Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the centennial birthday celebration of the City of Lynch on September 16, 2017, a remarkable milestone for a historic coal mining camp in Harlan County, Kentucky. Iinclude in the Record, an article published in the Lexington Herald Leader on February 24, 2017, which provides a detailed overview of our historic coal town in a story written by reporter Bill Estep entitled, It was the world's largest company coal town. As it turns 100, it fights to stay alive.

In 1917, U.S. Steel purchased 19,000 acres of land in Harlan County at the base of Black Mountain, Kentucky's highest peak, to produce the coal needed to make steel during World War I. By the 1940s, Lynch, Kentucky was the ``largest company-owned coal town in the world,'' boasting unmatched water and sewer infrastructure in the area, a local hospital, schools, retail stores, recreational activities and a diverse workforce.

While our storied coal town has suffered tremendous losses over the last century with the coal industry's decline, it hasn't terminated their pride for the City of Lynch. The citizens have honorably preserved the historic efforts of local workers and immigrants from more than 30 foreign countries who tirelessly worked miles underground, producing enough coal to power our nation for generations.

Today, the City of Lynch is embracing its heritage and working to boost tourism to capture the historic treasures of this community that served as the epicenter of coal production 100 years ago. I applaud the local leaders and entrepreneurs who are reimagining the future of coal country and working to integrate this small, rural town into the digital economy.

Mr. Speaker, our Appalachian heritage is uniquely defined by the sheer grit of the mountain people who are determined to not only survive, but thrive, in our small, rural American towns. I am proud to join the City of Lynch in celebrating its 100th birthday.

[From Lexington Herald Leader, Feb. 24, 2017]

It Was the World's Largest Company Coal Town. As It Turns 100, It

Fights To Stay Alive

(By Bill Estep)

Lynch.--The valley along Looney Creek in Harlan County was

a wooded wilderness in 1917 when U.S. Steel, hungry for coal

to make steel during World War I, bought 19,000 acres and set

about creating the largest company-owned coal town in the

world.

The company built an entire town from scratch--hundreds of

houses, stores, schools, a hotel, a hospital, a baseball

field, a fire station, water and power plants and industrial

buildings, including a machine shop and the highest-capacity

coal tipple anywhere.

Despite the buzz of work and grand intentions, some thought

the town would be a flash in the pan.

The L&N Railroad refused to extend tracks to Lynch from

Benham, a coal town about a mile away, because officials felt

the town would die after the war when demand for steel went

down, according to one history by a U.S. Steel official.

The company built its own tracks, and Lynch survived. The

town at the foot of Kentucky's highest peak, Black Mountain,

turns 100 this year.

In that century, Lynch has mirrored the history of Eastern

Kentucky as coal jobs swung up and down and families moved

out to find work during hard times.

More than half the coal jobs in Eastern Kentucky have

disappeared since a precipitous slide started in 2012. At the

end of 2016, there were fewer miners on the job in all of

Eastern Kentucky than there were at the U.S. Steel mines at

Lynch at their peak.

The town's population has declined to less than 800 from a

peak of 10,000, and a third of the houses are vacant,

according to U.S. Census figures.

Now, like the rest of the region, Lynch is looking for a

new way forward. Residents are trying to promote tourism and

small businesses to create jobs, and a study about the

possibility of merging with two nearby towns is underway.

The challenges from an anemic economy and a declining tax

base are steep, but many in Lynch have a fierce pride in the

historic town and are determined to breathe new life into it.

A committee of volunteers is working to schedule events

each month to mark the anniversary. On Jan. 1, local churches

rang their bells for 100 seconds, and in February, residents

put up red ribbons around town. The big event will be in

September, with plans for a car show, vendors, family games

and performances by several bands.

Residents also have set up a Facebook page where they are

posting historic photos and trivia about the town's past.

The hope is that the centennial will be a springboard for

efforts to keep Lynch from withering away.

``The city was built by coal but it can be maintained by

something else,'' said Rev. Ronnie Hampton, a retired mine

inspector who was the town's first black mayor. ``As long as

we've got breath, we won't give up.''

Coal companies built hundreds of towns in Southern

Appalachia in the early 1900s. Many were thrown together with

cookie-cutter houses, poor sanitation and few amenities.

Lynch, however, was considered a model town, with better-

built houses of varying styles; health care better than that

available to most people in the region; recreation

opportunities that included lighted tennis courts, the

baseball field, a bowling alley and dances at the hotel

ballroom; paved streets; a sewage system; and a company

commissary that was reputed to be the best department store

in Eastern Kentucky, according to historians.

Italian immigrants used sandstone quarried from the nearby

hills to build impressive public buildings.

``None of them rivaled Lynch,'' James B. Goode, a retired

community college professor who grew up in the neighboring

coal town of Benham and has studied the history of Lynch,

said of other coal towns.

The thought was that keeping miners content would enhance

production and keep down problems.

'A lot of fun here'

Lynch resident Irene Florek, who is 100, arrived in town

with her family when she was a few months old. Her father had

moved from a U.S. Steel coal town in West Virginia to work at

the new Lynch mines.

Florek lived near the baseball field and remembers frequent

activities including games and parades. One local history

recounts that the company would close off the street to the

hotel when it snowed so kids could go sledding.

``It was a lot of fun here at that time,'' Florek said.

