Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to wish my good friend, Don Childers from Letcher County, Kentucky a very Happy 90th Birthday.

Don has been a close friend over the years, becoming one of my earliest and strongest political allies in the coalfields of Kentucky's Appalachian region. He has led a remarkable career in the oil industry after starting from humble beginnings in Hellier, Kentucky.

Hard work and determination have defined his storied lifetime. Don put himself through college by driving a coal truck, earning $13.05 per day. He earned an associate degree from Pikeville College in 1952 and a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Kentucky in 1954. That same year, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, leaving behind his wife and newborn daughter. After fulfilling the call of duty, he returned to Hellier High School in 1956, where he accepted a job as a teacher and basketball coach. Education, however, became the shortest term of his career.

Six weeks into his new job as a teacher and coach, Don was offered a job with Gulf Oil Corporation as a Territory Manager, spanning 22 counties in southeastern Kentucky. Working with some of the best operators in the region, Don quickly learned the ropes of the petroleum business, leading to speedy promotions within the company. Ten years after working for the Gulf Oil Corporation, Don

asked for the rare opportunity to purchase the Whitesburg operations, so he could raise his family at home in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The company accepted his offer and Childers Oil was born. Today, they employ over 1,000 people, including its full-service 24- hour convenience stores and affiliated companies.

The Childers Oil Company has always been a family venture with his wife, Peggy, leading kitchen recipes and retail operations. Their two daughters and son-in-law now play key roles in the company, and the third generation is coming on strong with a full understanding of their grandfather's business philosophy. This family-owned and operated business is also a wonderful steward of the communities they serve, partnering with numerous civic and charitable organizations every year, reinvesting in the region they love so much.

In addition to Don's work in the oil industry, he has tirelessly worked to bring additional jobs and opportunities to the region through his work on the Letcher County Planning Commission, which he established with a group of community leaders 17 years ago. They have patiently advocated for a federal corrections facility to be built in Letcher County to create hundreds of good-paying jobs in Eastern Kentucky. Knowing the additional opportunities that could arise with a new prison, Don also launched the Letcher County Airport Board to meet aviation needs in our mountainous terrain. He is a bold, visionary leader who has inspired many others to think out-of-the-box for innovative industry goals in Eastern Kentucky. Don is also a man of great faith, having dedicated more than 55 years as a member of the Whitesburg First Baptist Church.

I count it a great honor to celebrate Don Childers and his many accomplishments on his 90th birthday. I hope this year is filled with many more blessings for Don and his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of my dear friend, Nancy Mitchell of Corbin, Kentucky, who earned her heavenly reward on October 24, 2021 after an extended battle with cancer.

Nancy and I first became acquainted when her husband, Bob Mitchell, helped lead my first congressional campaign in 1980. I asked Bob to serve as my District Director in 1981, and for 40 years, even after Bob retired, Nancy was a tried-and-true member of Team Rogers, quickly earning the friendship of countless folks across southern and eastern Kentucky with her welcoming smile and delightful personality. When it was time to hit the road for Town Hall meetings across my expansive rural, mountainous district, Nancy put her life and her business on hold to join us for many long days and nights traveling from county to county, learning how we could help

improve Kentucky's Appalachian region. It was truly a family affair.

After Bob and Nancy's daughters, Stephanie and Jenny, were born she focused her time on raising two incredible girls. Bob and I spent many days, covering a lot of miles across Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District every week, and Nancy never failed to provide unwavering support and encouragement along the way.

Nancy was the epitome of a leading lady with tremendous class. She built Mitchell Tax and Accounting from the ground up, starting with an office in their home so she could work while raising their two girls. She grew her business from a small tax service into one of the leading accounting firms in southern Kentucky, and she did so by treating her clients like true friends and beloved neighbors. In addition to running her own business, Nancy went on to be the first woman ever elected to the Corbin City Commission, simultaneously serving two terms as Vice Mayor of Corbin. She generously shared her expertise and savvy business style as a Trustee for Union College, a member of the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals, and the KCEOC Community Action Partnership's Board of Directors. Nancy was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher, and she had a God-given gift of making every child feel special. In every aspect of her life, she was gracious with her time, humble in her conversations, and full of joy.

