Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the most dedicated and respected law enforcement officials in narcotics diversion and substance abuse education in Kentucky, Dan Smoot, in honor of his 33 years of law enforcement service--12 of which were spent as a leader at an organization near and dear to my heart, Operation UNITE.

After serving more than two decades as a narcotics diversion specialist for the Kentucky State Police in Eastern Kentucky, Smoot was one of the first leaders brought on board to help launch Operation UNITE, a non-profit organization designed to tackle the tidal wave of drug abuse that hit Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District with the release of powerful prescription painkillers in our rural region. Because of the unique challenges associated with prescription drug addiction and abuse, UNITE's name reflects its three-pronged, holistic approach--Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education.

As the inaugural Law Enforcement Director, he undertook the daunting task of developing and implementing law enforcement policies and procedures for UNITE's accredited task force. Critically important to the organization's success has been buy-in and cooperation among local law enforcement, and Smoot's early work at UNITE was critical to forging these partnerships. He engaged with more than 30 different fiscal courts to enact interlocal cooperation agreements to provide jurisdiction for UNITE to work with local law enforcement agencies in each county. Thus far, UNITE's task force has arrested more than 4,000 drug traffickers, taken over $12.3 million in drugs off the streets, while maintaining a 97% conviction rate in southern and eastern Kentucky. Closely collaborating with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Smoot developed an innovative debit card program to fund street- level drug purchases for local police departments and sheriff's offices in eleven counties. Additionally, he has developed a reputation for his tireless advocacy for better drug abuse-related policy and legislation in Kentucky and surrounding states. As a result of his efforts, Smoot was named President and CEO of UNITE in 2013.

Though the majority of his career has been focused on law enforcement, Smoot quickly became an advocate for UNITE's effective education and treatment programs. It takes a special kind of law enforcement officer to commit to treatment and education programs--but Smoot immediately bought in, and it's due in large part to his leadership, to his steadfast guidance and advocacy, and to his unwavering commitment to this critically important cause that UNITE shines as a national leader in helping individuals take back their communities from the scourge of drug abuse. He has supported Drug Court programs and spent countless hours educating community members and students about drug abuse prevention across the region. Whether he is talking to national leaders or spending time with at-risk middle school children at Camp UNITE, his passion to end the cycle of drug abuse in Kentucky is remarkable. The story of his career is now written, not only by the drug traffickers who have spent time in state and federal prisons for illicit drug activities, but also by their children and grandchildren who now realize there is hope for a better future, thanks to the valiant education and treatment programs he helped lead at Operation UNITE.

I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Dan Smoot's incredible leadership in our life-saving and life-changing anti-drug efforts in Kentucky and throughout our Appalachian region. I have no doubt that he will carry these incredible and laudable professional and personal traits with him into any future endeavors, and I certainly wish him the very best in his new post with the Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA).

Mr. Speaker, I submit for publication the rules of the Committee on Appropriations for the 114th Congress, as adopted on January 28, 2015.

Resolved, That the rules and practices of the Committee on

Appropriations, House of Representatives, in the One Hundred

Thirteenth Congress, except as otherwise provided

hereinafter, shall be and are hereby adopted as the rules and

practices of the Committee on Appropriations in the One

Hundred Fourteenth Congress.

The foregoing resolution adopts the following rules:

sec. 1: power to sit and act

(a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions

and duties under Rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of

Representatives, the Committee and each of its subcommittees

is authorized:

(1) To sit and act at such times and places within the

United States whether the House is in session, has recessed,

or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings as it deems

necessary; and

(2) To require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance

and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such

books, reports, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and

documents as it deems necessary.

(b) The Chairman, or any Member designated by the Chairman,

may administer oaths to any witness.

(c) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the

Committee or its subcommittees under subsection (a)(2) in the

conduct of any investigation or activity or series of

investigations or activities, only when authorized by a

majority of the Members of the Committee voting, a majority

being present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas

under subsection (a)(2) may be delegated to the Chairman

pursuant to such rules and under such limitations as the

Committee may prescribe. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed

by the Chairman or by any Member designated by the Committee.

(d) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the Committee or

its subcommittees may be enforced only as authorized or

directed by the House.

sec. 2: subcommittees

(a) The Majority Caucus of the Committee shall establish

the number of subcommittees and shall determine the

jurisdiction of each subcommittee.

(b) Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings,

receive evidence, and report to the Committee all matters

referred to it.

(c) All legislation and other matters referred to the

Committee shall be referred to the subcommittee of

appropriate jurisdiction within two weeks unless, by majority

vote of the Majority Members of the full Committee,

consideration is to be by the full Committee.

(d) The Majority Caucus of the Committee shall determine an

appropriate ratio of Majority to Minority Members for each

subcommittee. The Chairman is authorized to negotiate that

ratio with the Minority; Provided, however, That party

representation in each subcommittee, including ex-officio

members, shall be no less favorable to the Majority than the

ratio for the full Committee.

(e) The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the full

Committee are each authorized to sit as a member of all

subcommittees and to participate, including voting, in all of

the work of the subcommittees.

sec. 3: staffing

(a) Committee Staff--The Chairman is authorized to appoint

the staff of the Committee, and make adjustments in the job

titles and compensation thereof subject to the maximum rates

and conditions established in Clause 9(c) of Rule X of the

Rules of the House of Representatives. In addition, he is

authorized, in his discretion, to arrange for their

specialized training. The Chairman is also authorized to

employ additional personnel as necessary.

(b) Assistants to Members:

(1) Each Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of a

Subcommittee or the Full Committee, including a Chairman

Emeritus, may select and designate one staff member who shall

serve at the pleasure of that Member.

(2) Notwithstanding (b)(1), the Chairman may prescribe such

terms and conditions necessary to achieve a reduction in the

number of Assistants to Members previously designated by a

Member of the Committee prior to the adoption of the Rules of

the House establishing the Committee for the 112th Congress.

(3) Staff members designated under this subsection shall be

compensated at a rate, determined by the Member, not to

exceed 75 per centum of the maximum established in Clause

9(c) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

(4) Members designating staff members under this subsection

must specifically certify by letter to the Chairman that the

employees are needed and will be utilized for Committee work.

sec. 4: committee meetings

(a) Regular Meeting Day--The regular meeting day of the

Committee shall be the first Wednesday of each month while

the House is in session if notice is given pursuant to

paragraph (d)(3).