The company history recounts milestones from Lynch's first

40 years, including a meningitis epidemic that hit the area

in early 1936. U.S. Steel banned church services and public

gatherings to try to limit the spread, and set up a temporary

hospital.

Six of the 100 Lynch residents who got sick died, but the

death rate was 80 percent or more in nearby communities,

according to the company history, which attributed the

relatively few deaths in town to the good medical care from

company doctors.

In the Depression, people relied on gardens to help get by

and the Red Cross gave out flour and other commodities, the

history said.

Lynch was a classic melting pot of white people from the

region, black people from the South and immigrants of more

than 30 nationalities. In 1921, nearly 60 percent of the

outgoing mail was to Europe, according to one history.

U.S. Steel recruited black workers from Alabama and other

Southern states who were looking for better work than

sharecropping, including some recruited from older mines in

the Birmingham area.

The company also had recruiters at Ellis Island who used

ship manifests to identify European immigrants with mining

experience that they could hire, Goode said.

The first load of coal left Lynch in November 1917. By June

of 1920, the Lynch mines employed 2,300 men and the

population of the town had already reached 5,350, according

to a company history.

``It was hustle and bustle here,'' said Mike O'Bradovich, a

first generation American whose father came to Lynch from

what became Yugoslavia and whose mother was from Germany.

O'Bradovich followed his father into the mines, working

from 1974 to 2002.

The sense of pride many in Lynch felt was rooted in

immigrants making their way in a new country, O'Bradovich

said.

``The pride started when these people were coming over,

becoming Americans,'' he said.

Generations of black residents have maintained ties to

Lynch through the Eastern Kentucky Social Club, which has

chapters around the country and sponsors a Labor Day reunion

each year, and through a homecoming to Lynch each Memorial

Day.

When a former city clerk was charged in 2009 with stealing

$137,000 from the city, leaving it strapped, the city council

appointed Hampton to steer the city through the crisis.

Hampton sent letters to Eastern Kentucky Social Club

members and former residents seeking help, which brought in

thousands in donations.

Lynch was segregated until the 1960s. Black and white

employees worked together in the mines, but black miners

could not move up to supervisory positions until winning a

lawsuit in the 1970s, and schools and entertainment were

segregated.

There was racial violence directed at black residents in

the Appalachian coalfields, especially in the early days, but

there was a relatively high degree of harmony between the

races at a personal level, historian Ron Eller wrote in his

1982 book ``Miners, Millhands and Mountaineers:

Industrialization of the American South 1880-1930.''

Whites and blacks in the mines had to rely on each other

for their safety, and there were not major differences in pay

or living conditions for miners of different races, Eller

said.

When the schools integrated in the mid-1960s, U.S. Steel

``made it seamless,'' said Dwain Morrow, whose father,

William Morrow, retired after working 40 years for the

company.

`Virtual reign of terror'

Labor relations were another matter.

Harlan County had some of the most widely reported labor

clashes in the country between the world wars. Coal operators

used control over the county's economy and politicians to

beat back organizing efforts, evicting union members from

company houses, blacklisting them from getting jobs and

paying the salaries of sheriff's deputies who intimidated

miners.

Lynch was not immune from the violence associated with

those struggles that cemented the nickname ``Bloody Harlan.''

There were shootings in Lynch, including one fight at the

bathhouse in which two men died, Goode said.

``They didn't hesitate to resort to violence,'' he said of

the union organizers and the coal companies.

U.S. Steel and other coal companies exerted authoritarian

control over employees and the economic, political and social

life in the county, John W. Hevener said in his 1978 account

of the labor battles of the 1930s, ``Which Side Are You On?''

When the United Mine Workers of America tried in 1935 to

sign up members at U.S. Coal and Coke, the U.S. Steel

division that operated Lynch, the company laid in a supply of

tear gas and extra ammunition, barred organizers and followed

union members and destroyed their literature, Hevener wrote.

A state commission later said that a ``virtual reign of

terror'' existed in the county, financed by coal operators in

collusion with public officials, and that miners had been

evicted, beaten and mistreated.

Goode said U.S. Steel eventually accepted the UMW at Lynch

in the late 1930s, deciding that the cost wouldn't be

onerous.

Pay and benefits for miners improved under the union, said

William Morrow, 94, who lied about his age to go to work for

U.S. Steel at 16.

``It made it better,'' Morrow said.

By the late 1950s, mechanization had eliminated many

miners' jobs and railroads and factories switched to other

fuel sources, reducing demand for coal.

Coal production hit a 50-year-low in Harlan County in 1960,

and the county's population dropped by nearly half between

1950 and 1970 as people left to find work, according to

Census figures.

U.S. Steel and other companies, including International

Harvester at neighboring Benham, decided it was too costly to

maintain company-owned towns. They tore down many houses,

sold others to residents, turned over schools to county

districts and gave offices and other buildings to the towns,

keeping only their mining operations.

U.S. Steel eventually ended its involvement in Lynch after

more than six decades, selling its mines to Arch Coal in

1984.

These days, the city is living month to month financially

and operates in the red at times, said Mayor John Adams.

``Getting by--that would be optimistic,'' Adams said.

Arch stopped mining around town in the late 1980s, cutting

a key source of revenue for the city from selling water to

the mines.

Adams said the city needs more employees but can't afford

to hire. When both of its water-plant operators quit in

January, the mayor pressed his sons into service to keep the

plant going.