While expanding her business, Nancy never lost her passion for politics and public service. She served as Vice President of the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women, Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Knox County, and Treasurer of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District Lincoln Club. In 2012, Bob and Nancy were jointly inducted into the Fifth Congressional District Lincoln Club Hall of Fame.

Above every achievement and success of her own, there was nothing that she took more pride in than her family, and especially her grandchildren: Tori, Taelor, Trenton and Ethan--who are all brilliant. Nancy beamed with pride when she shared stories about their latest accolades, and she was truly their biggest fan.

My wife, Cynthia, and I extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies to my closest friend, Bob and the entire Mitchell family. Everyone who knew and loved Nancy now has a special treasure waiting for them in heaven. She was bold in her faith in God and that gives us peace to carry on.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable career and astute leadership of my dear friend, Jean Hale of Pikeville, Kentucky, who plans to retire after dedicating 52 years in the banking industry in Central Appalachia, serving as Chairwoman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Community Trust Bancorp for the last 23 years.

Jean Hale joined Community Trust in 1969 and progressed through the officer ranks, working twice as hard to make her mark in a male- dominated industry. In 1992, she was named President and CEO of Community Trust Bank and seven years later, became president and CEO of Community Trust Bancorp. In 2005, Chairwoman was added to her growing list of leadership roles. During her tenure, the company's total assets increased 152 percent from $2.2 billion on December 31, 1999, to $5.5 billion on June 30, 2021, with banking locations in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee.

She credits her stellar work ethic to her parents. Her father was a coal mining electrician, and she refers to her mother as a ``homemaking engineer'' for making their clothes, raising their garden and canning goods. Together, they put Jean and her three siblings through college with no debt, moving from Grapevine to Pikeville so they could live at home and go to college, saving money on room and board. Jean has carried the same financial wisdom and skills throughout her career, even making her own suits when she first started working for Community Trust.

Over the year, her counsel and expertise have been highly sought after among financial sector experts, leading her to become Chairwoman of the Board of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority and a member of the Kentucky Economic Development Partnership Board, the Commonwealth Seed Capital, LLC Board, the University of Pikeville Board of Trustees, the ARH Foundation Board, and the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

In addition to her work in the banking industry, I am personally grateful for Jean's commitment to SOAR--Shaping Our Appalachian Region--a non-profit organization that she helped launch to revitalize rural communities in Kentucky's Appalachian region as a result of the downturn of the coal industry. Jean was one of the first leaders that I personally asked to help establish SOAR. The initiative that started in 2013 is now a comprehensive regional movement that is effectively shaping a brighter future for the people of southern and eastern Kentucky. Since day one, she has served on the SOAR Executive Committee and as Chair of the Development Committee and Finance Committee. Thanks to her leadership, SOAR is a thriving, self-sustaining grassroots organization that is empowering economic development and growth where we need it the most.

The characteristic that sets Jean apart is her passion. She deeply loves Eastern Kentucky and watching our region thrive despite our challenges. I count it a great honor to celebrate my friend, Jean Hale and the countless accomplishments that she has made on behalf of so many Central Appalachian families and businesses. May her retirement be blessed by many wonderful years with her family and beloved grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish John Rosenberg a happy 90th birthday! The storied life of this Holocaust survivor and retired poverty law attorney has been filled with remarkable trials and triumphs, both figuratively and literally. John is, without a doubt, one of the greatest civil rights attorneys of our lifetime, especially for the people of Kentucky's Appalachian region.

Giving us more reason to celebrate, I also rise to congratulate John on the 50th anniversary of AppalRed, the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky, a non-profit law firm that he established to help low-income people in 37 Appalachian counties in eastern and south- central Kentucky where more than 240,000 people live in poverty. Over the last five decades, John and his team of pro-bono attorneys, have helped folks in our region get and keep basic needs, including: income, adequate food and health care, safe and sanitary housing, and personal protection from violence and abuse. They do not charge for legal services as they fight for justice for the most vulnerable people in the mountains.

John painfully learned the reality of civil injustice at a very early age. When he was only 7 years old, John and his family were pulled out of their home in Magdeburg, Germany by Nazi soldiers. His father spent 17 days in the Buchenwald concentration camp before being released with an ultimatum of 30 days to flee their homeland. After spending a year in an internment camp in Holland, the Rosenberg family safely boarded one of the last ships to the United States with no belongings.

