion was spent on addiction treatment, and only a fraction of those needing treatment were able to receive it. However, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) allocates only $2 billion for opioid addiction treatment, falling remarkably short of what is needed. BCRA would cut Medicaid by $772 billion, robbing those with the greatest need of aid.

This will have catastrophic repercussions for the millions of opioid addicts that rely on Medicaid for treatment. If enacted, this legislation will strip 22 million Americans of their health insurance and deprive many of the individuals battling opioid addiction of treatment. This Senate proposal will not solve the opioid crisis; it will do irrevocable harm to American families.

In my home state of Texas, there were 2,588 drug overdose deaths in 2015. This is inexcusable. In the future we must ensure that all individuals suffering from addiction and mental illness are given access to the proper resources and treatment. It is imperative that Congress provide sufficient relief for the millions of Americans struggling with opioid addiction, or thousands of more lives will be lost.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month. In June 2005, the House of Representatives adopted H. Con. Res. 71, recognizing the significance of the Caribbean people. In February 2006, the resolution passed in the Senate, and was signed by President George W. Bush in June 2006.

Since the declaration, the United States has celebrated June as Caribbean American heritage month every June, this year marks the twelfth anniversary. Approximately 3 million people in America can trace their ancestry to the Caribbean.

Historically, African-Caribbean migration to the United States can be traced back to the 17th century during British colonial slavery. While enslaved Africans imported from the Caribbean decreased after revolts in the 1700s, Caribbean immigration grew in the mid-1800s. After World War II, Caribbean immigration boomed during periods of economic growth. Between 1960 and 2009, the number of Caribbean immigrants grew from 190,000 to 2 million.

Caribbean Americans have contributed the fabric of our society, bringing a unique and vibrant culture to mesh with that of America's. Just to name a few, Colin Powell, Eric Holder, Cicely Tyson, and Lenny Kravitz are all Caribbean Americans.

I urge my fellow members of Congress to commemorate this month as National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a world leader for her tireless work in securing peace for their home country. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia has spent decades advocating for peace and democracy in Liberia. She is a role model for all those who believe world peace is achievable through public service.

Throughout her career President Sirleaf has never been afraid to stand up and speak out for what she believed was best for Liberians. Her career in public service began in 1972 as an assistant minister of finance under President William Tolbert. She was forced to flee Liberia in 1980 after publicly speaking out against the government of Samuel Doe. She returned to Liberia in 1985 to seek public office only to be sentenced to ten years in prison for her comments criticizing the government. President Sirleaf watched from afar as Liberia was terrorized and almost destroyed through two violent civil wars. She advocated for Liberians to put down their weapons and come to a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that plagued the country.

In 2005, President Sirleaf was elected by the citizens of Liberia to be the country's 24th President, shattering the glass ceiling and becoming the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa. President Sirleaf has helped her country and its people recover from the unrest and violence that preceded her presidency. Her hard work and dedication has revived national hope by strengthening the institutions of national security and good governance, leading to the revitalization of infrastructure within the country along with the national economy. President Sirleaf's persistence in transforming the image of Liberia has restored the country's credibility and reputation on the global stage.

In 2011, President Sirleaf, among others, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in advocating for peace, democracy and gender equality in Liberia. When the Norwegian Committee granted this prize, it was their hope President Sirleaf would help bring an end to the suppression of women, to realize the great potential for democracy, and to epitomize the peace that women can represent.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate President Sirleaf for working towards that goal, for her many accomplishments, and for being a pioneer in African politics. She is truly an inspiration to not just the women in Liberia, but to women around the world. Because of President Sirleaf, the world is stronger, smarter, more diverse, and more equal than it has ever been before, and the future of Liberia is forever brighter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Southwest Airlines' first African-American Chief Pilot Lou Freeman. On June 8, 2017, after 37 years of service, Captain Freeman announced his retirement. Captain Freeman will forever be remembered as the first African-American chief pilot for any airline.

Captain Freeman served our amazing country in the Air Force for six years, and will forever be the model of a modern Chief Pilot. His desire to be perfect was personified by his unwavering commitment to the skies and his passengers. His most famous trip might have been when he flew Rosa Parks' remains to her funeral, but the one that meant the most was his last which was full of family and friends.