Untapped potential

But residents say Lynch also has assets to develop its

tourism economy, including the beauty of the mountains, a

fascinating history and its coal-camp houses and buildings.

Some of the original buildings in town are still in use,

such as the hospital and a building that was a bank and post

office, which now holds City Hall.

Kitty Dougoud, administrator of the Kentucky Main Street

Program at the Kentucky Heritage Council, said she was not

aware of a more intact coal town.

``The potential is there,'' Dougoud said.

Neighboring Benham is home to the Kentucky Coal Museum in

the renovated coal-company commissary and other historic

buildings, including the School House Inn, which was a high

school for decades beginning in the 1920s but was converted

to a hotel.

Cumberland, Benham and Lynch have been designated as trail

towns. They are working to develop hiking and horse trails,

and Lynch has started work on a campground.

The city received a grant to renovate the old coal-camp

fire station, which now houses Fire House Gifts and Crafts,

and a Christian service organization called Meridzo Center

Ministries financed the renovation of a building that housed

a popular restaurant in the 1920s across from the portal of a

mine in the center of town. The Lamp House Coffee shop is in

the building now.

There has been interest for years in restoring more of the

town's old stone buildings, but not enough money to match the

interest.

The town did receive financing to create a unique

attraction at the Portal 31 exhibition mine. Visitors tour a

restored section of an underground mine where workers

produced more than 100 million tons of coal from 1917 to the

early 1960s.

Recordings and animatronic displays tell the story of

mining and the town over decades, covering technology, safety

concerns, union organizing, and the rise and fall of Lynch.

`Here to help people'

Residents say Meridzo also is a key resource for the town.

In addition to renovating the building for the coffee shop,

the ministry operates a convenience store, a gym, a

veterinary clinic, retreat centers and a stable in Harlan and

Letcher counties.

Meridzo sees its mission as helping people with practical

needs, including jobs, and in the process share the Gospel of

Christ, said Lonnie Riley, who founded the ministry with his

wife, Belinda, in 1999.

``We're here to help people,'' Riley said.

Meridzo is working to recruit a chiropractor, and has

started a facility to grow shiitake mushrooms in sections of

hardwood logs in the old bathhouse where miners cleaned up

before going home.

There also is an effort underway to develop a customer-

service center to provide jobs locally.

Betsy Shirey, who is developing the project, said her idea

is a center where employees would field telephone calls and

emails for other companies, and could provide other services,

such as bookkeeping and marketing.

Shirey works for Humana, but after visiting Lynch on

mission trips coordinated by Meridzo, she felt a spiritual

calling to try to bring jobs to the area.

She can do her job from home, so she bought a house in

Lynch and moved from Louisville.

Shirey said the lack of jobs in the area has helped create

an attitude of entrenched hopelessness for many people.

``We've got to build up some infrastructure of meaningful

work for people,'' Shirey said.

Merger ahead?

Some think merging services for Lynch, Benham and

Cumberland--or even merging local governments--would put all

three on better footing.

The three lie end to end over a space of a few miles and

have been known as the Tri-Cities for decades, but grew up as

distinct places, with their own schools and competing sports

teams, and have always maintained separate city services.

With all three stretched thin, however, their councils

agreed to a merger study proposed by the Tri-City Chamber of

Commerce, which said in its application for a grant that with

declining populations and tax bases, the three towns ``have

struggled mightily in their efforts to maintain basic

services to their citizens.''

The study will focus on how the towns could form one

government, how services could be combined, potential savings

and how layoffs would be handled if needed.

W. Bruce Ayers, former president of Southeast Community and

Technical College in Cumberland and head of the chamber, said

many members believe merger is needed.

A merger would reduce costs, increase efficiency and give

the unified city a better shot at government grants, Ayers

said.

``I really fear for their existence unless they are willing

to come together and work as one,'' Ayers said.

It will probably be next year before the study is done and

the towns have to decide on merging.

Even if they do, Lynch won't lose its identity in its

second century, said Mary Jo O'Bradovich, who with her

husband Mike is involved in the centennial committee.

``After 100 years, I don't think anyone is going to say, `I

am from the Tri-Cities,' '' she said. ``Lynch will be

Lynch.''

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 500, as the designee of Mr. Frelinghuysen, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

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

Would the Chair advise whether or not amendment No. 103 is included in the en bloc?

Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has offered, I think, a reasonably good amendment, and we would like to see it adopted, so I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in respectful disagreement with my colleague who offered this amendment.

The United States Institute of Peace works to help prevent, reduce, and resolve violent conflicts abroad. The Institute works alongside our military, our diplomats, and development experts in some of the most conflict-affected and fragile environments, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Tunisia, South Sudan, and Ukraine. Eliminating the U.S. Institute of Peace would hamper our efforts to stabilize these areas and to prevent further outbreaks of conflict.

The Institute also works with local leaders and other partners to find solutions to religious freedom and to mitigate the rise of extremism and persecution.

Let me point out, too, that the staffer the gentleman just mentioned in his remarks is no longer with the Institute. She is gone.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, this amendment would cut funding for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs account by $209 million. That is a 16 percent reduction in the fight against narcotics.

There is already money in the bill for TB, $241 million, which is the same as current levels, and that exceeds the last Obama request and the first Trump request for TB. It also includes another $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to fight a combination of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB, which includes additional funding for TB programs. So there is already money in the bill for TB.

