Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced a bill with my colleagues, Congressman Jim Langevin and Congressman David Young of Iowa, to modernize the charter of the National FFA Organization.

FFA, formerly called the Future Farmers of America, was founded in 1928.

Congress recognized the importance of FFA as an integral part of agriculture and, in 1950, granted it a Federal charter.

The charter provides Federal authority to create an interagency working agreement that is focused on strengthening FFA and school-based agriculture education.

It is important to note that only about 100 organizations have charters with Federal agencies, only six organizations require the respective government agency to select one member for the board of directors, and FFA is the only organization that requires a majority of its board of directors be chosen by its partner government agency.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5595, the National FFA Organization's Charter Amendments Act, makes updates to allow the National FFA to be a self- governing organization while maintaining its long-held relationship with the U.S. Department of Education.

This amendment brings FFA, a great cornerstone of rural America, into the 21st century, and I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and my chairman from the House Education and the Workforce Committee for hosting this Special Order tonight on an issue that is impacting every ZIP Code in America.

The gentlewoman's poster says it all. This is close to home: Life beyond opioids, and stability, health, and healing.

The opioid epidemic is considered by many to be the worst public health crisis of our generation and, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than 115 people in the United States die every day from an opioid overdose.

This epidemic is not an urban problem and it is not a rural problem. It is a national problem. No ZIP Code, as I said, in the country is immune from this crisis. This is an epidemic that transcends all socioeconomic classes, and all of America's people, all of America's diversity of families is at risk.

Heroin and pain pill addiction doesn't discriminate on age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Your neighbor could be using heroin and so could their high honors high school student.

Unfortunately, the people of Pennsylvania have seen some of the worst. Last year, the crisis surged when Pennsylvania experienced a 44 percent increase in opioid overdoses. It is just tragic what this does to families and how it steals lives and futures.

Addressing this unprecedented rate of opioid-related death means that we must focus on nearly 2.2 million Americans who currently struggle with opioid addiction. No one person can beat addiction alone, and overcoming this epidemic will not only take a communitywide effort, but a nationwide effort.

The breadth of this epidemic requires us to respond with a multifaceted approach. Congress has engaged many agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and Customs and Border Protection, just to name a few, to help combat opioid abuse.

This crisis has torn apart families. It has weakened our workforce and overextended our healthcare system. As a nation, we must act with a unified urgency to help those who have fallen victim to addiction in every corner of the country, and we must not forget their families who have seen firsthand the crippling effects of this disease day

in and day out. I know we are not only prepared to do so, but we are prepared to win this fight.

I have had the opportunity to convene opioid crisis community roundtables throughout my congressional districts to hear firsthand from families, from healthcare providers, from law enforcement, from emergency medical services, from those who are involved in the treatment community, and the impact is just so significant.

After coming away from these, I have also come to the conclusion, what is important to focus on really is the substance abuse behaviors. In one community in Clarion County, the issue at one time was opioids, and then it went to heroin. But when the heroin started to be mixed with other really deadly drugs and components, and so many people died within the user community, they moved on to the new--they went actually back to--they want to Suboxone, which is what we use to treat opioid and heroin abuse. And when the Suboxone--those who were dispensing that as treatment tightened that, the community found that they now had a crisis, they went to meth.

So it is so important, as we work on this, we keep a broader perspective of dealing with the substance abuse behaviors, because the drug of choice will change, based on economics, based on availability; but this, our goal should be to increase awareness. Our goal should be, acknowledge there is a problem, and I think we have done that.

In my work in healthcare and, specifically, I worked in acute psychiatric services for a period of time, I know that until you acknowledge you have a problem, you can't really deal with it. I think, across the board, in your communities, our States, at a local, a State, and national level, we acknowledge we have a problem, and that is an important first step.

I am proud of what we have done here in Washington, legislatively and providing funding, but this is an all-hands-on-deck problem. It requires prevention. That is where education is so important. Prevention, education, treatment.

We have to equip our youngest generation with decisionmaking skills, with discernment, so they have the filters to make better decisions when they are exposed to access, when they are approached by others, when they are preyed upon in terms of those who push drugs.

We certainly need to equip our medical professionals to improve how they prescribe, how they dispense medications, and increase their utilization of alternative pain management.

As a former rehabilitation professional, there are some great tools out there to help deal with managing pain. One of the things that, culturally, we have come to the point where we try to eliminate pain, and I think that is what has pushed us with the opioids into the situation that we are in today.

And we need to equip our communities with evidence-based treatment, something closer to home. And so I do very, very much appreciate Chairwoman Foxx's leadership on education and workforce issues, and really appreciate her putting this Special Order together this evening and leading us as we address what truly is the public health crisis of our generation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's leadership on this.

The fact that we had two great hearings, which were on top of a lot of the work that we have been doing as a Congress, this really is an all-hands-on-deck public health crisis, and we know that because of the work that we are doing in Education and the Workforce.