(b) Additional and Special Meetings:

(1) The Chairman may call and convene, as he considers

necessary, additional meetings of the Committee for the

consideration of any bill or resolution pending before the

Committee or for the conduct of other Committee business. The

Committee shall meet for such purpose pursuant to that call

of the Chairman.

(2) If at least three Committee Members desire that a

special meeting of the Committee be called by the Chairman,

those Members may file in the Committee Offices a written

request to the Chairman for that special meeting. Such

request shall specify the measure or matter to be considered.

Upon the filing of the request, the Committee Clerk shall

notify the Chairman.

(3) If within three calendar days after the filing of the

request, the Chairman does not call the requested special

meeting to be held within seven calendar days after the

filing of the request, a majority of the Committee Members

may file in the Committee Offices their written notice that a

special meeting will be held, specifying the date and hour of

such meeting, and the measure or matter to be considered. The

Committee shall meet on that date and hour.

(4) Immediately upon the filing of the notice, the

Committee Clerk shall notify all Committee Members that such

special meeting will be held and inform them of its date and

hour and the measure or matter to be considered. Such notice

shall also be made publicly available in electronic form and

shall be deemed to satisfy paragraph (d)(3). Only the measure

or matter specified in that notice may be considered at the

special meeting.

(c) Vice Chairman To Preside in Absence of Chairman--A

member of the majority party on the Committee or subcommittee

thereof designated by the Chairman of the full Committee

shall be vice chairman of the Committee or subcommittee, as

the case may be, and shall preside at any meeting during the

temporary absence of the chairman. If the chairman and vice

chairman of the Committee or subcommittee are not present at

any meeting of the Committee or subcommittee, the ranking

member of the majority party who is present shall preside at

that meeting.

(d) Business Meetings:

(1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including

the markup of legislation, of the Committee and its

subcommittees shall be open to the public except when the

Committee or the subcommittee concerned, in open session and

with a majority present, determines by roll call vote that

all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall

be closed.

(2) No person other than Committee Members and such

congressional staff and departmental representatives as they

may authorize shall be present at any business or markup

session which has been closed.

(3) The Chairman shall announce the date, place, and

subject matter of each committee meeting for the transaction

of business, which may not commence earlier than the third

day on which members have notice thereof, unless the

Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority

Member, or the Committee by majority vote with a quorum

present for the transaction of business, determines there is

good cause to begin the meeting sooner, in which case the

Chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest possible

date. An announcement shall be published promptly in the

Daily Digest and made publicly available in electronic form.

(4) At least 24 hours prior to the commencement of a

meeting for the markup of a bill or resolution, or at the

time an announcement is made pursuant to the preceding

subparagraph within 24 hours before such meeting, the

Chairman shall cause the text of such bill or resolution to

be made publicly available in electronic form.

(e) Committee Records:

(1) The Committee shall keep a complete record of all

Committee action, including a record of the votes on any

question on which a roll call is taken. The result of each

roll call vote shall be available for inspection by the

public during regular business hours in the Committee Offices

and also made available in electronic form within 48 hours of

such record vote. The information made available for public

inspection shall include a description of the amendment,

motion, or other proposition, and the name of each Member

voting for and each Member voting against, and the names of

those Members present but not voting.

(2) Committee records (including hearings, data, charts,

and files) shall be kept separate and distinct from the

congressional office records of the Chairman of the

Committee. Such records shall be the property of the House,

and all Members of the House shall have access thereto.

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

and Records Administration shall be made available in

accordance with Rule VII of the Rules of the House, except

that the Committee authorizes use of any record to which

Clause 3(b)(4) of Rule VII of the Rules of the House would

otherwise apply after such record has been in existence for

20 years. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking Minority

Member of any decision, pursuant to Clause 3(b)(3) or Clause

4(b) of Rule VII of the Rules of the House, to withhold a

record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented

to the Committee for a determination upon the written request

of any Member of the Committee.

(f) Availability of Amendments Adopted--Not later than 24

hours after the adoption of an amendment to a bill or

resolution, the Chairman shall cause the text of any

amendment adopted thereto to be made publicly available in

electronic form.

sec. 5: committee and subcommittee hearings

(a) Overall Budget Hearings--Overall budget hearings by the

Committee, including the hearing required by Section 242(c)

of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 and Clause

4(a)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of

Representatives, shall be conducted in open session except

when the Committee in open session and with a majority

present, determines by roll call vote that the testimony to

be taken at that hearing on that day may be related to a

matter of national security; except that the Committee may by

the same procedure close one subsequent day of hearing. A

transcript of all such hearings shall be printed and a copy

furnished to each Member, Delegate, and the Resident

Commissioner from Puerto Rico.

(b) Other Hearings:

(1) All other hearings conducted by the Committee or its

subcommittees shall be open to the public except when the

Committee or subcommittee in open session and with a majority

present determines by roll call vote that all or part of the

remainder of that hearing on that day shall be closed to the

public because disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other

matters to be considered would endanger the national security

or would violate any law or Rule of the House of

Representatives. Notwithstanding the requirements of the

preceding sentence, a majority of those present at a hearing

conducted by the Committee or any of its subcommittees, there

being in attendance the number required under Section 5(c) of

these Rules to be present for the purpose of taking

testimony, (1) may vote to close the hearing for the sole

purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be

received would endanger the national security or violate

Clause 2(k)(5) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of

Representatives or (2) may vote to close the hearing, as

provided in Clause 2(k)(5) of such Rule. No Member of the

House of Representatives may be excluded from

nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of the Committee

or its subcommittees unless the House of Representatives

shall by majority vote authorize the Committee or any of its

subcommittees, for purposes of a particular series of

hearings on a particular article of legislation or on a

particular subject of investigation, to close its hearings to

Members by the same procedures designated in this subsection

for closing hearings to the public; Provided, however, That

the Committee or its subcommittees may by the same procedure

vote to close five subsequent days of hearings.

(2) Subcommittee chairmen shall coordinate the development

of schedules for meetings or hearings after consultation with

the Chairman and other subcommittee chairmen with a view

toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of Committee and

subcommittee meetings or hearings.