This would cut the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs account by $209 million, a 16 percent cut, when it is not really needed.

Funding for this account supports counterdrug and law enforcement activities, strengthens the rule of law, and increases border security.

Mr. Chairman, I just came back with my subcommittee from a trip to Ukraine and Georgia, and I understand by seeing it firsthand the importance of our assistance that helps governments combat corruption and improve the rule of law.

A portion of this funding also helps partners in our own hemisphere fight drug trafficking and violent crime before it reaches the border of the United States.

Undoubtedly, every agency can do more with more, but the allocation for this bill was cut by 17 percent from last year. And rather than cut every account by 17 percent, we deliberately and carefully considered each program, and directed the funding recommendations to reflect our priorities. Among those priorities is funding for TB, which is held at last year's level. This means, of course, that other accounts and programs took a disproportionately higher cut to make that possible.

I know the gentleman wants more funds for TB, and I sympathize with him in that desire. I can assure him that preserving last year's level of funding puts TB in a very rarefied position in this bill, because it is treated well.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to section 4 of House Resolution 500, as the designee of Chairman Frelinghuysen, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

I thank the gentleman from Texas for bringing this issue to our attention. The committee takes seriously reports of Americans abroad being treated unfairly, denied due process, or being used as political pawns.

Colombia is a friend and ally of the United States and an important trading partner. We expect the Government of Colombia to ensure our citizens are treated fairly in their courts. The committee will follow up on this matter with the Department of State to ensure our Embassy is engaged on this issue. And I thank the gentleman for bringing this matter to our attention.

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

Amendment No. 97 Offered by Mr. Hastings

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

As I mentioned in my statement, Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today contains $3.1 billion in a Foreign Military Financing program funded for Israel, which fully funds the last year of the current memorandum of understanding with Israel.

This amendment would reduce the Foreign Military Financing program account by more than $80 million. In addition to Israel, this account provides funds for Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Colombia, and Ukraine. The President's budget request proposed deep cuts to this account, which we clearly rejected in the committee mark.

I should also note that the bill already provides over $6 billion for humanitarian assistance. I do appreciate the gentleman's desire to help the Ethiopian-Israeli community, but I cannot support an $80 million cut to security assistance. So I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida for raising this important issue. The plight of religious and ethnic minorities persecuted by ISIS has been, and remains, a priority for this committee, including the need for psychosocial support services to those affected by the crisis. That is why ample funding has been provided to assist communities affected by ISIS, including persecuted religious and ethnic minorities.

The fiscal year 2017 Security Assistance Appropriations Act provided over $1 billion for programs to counter ISIS and address the needs of those affected by ISIS. Funding was also provided in the fiscal year 2017 regular appropriations bill.

Finally, we included language on this very issue in the fiscal year 2018 bill, including designating $10 million for programs to protect vulnerable and persecuted religious minorities. The amendment, however, would reduce the Foreign Military Financing account by more than $70 million. This account funds our friends and allies like Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Colombia, Ukraine. The President's budget request proposed deep cuts to this account, which we clearly rejected in the committee mark.

In short, we have already addressed the gentleman's concerns, and I cannot support such a large cut to security assistance.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the overseas scholarship programs are popular among our Members because most of these programs support American educational institutions abroad.

Students that participate and receive an education based on American values help shape their societies. They are more likely to embrace democratic principles, counter extremism, and foster greater economic opportunity. These programs are an important part of the so-called soft power of America.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I really appreciate the gentleman's concern, but not enough to support his amendment. As he knows, the administration proposed to close the United States African Development Foundation.

Given the significant reduction in our subcommittee's allocation, it would be very easy to agree to the administration's request. The bill before us, however, does not close the foundation, but instead doubles the requested amount.

If our conference allocation is more generous, then perhaps we can be more generous with the foundation. Until then, however, the bill, as reported out of committee, strikes, I think, the appropriate balance of assistance and diplomacy.

Mr. Chair, I urge a rejection of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I want to take this time briefly to address the concerns the gentleman from Florida has raised with regard to these organizations, many of which I share. That is why the base bill includes some pretty tough conditions on these organizations. In fact, these conditions have never been stronger with regard to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

No funds can be provided until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that participation in the Council is, one, in the national security interest of the United States and, two, the Council is taking significant steps to remove Israel as a permanent agenda item and increase transparency in the election of its members to the Council.

We raised these issues, Mr. Chairman, with Ambassador Haley when she appeared before our committee. We all know she is actively engaging in these matters, and our conditions give her additional tools which she can use to get the Council to make some real reforms.

Next, the bill prohibits funds for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency until the Secretary can certify to the Congress that this organization is conducting regular inspections of its installations to ensure they are only used for humanitarian purposes and that the content of educational materials does not induce excitement. These conditions provide Secretary Tillerson with leverage to demand accountability and reform.

Also, we should be mindful that the President is reengaging with Israel and the Palestinians on a Middle East peace deal, which we all know is difficult and a very complicated task. Prohibiting funds to UNRWA at this time may have an adverse impact on those delicate processes the President and his team have before them.

This committee has and will continue to follow these issues very closely. It is a top priority, and the tough conditions in the bill reflect that.