This transcends education. It impacts the workforce in a significant way at a time when we have an estimated somewhere between 5 and 6 million jobs available in this country; and we have increasing job growth, and we have an aging workforce which is retiring, a significant number each and every year.

This is an issue that impacts our national security because it takes individuals out of the workforce not able to pass that drug test, not able to be able to qualify.

This is obviously an all-hands-on-deck because we see so many different committees and their members across both sides of the aisle who have been working on this, the amount of legislation going back.

One of the more memorable ones is the CARA Act, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, that was like 16 individual bills--16 or 18, I don't remember exactly how many--that we debated on this floor and we passed on this floor. We rolled it into one package, and it was actually passed by the Senate, and the President signed it.

It dealt with things from little unborn babies who were born addicted, a terrible situation with the suffering of those new babies because they were born to moms who were active addicts, to veterans that VA physicians--and there are some really great VA physicians. I don't want to paint them with a broad brush. But there were some that were referred to as the candy man because they dispensed the pills like Skittles is what it looked like, and their solution to everything was to medicate, and everything in between.

Also, providing resources to our local communities so our local communities could engage in this, great programs that have been around for very long time like the Drug-Free Communities moneys that are used by parents and kids and teachers and community leaders who come together to deal with and confront this epidemic in their communities.

I have a community up in Erie County, Iroquois School District, and it is a

school district that has been devastated with overdoses. Most of the children in that school, a middle school--and it was heartbreaking-- either had a family member or knew someone who had died of an overdose.

Some of the stories you hear, and one that really stands out with me because I have talked with this mom who was in my congressional district, her son, unfortunately, had a disease, Crohn's disease, and had to go through some surgery as a small child and endured that rather well. It worked out well. But when this young man turned about 16, 17, 18 years old, he had to go back and do surgery as a result, and this time, the painkillers they gave him he used basically one time and his life spiraled out of control.

This was an athlete. This was a kid who did so well in school, but his life just went into almost a death spiral, and he wound up being incarcerated--and all because he wasn't wired to be able to handle these painkillers.

That is a part of this battle. We need better science. We need better medicine so we can determine who can tolerate certain medications and who cannot, whose life would be transformed in such a negative way by using a painkiller one time. But that certainly is all a part of this battle.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this and thank her for hosting this Special Order tonight.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, April 23, the Army Reserve marked 110 years in service to the Army and the United States of America, evolving from the Medical Reserve Corps in 1908 to the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal Federal Reserve force in our Nation's history.

I rise to say thank you to our soldiers, both past and present, and their families for serving all these years.

In today's full-spectrum environment, America's Armed Forces must be prepared to respond quickly to capable and sophisticated high-end threats. They must conduct sustained counterterrorist operations, and they must deter aggression in multiple regions of the world while simultaneously defending the homeland.

The Army Reserve has a congressionally authorized strength of 199,000 soldiers, more than 11,000 civilians, and 2,075 units. The Army Reserve accounts for 20 percent of the Army's organized units and provides nearly half the Army's total maneuver support.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly thank the Army Reserve for defending our Nation with honor and distinction for the past 110 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my condolences and my sympathy to the family of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation was heartbroken upon hearing the news that Mrs. Bush passed away last night at her home in Houston. She was 92.

Mrs. Bush was widely admired and a beloved First Lady. She was a leader not only for her family, but for this Nation.

She served as First Lady from January 1, 1989, to January 1993. She was known for her immeasurable kindness, yet she wasn't afraid to be outspoken--even frank--when the occasion called for it.

She was witty and feisty, and above all else, she was Barbara: a wife, a mother, and a grandmother.

This Nation will remember her as a fiercely and devoted matriarch of a great American family, but also as an advocate for all American families.

Mr. Speaker, I leave you with the words of Barbara Bush: ``When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family, and friends.''

May God bless Mrs. Barbara Bush.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Civil Air Patrol and the contributions this civilian auxiliary makes to our great nation. The Civil Air Patrol supports America's communities with emergency response; diverse aviation and ground services; youth development; and promotion of air, space, and cyber power.

The Civil Air Patrol consists of 1,445 squadrons and approximately 58,000 volunteer youth and adult members nationwide. It is congressionally chartered and operates as a nonprofit organization. It is made up of 8 geographic regions, consisting of 52 wings throughout the 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday evening, I had the honor of speaking at the Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol's 2018 Conference in Grantville, Pennsylvania. More than 400 Civil Air Patrol members and cadets throughout the Commonwealth will gather there this weekend to celebrate this outstanding civilian auxiliary. Colonel Gary L. Fleming is the wing commander.

Mr. Speaker, this year, the Civil Air Patrol is celebrating its 70- year association with the U.S. Air Force. Congress passed a law on May 26, 1948, designating the Civil Air Patrol as the official Air Force auxiliary. The Civil Air Patrol cadet program has been in existence for more than 75 years. Cadet programs throughout the country are making incredible impacts. Cadet programs attract more than 25,000 members, ages 12 through 20.