(3) Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or

any of its subcommittees as the case may be, insofar as is

practicable, shall file in advance of such appearance, a

written statement of the proposed testimony and shall limit

the oral presentation at such appearance to a brief summary,

except that this provision shall not apply to any witness

appearing before the Committee in the overall budget

hearings.

(4) Each witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity

before the Committee, or any of its subcommittees as the case

may be, shall to the greatest extent practicable, submit a

written statement including a curriculum vitae and a

disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program)

of any Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or

subcontract thereof), or contracts or payments originating

from a foreign government, received during the current fiscal

year or either of the two previous fiscal years by the

witness or by an entity represented by the witness and

related to the subject matter of the hearing. Such

statements, with appropriate redactions to protect the

privacy of witnesses, shall be made publicly available in

electronic form not later than one day after the witness

appears. The disclosure referred to in this paragraph shall

include the amount and source of each Federal grant (or

subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof)

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

and country of origin of any payment or contract related to

the subject matter of the hearing originating with a foreign

government.

(c) Quorum for Taking Testimony--The number of Members of

the Committee which shall constitute a quorum for taking

testimony and receiving evidence in any hearing of the

Committee shall be two.

(d) Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses:

(1) The Minority Members of the Committee or its

subcommittees shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman

or subcommittee chairman, by a majority of them before

completion of any hearing, to call witnesses selected by the

Minority to testify with respect to the matter under

consideration during at least one day of hearings thereon.

(2) The Committee and its subcommittees shall observe the

five-minute rule during the interrogation of witnesses until

such time as each Member of the Committee or subcommittee who

so desires has had an opportunity to question the witness.

(e) Broadcasting and Photographing of Committee Meetings

and Hearings--Whenever a hearing or meeting conducted by the

full Committee or any of its subcommittees is open to the

public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by

television, radio, and still photography, and shall be

conducted in

accordance with the requirements set forth in Clause (4)(f)

of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Neither the full Committee Chairman or subcommittee chairman

shall limit the number of television or still cameras to

fewer than two representatives from each medium (except for

legitimate space or safety, in which case pool coverage shall

be authorized). To the maximum practicable, the Committee

shall provide audio and video coverage of each hearing or

meeting for the transaction of business in a manner that

allows the public to easily listen to and view the

proceedings and shall maintain the recordings of such

coverage in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.

(f) Subcommittee Meetings--No subcommittee shall sit while

the House is reading an appropriation measure for amendment

under the five-minute rule or while the Committee is in

session.

(g) Public Notice of Committee Hearings--The Chairman of

the Committee shall make public announcement of the date,

place, and subject matter of any Committee or subcommittee

hearing at least one week before the commencement of the

hearing. If the Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee,

with the concurrence of the ranking minority member of the

Committee or respective subcommittee, determines there is

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

or subcommittee so determines by majority vote, a quorum

being present for the transaction of business, the Chairman

or subcommittee chairman shall make the announcement at the

earliest possible date. Any announcement made under this

subsection shall be promptly published in the Daily Digest

and made publicly available in electronic form.

Sec. 6: Procedures for Reporting Bills and Resolutions

(a) Prompt Reporting Requirement:

(1) It shall be the duty of the Chairman to report, or

cause to be reported promptly to the House any bill or

resolution approved by the Committee and to take or cause to

be taken necessary steps to bring the matter to a vote.

(2) In any event, a report on a bill or resolution which

the Committee has approved shall be filed within seven

calendar days (exclusive of days in which the House is not in

session) after the day on which there has been filed with the

Committee Clerk a written request, signed by a majority of

Committee Members, for the reporting of such bill or

resolution. Upon the filing of any such request, the

Committee Clerk shall notify the Chairman immediately of the

filing of the request. This subsection does not apply to the

reporting of a regular appropriation bill or to the reporting

of a resolution of inquiry addressed to the head of an

executive department.

(b) Presence of Committee Majority--No measure or

recommendation shall be reported from the Committee unless a

majority of the Committee was actually present.

(c) Roll Call Votes--With respect to each roll call vote on

a motion to report any measure or matter of a public

character, and on any amendment offered to the measure of

matter, the total number of votes cast for and against, and

the names of those Members voting for and against, shall be

included in the Committee report on the measure or matter.

(d) Compliance With Congressional Budget Act--A Committee

report on a bill or resolution which has been approved by the

Committee shall include the statement required by Section

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, separately

set out and clearly identified, if the bill or resolution

provides new budget authority.

(e) Changes in Existing Law--Each Committee report on a

general appropriation bill shall contain a concise statement

describing fully the effect of any provision of the bill

which directly or indirectly changes the application of

existing law.

(f) Rescissions and Transfers--Each bill or resolution

reported by the Committee shall include separate headings for

rescissions and transfers of unexpended balances with all

proposed rescissions and transfers listed therein. The report

of the Committee accompanying such a bill or resolution shall

include a separate section with respect to such rescissions

or transfers.

(g) Listing of Unauthorized Appropriations--Each Committee

report on a general appropriation bill shall contain a list

of all appropriations contained in the bill for any

expenditure not currently authorized by law for the period

concerned (except for classified intelligence or national

security programs, projects, or activities) along with a

statement of the last year for which such expenditures were

authorized, the level of expenditures authorized for that

year, the actual level of expenditures for that year, and the

level of appropriations in the bill for such expenditures.

(h) Supplemental or Minority Views:

(1) If, at the time the Committee approves any measure or

matter, any Committee Member gives notice of intention to

file supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views,

all Members shall be entitled to not less than two additional

calendar days after the day of such notice (excluding

Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) in which to file such

views in writing and signed by the Member, with the Clerk of

the Committee. All such views so filed shall be included in

and shall be a part of the report filed by the Committee with

respect to that measure or matter.

(2) The Committee report on that measure or matter shall be

printed in a single volume which--

(i) shall include all supplemental, minority, additional,

or dissenting views which have been submitted by the time of

the filing of the report, and

(ii) shall have on its cover a recital that any such

supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views are

included as part of the report.

(3) This subsection does not preclude--

(i) the immediate filing or printing of a Committee report

unless timely request for the opportunity to file

supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views has

been made as provided by such subsection; or

(ii) the filing by the Committee of a supplemental report

on a measure or matter which may be required for correction

of any technical error in a previous report made by the

Committee on that measure or matter.