The determination to survive and experience liberty and justice continued throughout his life and inspired his mission for civil rights. John graduated from Duke University and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Using the G.I. Bill, he later earned a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1962. Before arriving in Kentucky, John was a trial attorney and section chief in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. He was responsible for several high- profile cases including the first trial under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Selma. He also was heavily involved in the investigation and trial preparation for the case involving three murdered civil rights workers that inspired the 1988 film, Mississippi Burning. In Kentucky, his work largely focused on advocating for coal miners, fighting for protections and benefits for impoverished families, and closing what he calls the ``justice gap'' in Appalachia.

His journey from a World War II Nazi Germany Holocaust survivor to an Eastern Kentucky pro-bono civil law hero is astounding. I count it a great honor to celebrate John Rosenberg's 90th birthday and the countless accomplishments that he has made on behalf of so many Americans and Appalachian families.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of my friend, Ann Haney, a longtime community leader in Pulaski County, Kentucky

and co-owner of Haney's Appledale Farm in Nancy, Kentucky.

Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the annual Kentucky Farm Bureau picnic on their popular family farm, and as always, Ann was busy entertaining guests and packing up homemade apple and peach pies for folks to take home. She was always a gracious host with shining southern hospitality and the stellar organizational skills to keep everything moving seamlessly behind the scenes. Ann helped carry on the legacy of Haney's Appledale Farm for many years, alongside her husband Don. Together, they celebrated 50 years of marriage with three children and three grandchildren.

Aside from her time on the family farm, Ann could often be found at the Pulaski County Public Library, placing books into the hands of our local children, and inspiring them with her love of reading. She retired in 2015 after dedicating 29 years as a community relations specialist at the library, where she also avidly raised funding to provide free books to local children through her role as past president of the Pulaski County Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Ann was a passionate advocate for education, preserving our history and giving back to the community. As a board member of the Mill Springs National Battlefield Association, she helped preserve the historic Civil War land in Pulaski and Wayne counties that is now designated as a National Monument in the National Parks System. Thanks to her tireless efforts, countless people from around the country will learn about this key battle in southern Kentucky that impacted the foundation of our country.

Finally, Ann was also known for her love of family and the University of Kentucky Wildcats. She was past president of the UK National Alumni Association and served a six-year term on the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. As we say in the Big Blue Nation, her blood ran true blue.

The sudden and unexpected loss of Ann Haney has been a shock to our entire community, and my wife, Cynthia, and I extend our deepest heartfelt sympathies to Don and the entire Haney family. We were blessed to know Ann and we are forever grateful for the difference she made in so many lives.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Captain Carter Conley, founding member and leader of the Magoffin County Rescue Squad in Salyersville, Kentucky where he dedicated nearly 50 years to serving and protecting the community he loved.

Carter made a decision immediately after graduating from the University of Kentucky, nearly five decades ago, to return home to use his bachelor's degree in Early Education, where he would raise a wonderful family and make an impact on his small hometown by also pursuing his dream of becoming a firefighter and certified EMT. Hard work was never a foreign term to Carter--he lived and breathed it, from working his way through college, to uniting a group of community leaders to form the Magoffin County Rescue Squad in 1974. The squad started off with 10 members, $100.00, and the mountain ingenuity it takes to raise enough money to purchase and refurbish an old bread truck and two old boats from the Jenny Wiley State Park for the rescue squad's first fleet. Thanks to coal severance dollars and the support of the local fiscal court, the rescue squad began to grow, and became essential to emergency response during the flood of 1978. Carter and the squad ramped up fundraising efforts over the years, taking their pleas to the local newspaper, the radio station, and eventually a live televised auction. As a direct result of their tireless efforts, the people of Magoffin County are safer today than ever before.

In addition to his volunteer work with the Magoffin County Rescue Squad, he worked at Mountain Comprehensive Care; he served as an Assistant Fire Chief 1982 to 1985; he was a Level 1 Fire instructor through the Kentucky Fire Commission; and worked at Big Sandy Area Development District as a case manager in aging services for over 15 years. Carter's impact on Magoffin County is widespread and deeply rooted.

As we survey the impact of COVID-19 in our communities, we must look beyond the statistics and see the lives of beloved individuals like Captain Carter Conley, who lost an unpredictable battle, despite his efforts to save others from the same deadly virus.