The program educates youth in four main program areas: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character development. It enriches the school curriculum through after-school programs. Programs offer orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft, as well as flight training scholarships. Activities and competitions are available for cadets at local, State, regional, and national levels. Opportunities for community development are available through the color guard and drill team, as well as emergency services missions.

The Civil Air Patrol makes up about 10 percent of each of the U.S. Air Force Academy's classes. The cadets who have earned the General Billy Mitchell Award enlist in the Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Coast Guard at higher pay grades.

Mr. Speaker, the cadet program also offers college scholarships in several different disciplines, as well as an international air cadet exchange program.

The Civil Air Patrol cadet program truly encourages our youth to reach great heights. They have been building leaders for more than 75 years, and I am so proud of the Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Advisory Council for its incredible commitment to our youth. I wish them the best in advance of the annual conference later this week, and I look forward to joining them at that celebration as well.

Mr. Speaker, today is tax day. Typically, Americans dread this day--the deadline for filing Federal income tax returns--thanks to a cumbersome, complex, and confusing Tax Code.

But fear not. Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this is the last time Americans will file under the old system.

Next year, taxpayers will be able to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Approximately two-thirds of all households will see a lower marginal income tax rate in 2018, according to a recent analysis by the Tax Policy Center.

Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, American families can look forward to lower individual tax rates; a nearly double standard deduction, from $6,500 to $12,000 for individuals, and from $13,000 to $24,000 for married couples; and a doubled child tax credit increase from $1,000 to $2,000 per child.

Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the benefits. The average American should be able to file their taxes without an army of accountants. I look forward to next year when the majority of American families will see a much easier tax process.

It is pro-growth, pro-family tax reform; fair and simple.

Mr. Speaker, April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.

President Ronald Reagan designated this month in 1986. He said, in part:

``Despite the increasing importance of mathematics to the progress of our economy and society, enrollment in mathematics programs has been declining at all levels of the American educational system.

``Yet the application of mathematics is indispensable in such diverse fields as medicine, computer sciences, space exploration, the skilled trades, business, defense, and government. To help encourage the study and utilization of mathematics, it is appropriate that all Americans be reminded of the importance of this basic branch of science to our daily lives.''

Mr. Speaker, these words still resonate today.

Math plays a significant role in addressing many real-world problems: internet security, sustainability, disease, and much more.

Research in these and other areas is ongoing, revealing new results and applications every day in fields such as medicine, manufacturing, energy, biotechnology, and business.

In our growing technological world, the study of math and statistics is one that will continue to be critically important. Happy Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate the birthday of a monumental figure in our Nation's history, Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson, who was our third President, was the principal author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and is known as one of the country's founding farmers--Founding Fathers. He was a founding farmer also.

Today marks the 275th anniversary of his birth. He played a monumental role in shaping American politics.

While his legacy is not without complication, Thomas Jefferson projected a down-to-Earth attitude and desired to be seen as a common man.

An intellectual, architect, philosopher, musician, and essayist, he was anything but common.

He founded the University of Virginia in 1819. The university has kept the Jeffersonian values--discussion, collaboration, and enlightenment--relevant today. Its mission is to develop tomorrow's leaders and to ensure that they are well prepared to help shape the future of the Nation and the world.

Students in Charlottesville will use Founder's Day to reflect on Thomas Jefferson's legacy and also acknowledge the growth that has been made in its history.

Mr. Speaker, on this day, we remember a Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, and all the contributions he made to this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the memory of those who were murdered during the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was the systematic, government-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

We honor the resilience of survivors, and we rededicate ourselves to uphold the promise of ``Never Again.''

This week marks the Days of Remembrance for the Holocaust. Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the Nation's annual commemoration. Each year, State and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities.

These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which began Sunday, April 8, and runs through Sunday, April 15.

The events and results of the Holocaust were so devastating and so extreme that we can barely imagine how such a horrendous event can even take place.

But we remember because it is an unthinkable scar on humanity. We not only remember, but, more importantly, we say: Never again.

Today, we mourn the lives of those we lost, and we celebrate those who saved them, and we honor those who survived.

The Holocaust was a tremendous blight on the history of humanity, but also a time when we honor those who were brave enough to put an end to it; those who stood in the face of such evil and refused to turn a blind eye.

Our American soldiers were fighting to win World War II and liberated concentration camps and the horror that ensued there. It was an incredible task carried out by members of the Greatest Generation.

By looking back, we can understand how important it is to defend those who are defenseless. We recognize the sufferings that took place and the lives that were shattered, but also the efforts that were made to put an end to such destruction and suffering.

We have seen such hatred and genocide occur again in places like Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, and Syria. There are still millions of people being persecuted because of their ethnicity, because of who they are.

We must eradicate hatred and never become indifferent to the sufferings of others. On the Day of Remembrance, the most important thing to remember is the humanity that exists in all of us. May we always remember and always pledge: Never again.

Mr. Speaker, Saturday marks the 70th anniversary of the Air Force Reserve.

Since President Harry S. Truman called for the formation of the Air Force Reserve in 1948, it has been a critical part of our Nation's defense. Its mission is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win.