I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the fiscal year 2018 appropriations measure before us today. The committee, as the chairman said, has worked at a historic pace to produce a bill that reflects the priorities of the American people. Chairman Frelinghuysen should be recognized for his leadership in bringing this legislation through committee and before the House in record time.

While the entirety of the package should be supported, I want to highlight, Mr. Chairman, the funding provided for the Department of State and Foreign Operations. This portion of the bill reduces international diplomatic and development programs by $10 billion, a 17 percent reduction from fiscal year '17. In a tough budget environment, the bill strikes a delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and support for continued U.S. leadership and foreign aid.

First and foremost, over $6 billion is allocated for embassy security, which will enable the State Department to safeguard American diplomatic facilities overseas, in line with the recommendations of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board.

Second, the bill contains $8.4 billion for security assistance to support key U.S. allies and partners. The U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding is fully funded at $3.1 billion. The bill also maintains foreign military financing for Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia; and it increases security assistance for Ukraine, and provides extra support for other countries facing Russian aggression.

In our own hemisphere, the bill will help counter transnational criminal organizations and the flow of illegal drugs by supporting our partnerships with Colombia, Central America, and Mexico.

Third, the bill promotes American values around the world by maintaining funding for key democracy programs.

Fourth, the bill continues our country's strong tradition of helping the most vulnerable, providing $8.3 billion for global health programs and over $5.9 billion for humanitarian assistance. At the same time, the bill protects and preserves life by embracing an expanded Mexico City policy, prohibiting funding for the U.N. Population Fund, and continuing all pro-life riders carried in prior House bills.

Finally, at a time when we must remain focused on balancing Federal spending, this bill eliminates many programs, aims to improve oversight

and management, and makes our government more accountable. No funds are provided for President Obama's Global Climate Change Initiative. Funding for the U.N. is reduced by $900 million, and international banks and financial institutions are cut by over $800 million.

Mr. Chairman, this legislation advances both our national security and economic interests. I urge support for the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of a dear friend and advocate for eastern Kentuckians, Pamela Todd May.

Although her life tragically ended too soon, she lived with endless compassion for those in need, and abounding devotion to our region, the Pikeville Medical Center, the University of Kentucky, her husband, Walter May, her children, and all her family and friends.

Pam May lived with consummate elegance, always joyous in service, and loyal in deed. She faithfully dedicated more than three decades of service to the Pikeville Medical Center as a steadfast advocate for expanded access to quality healthcare in Kentucky's rural Appalachian region.

As founder of one of the most respected law firms in Kentucky, Pam was as trustworthy defender for the people of eastern Kentucky and a voice for those who otherwise may not be heard.

One of the most recent examples of her endless and selfless service was her prompt action to help hundreds of individuals obtain medical records for Social Security hearings and honorable representation in the wake of emergency redetermination hearings by the Social Security Administration. She partnered with local attorneys and orchestrated hope for hundreds of families desperate for assistance while navigating through Federal hearings. Pam was a thoughtful leader you could rely on to stay steps ahead of everyone else.

My wife, Cynthia, and I mourn the loss of our treasured friend, yet we rejoice in the legacy of justice and compassion that she leaves behind.

Those of us who were blessed to know Pam must carry on her banner of hope and love for the people of our region. Mr. Speaker, eastern Kentucky is a better place because Pam May lived. If we could replicate her passion and drive, our future would undoubtedly be much brighter in the hills of Appalachia.

Mr. Speaker, Cynthia and I extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to our friend and confidant, Walter May, as well as Pam's mother, children, and extended family and friends who were honored to know and love her.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in recognition of the outstanding achievements of one of my constituents, the Head Football Coach of Belfry High School, Mr. Philip Haywood. Unparalleled among his peers, Coach Haywood was recently named Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. A native of Prestonsburg, he has coached Eastern Kentuckians for more than 40 years, and is the winningest coach in Kentucky history with a record of 417 wins and only 130 losses.

Clearly, this is not the first major award Coach Haywood has received--far from it. In 2013, Coach Haywood was named USA Today's National Coach of the Year, an award voted on by fans, and a clear indication of how beloved he is by those who know and appreciate football, both inside the Commonwealth and beyond it. In 2014, he received the Blanton Collier School Coach of the Year award, an honor reserved for only the best coaches in Kentucky. In 2016, he was inducted into the Kentucky High School Coaches Hall of Fame. To the surprise of no one, Coach Haywood has been named the Courier-Journal Coach of the Year five different times. His successes are many, and his impact far-reaching.

Accolades aside, what truly separates Coach Haywood from the rest of the field is his dedication to ``Faith, Family, and Football,'' the title of a book he recently authored that speaks to the eternal. Coach Haywood has been a longtime youth leader and choir director in his local church, and has served as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle leader at Belfry for over 30 years. As a coach and mentor, he has taught his student-athletes the value of self-discipline, to overcome defeat, to be gracious in victory, and to persevere through every test. He has mentored hundreds of students, guiding them along the straight and narrow path. An exemplary model of success and virtue, I thank Coach Haywood for his many years of service to the Fifth District. His efforts, past and present, are much appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my long-time adviser and expert caseworker, Sarah Meece, upon her much- deserved retirement after dedicating more than 40 years of service by my side. When I reflect upon Sarah's career, I stand in awe of her loyalty, her unwavering patience, her persistent advocacy, and undying compassion for those in need.