(4) If, at the time a subcommittee approves any measure or

matter for recommendation to the full Committee, any Member

of that subcommittee who gives notice of intention to offer

supplemental, minority, additional, or dissenting views shall

be entitled, insofar as is practicable and in accordance with

the printing requirements as determined by the subcommittee,

to include such views in the Committee Print with respect to

that measure or matter.

(i) Availability of Reports--A copy of each bill,

resolution, or report shall be made available to each Member

of the Committee at least three calendar days (excluding

Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) in advance of the

date on which the Committee is to consider each bill,

resolution, or report; Provided, That this subsection may be

waived by agreement between the Chairman and the Ranking

Minority Member of the full Committee.

(j) Performance Goals and Objectives--Each Committee report

shall contain a statement of general performance goals and

objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives,

for which the measure authorizes funding.

(k) Motion to go to Conference--The Chairman is directed to

offer a motion under clause 1 of rule XXII of the Rules of

the House whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate.

sec. 7: voting

(a) No vote by any Member of the Committee or any of its

subcommittees with respect to any measure or matter may be

cast by proxy.

(b) The vote on any question before the Committee shall be

taken by the yeas and nays on the demand of one-fifth of the

Members present.

(c) The Chairman of the Committee or the chairman of any of

its subcommittees may--

(1) postpone further proceedings when a record vote is

ordered on the question of approving a measure or matter or

on adopting an amendment;

(2) resume proceedings on a postponed question at any time

after reasonable notice.

When proceedings resume on a postponed question,

notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous

question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to

further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the

question was postponed.

Sec. 8: Studies and Examinations

The following procedure shall be applicable with respect to

the conduct of studies and examinations of the organization

and operation of Executive Agencies under authority contained

in Section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of

1946 and in Clause (3)(a) of Rule X of the Rules of the House

of Representatives:

(a) The Chairman is authorized to appoint such staff and,

in his discretion, arrange for the procurement of temporary

services of consultants, as from time to time may be

required.

(b) Studies and examinations will be initiated upon the

written request of a subcommittee which shall be reasonably

specific and definite in character, and shall be initiated

only by a majority vote of the subcommittee, with the

chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking minority member

thereof participating as part of such majority vote. When so

initiated such request shall be filed with the Clerk of the

Committee for submission to the Chairman and the Ranking

Minority Member and their approval shall be required to make

the same effective. Notwithstanding any action taken on such

request by the chairman and ranking minority member of the

subcommittee, a request may be approved by a majority of the

Committee.

(c) Any request approved as provided under subsection (b)

shall be immediately turned over to the staff appointed for

action.

(d) Any information obtained by such staff shall be

reported to the chairman of the subcommittee requesting such

study and examination and to the Chairman and Ranking

Minority Member, shall be made available to the members of

the subcommittee concerned, and shall not be released for

publication until the subcommittee so determines.

(e) Any hearings or investigations which may be desired,

aside from the regular hearings on appropriation items, when

approved by the Committee, shall be conducted by the

subcommittee having jurisdiction over the matter.

Sec. 9: Temporary Investigative Task Forces

(a) The Chairman of the Full Committee, in consultation

with the Ranking Member of

the Full Committee, may establish and appoint members to

serve on task forces of the Committee, to examine specific

activities for a limited period of time in accordance with

clause 5(b)2(C) of Rule X of the Rules of the House.

(b) The Chairman of the Full Committee shall issue a

written directive, in consultation with the Ranking Member of

the Full Committee, delineating the specific activities to be

reviewed by a task force constituted pursuant to the

preceding paragraph.

(c) A task force constituted under this section shall

provide a written report of its findings and recommendations

to the Full Committee Chairman and Ranking Member and members

of the relevant subcommittees having jurisdiction over the

matters reviewed. Such report shall be approved by a majority

vote of the task force and shall include any supplemental,

minority, additional, or dissenting views submitted by a

Member of the task force or a member of a subcommittee having

jurisdiction over the matter reviewed.

(d) Any information obtained during the course of such

investigation, and any report produced by, a task force

pursuant to this section, shall not be released until the

Chairman of the Full Committee has authorized such release.

(e) The Chairman is authorized to appoint such staff, and,

in his discretion, arrange for the procurement of temporary

services, as from time to time may be required.

Sec. 10: Official Travel

(a) The chairman of a subcommittee shall approve requests

for travel by subcommittee members and staff for official

business within the jurisdiction of that subcommittee. The

ranking minority member of a subcommittee shall concur in

such travel requests by minority members of that subcommittee

and the Ranking Minority Member shall concur in such travel

requests for Minority Members of the Committee. Requests in

writing covering the purpose, itinerary, and dates of

proposed travel shall be submitted for final approval to the

Chairman. Specific approval shall be required for each and

every trip.

(b) The Chairman is authorized during the recess of the

Congress to approve travel authorizations for Committee

Members and staff, including travel outside the United

States.

(c) As soon as practicable, the Chairman shall direct the

head of each Government agency concerned to honor requests of

subcommittees, individual Members, or staff for travel, the

direct or indirect expenses of which are to be defrayed from

an executive appropriation, only upon request from the

Chairman.

(d) In accordance with Clause 8 of Rule X of the Rules of

the House of Representatives and Section 502(b) of the Mutual

Security Act of 1954, as amended, local currencies owned by

the United States shall be available to Committee Members and

staff engaged in carrying out their official duties outside

the United States, its territories, or possessions. No

Committee Member or staff member shall receive or expend

local currencies for subsistence in any country at a rate in

excess of the maximum per diem rate set forth in applicable

Federal law.

(e) Travel Reports:

(1) Members or staff shall make a report to the Chairman on

their travel, covering the purpose, results, itinerary,

expenses, and other pertinent comments.

(2) With respect to travel outside the United States or its

territories or possessions, the report shall include: (1) an

itemized list showing the dates each country was visited, the

amount of per diem furnished, the cost of transportation

furnished, and any funds expended for any other official

purpose; and (2) a summary in these categories of the total

foreign currencies and/ or appropriated funds expended. All

such individual reports on foreign travel shall be filed with

the Chairman no later than sixty days following completion of

the travel for use in complying with reporting requirements

in applicable Federal law, and shall be open for public

inspection.