Operating in various locations around the world, the Air Force Reserve has evolved from a ``stand by'' force for emergencies into a major command of the Active Duty Air Force.

The Air Force Reserve currently performs about 20 percent of the work of the Air Force, including traditional

flying missions and other more specialized missions, such as weather reconnaissance, modular aerial firefighting, and personnel recovery.

The Air Force Reserve is part of every Air Force core mission function and performs the same missions as the Active Duty partners. On Saturday, we will remember where the Air Force Reserve has been, where it is now, and where it is going.

Great men and women have sacrificed to give all Americans a better tomorrow. On Saturday, we honor their legacy. Happy birthday to the Air Force Reserve.

Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight to join with my colleagues for this Special Order.

Over the past 3 years, the House Agriculture Committee has been diligently working on the next farm bill, which sets agriculture and food policy for our Nation every 5 years.

As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, I am pleased that we can discuss this important topic tonight, nutrition, and I want to thank Chairman Conaway for his great leadership and commitment putting forward the best farm bill possible.

Tonight, we are here to talk about the nutrition title, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which we used to call food stamps. SNAP accounts for 80 percent of spending in the farm bill, and it is an important safety net for low-income families to help ensure that no one in America goes hungry when times get tough. Far too many Americans are living in poverty, and many have been for a generation.

There is no worse feeling for a parent than to see their child go without something as basic as food, yet food insecurity exists for so many. That is why, since 2015, the Nutrition Subcommittee has hosted 21 hearings on SNAP. It has heard from more than 80 witnesses on how we can improve the program and work to end hunger in America.

In fiscal year 2017, SNAP provided 42.2 million Americans with food benefits at a cost of $63.7 billion. That is nearly 21 million households, Mr. Speaker.

In my district, Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, nearly 35,000 households received SNAP benefits for fiscal year 2015. Thirty percent of those homes have one or more people over the age of 60, and nearly half, 45.9 percent, of those homes have children who are under the age of 18.

What this farm bill does is ensure that SNAP benefits continue to be available for those who truly need the help, especially children, seniors age 60 and older, and the disabled, who represent nearly two- thirds of the program's participants.

Unfortunately, though, many Americans may not have the skills necessary to find a family-sustaining job or may have encountered roadblocks while trying to get ahead. This new farm bill makes a historic investment in work programs so SNAP recipients have a

chance to learn new skills and climb the rungs on the ladder of opportunity.

Now, this investment will equip States with resources to arm participants with the soft skills--job search skills, certifications, and education--needed to succeed in today's economy, truly, on-ramps to opportunity.

Now we have a unique opportunity to expand funding and resources for these life-changing programs by closing loopholes and improving opportunities for individuals who have been marginalized by a lack of employment, education, or, quite frankly, life circumstances. By doing this, SNAP can provide immediate food assistance in the short term, while also helping those in need learn skills to help them permanently escape poverty.

Now, let me be clear. We are not removing anyone from receiving the SNAP benefits. What we are doing is providing the tools necessary to help individuals escape the cycle of poverty. I believe that there are many pathways to success in life, and sometimes we do need that critical safety net to take care of our families and help us get back on our feet.

With a rebounding economy and an increased focus on workforce development, I know we are going to be able to open new economic doors for many, because all Americans deserve no less.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for leading what has been one of the most transparent processes. The amount of hearings that we have had, over 20 hearings just on nutrition, 80 witnesses--a job well done.

You know, there is a saying that we have always heard. What is it? The doctor knows best. I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall), another member of the Agriculture Committee, a physician, who really understands health and healthy nutrition.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being part of this Special Order.

All of the hearings that we had were bipartisan, great bipartisan input into the hearings, and there is nothing in the nutrition title that really hasn't come out as a part of those hearings.

In fact, I know my colleagues, my friends across the aisle, our Democratic members of the committee I have been so honored to work with and be a part of these hearings, they submitted specific priorities for the nutrition title under title IV, and I am proud to say that all those priorities are included within this farm bill.

I now yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), a friend of mine, who is also part of our leadership with the Agriculture Committee, a subcommittee chairman, from the First District of Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being a part of this important Special Order tonight, because nutrition matters and farmers feed.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to a gentleman from another part of our Agriculture Committee leadership from the State of Illinois. He is the chairman of the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee.

He actually did a great job yesterday convening a briefing where he brought in 4-H leaders from all over the country to share their experiences as a part of that great organization.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) from the 13th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for joining us here this evening.

One of the things I really love about the Agriculture Committee is, quite frankly, what we do. Everyone eats, nutrition matters, and our Agriculture Committee is represented by Members from all over the country, including Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), another member of the Agriculture Committee from Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being a part of the Agriculture Committee and thank him for his great work on behalf of the folks in Tennessee.

As the gentleman from Tennessee was saying, what we are talking about is, part of the nutrition title is really looking at making improvements to it. We are not really doing anything to people. We want to do things for people. And, quite frankly, for 65 percent of the folks who find themselves in a situation where they are on the SNAP program, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, I don't want to say nothing is going to change, but it is just going to get better. We are going to get them greater access to healthy foods.