As Congressman, I have the duty and the privilege of assisting the people of southern and eastern Kentucky as they grapple with Federal agencies. At the heart of those cases has stood Sarah Meece providing expert advice and staunch support for individuals in our region who need help with Social Security, disability, and retirement claims, among many other issues. In fact, over the last 36 years, Sarah has worked on approximately 150,000 cases, representing an unmatched record of assistance for more than 4,000 individuals each year.

Sarah has gained so much notoriety in her field that staff from other congressional offices, and officials even from the administration, contact her for guidance in case work. And in this line of work, there are very few, if any, medals or certificates of honor to honor those worthy of recognition like Sarah; nonetheless, her drive and consistency has never failed.

Day in and day out, Sarah has answered countless phone calls, set up personal meetings, listened to some of the most heartbreaking stories from families who were denied benefits on multiple occasions, those in desperate need of recouping benefits, others who lost hope in a mountain of Federal paperwork. Sarah's reward has been the simple words of appreciation from the thousands upon thousands of individuals who she has helped over the years. In my eyes, she deserves so much more.

While I wish Sarah the best in her years of retirement, the absence of her daily presence in the office will be insurmountable. When I was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties in 1969, Sarah Meece was there. When I was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1979, Sarah Meece was there. When I was elected to Congress in 1980, Sarah Meece was there. In fact, she has been with me every day since, even volunteering her personal time for campaign work along the way, ensuring we both could continue serving the public for another 2 years.

During her tenure, Sarah welcomed U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents to our region, befriended eight Kentucky Governors and their staffs, and assisted hundreds of local leaders across southern and eastern Kentucky as they navigated through Federal issues.

However, it is the people living in the hills and hollers of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District who have driven her passion- filled public service. With every call and every personal visit, Sarah offered an encouraging word of hope to our constituents. Very few people can find the silver lining in every cloud like Sarah does, or bring a smile and a laugh to a broken heart. Her comical candor and illustrative storytelling have been a bright spot in everyone's day.

I am forever grateful to have such a great friend and loyal adviser over these last 4 decades. Sarah's life's work has given countless families hope in their darkest hour and comforted them through lengthy and complex Federal issues.

Simply put, Sarah is irreplaceable, both her institutional knowledge of Federal casework and her kind, enduring spirit.

Mr. Speaker, if every congressional office and Federal agency had a Sarah Meece, our Nation would operate much

better. She has been the jewel of my congressional operations and the truest friend to the people of southern and eastern Kentucky.

My wife, Cynthia, and I wish Sarah and her husband, Bud, many joyful and restful years of retirement with their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding the time. Congratulations to you on your maiden voyage in this role that you are occupying--very expertly, I might add. During the forced march that we undertook in the committee for the last 3 weeks, clearing all 12 bills through the full committee in a historically record time, we had a good drill sergeant, Mr. Frelinghuysen. Thank you for doing a great job.

We held 74 oversight and budget hearings, heard from over 400 witnesses, with the overarching goal that each of the 12 bills we passed out of our committee addressed the needs of our constituents. I am proud to say that these bills do just that--advance our national defense and secure our borders, take care of our veterans, provide critical infrastructure funding, increase resources to combat the opioid epidemic, maintain our presence as a leader in global diplomacy--all the while maintaining fiscal discipline.

I am disappointed that we won't consider all 12 of these bills before the August recess, but this security package is an important step forward. It will ensure that we, as the Congress, uphold our most sacred responsibility to provide for our Nation's common defense.

Under the previous administration, our Department of Defense faced needless uncertainty. I am proud that we are now turning the tide, providing our troops and their commanders with the necessary resources to respond to threats from countries like Russia, China, and Iran, as well as crush the violent extremists who wish to do us harm.

As promised to the American people, we are rebuilding and modernizing our military as an international powerhouse by better equipping our troops, strengthening counterterrorism efforts, and reestablishing confidence with our allies. At a time when our enemies continue to advance around the globe, the U.S. must remain at the forefront of military readiness and advanced technology to strengthen national defense at home and abroad.

This bill also maintains our commitment to those brave men and women after their service has come to a close, providing for greater oversight and accountability at the VA and modernizing electronic health records to help our veterans receive the high quality of care they deserve.

I am also pleased that this legislation includes the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which funds many of our national security interests and builds upon our country's essential infrastructure needs. In particular, this bill protects the Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC, from proposed elimination, and ensures that its critical programs will continue in our hardest hit Appalachian coal communities.

Since 1965, ARC has led efforts to innovate, partner, and invest in the region to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth. These investments have led to the creation of thousands of new jobs. It has improved local water and sewer systems, improved our schools, increased access to healthcare, and provided critical assistance to emerging businesses. After 8 years of strangulation by regulation in the Obama administration's war on coal, Appalachia needs the ARC now more than ever.

Mr. Chairman, thank you again for allowing me to speak on behalf of this bill. Is it everything we wanted? No. It is critical that we prioritize our national security, and that is what this bill does.

Mr. Chairman, the motto of our Appropriations Committee is this: ``A vision without funding is a hallucination.'' Now we have got a visionary leader in our chairman, but we have got to provide the funding to make the dreams that we have come true, and that is what Appropriations does.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a remarkable leader in southern and eastern Kentucky, Mr. David Cox, upon receiving the 2017 Daniel Boone Visionary Award presented by the Boy Scouts of America Daniel Boone Council.