(3) Each Member or employee performing such travel shall be

solely responsible for supporting the amounts reported by the

Member or employee.

(4) No report or statement as to any trip shall be

publicized making any recommendations on behalf of the

Committee without the authorization of a majority of the

Committee.

(f) Members and staff of the Committee performing

authorized travel on official business pertaining to the

jurisdiction of the Committee shall be governed by applicable

laws or regulations of the House and of the Committee on

House Administration pertaining to such travel, and as

promulgated from time to time by the Chairman.

Sec. 11. Activities Reports

(a) Not later than January 2 of each odd-numbered year, the

Committee shall submit to the House a report on the

activities of the Committee.

(b) After adjournment sine die of a regular session of

Congress, or after December 15, whichever occurs first, the

Chairman may file the report with the Clerk of the House at

any time and without the approval of the Committee, provided

that a copy of the report has been available to each Member

of the Committee for at least seven calendar days and the

report includes any supplemental, minority, additional, or

dissenting views submitted by a Member of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jennifer Miller, who has worked tirelessly both in my personal office and for the Appropriations Committee for the last twenty-five years.

Jennifer returned to her Kentucky roots when she began her career in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1989 by joining my personal office staff. In 1996, she was asked to join the staff of the Appropriations Committee and since then she has worked diligently for various subcommittees, as well as in the front office. Most recently she has been responsible for the oversight of the intelligence community's budget for the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Jennifer is a dedicated and passionate professional. She knows the Congressional rules and the legislative process better than anyone. She has always been willing to put the Committee first and has sacrificed countless hours, weeks, and years to further enhance the work of the Committee. Nothing better exemplifies her dedication than when in March 2007, Jennifer remained at my side in the Committee hearing room during a mark-up of a supplemental bill for two hours longer than planned, leaving her short on time to catch a flight to Italy--for her wedding! Thankfully she made it to the airport in time, and now has a supportive husband, Pete, as well as a cherished daughter, Emma.

More recently, Jennifer again displayed her true dedication to the Committee during the first several months that I was Chairman, by not only working for the Defense Subcommittee but also in the front office, aiding with the transition process and assembling the current fiscal year's consolidated appropriations bill. To this day she continues to use her indispensable knowledge by assisting other subcommittees through the legislative process and particularly when Committee bills are being debated on the House floor.

I have said before, and I will say again, the Appropriations Committee has the best staff on Capitol Hill. However, hopefully just this once, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is gaining traction by hiring Jennifer away from us. I will miss Jennifer's contributions and leadership; but we thank her for her dedication and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the most astute business leaders and job creators in southern and eastern Kentucky, Ray Moncrief, upon his retirement from the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation.

For generations, southern and eastern Kentucky has relied upon the coal mining industry for good paying jobs; however, primarily in the last decade, we have witnessed a debilitating decline in our Appalachian coalfields. To help diversify our business portfolio, I have long relied upon the expertise of my dear friend Ray Moncrief. In fact, he helped form the cornerstones of one of the region's largest job creating organizations, the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED).

Knowing the challenges of entrepreneurship in his own startup companies, Ray has dedicated countless hours to small business owners and local developers, providing technical and managerial training, guiding them through loan opportunities, development costs and contracts, and advocating for community partnerships and investments. He has taught numerous innovative individuals how to start, operate and expand successful companies and organizations in our region and across the country.

Ray's finite business sense has been sought out by countless businesses and non-profit organizations. His resume includes Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mountain Ventures, Inc., and Fund Manager for both the Southern Appalachian Fund and Meritus Venture. He was previously a member of the NASBIC Board of Governors, and is currently a member of the Boards of Directors of the Community Development Financial Institution Coalition, the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition, the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, and NCB Capital Impact. He is also a founding director and the founding Chairman of Appalachian Community Capital, Inc. Topping off his long list of credibility, Ray is also a founding member of the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA) and is credited for designing the community development venture capital.

As noted in his biography, Ray is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker and writer on the use of equity as an economic development strategy, and has provided testimony to the U.S. Congress on various economic topics. President George W. Bush appointed Ray to the Community Development Advisory Fund in 2008. He has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from CDVCA and the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds.

I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Ray Moncrief for manifesting the spirit of entrepreneurship that helps run America. His investment into the practices of small business owners across southern and eastern Kentucky will undoubtedly continue to create jobs for generations to follow. I wish Ray the very best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a long-time friend and leader in southern and eastern Kentucky, Mr. A.L. Sinclair, upon his retirement from the Eastern Kentucky PRIDE Board of Directors.

In 1997, A.L. participated in a historic meeting at the Hazard Community and Technical College during which southern and eastern Kentucky's local elected officials joined forces to combat our region's troubles with pollution and illegal dumps. The late General James Bickford, former Secretary of the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, and I presented a battle plan to the group, declaring ``war against pollution'' in our beautiful region. Together, we launched the Eastern Kentucky PRIDE organization to promote ``Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment'' and A.L. immediately became a general in the war.

Since then, A.L. has volunteered as his hometown, Adair County's PRIDE Coordinator and a member of the regional PRIDE Board of Directors that now serves 42 counties.

A.L.'s passion for cleaning up our Appalachian hillsides and streams was truly driven by his many years of dedicated work with the U.S. Forest Service, and his tireless efforts as Adair County's Solid Waste Coordinator. He went above and beyond the call of duty, spearheading a variety of cleanup activities, including roadside dump cleanups, tire amnesty programs, white-goods buy-back opportunities and free tipping at the transfer station. Almost daily, he foraged the hillsides for illegal dumpsites and acted quickly to get them cleaned up and pushed for accountability and justice for those who marred our cherished land.

Due to A.L.'s deep pride in our region and courageous efforts to educate students, community leaders and families in southern and eastern Kentucky, he has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission's Earth Day Award and PRIDE's Rogers-Bickford Environmental Leadership Award.

A.L. has inspired an entire generation to take pride in our region by keeping our hillsides and waterways clean, by creating innovative energy-saving projects in our schools, and bringing access to clean water and sanitary sewer to thousands of families over the last two decades.

``Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.'' Those words, written by Napoleon Hill, a motivational American author, define A.L.'s heart of service and commitment to work for a better future in our region.