My wife, Cynthia, and I extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vivian and the entire Conley family. Capt. Conley was a true hometown hero, and although his watch is finally over, I am confident that his great host of family and friends will continue to keep his memory alive.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Freddie Goble, a beloved Eastern Kentucky friend who recently retired after bringing laughter and joy to our Appalachian communities for the last 30 years through his comedic performances as ``Munroe.''

Behind Munroe's iconic star-spangled sequin vest, his bird-adorned ballcap and bright red shoes, is a multi-talented artist who found a home with the Kentucky Opry and the Mountain Arts Center (MAC) in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. In addition to serving as the house comedian, Freddie's work behind the scenes brought the MAC to life. He wrote songs, mentored the Kentucky Opry Junior Pros, served as Assistant Director of the MAC, and became an ambassador for tourism and home- grown talent in Kentucky's Appalachian region. In fact, he was one of the original champions for construction of the Mountain Arts Center, giving aspiring artists a stage of their own.

Before discovering Munroe, Freddie Goble dedicated his career to transportation planning for the Kentucky Department of Highways and the Big Sandy region, working to make our roads safer in Eastern Kentucky. He is also a former city council member for the City of Prestonsburg and has volunteered his time for countless projects and organizations in the Big Sandy area. His love of Eastern Kentucky was clearly on display long before he ever stepped on stage at the Mountain Arts Center.

As Freddie begins this new chapter of retirement, I want to personally express my appreciation for his work in our region and all the laughter that he shared with us over the years. I wish Freddie and his wife Beverly a retirement filled with many years of happiness and rest with family and friends.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my brother, Wayland Douglas Rogers, as we approach the first anniversary of his passing on September 9, 2020.

Wayland was a special addendum from Santa, making his familial debut on December 26, 1941. We had a wonderful childhood, growing up in rural Wayne County, Kentucky. Music was always important to my family, but it was apparent early on that Wayland was gifted in that aspect. While we knew he was extremely talented, as we watched him lead the Wayne County High School marching band as drum major, we never dreamed he'd one day be nominated for a Grammy award.

Wayland went on to study music at the University of Kentucky, Wichita State University,

Northwestern University and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He served as artistic director/conductor of The Camerata Singers of Lake Forest, Illinois, and music director at North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois. He held faculty appointments at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Loyola University/Chicago, and Western Kentucky University, among other schools.

Wayland's compositions garnered accolades from The Leeds University Liturgical Choir Competition, The Roger Wagner Center Choral Competition, Meistersingers Choral Competition, The Chautauqua Chamber Singers Award, The Illinois American Choral Directors Association Choral Composition Competition, The Vincent B. Silliman Anthem Award and the Thornesian Prize from Chichester, England. In 1986 his recording of Mozart with the Chicago Symphony Winds received a Grammy nomination for best chamber music, losing to Yo-Yo Ma.

Wayland's voice was a gift to his family. Although he never had children of his own, he made a point of staying close with his nieces and nephews, and they adored him. His rich baritone voice graced many a family wedding and funeral.

Wayland didn't limit his magnificent voice to song. He was of the strong conviction that all people are created equal, and he used his voice to speak out against societal inequalities and injustices.

His greatest legacy, though, will be the talented musicians whose careers he helped shape and will continue to help shape long after he's gone. He loved to nurture talent, and throughout his career, Wayland offered guidance, motivation, and support to many young artists. With that goal in mind, before his death Wayland endowed a scholarship with the University of Kentucky's School of Music. I and the rest of his family look forward to following the careers of the recipients of the Wayland Rogers Scholarship for Excellence in the Performance of Art Song.

Through his music and the University of Kentucky School of Music scholarship that bears his name, Wayland's voice will continue for generations. But for his family and friends, his compassion, zest for life, and love of everything beautiful will sing in our hearts forever. Rest in peace, dear brother.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of my good friend, Bobby Clue who is celebrating his 10th anniversary as Executive Director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.

Bobby returned to his hometown of Somerset, Kentucky ten years ago to take on the task of leading the local Chamber of Commerce, and he has served as one of the greatest advocates for business development and support in southern Kentucky. His achievements in business management, government affairs, public relations and consulting in the public and private sectors have provided him with a great wealth of knowledge to better support members of the Chamber of Commerce and the entire community. I personally appreciate Bobby's decision to return home to use his expertise and talents to promote a brighter, more prosperous future in the Lake Cumberland area with a thriving portfolio of successful local businesses.