Today, Captain Freeman is set to celebrate his 65th birthday, and he deserves to be honored for his dedication to our country. Since joining Southwest in 1980, Captain Freeman has been an example for so many Americans. In life, there are many successes and failures, but to strive for perfection and to do so every day is what separated Captain Freeman from his contemporaries.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Captain Freeman on such a groundbreaking as well as barrier breaking career. More so, I wish Captain

Freeman and his wife the best during retirement.

Mr. Speaker, the retirement of one of America's first and finest, one of Dallas' own, is worthy of placing these sentiments in the permanent record of the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the 2016 presidential election was an exceptionally bitter fight between Republicans and Democrats. The election highlighted many of the existing divides between many Americans and the underlying frustrations that we have been wrestling with as a people. Couple this with the resentful partisanship that we have experienced in Congress, and it is quite clear that there are deep rifts dividing our country. However, one of the biggest consequences of this partisan bickering and inability to compromise has been the increase in the frequency of hate crimes across America.

The latest figures from the Southern Poverty Law Center estimate that there have been nearly 1,372 bias incidents between the day after the election and February 7, when these statistics were last reported. SPLC is collecting self-reported data from across the country in an effort to monitor ``bias incidents''--or acts of hostility that are motivated by racism or other prejudices--across the United States. While it is important to acknowledge the limitations of self-reported data, this trend is consistent with several other incidents reported nationwide that have challenged the notion that we are living in a post-racial society.

For example, several nooses were found throughout our nation's capital this month--one near an elementary school, another in the African American Museum of History and Culture, and on American University's campus. On June 2, a Muslim couple was allegedly harassed in Oregon and told to go back to their country. More prominently, two men in Portland were stabbed to death and another wounded when they tried to intervene on behalf of two women, one of whom was wearing a hijab, who were being verbally assaulted by a man yelling slurs.

Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the horrendous incidents being reported in the wake of this election and the hateful rhetoric that has come to define the political narrative. However, I am here to join my colleagues not only to denounce these actions and hateful words, but also to remind ourselves that we are better than this. We are better than this as a people and a nation, and we must all do our part to discourage this behavior and hold these violators accountable. Until we all take active roles within our society and democracy, we cannot reasonably expect our society to overcome these challenges and emerge a stronger society. I am proud to join my colleagues tonight in sending a clear message that these acts of hatred and violence will not be tolerated. Not today, not ever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize MegaFest which returns to Dallas this summer--June 28 through July 1. MegaFest has been built into the nation's largest celebration of life-changing events and empowering seminars focused on faith, inspiration, music, entertainment, youth and fun for the entire family, and praise for this event's success belongs to visionary leader Bishop T.D. Jakes.

MegaFest has captivated diverse audiences in Atlanta, GA; Dallas, TX; and Johannesburg, South Africa, since 2004. In 2015, over 90,000 attendees from around the world called Dallas ``home.'' With an expected attendance of over 100,000, support from the business community and key sponsors has helped Bishop Jakes, MegaFest, and the City of Dallas reach larger audiences and offer quality programs and entertainment.

A major theme of the event is based on the ``Conversations with America'' survey conducted by Bishop Jakes. The survey gauged America's thoughts, concerns, and views on today's most pressing issues, including gender equality, criminal justice reform, economic reform, and national security.

This year's results show a significant and consistent gap between men and women's views toward the current state of gender inequality across America. Equality for all is a central pillar of our democracy, and women, no matter their ethnicity, religious orientation, or socioeconomic status in the United States, should be treated as equals in all aspects of our society.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Bishop Jakes on creating such a wonderful and progressive event. I wish MegaFest, and similar events, future success in uniting families and individuals from all over the world in the name of love, growth, and equality.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be introducing the STEM Opportunities Act of 2017. A very similar bill passed the House as part of the America Competes Act of 2010, but unfortunately didn't make it into the enacted law. As a result, every Congress since then, I have worked hard to keep the legislation updated and to convince my colleagues of the urgency of the challenges this bill addresses. Today I am reintroducing this bill with 20 cosponsors. And my colleague Senator Hirono is introducing a Senate companion bill. The goal of our legislation is to develop and implement evidence-based policies to promote the progress of women and minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies and research careers.