The Daniel Boone Visionary Award was developed to recognize community leaders who make significant contributions to improve the local district, including Whitley, Laurel, Knox, Bell, Clay, Harlan and Jackson counties. The award recipients are recognized for their contributions to economic growth, education and leadership development in our youth.

David Cox is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award due to the tremendous vision and leadership he has exemplified as Superintendent of the Corbin Independent School System. He has dedicated 25 years as an educator and administrator for the Corbin Independent School System and in less than two years at the helm, students are making marked improvements. Currently, the Corbin Independent School System is ranked fourth out of 173 school districts in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, based on the Kentucky Core Content Test, placing the district in the state's 98th percentile for achievement. Additionally, Corbin Redhounds consistently rank among the top in the state for College and Career Readiness preparation and average ACT scores. Not only do they excel in academics, but students achieve incredible success in arts and athletics as they rank among the state elite each year as well.

Mr. Cox continues to lead his high performing students and staff by living the school's motto: ``Striving to be the Best!'' He has worked diligently to ensure students in our region have access to the most innovative technology, advanced facilities and the very best opportunities for education.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the outstanding contributions that David Cox has made in educating our future leaders in southern and eastern Kentucky, and the inspiration and drive he instills in them to give back to their communities--a core mission of the Boy Scouts. Congratulations to David Cox on receiving the 2017 Daniel Boone Visionary Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, like most of the delegation here, in memory of our longtime friend and colleague, the late Jim Bunning, who was an indomitable force on the pitcher's mound, a stalwart champion for the Commonwealth, and the proud patriarch of a remarkable family.

Jim Bunning is the type of guy you always wanted in your starting lineup. With his multilayered talent, Jim valued strategic offense as much as staunch defense not only on the pitcher's mound, but in the Halls of Congress, where he fervently stood for conservative values.

Jim once said: ``I have been booed by 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium standing alone at the pitcher's mound, so I have never really cared if I stood alone here in Congress as long as I stood for my beliefs and my values.''

Jim was bold and headstrong, but also fiercely loyal, a combination that made him effective in every endeavor he undertook. He lived a courageous life that was highlighted by his Hall of Fame record and commitment to public service. Jim left an indelible mark on our State, on our Nation, and his legacy will endure for generations.

My wife, Cynthia, and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mary and the entire Bunning family. We are forever grateful for Jim's courage of conviction to faithfully serve the people of the Commonwealth.

I had the pleasure of serving with Jim in the House before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and many times we would be on this floor when Jim's indomitable spirit would surface. He held strong beliefs and he had strong opinions, but, as Jim Host has said, you have never met a straighter arrow than Jim Bunning.

We are going to miss you, Big Right-Hander.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation. I want to commend Chairman Frelinghuysen and Mrs. Lowey for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, the most important point that I think I could make for many in this Chamber is that if you reject this omnibus spending bill that you all put together during the year, the alternative is a continuing resolution for the balance of the year which will put into effect the spending priorities of the previous administration. The Obama plan will still be in effect if you reject this omnibus bill. For many of us, that is the most important point that we could make.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this comprehensive bill responsibly funds key government programs through the rest of the fiscal year. As the battle against ISIS continues, funding for both defense and diplomacy must be a part of our national security framework.

Along with strategic increases for the Department of Defense, the omnibus includes critical funding for the Department of State and Foreign Operations. Protecting our diplomats abroad is a top priority, and the bill provides $6.1 billion to carry out that mission. The legislation also upholds our commitments to key international allies like Israel and Jordan and establishes a new $100 million fund to support nations facing Russian aggression.

We continue funding for global health, and humanitarian aid, and famine relief, including a new rapid response fund for emerging infectious diseases. And the bill dedicates significant resources to stop drug trafficking along our southern border with robust counternarcotic and law enforcement efforts in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.

No funds are provided for either the Green Climate Fund or the U.N. panel on climate change, and funding for the U.N. is reduced by $640 million.

While national security is a key tenet of this legislation, the omnibus also promotes economic growth at home, particularly in my Kentucky district. Coal country came under siege under President Obama, with an onslaught of job-killing regulations. Our communities are working hard to recover, after losing nearly 12,000 mining jobs.

In addition to rolling back several anticoal regulations, the bill permanently provides healthcare benefits to retired coal miners and their families. This gives the people who powered our Nation for generations the peace of mind that they deserve.

The bill also provides Kentucky with $25 million to continue the Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Program, which creates jobs by reclaiming abandoned mine land for economic development. The Appalachian Regional Commission receives historic funding. With the $152 million appropriated, $10 million is dedicated to high-speed broadband cable in our region. EDA is also provided with $30 million to revitalize the coalfields.

In addition to creating jobs, this bill builds on our progress to combat drug abuse. Like Operation UNITE in my district, we take a holistic approach to fund a comprehensive Federal response. An increase of $781 million is provided for fighting the opioid epidemic, including treatment, and prevention, and law enforcement. This bill, Mr. Speaker, will save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote. I commend the chairman and the ranking member for the great work they have put together in passing what is important to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the deepest gratitude that I rise on this bittersweet occasion to recognize Will Smith, who is leaving Capitol Hill after more than two decades of distinguished service.