In addition to taking on the helm of the chamber, Bobby has also volunteered his time as a board member for several local civic and government organizations, including the Pulaski County Technology Center Steering Committee, the Young Professionals of Eastern Kentucky and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association. Bobby also serves as an Ex-Officio Member of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, lending his voice for the Commonwealth's entire business community.

More importantly, Bobby and his wife Andrea are now raising their beautiful daughters, Chelsea and Shelby Jo in southern Kentucky. I can only hope that they someday follow their father's footsteps to become leaders for the next generation in Pulaski County.

On behalf of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, I applaud Bobby Clue for dedicating these last ten years as a true champion for Main Street.

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

I rise in opposition to the bill. At the outset, though, I want to congratulate our subcommittee chair on shepherding her very first bill to the House floor. The bill before us provides $62.2 billion for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. That is a 12 percent increase, Mr. Speaker, over the fiscal year 2021 enacted level.

The bill provides important funding for our national security, including $3.3 billion for Israel. The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the looming shadow of Hezbollah and Iran, remind us all of the threats Israel faces to its security every day.

The fighting in Gaza stopped when it did, in part, due to the diplomatic efforts of Egypt. As Secretary of State Blinken told the committee, Egypt was vital to helping arrange the cease-fire and remains an essential partner for the United States in the region-- Egypt.

While the bill maintains funding for Egypt at the current level, I strongly disagree with the additional conditions that this bill places on Egypt.

The bill continues critical funding for Jordan, supports countries facing Russian aggression, and provides resources to meet our commitments in the Indo-Pacific, including $300 million for the Countering Chinese Influence Fund.

The bill provides funding for Colombia, our good ally and friend, at last year's level. This is a critical moment for that country, and we should be doing all we can to support them. However, I regret that new conditions that this bill places could undermine our counternarcotics efforts, which are critical in Colombia.

Our programs there are in our own self-interest, especially given the amount of cocaine that still floods American streets and causes so much destruction in our communities back home.

Another drug problem sowing chaos back home is the opioid epidemic. The bill includes new language that directs the State Department to expand their current efforts to tackle the opioid crisis and better address this terrible problem.

Mr. Speaker, I wish I could stop there and say this is a good bill. Unfortunately, the spending increases outside of these critical areas are just too great, and the policy riders are too extreme.

First and foremost are changes made to the longstanding measures that protect the sanctity of life. These are commonsense provisions that have enjoyed bipartisan support for decades. Of greatest concern is the removal of the most important condition in any State-Foreign Operations bill, that no funds can be used to pay for abortion. The removal of that language is unprecedented, but it doesn't stop there.

The bill also includes a permanent prohibition of the Mexico City policy, weakens the Kemp-Kasten restrictions on coercive abortion, and increases funding to the U.N., among many other controversial changes.

Another tough pill for the American taxpayer to swallow is the more than $3 billion included in this bill for environmental programs that bring a high potential for duplication, wasteful complexity, and substantial oversight challenges.

The bill also increases funding for the United Nations and other international organizations while ignoring the need for long-overdue and desperately needed reforms.

The absence of conditions on the World Health Organization is particularly concerning, given what we all know about their complicity in covering up the COVID-19 outbreak.

Despite some areas of agreement, the unrestrained spending and unprecedented partisan riders require that I oppose this legislation. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the Republican whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I urge a rejection of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I claim time in support of the amendments, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This amendments en bloc contains a number of good proposals by both sides of the aisle. I want to highlight just a few.

It includes language offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch) to increase funding for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. This will help ensure that this office has resources we need to ensure that U.S. citizens unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad receive priority attention from our government.

It also includes a provision supported by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany) that is in support of our close friend and partner Taiwan. At a time when the Chinese Communist Party has Taiwan in its crosshairs, we need to do all we can to support our democratic friends on that island. I, therefore, urge Members to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).

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

Madam Speaker, I urge support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of the amendments en bloc. Madam Speaker, the amendments en bloc before us includes seven amendments that would significantly improve the quality of this bill.