The need for full engagement in STEM by women and underrepresented minorities goes beyond enabling individuals to fulfill their dreams of becoming a scientist. Our economic future relies on what we do now to nurture the STEM talent that will be necessary to meet the demands of an increasingly technological and knowledge-based economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that STEM employment is the fastest growing sector, with computer science and engineering jobs among the fastest growing STEM occupations.

If things continue as they are now, however, I fear we will be ill equipped to fill these jobs. We are seventeen years into the 21st century and the demographics of the STEM workforce do not reflect the diversity of the nation. In 2015, women earned only 19 percent of bachelor's degrees in engineering and 18 percent in computer science. Black and Hispanic students are similarly underrepresented in these fields at the undergraduate level, and the problem is even more pronounced in STEM faculty. Women hold only 23 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions, while Black and Hispanic faculty combined hold a dismal 6.4 percent of these positions. We need to leverage all of our human capital if we are to achieve the necessary capacity to innovate and to discover.

The STEM Opportunities Act is focused on addressing the leaky pipeline for those who have already chosen a STEM path. First, so that we better understand the nature and scope of the challenges, the STEM Opportunities Act requires more comprehensive demographic data collection on the recipients of federal research awards and on STEM faculty at U.S. universities. These data would be available to researchers to study the participation and trajectories of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM so that policy makers can design more effective policies and practices to reduce barriers.

Next, this bill requires the development of consistent federal policies, such as no-cost award extensions, for recipients of federal research awards who have caregiving responsibilities, including care for a newborn or newly adopted child and care for an immediate family member who is sick. The bill also requires consistent federal guidance to grant reviewers and program officers on best practices to minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of federal research grants. It requires NSF to provide guidance to universities and OSTP to provide guidance to Federal laboratories to aid them in identifying any cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and achievement of women and minorities in academic and government STEM research careers and developing and implementing current best practices for reducing such barriers. Finally, the legislation authorizes NSF to award grants to universities to implement or expand research-based practices targeted specifically at increasing the recruitment and retention of minority students and faculty.

Mr. Speaker, in developing this legislation, we solicited extensive input from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to ensure that the guidance and requirements reflect today's needs and opportunities without unduly burdening our research universities. The result is a bill that attempts to systematically address the full suite of issues facing both female and minority STEM researchers, from work- life balance policies, to campus climate, to better data collection, to recruitment and retention practices. This bill proposes concrete and evidence-based solutions to the indisputable reality that our nation continues to fall well short of engaging our entire talent pool in STEM careers. That disparity in our STEM workforce

will continue to have real and increasing consequences to our social, economic, and national security if we do not begin to implement scalable solutions soon.

I want to thank Senator Hirono for joining me in introducing a Senate companion bill, and all of the Members of the House and Senate who have already cosponsored this legislation. I urge the rest of my colleagues to join us and to help us move this legislation forward into law.

Mr. Speaker, protecting our national security should be among one of the top concerns of any administration--Republican or Democrat. Yet, President Trump has demonstrated an alarming disregard for the national security interests of the United States.

There have been a number of incidents that I believe warrant additional scrutiny by Congress and the American people. Just last week, it was reported that President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during a White House meeting. In direct contravention of standing diplomatic agreements with our closest allies, President Trump also reportedly divulged the source of that highly classified information. Not only did this blatant disregard for protocol damage our credibility among the international community, but President Trump may have very well also exposed extremely sensitive information about U.S. and allied intelligence operations abroad.

Earlier this month, President Trump also took a bold step in firing former FBI Director James Comey in the midst of an investigation into his administration and alleged ties to Russian officials. Shortly after Director Comey was fired, an unnamed White House source revealed that President Trump told Russian officials during the same meeting that he did so in order to ease some of the pressure from the Russia investigation. This is deeply alarming, if not simply just ironic.