Those are the 65 percent of the folks who are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65, or living with a disability. And so for the 35 percent that find themselves on this program--usually for temporary times--it is because of financial situations. And that is their number one need. They are unemployed, underemployed. Maybe they have been living in poverty for generations.

And, yes, we want to provide that safety net for food, but we want to provide them actually an onramp to opportunity as the gentleman talked about.

We don't force anybody to do anything. If you are able-bodied and you fall within that category, that age of 18 to 59--and I guess if you don't want to take access, take the opportunity for that job training, then you can self-select out of the SNAP program. But why would you want to do that?

What we are investing in, education and training, we are actually guaranteeing a training slot in every State. We are providing the support to the States to be able to do that, to provide--most importantly, I think--case management.

Because case management--the gentleman is a physician as well. I am a rehab therapist and a former manager in rural hospitals, and case management plays an important role helping lead people through the process when they have a time of need. And that is what this bill does.

So from Tennessee to New York, I am really pleased to yield to another member of the Agriculture Committee, representing New York's 19th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Faso). I thank the gentleman for being a part of the discussion tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, the timing is good for our approach here, isn't it? We have an economy where, for the first time maybe in 10, 15 years, we see wages rising and we see job creation. Even before this most recent economic surge, I guess for lack of a better word to call it, there are an estimated 5 million jobs that are open and available in the United States. These are jobs that most of them do not require a 4-year degree or a 6-year degree. These are jobs that require some skills-based education, maybe a certification, a specialization. It is kind of perfect with what we are looking at.

There is some confusion that is out there. Some people are saying this is creating a brand new level of bureaucracy. I know for a fact that the people I serve with here wouldn't go for anything that is creating more bureaucracy. The fact is we are actually taking advantage of, first of all, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA. That is our Career Links. That is where people go today, where if they are unemployed or underemployed, to be able to get a job. That is where employers look to find qualified and trained employees. So we are going to be able to utilize that existing infrastructure.

But community colleges, apprenticeships, and private companies that want to engage in training, there are a lot of opportunities out there for this.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), who is another absolute friend and leader of agriculture. She is a former teacher and leads our chair's Values Action Team which I am proud to be a part of. Representative Vicky Hartzler represents the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her enthusiasm for this.

Congratulations to Joe. Actually, that is a great story.

Mr. Speaker, for someone who was incarcerated, that is difficult to overcome; but through the programs, it gave a great example of how that occurs.

Contrast that also with what Mr. Faso from New York was saying about those cliffs, what I refer to as poverty cliffs. We try to incentivize folks to do better for themselves. We are making improvements because right now the way the program is, like most of our programs, if you make a dollar more than the limit, an arbitrary limit, the government pulls the rug out from beneath you.

The fact that we are going after some of those, how much assets you can have and the value of your car--the folks who are most at risk need reliable transportation. I am just really proud that we are addressing all that, and I thank the gentlewoman for being a part of all of this.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), who is a great member of the Agriculture Committee from North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District. Congressman Dave Rouzer is a man I am proud to serve with.

Mr. Speaker, I think we are going to see many coming out in favor of this proposed farm bill and specifically the nutrition title.

Two articles came out today. The first one is from USA Today entitled, ``Food-Stamp Work Requirements Will Lift Americans Out of Poverty,'' by our own agriculture chairman, Mike Conaway. He was joined by Lee Bowes who is the CEO of America Works of New York which is a training placement company. Also, there is an article that was published in The Wall Street Journal entitled: ``Working on Food Stamps: A House GOP reform would help the able-bodied get off the dole.''

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record these two articles.

[Apr. 12, 2018]

Food-Stamp Work Requirements Will Lift Americans Out of Poverty

(By Mike Conaway and Lee Bowes)

There is a fundamental link between poverty and work.

Individuals who hold full-time employment (https:// www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2017/ demo/P60-259.pdf) are 10 times less likely to be poor than

people who are out of work during at least part of the year.

But not every American has the skills and training needed

to hold full-time employment.

Teaching these skills takes time and resources, which is

why for so long our nation has taken a piecemeal approach to

supporting work and training to help move people out of

poverty. Instead, we've focused the conversation on poverty

around benefits--on the dollars spent and the meals served.

Benefits are critically important and serve a vital role in

the safety net aimed at catching people if they should fall

into poverty. But equally important is a focus on helping

these same people climb back out of poverty.

That point is underscored by a 2016 poll from the American

Enterprise Institute and the Los Angeles Times. Forty-one

percent of the poor people included in the survey viewed

their circumstances as temporary (http://www.aei.org/ publication/2016-poverty-survey/).

People want to believe the American dream is attainable.

That's why we need to shift the conversation on poverty in

this country from one focused purely on benefits to one about

improving futures.

And as the House Agriculture Committee releases its new

farm bill (https://agriculture.house.gov/news/ documentquery.aspx?IssueID=14904)--legislation that governs

the policy for our nation's nutrition programs--that is

precisely what we aim to do.