I ask my colleagues to join me applauding the diligent work this great advocate for a cleaner, more beautiful place in America. We deeply appreciate A.L. Sinclair and he will be greatly missed, but his torch will be carried forward by the thousands of PRIDE volunteers who have joined the mission across southern and eastern Kentucky.

I thank Chairman Carter for his great work in putting this bill together and for yielding the time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security.

In December, the House passed, on a bipartisan basis, an aggregated appropriations bill that funded most of the Federal Government, 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, and today we consider the last remaining of those bills.

The security of our homeland is one of our highest priorities. This bill provides $39.7 billion for that purpose: to protect our borders, defend against the threats of terrorism, and enforce our Nation's laws.

Today we will also consider amendments to the bill that will reverse the President's declaration of executive amnesty for illegal aliens. One of these amendments would change existing law to prohibit any funding, including fees, from being used to implement the order. As the chairman of the subcommittee has said, there are no appropriations in this bill for the illegal amnesty decree--that is being funded by fees--and this amendment would get at that problem.

The American people have spoken loud and clear. They want our immigration laws enforced rather than unilaterally changed by executive decree in an unlawful way that undermines our Constitution and the integrity of our laws. I will vote for these amendments because the Presidential amnesty decree grossly exceeds this authority and violates the Constitution.

The base legislation before us ensures that our immigration laws are upheld, that our border is fortified, and that the men and women on our front line remain well-equipped and trained. The bill provides $10.7 billion for Customs and Border Protection. That is an increase of $118- plus million above last year to support the largest operation force levels in the history of the country and to ensure around-the-clock border surveillance.

Funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, is also boosted above last year, totaling $5.96 billion, including significant increases to detention bed capacity for both individuals and families, and full funding for E-Verify to ensure companies are hiring employees who can legally work in the U.S.

In addition, the legislation provides funding to ensure the safety of our skies and our coasts. The Transportation Security Administration is funded at $4.8 billion, targeting funding to passenger security, cargo inspections, and intelligence.

The Coast Guard receives $10 billion, denying the President's proposed cuts that would have gutted vital operations of the Coast Guard.

The security of this Nation is also dependent on a secure cyber network, and recent headlines have only underscored our need to be prepared against new and advanced cyber attacks and foreign espionage. To improve our cybersecurity programs, the bill includes $753.2 million for these activities in the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

The bill also includes increased funding to address critical lapses in Secret Service communications and training at the White House and to start preparations for the 2016 Presidential election.

In addition to providing for these important security efforts, the Department bill also provides funding for disaster recovery and response. There is $7 billion in the bill for FEMA's programs, fully funding their requirements. It also provides $2.5 billion for important first responder grants that help States and communities act in the critical early moments following a disaster.

And finally, Mr. Chair, in all, this legislation before us takes the necessary steps to ensure the responsible, transparent use of taxpayer dollars, including streamlining DHS operations, reducing overhead costs, and trimming funds for lower priority programs.

I want to thank the gentleman from Texas, Chairman Carter, and the entire subcommittee and staff for their hard work in reaching that bipartisan agreement back in December which now is reflected in this bill on the floor, and to also thank the staff for their many hours putting this legislation into final form.

Nearly halfway into the fiscal year, it is high time we get this bill enacted to strengthen our homeland security efforts, ensure our personnel are well-equipped and trained, and maintain our readiness for any threats that may come our way. We cannot put our security at risk with outdated funding levels and the uncertainty of a continuing resolution.

So I urge my colleagues to vote responsibly for the security of our country and the security of our borders. I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, Dr. Michael B. McCall, the Founding President of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Dr. McCall has announced that this will be his last year as System president and will be retiring in January.

Under the leadership of Dr. McCall, KCTCS has served as the major gateway to post-secondary education across the Commonwealth. Since his appointment in December 1998, Dr. McCall has achieved many successes, such as merging the 28 community and technical colleges into 16 individually accredited comprehensive community colleges and leading KCTCS to its position as the largest provider of post-secondary education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Because of his leadership, KCTCS currently serves over 92,000 students and represents over 47% of all undergraduate college students. Perhaps most importantly, KCTCS has dramatically increased participation in postsecondary education. The number of students participating in KCTCS has risen dramatically since the system was created, with enrollment increasing by 62,000 in the first decade.

I am proud to have five community colleges within the KCTCS System that serve my district: Somerset Community College, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Hazard Community and Technical College, Big Sandy Community and Technical College, and Ashland Community and Technical College. Each college has seen incredible growth since KCTCS was founded in 1997.

Dr. McCall has also led the System to create major advancements in education and pioneered many new educational opportunities that are unique to Kentucky, including the North American Racing Academy (first college-affiliated horse racing academy in the United States), the Kentucky Coal Academy, Kentucky Fire Commission, and the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

Dr. McCall has served for more than 40 years in community and technical colleges. He has been recognized as Kentucky Monthly Magazine's Kentuckian of the Year and was also the Board Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). This marked the first time a System-level president was elected chair of the AACC board.

I am proud to have known Dr. McCall since he became KCTCS President and wish him great luck in retirement. I offer my full congratulations to Dr. McCall for his service to KCTCS and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Thank you and may God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 776, I call up the bill (H.R. 83) to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that

all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 83 and that I may include tabular material on the same.

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

I rise today, as we face the expiration of the current continuing resolution, to present the House amendment to the Senate amendment on H.R. 83, legislation to fund the Federal Government for the rest of the current fiscal year.

This amendment prevents a costly and damaging government shutdown while making good government funding and policy decisions and reining in regulatory overreach. It is good for the continuity of vital Federal programs and services; it is good for our economy; and it is good for the American people. In total, this legislation provides $1.013 trillion for the operations of the Federal Government. This total is in line with the terms of the Ryan-Murray budget agreement.

It includes full-year appropriations legislation for 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, reflecting the most up-to-date budgetary needs of each agency and department. The Appropriations Committees in both the House and Senate went line by line through all of these bills, prioritizing funding for effective and vital programs, making the tough decisions to cut funding for lower priority programs.

In addition, the measure includes short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security, holding the funding levels for those programs at current levels. This will ensure that efforts to secure our home front are maintained until February 27 of next year.

This legislation is a compromise--the product of hard-fought negotiations between the House and Senate, with give-and-take from both sides; but at the end of the day, Mr. Speaker, it reflects conservative priorities, keeps our spending in line, and reins in the regulatory overreach that has been hampering our economy.