During the Presidential election, House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized Hillary Clinton over her mishandling of classified emails on a private email server. He stated, ``individuals who are `extremely careless' with classified information should be denied further access to such info.'' Today, I have yet to hear Speaker Ryan--or other key House Republicans--speak out against this blatant mishandling of classified information. It is hypocrisy in its purest form.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford the unauthorized divulging of classified information and national security secrets, especially to hostile nations such as Russia. I find it deeply troubling that a sitting president would display such a blatant disregard for the safeguarding of U.S. national security interests. I continue to join my colleagues in calling for an independent commission to investigate any possible collusion between the Trump Campaign and the Kremlin.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stan Richards, the Richards Group's founder, principal and creative director as he was inducted into the American Advertising Federation's (AAF's) 68th annual Advertising Hall of Fame class on April 25, 2017 in New York. We, in Dallas Texas, call Stan Richards the ``Father of Texas Design, Dallas adman and icon maker.''

Stan founded The Richards Group as a freelance practice after graduating from Pratt Institute in New York. The Richards Group, located in Dallas, is the largest independent brand-building shop in the nation. Clients include the brands of Cardinal Health, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, GameStop, The Home Depot, Motel 6, Orkin, Ram Trucks, The Salvation Army, Sub-Zero, Wolf and many others.

In 1976, the Richards Group became a full-service advertising agency. Stan's work has received awards in virtually every major competition in the world. In 1976, Stan was chosen by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications as ``the single individual who, over his career, has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of creative standards in the Southwestern United States.'' In 1981, 1983, and 1984, Stan was named by Adweek to the Southwest Creative All-Stars Hall of Fame. In 1985, Stan was honored by Pratt Institute as a Distinguished Alumnus. In 1986, he was honored with an Advertising Age cover story.

Also in 1986, Adweek named him Executive of the Year, and he was included in The Wall Street Journal's ``Giants of Our Time.'' In 1988, the firm was named Agency of the Year by Adweek. Again in 1990 and 1994. And once more in 2002. In 1995, Stan was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine.

In 1996, Stan received the ALGA Gold Medal, the award for career achievement in design. In 1997, Graphis magazine named The Richards Group one of the ten best agencies in the world, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies honored the firm with its A+ Award, given annually to America's best agency. In 2007, Graphic Design USA named the firm one of America's six most influential agencies.

The University of Texas named him the 1996 recipient of its Reddick Award for leadership in communication. Previous honorees include Walter Cronkite, Ted Turner, and Bill Moyers. More recently, Southern Methodist University announced the Stan Richards Creative Chair. Also in 1996, Stan received the ALGA Gold Medal, the award for career achievement in design. In 1997, Graphis magazine named The Richards Group one of the ten best agencies in the world, and the American Association of Advertising Agencies honored the firm with its A+ Award, given annually to America's best agency. In 1999, Stan received the highest honor available to a creative with his election to the Art Directors Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, and Andy Warhol. In 2007, Graphic Design USA named the firm one of America's six most influential agencies.

Stan serves, or has served, on many boards: The Salvation Army, Episcopal School of Dallas, YMCA, Cooper Aerobics Enterprises, Dallas Symphony Association, United Way, the Creative Committee of the AAAA, Pratt Institute Board of Trustees, and the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Stan Richards for his service in the community and his extraordinary career.

Mr. Speaker, since President Tsai Ing-wen assumed office last May, Taiwan has taken steps to bolster women's empowerment at home and abroad. In November 2016, Taiwan and the U.S. announced their intention to jointly support the establishment of a subfund on women and the economy under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

This joint initiative will allow the 21 members of APEC to apply for funding for new or existing programs with the aim of improving women's economic empowerment. The subfund, created through a mutually trusting relationship between Washington and Taipei, highlights Taiwan's meaningful participation in the international community. In particular, the subfund will promote women's empowerment in the areas of capital and market access, skills and capacity building, women's leadership and agency, and innovation and technology. Women's empowerment is a key area of collaboration under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) established by the U.S. and Taiwan that President Tsai's administration has been focusing on.

Taiwan continues to make significant headway in the arena of women's empowerment. I congratulate President Tsai on her first anniversary as the President of Taiwan, and I look forward to an even closer U.S.- Taiwan cooperation under her leadership in the years to come.