It includes an amendment that would prohibit funding to the U.N. Population Fund and strike funding for family planning and reproductive health. I am gravely concerned about the longstanding pro-life provisions that were stripped from the bill this fiscal year, all of them. Allowing the bill to proceed without protections for the unborn, like those in this amendment, is unprecedented and a direct hit to the sanctity of life around the world.

Also included in this en bloc is an amendment that would prohibit contributions to various climate organizations, such as the Green Climate Fund. The underlying bill provides over $3 billion for climate change programs, including nearly $2 billion for ill-advised contributions to international climate funds. At a time when American families continue to struggle to make ends meet and foreign aid is under great scrutiny, proposing such politically motivated misuses of taxpayer funding adds insult to injury.

The en bloc also includes an amendment that would prohibit funds for U.S. membership and/or contributions to the World Health Organization. The underlying bill, as currently written, includes no reforms of the WHO, even though they are complicit in covering up the COVID-19 pandemic. Without necessary safeguards in place to improve WHO transparency, American taxpayer funds should not be used for this organization.

Similarly, the amendments en bloc includes a proposal to reduce funding for the Contributions to International Organizations account. The base bill includes an increase for international organizations, but without conditions or requirements for reform, this is simply too much funding.

The amendments included in this amendment give the bill a far greater chance of being signed into law. It includes longstanding pro-life provisions that enjoy support from the majority of the American public and commonsense safeguards to ensure taxpayer dollars are used in the most efficient manner.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Tony Gonzales).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this amendments en bloc contains several measures that could have enjoyed broad support. Unfortunately, it also includes several amendments that some on our side are unable to accept. One is by the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), which would transfer funds from foreign military financing to the development assistance account.

At a time when the United States is facing serious national security challenges around the globe, including from China and Russia, we should be increasing U.S. security assistance rather than holding it flat or, worse yet, reducing it to increase an account that this bill already increases by 15 percent.

We simply face too many challenges to be cutting national security funding at this time.

Madam Speaker, finally, I also need to mention the self-executing manager's amendment offered by our distinguished subcommittee chair relating to the expansion of global currency reserves by the International Monetary Fund. This amendment would require the Secretary of the Treasury to support the issuance of an additional $2.1 trillion of special drawing rights, an IMF reserve asset, to all member countries of the fund. This is in addition to a whopping $650 billion that was already issued earlier this year.

This is a highly controversial proposal that appears to run counter to other administration policies, including claims of prioritizing efforts to counter the maligned influence of Russia and China.

This plan could result in many billions in additional reserves being sent to the world's most notorious dictatorships and state sponsors of terror, such as Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and China.

Not only does this unwise scheme go against the stated goals and objectives of the White House, but it also could hinder Treasury's efforts to penalize and pressure these malign state actors through extensive U.S. sanction regimes.

Why go to all the trouble of putting in place and enforcing these sanctions when this proposal for the IMF to issue trillions in additional liquidity could significantly undercut years of pressure carefully designed to advance our national interest?

Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendments en bloc, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to pay tribute to the memory of that longtime friend of ours and colleague on the Appropriations Committee, which he chaired, former Congressman Jerry Lewis from California, who passed away July 15, 2021.

After working in the insurance industry and serving in the California State Assembly, Jerry was first elected to Congress 2 years before me, in 1978, and served his southern California district honorably until his retirement in 2013.

Serving together on the Appropriations Committee for 30 years, Jerry and I became friends due to our respect and admiration for this body, the committee itself, and our singular focus on doing all we could to serve our constituents back home in our respective districts.

Jerry was a true believer in our committee, its wielding the power of the purse, and ensuring that we were spending taxpayers' hard-earned tax dollars wisely.

He also prided himself in his ability to steer Federal funding to his district, including funding for critical, lifesaving flood control projects, important cancer research, protecting his southern California district from wildfires, and much, much more.

Jerry believed that one of the jobs of being a Federal Congressman was to be sure that his constituents' voices would be heard here on whatever problem they may be having and that we

should spend Federal tax dollars fairly on those projects and matters.

Jerry and I actually found ourselves in direct competition twice, each vying for the gavel as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Though he won in 2004, I won in 2010. I succeeded him as chairman. But we never let those races affect our friendship. It was never personal. Regardless of the outcome, we continued to work together for the betterment of the country and our constituents.