As such, national security is a top priority in this bill. We provide a total of $554 billion for the Department of Defense, including $64 billion in overseas contingency operations funding to support our troops in the field, to combat ISIL, to train and equip our Iraqi allies, and to counter Russian aggression.

To further assist our economy, we include provisions that put the brakes on regulatory programs that are too intrusive and too burdensome on American businesses. For instance, the legislation prohibits funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to act on two potentially harmful regulations: changing the definition of ``fill material'' and regulating water in certain agricultural areas under the Clean Water Act.

The bill measure prevents the listing of the Sage Grouse on the endangered species list--a premature action that would have severe economic consequences on Western States, especially; and the bill protects job creators from onerous regulatory burdens by amending Dodd- Frank swaps push-out rules.

This bill also demonstrates, Mr. Speaker, fiscal restraint. It cuts $60 million from the EPA. It provides no funding for high-speed rail, the President's Race to the Top initiative, or UNESCO or IMF. No new funding is included for ObamaCare, and the bill holds the line on funding for the agency most responsible for implementing that law at Health and Human Services.

For the IRS, the bill cuts the agency $345 million below last year, and it includes language to put a stop to improper behavior by prohibiting the targeting of groups based on their political beliefs, prohibiting the White House from ordering the IRS to determine the tax- exempt status of an organization, and from funding inappropriate videos or conferences.

This legislation is the product of the bipartisan and bicameral cooperation that the American people called for at the voting booths last month. Passage of this bill will show our people that we can and will govern responsibly, rise above inaction, and work together on their behalf.

I would have preferred, as I am sure all of us would have, that we would be considering each of the 12 appropriations bills under regular order--the old-fashioned way. This is the way it should operate. In the House, as you know, our committee passed out 11 of the 12 bills. The floor passed seven of the bills, and it would have passed more, but we realized the Senate was not going to act on any of them and did not; so five of the bills were left in the lurch because the Senate would not consider any of the bills.

We face a very tight deadline now, and we have no choice but to try to put together an omnibus spending bill aggregating all 12 bills into one. I would have preferred separately, but the Senate blocked the way. If we do nothing, we will be turning our backs on our constitutional duty and on the American people.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I want to take a moment to recognize some people who made today possible.

First of all, the staff. We have had about a month to put together this enormous bill--with thousands of items--in all 12 subcommittees. We had great negotiations then with the Senate, but it was the work of the staff, of course, that enables us to be here today. I want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle, who worked so hard to make this happen. I would like to call names, but I am afraid I would leave out somebody important, so I want to thank the staff for all of their wonderful, laborious work.

I will single out Will Smith, the chief clerk of the committee, who has guided the staff through this enormous process, who, I think, did a wonderful, marvelous job. I want to thank Will Smith, especially, and all of the staff for their great work in leading up to today.

Now I want to thank the members of the committee. They have all had a part in making this bill up--each subcommittee, each chairman of the subcommittee, each of the members of the subcommittees, who fought long and hard to ensure that we had the best bill before us today that we could have.

Notably, the ranking member of the committee, Mrs. Nita Lowey, with whom we share this responsibility, has been a tremendous asset to us in the procedure leading up to today. I want to thank her personally for the great work that she did.

I also want to acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, six members of the committee who are moving on to greener pastures, making new chapters in their lives. They have been enormous helpers on the committee. They have chaired subcommittees, and they have worked long and hard on every bill that we have produced. We certainly hate to see them go, but they are writing a new chapter. I want to recognize Jack Kingston for his service, Frank Wolf, Tom Latham, Jim Moran, Ed Pastor, and Bill Owens. All of those six are moving on. I want to thank them for their service.

It is appropriate that their final vote on the House floor will be on an appropriate Appropriations Committee bill--funding the entire government. This Nation is a better place because of their service, and I want to thank all of them for their contributions to the committee and to the House and to the people of this country over their combined 120 years of service.

I now call on the Members of the House--Republicans and Democrats alike--to support this legislation. Keep the government open. It is a good bill. It is bipartisan; it is bicameral; it was negotiated in good faith on both sides of the Capitol and on both sides of the aisle. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this bill is necessary, so I urge the Members to vote ``yes.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the very distinguished and hardworking chairman of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Tom Latham, who is retiring.

He chairs the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee and has been a stalwart help over the years on this committee and in the Congress in service to the country, so I guess for the last time he will be giving us a great oration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the distinguished chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire the time remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the distinguished chairman of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Appropriations who is retiring, leaving this body. He has done remarkable work on this subcommittee. He chaired a very difficult subcommittee with great distinction.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw),

the chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the distinguished chairman of the Interior Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), a member of our committee.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote for this bill and keep the government open. It is a good bill. Vote for it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Appropriations be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 130) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend and colleague upon his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives.

I have had the honor and pleasure of serving with Congressman Tom Latham on the House Appropriations Committee since 1997. Tom has served on a number of subcommittees, lending his expertise on energy, agriculture and homeland security policy over the years, and most recently serving as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Not only is he an exceedingly capable legislator who has demonstrated, time and again, his commitment to fiscal responsibility, but it is immediately obvious to anyone who meets him that he is 100% committed to his constituents in Iowa.

It is apparent that his Iowa values--hard work, community service, dedication to family--have colored his work here in the U.S. Congress. Tom is a thoughtful, natural born leader whose commitment to our country and his constituents comes through in every meeting, committee hearing and markup he attends. He isn't afraid to put his head down and do the difficult work demanded by this institution.

The two of us have made some great memories throughout his two decades of service, and my time in Congress has been greatly enhanced with Tom as a partner and friend. While all of us in the House of Representatives will miss his intellect and friendship, I ask you to join me in wishing Tom, his wife Kathy, their children and grandchildren all the best in his retirement. Thank you, Tom, for your service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I will not be lengthy, but I will be very serious.

There are very few people that I have served with in this body these 34 years for me who has more respect and more friends than Doc Hastings.

We are personal friends. We are professional friends. And when our wives are back home, we frequently have dinner together, and we talk a lot of politics, we talk about things going on at home, talk about things going on here in this body and the world.

There is nobody more knowledgeable of politics in America than Doc Hastings. He knows every congressional district. He knows the politics of that district, and that makes for some great, great conversation.