Our proposal is straightforward: help those on the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who are

work-capable find employment to support their households.

Under this proposal, work-capable SNAP recipients will need

to work for at least 20 hours per week. That can take a

variety of forms they can work, participate in a work

program, or participate in a SNAP employment and training

(E&T) program. This bill makes a significant investment in

training and case management to guarantee access to an E&T

slot to anyone who wants one.

But to ensure this investment yields results, we're also

making these work requirements mandatory. No more loopholes

that create disincentives to work.

We are equipping states with resources to arm participants

with the skills, certifications and education needed to

succeed in today's economy.

And that's a critical point, because our economy is

supporting more jobs and a higher standard of living for ALL

Americans. Jobs that were once unavailable are now at an

individuals' fingertips if aided with the proper training and

skill set.

SNAP recipients want to be beneficiaries of this economic

growth. They want to take advantage of opportunities and meet

the needs of our nation's businesses.

It is also important to note that for nearly two-thirds of

SNAP recipients (https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/able- bodied-adults-without-dependents-abawds-rules) who are

currently exempt from work-related programs, nothing will

change. That group includes seniors, those who are mentally

or physically disabled, children and various other

individuals who would not be subject to our proposed

modifications to work.

But for work-capable adults, if they want to receive

benefits, they'll be expected to work. And if they don't

work, they are self-selecting to remove themselves from the

program.

People will try to demonize what we are doing here and say

that this proposal is too much, too fast, too soon.

They will try to claim that this bill is about kicking

people out of the program to save money. But that couldn't be

further from the truth.

Under this work proposal, only an individual who chooses

not to participate in a guaranteed E&T slot will lose

eligibility for SNAP.

Others will claim that these modifications aren't needed

because most SNAP recipients who can work, do work (https:// www.cbpp.org/snap-households-with-working-age-non-disabled- adults-have-high-work-rates-6). And under our bill those

individuals can have the peace of mind that their benefits

will not be compromised.

While critics will say SNAP isn't meant to be a jobs

program, we believe these modifications can support nutrition

for families in need while also creating new opportunities

that emphasize work and independence and provide the

resources needed to move people forward.

Advocating for the status quo has never and will never lift

someone out of poverty.

That's why we need to begin to define success differently--

not by how many people we serve, but rather how many people

we aid in climbing the economic ladder.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), who is another great leader within the Agriculture Committee.

The Congressman is a man I have been really pleased to serve with. He has been a Bible study buddy of mine. He represents Georgia's Eighth Congressional District and actually chairs the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for being a part of the Special Order.

I am now pleased to yield to a former chairman of the full Agriculture Committee and currently the Judiciary Committee chairman, who obviously has a lot of experience in this area and with agriculture. And so it is my pleasure and privilege to yield to the gentleman from Virginia's Sixth Congressional District (Mr. Goodlatte).

Chairman Goodlatte, thank you for your leadership and your mentoring. Greatly appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Excellent. I will take advantage of that opportunity. If we have some other Members who come in, I will yield to them.

The nutrition title for me, personally, is important. When I was just starting out in life, I had graduated from Penn State, I was working with people facing life-changing disease and disability, and married. We were pregnant with our first son, Parker, and so it was during that first pregnancy. And I was making, I think, maybe a whopping $8,000 a year working full time.

There wasn't a time when we visited my parents or Penny's parents, my wife's parents, where we didn't come back with a bag of groceries. People do that. Families step in and they help. We did what we could, but we always came home with a bag of groceries.

We also found ourselves WIC eligible. The Women, Infants, and Children program is not under the farm bill. That is on the Committee on Education and the Workforce side.

But we know what it was like. It was difficult, actually. It was embarrassing to be able to use that voucher, but it was important that Penny and our unborn son at that point, now a 30-some-year-old dad with two boys of his own, got the nutrition that they needed. So I have been there, I have experienced that, and I know how important nutrition is.

Nutrition title, for me, I kind of relate it to, Mr. Speaker, what I would say is the worst part about living and growing up in a rural area, outside a small town, that everybody knew your business. I would be out playing with my brother and my sister, and if I did something wrong, when I got home, mom and dad already knew about it.

But the best part about living in that rural area, in rural America, is that everybody knows your business. I have a cousin, and about a month and a half ago their house burned to the ground. It was a terrible fire. They were lucky to get out. They just barely got out of the house. Yet, as the fire was just breaking through the roof of their home and the volunteer fire department was on the scene, they were surrounded by loved ones, friends, neighbors, and strangers who were there to offer their assistance, whether it was their love, their support, money, clothing, whatever, all kinds of things.

That is what the nutrition title is. Nutrition title is about helping neighbors in need, whether those neighbors

live in the most densely populated city or whether they live back on long country lanes. So that is why I'm so proud of the bipartisan work we have done up to this point, because there is nothing, again, in this nutrition title in this farm bill that wasn't a part of all those, over 21, hearings that we had.