Will has been my right hand in the halls of Congress for nearly two decades, and I cannot imagine a more thoughtful advisor, a more capable strategist, or a more loyal friend. A native of Beattyville, Kentucky, Will began his career on Capitol Hill in 1994, working for now-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In 1998, he brought his talents to my personal office, where he eventually became Chief of Staff in 2002.

Over his 12 years in my personal office, the people of Kentucky could not have asked for a better advocate or a more capable public servant. Will's upbringing in his small eastern Kentucky hometown and his Appalachian roots have always been reflected in his work, and his legacy will be felt throughout the region for decades to come. He has championed numerous projects that benefitted the people of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District from flood protection, to water and sewer expansion, to transportation improvements, and the like. He was instrumental in standing up Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, an organization focused on environmental clean-up, as well as our nation's pre-eminent regional anti-drug organization, Operation UNITE, that has become a model for nationwide replication. And holding true to Kentucky tradition, Will has always loyally cheered on the UK Wildcats from the Nation's capital. He has never forgotten where he came from or the people he came to serve.

This remained true when I assumed the Chairmanship of the House Committee on Appropriations in 2011. Will stayed by my side--first as Deputy Staff Director for the Committee and then in 2013, was promoted to Clerk and Staff Director. During his tenure, he helped shepherd 70 bills to passage--bills that saved the American taxpayers more than $126 billion.

His steady demeanor and strong leadership have been an asset to the Committee--particularly during some of the most trying times of the past six years. Even in the face of shutdowns, Will led with tact, professionalism, and thoughtfulness, working tirelessly to find a solution and get the job done. He is truly beloved by his colleagues and those congressional staff who have been fortunate enough to call him their boss and mentor.

As we all know, these congressional staff work long hours, and often sacrifice weekends and holidays in order to keep this esteemed institution running smoothly. This inevitably takes a toll on personal commitments, and we also owe a debt of gratitude to Will's lovely wife, Kim, and his cherished children, Morgan and Matthew.

Will is not going far away. But his absence will nonetheless be felt deeply throughout this institution. Will, on behalf of the Appropriations Committee and this Congress, I thank you for your service to our country. I wish you all the best in the future. Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the chairman on his assumption of the chairmanship of the full committee and for putting this bill together when he chaired the Subcommittee on Defense.

This bill certainly represents the outcome of many hard choices. It prioritizes funding where our troops need it the most. It wisely invests in readiness, training, maintenance, and procurement, and ensures that our troops are prepared for the tasks before them. This bill also supports our efforts to defeat ISIL alongside our allies in the region as well as our continued focus on deterring Russian aggression.

I am also pleased, Mr. Speaker, that this bill takes care of the troops and their families, granting them a long-awaited 2.1 percent pay raise. Time and again, our servicemembers put themselves in harm's way and respond to the myriad threats facing the Nation. This pay raise is one small way for us to honor their dedication and willingness to serve.

As the threats we face continue to become more unpredictable, we must provide our troops with the tools that they need to win in uncertain times. This bill goes a long way toward restoring the shortfalls in manpower and readiness that our military has endured in recent years.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me call attention again to Will Smith, who has been a clerk of this committee for 6 years and served as my chief of staff in my private office for many years before. This is likely his last appropriations bill on the floor to help manage and put together, and so I want to say to Will and all of you in behalf of saying something good about Will, what a great amount of service he rendered the Nation with a true Kentucky attitude, which he has.

Will, we owe you a lot. Thank you for your service. You have been great. We wish you Godspeed.

I thank the chairman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama made it his mission to bankrupt the coal industry when he took office, and through a slew of job-killing regulations, he has nearly made good on that promise. His administration spent 7 years and over $10 million in taxpayer dollars writing the stream protection rule. Even though the bipartisan 2016 omnibus appropriations bill directed the Interior Department to engage with the States before finalizing this rule, the agency refused to comply, leaving crucial voices out of the rulemaking process.

Under this midnight regulation, at least half of the Nation's coal reserves would be restricted from mining, and one-third of current coal-related jobs would be at risk. This would mean more devastating job losses in coal communities across the country, especially in Kentucky, where we have already got nearly 13,000 miners out of work.

It is time to end the madness and give our communities in the coal areas a chance to rebuild. I urge support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Moyer Foundation and its Camp Mariposa. Since 2000, the Moyer Foundation has reached thousands of children impacted by grief or addiction in their families. Among other successful endeavors, the Foundation started Camp Mariposa, a free weekend camp focused on mentoring and addiction prevention for youth impacted by the substance abuse of a family member. In 2015, Camp Mariposa helped over 960 students ages 9 through 12 have fewer feelings of isolation and guilt, understand the reality of addiction as a disease, and make positive life choices. Just last week, the Addiction Policy Forum recognized Camp Mariposa in their ``Focus on Innovation'' program.

Sadly, the children of eastern Kentucky have been at the very heart of a nationwide opioid abuse epidemic that has claimed more than 165,000 lives since 1999. They've borne witness to a generation of addiction and overdose, often times among those on whom they rely for financial, educational, and emotional support. I am proud that Camp Mariposa will open its twelfth location next month in Buckhorn, Kentucky, its first rural location, and continue spreading awareness and hope to our region.

I thank the Moyer Foundation and its local partner Buckhorn Children & Family Services for their dedication to changing the lives of America's at-risk youth. With their continued help, we can break the cycle of addiction and instill newfound hope in our communities