But I think the most important thing that I could say about Doc Hastings is his character, the character that he possesses. Someone once said that ``Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.''

I have seen, time and again, Doc faced with an opportunity, perhaps, that would have meant taking advantage of someone or not doing the right thing, and he always does the right thing. And so that character, that inner being that radiates out to the world, comes through that balding head and reaches out to the world.

Most people don't realize that Doc Hastings is one of the biggest NASCAR fans in America. He travels to watch the cars. And of course, most of those started out in the South and still principally are. But Doc loves the NASCAR world, so that makes him a southerner, which is another reason I admire the man.

Well, we are going to miss this man. He has served so well here in so many different important roles: chairman of the Ethics Committee that looks after the ethics of Members of Congress; of course, on the Rules Committee, the hardest working assignment I think anyone has, and his service there was superlative; and of course, the chair he now holds, that has turned out more bills, I dare say, than any other committee of the Congress. I mean, it seems like every day there is a string of Hastings bills that are being considered by the floor.

He is a strong worker, a hard worker. He is conscientious in his work. He is approachable and friendly and likes to take advice.

So we are going to miss this man, and we hope that the folks back in the home State appreciate just how well loved Doc Hastings is here in the U.S. Congress.

So, Doc, we will miss you. We want you to come back from time to time, and I will even buy you dinner. God bless you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC)-- Community Action Partnership in celebration of the agency's 50th anniversary of service to the people of southeastern Kentucky.

As one of the first 23 agencies established in 1964 to address poverty, KCEOC has raised the bar high, going above and beyond the call of duty to provide greater opportunities for those in need. Thanks to a group of local citizens who applied for a competitive grant

opportunity five decades ago, this organization has flourished into the multi-million dollar service agency that it is today.

KCEOC has inspired people across our region to put compassion for our neighbors into action. Through its programs and innovative responses to dire needs in our impoverished communities, more families today have access to child development programs, food resources, affordable housing, and assistance with financial needs than ever before. This agency has also been a critical partner for economic development, from recruiting jobs to providing the infrastructure for new businesses. The employees of KCEOC serve as great ambassadors for eastern Kentucky, proving that we have a strong, dedicated workforce and an intricate support community that believes in helping one another succeed.

Through the vision of leaders like Paul Dole, this agency has turned community losses into gains. One of the greatest examples of those efforts was the transformation of the old asbestos-plagued Corbin Hospital into clean, state-of-the-art housing for senior citizens.

Winston Churchill once said that a pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. That's what KCEOC works to convey every single day by providing a hand-up, rather than a hand out. They provide hope in an otherwise dark hour for many families and I can't thank this agency enough for its efforts day-in and day-out, letting our neighbors know that someone cares.

KCEOC has forged important partnerships with local schools, employers and other community organizations to capitalize on the resources that are abundant in our communities. Together, we have made great strides in southeastern Kentucky, but we certainly wouldn't be where we are today without the foundation that KCEOC has carefully crafted for thousands of families in our region.

In celebration of this 50th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding the work of the KCEOC Community Action Partnership in southeastern Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, with great respect, admiration, and appreciation, I would like to recognize David Rogers, who will today receive the David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism from the Shorenstein Center.

I can think of no one more deserving of this award than the ``dean'' of the Capitol Hill press corps. David has covered Congress for more than 30 years; he earned his stripes, and his work has the deserved reputation as the ``gold standard for Congressional reporting.''

His dedication to fair, honest reporting is readily apparent in every word he writes; as a result, Members of Congress, staffers, and congressional reporters alike respect what David has to say, and are better for having read his work.

After bravely serving our country during the Vietnam War as a combat infantry medic with the 1st Division in 1969, David's career as a journalist spanned some of the most important events in our Nation's history. He has covered school desegregation in Boston, broke the story on U.S. mining in Nicaraguan harbors, spent nearly two decades covering Congress and national politics in The Wall Street Journal, and now provides in depth coverage of the intersection of politics and policy at Politico. His work has been precise, wide-ranging, and important, a feat few in his profession have accomplished.

His knowledge of the inner workings of Capitol Hill is unparalleled--in particular, his perceptive work covering the Appropriations process, where I have had the privilege of working with him closely. David began covering the House Appropriations Committee when few others did, and he is one of only a handful of people who possess a deep, institutional knowledge of the process. Through it all--hours-long markups, bicameral negotiations, and late-night floor debates--David's reporting has been smart, accurate, and makes a connection to the reader that conveys both the personal and the national importance of the issues he's covering.

So David, we thank you for your service and your commitment to integrity in journalism and in everything you do. I applaud you on this esteemed award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Julia Casey, who is retiring from my Congressional staff after more than two decades of distinguished service. Julia started her career in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1991 when she joined my staff, and ever since has faithfully and dutifully kept the trains running in both my Washington, DC office and more recently in the Appropriations Committee. Every meeting, speaking engagement, constituent fly-in, flight itinerary, office move, staff on-boarding, committee hearing, and committee mark-up that my congressional calendar has seen, Julia has managed with professionalism and grace.

Like most of us, I have been fortunate in my tenure in Congress to have extraordinary professional and personal staff accompany me on this journey. However, Julia stands out as a trusted confidant, advisor, and most assuredly, friend. Exceedingly loyal, trustworthy, and organized, she has made my life simpler in an often complicated and demanding place. Her cheery demeanor, her thoughtful execution, her reliability and calmness under pressure--these are just some of the attributes that have made Julia a truly irreplaceable part of the Rogers team. Time and again, she has gone above the call of duty to help me, and by extension, the people of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District in delivering a better, more responsive and open constituent experience. Julia has made an indelible mark on, not only the U.S. House of Representatives, but also on me, both personally and professionally, and I will be forever grateful to her and to her family.

As we all know, congressional staff work long hours, and often sacrifice weekends and holidays in order to keep this esteemed institution running. This inevitably takes a toll on personal commitments. She has earned more than her share of quality time with her husband Greg and cherished son Gregory in her home state of Idaho, where she and Greg will retire soon.

Congress, the House, the Appropriations Committee, Kentucky, my wife Cynthia, and I will surely miss Julia's contributions and leadership; but we thank her for her steadfast service and dedication. We wish Julia many wonderful years of retirement with her family and friends.