Some of the things that are in there, in fact, are some of the priorities. I enjoy working across the aisle in a bipartisan way. I dedicate myself to that. So I was pleased to see my Democratic colleagues who communicated their four priorities into this bill to the committee.

Their first one was to incentivize nutrition education and healthy eating through a continuation of the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, what we call FINI. I am pleased to report that the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018--that is what we are calling the farm bill--which includes the nutrition title, Title IV, maintains the FINI Program and enhances it with a technical assistance center allowing for best practices in operations and delivery to be housed and used for current and future grantees.

Additionally, the bill provides $275 million for FINI over the life of the farm bill, actually establishes a baseline funding of $65 million a year, allowing for expansion of opportunities to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to foster understanding of how they might improve nutrition and the health status of participating households and the people who live in those houses.

Their second priority, which I am pleased to report on, was--and I appreciated them putting this forward; it was important--to maintain our commitment to food banks with adequate funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program. You just heard the former Agriculture Committee chairman, Mr. Goodlatte from Virginia, talk about TEFAP.

The farm bill increases TEFAP, funding for our food banks, by $45 million. We have been funding it at $15 million. It goes to $60 million and directs $20 million of that in a very innovative way, that funding, to establish a farm-to-food bank program in all States. It allows States to access agriculture surplus products directly from the farmers. The freshest of foods is the way I like to look at it. What a great enhancement, Mr. Speaker.

The third priority I am pleased to report on that is a part of this farm bill that they communicated was to promote the use of cutting-edge technology to ensure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, retailers and recipients have secure, reliable, and efficient benefit processing. The farm bill introduces the concept of a national gateway, which is a system modernization that gives the USDA real-time oversight over the flow of transactions. It helps control costs.

It allows USDA to develop more tools to ensure integrity, assist in controlling access to individuals' payment information, and it sets the stage for the USDA to handle future developments in payment technology. With that increase in accountability, in those rare instances where fraud and abuse may occur, it allows for identification of that. And we incentivize States. States are now able, when they actually identify fraud, to keep a greater amount of that money that is recovered, although it has to be reinvested back into the nutrition title.

It is about to go for more program integrity, to make sure we are doing a better job of serving the needs of our neighbors who find themselves in those circumstances.

And finally, the last one was to continue to encourage States to collaborate with business and education leaders to provide innovative employment and training solution opportunities and programs. That is what we have been talking about this evening, largely. It is about the workforce solutions. This was put forward by my friends across the aisle that I am proud to serve with, the Democratic members of the Agriculture Committee. This was their goal.

We were able to do that. We have provided significant attention and considerable investment to improve SNAP workforce and education development services for recipients. I appreciate what they put forward as a part of this process, and I appreciate the fact that we have stepped up and we see this as a part of the text of this farm bill.

The updates to employment and training include best practices taken from beneficiary, industry, and State feedback. It includes interim education and training pilot reports. It partners with the workforce- to-innovation opportunity works that are already in place across our communities and our counties all across this great country. And it heightens emphasis on public-private partnerships and nutrition education and also allows recipients to continue to receive a supportive suite of services to address both food insecurity and upward mobility.

That is what we are trying to achieve. We want to make families food secure. We want to provide them access to the rungs on the ladder of opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, we have also done something for populations very near and dear to my heart as the dad of an Active Duty soldier, and that is, when individuals join the military later in life, they tend to enter with a spouse and a couple of kids, and it is hard to support a family on a private salary. Most privates are usually 18, 19 years old. They don't have that family support, and they do fine.

In fact, we just provided all of our military a 2.9 percent pay increase, the largest in over a decade. But for those who are joining later in life, it is difficult. Their families live off base and they get a basic housing allowance to help pay for that, but in the past, basic housing allowance, 100 percent, with no contribution, no assistance, counted towards their eligibility for the SNAP program. They need that SNAP program to be able to make sure that their family gets support.

We have addressed that by providing moneys that would go toward an allowance, more or less, that would go towards to help them to truly to be able to receive those benefits and to be eligible for the SNAP program.

And so I am just so thankful for, really, the good bipartisan work that we have done up to this point, with all these hearings--over 100 hearings on the farm bill, as a whole; over 20 hearings for the nutrition title, title IV of this farm bill. We had over 80 witnesses. There is nothing in this farm bill that didn't come out there. There were some rumors of something about a Harvest Box, which was a terrible idea. That is not a part of the farm bill, never had any intentions of including that as a part of the farm bill.

I am appreciative to all the hard work that has gone into the bill, preparing this at this point, and I look forward to next week, next Wednesday. We will be marking this bill up in the Agriculture Committee. And I am pleased at the timing too. Normally, when we talk about reauthorizing the farm bill, we are 6 months, 12 months after it expired.

Quite frankly, we can't afford to do that. The farm income has been down for 4 years now, and this total farm bill is so important to providing for a robust rural America, and that is important to every American. Because without a robust rural America, people everywhere, including the cities, will wake up in the dark, in the cold, and hungry, because that is what the people of rural America, those farm families, provide for each and every one of us.

So, Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity to be joined by so many colleagues tonight on this topic, and I thank you for your attention.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Library Week, which began on Sunday and runs through Saturday, April 14.

This year's theme is Library's Lead, and ballerina Misty Copeland is this year's honorary chair.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is an observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April.

It is time to celebrate the contributions of our Nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries--school, public, academic, and special--participate.

Celebrations during National Library Week include: National Library Workers Day, celebrated yesterday, which is a day for library staff, users, administrators, and friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

National Bookmobile Day, which is celebrated today, recognizes contributions of our Nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.

Tomorrow is Take Action for Libraries Day, which is a national library advocacy effort.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 60th anniversary of National Library Week.

In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios and television and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954.

The committee's goals range from encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time to improving income and health and developing a strong and happy family life.

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that, once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of the American Library Association and with the help of the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with a theme ``Wake Up and Read.''

National Library Week was observed again in 1959, and the American Library Association Council voted to continue the annual celebration. When the National Book Committee disbanded in 1974, the American Library Association assumed full sponsorship. Today, it is an annual celebration, marking six decades this year.

The 2018 honorary chair, Misty Copeland, is not only a best-selling author, but she is also the principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, making her the first African-American woman to ever be promoted to that position in the company's 75-year history.

Misty's passion is giving back, and she has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to work with and mentor young boys and girls. It is clear that she is an excellent role model for our youth and a strong supporter of libraries.

Mr. Speaker, libraries have always been great equalizers in our society. Our libraries promote knowledge as a power and ensure that it is within reach of every American, regardless of their personal life circumstances.

From the magnificent Library of Congress to small-town community libraries, I wish everyone a happy National Library Week.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Mr. George Ellis for his dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

At the end of March, George retired as the executive director of the Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association. He served in the role since 2015.

The organization has accomplished much during that time, and a lot of credit goes to George for his dedicated efforts and service.

George started his career in 1974 as a staff member, and shortly thereafter, became executive director of the House of Representatives' Mines and Energy Management Committee.

In 1982, George accepted the position of executive vice president of government affairs with the Keystone Bituminous Coal Association, which in 1988 became the PA Coal Mining Association.

In 1996, George was appointed president of the Pennsylvania Coal Association before joining ARIPPA in 2015.

Mr. Speaker, George Ellis has been a highly respected resource in the Pennsylvania coal industry, and his knowledge and dedication are unparalleled. He has had a long and outstanding career, and I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome the National Grocers Association to Washington, D.C., this week for their annual fly-in.

Our grocers have a tremendous impact on our communities throughout the country. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone, food retailers provide more than 220,000 jobs, have an output of $15 billion, and a total economic impact of $39 billion.

As the House Agriculture Committee continues to move forward with the farm bill, it will be important to our grocers, who provide food to American families.

Over the past 3 years, the Agriculture Committee has hosted 21 hearings on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, and has heard from more than 80 witnesses.

SNAP and other Federal nutrition programs are vital to ensuring that all Americans have healthy foods within reach, whether low income populations, the elderly, or those living in areas with strained access to nutritious food.

We will continue to identify ways to work alongside State and local organizations to help provide safe and nutritious food for those who need it most.

One of my primary goals with SNAP is to ensure that those who truly need the assistance when falling on hard times continue to have access to this critical program.

Limited access to supermarkets and grocery stores with nutritious fresh foods can be a challenge in both rural and urban communities. We know them as food deserts.

According to USDA, to qualify as a low-access community, at least 500 people and/or at least 33 percent of the population must reside more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store. For rural areas, the distance is more than 10 miles.

I know from personal experience the value of Federal assistance, particularly WIC, when times do get tough. I have also seen the value of obtaining an education and ultimately finding a career path.

Unfortunately, too many Americans at the poverty level are caught in a cycle. We want to change that cycle by providing a workforce solution and necessary supports, walking with individuals on their pathway to self-reliance and success.

The House farm bill makes a significant, even historical, investment in SNAP employment and training to equip States with resources to arm participants with the soft skills, the job search skills, certifications, and education needed to succeed in today's economy.

But to ensure this investment yields results, we are also making these work requirements mandatory. We have a unique opportunity to expand funding for these life-changing programs by closing loopholes only utilized by certain States, and improving opportunities for individuals who have been marginalized by a lack of employment, education, or life circumstances.

For nearly 80 percent of the SNAP recipients--children, seniors, and the disabled--these requirements won't change anything. For those who rely on SNAP and will continue to do so, we want to ensure that they have access to the array of foods that benefit their health and their well-being.

Our bill allows retailers to expand the purchasing power of recipients via incentive programs, and we are also expanding or enhancing current incentive and nutrition education programs to improve diet quality and awareness.

We want to emphasize the importance of consumer choice and the impact SNAP has on our communities and families.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate having our Nation's grocers in town today, and I look forward to continuing the Agriculture Committee's good work on the next farm bill. After all, farmers feed and nutrition matters.