I thank the gentleman from California for hosting this Special Order, a fellow member of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Calvert, especially because of the fact that he is the ranking Republican on the Defense Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, a key slot, fulfilling, I think, the thoughts from Jerry Lewis himself, that this gentleman from California has a great future in this body. He is living up to it.

I also want to send my thoughts and prayers as well to Jerry's bride, Arlene, and the rest of Chairman Lewis' family as they go through this very difficult time.

There have not been many Members of this body that were as motivated with good thoughts than Jerry Lewis. He was a gentleman. He was a forthright spokesman for his district in California. He was a patriot who believed in a strong U.S. defense and helped to achieve it.

We will not see the likes of this man, I think, again in this body. He was super and superior. I consider his friendship as one of the golden jewels that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Godspeed, Jerry Lewis. Our thoughts are with you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to the memory of one of my closest friends, former Congressman H.L. ``Sonny'' Callahan, the gentleman from the great state of Alabama, who peacefully passed away on June 25, 2021. Sonny and I became quick friends upon his arrival to Washington in 1985. His humor and zeal for practical jokes were as endearing on Capitol Hill as his ability to forge alliances across the aisle to create effective policy and legislation for the American people.

As colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, Sonny and I traveled the world together, meeting with leaders from Singapore to Argentina to Israel and many nations in between. His gregarious nature was as prevalent during those international meetings as it was at home in the heart of Alabama. Sonny extended genuine kindness and friendship to folks across all walks of life and never lost the staunch work ethic that helped him build a successful trucking business in Alabama. Before being elected to Congress as a registered Republican, Sonny dedicated 12 years to the Alabama state legislature, serving both chambers as a registered Democrat--proving he could get along with leaders of all political persuasions.

I always had great admiration for the fact that Sonny was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War. There was no one he fought harder for in Washington than our veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces. He believed in building a stronger national defense, advocating for better care for our veterans, and reenforcing foreign aid for key allies in the Middle East, especially Israel.

It is one of the greatest honors of my lifetime to have served alongside my friend Sonny for 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. As President Abraham Lincoln once wrote, ``the better part of one's life consists of his friendships.'' Sonny Callahan is one of the most beloved leaders of Alabama and Washington, D.C., and I will always consider him one of my closest friends. My wife Cynthia and I extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to the Callahan family and the great wealth of friends he made across the country, and indeed around the globe.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Sherry McDavid, a regional development champion in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, upon her retirement after 27 years of service as Executive Director of the FIVCO Area Development District in rural, northeastern Kentucky.

Sherry's love for northeastern Kentucky has been evident in her tireless dedication and adamant advocacy to strengthen communities in Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup and Lawrence counties for nearly four decades through her leadership at the FIVCO ADD and the FIVCO Service Agency. In addition to being a staunch advocate for economic development and infrastructure enhancement in Kentucky's Appalachian region, Sherry has been an organizational powerhouse, cultivating unlikely partnerships and rallying volunteers from across county-lines to meet the needs of our people. Whether distributing food commodities, caring for our elderly residents, or extending water and sewer service in our communities, Sherry filled the gap on many occasions and was the glue that held multiple programs together across the local, state, and federal levels. Sherry is the type of leader that accepts every challenge and surpasses every expectation for the good of the people around her.

When we examine the growth and progress in the FIVCO region over the last 38 years, we can see the influence of Sherry's astute business sense and her unmatched work ethic. Although she is retiring, Sherry should be proud of the firm foundation that she has laid for the next generation to build upon. She has made a resounding difference in our part of Kentucky.

In closing, I want to express my deep appreciation for Sherry's service to the people of northeastern Kentucky, her leadership and her assistance for our local leaders in the FIVCO region. It has been an honor to work alongside such an inspiring advocate for our communities. I wish Sherry and her family tremendous joy and blessings in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of my beloved friend, Bill Mardis, who was the long-time editor of the Commonwealth Journal in Somerset, Kentucky.

Though small in stature, Bill Mardis was a journalism giant in Somerset, wielding a mighty pen, a humble approach and a steel-trap mind. We first became friends in the 1970s, with shared roots in radio broadcasting and a zeal for history and politics. Our friendship never swayed Bill from asking tough questions and writing an occasional hard- hitting piece; still yet we maintained a mutual respect for one another at all times. He was a dearly loved, iconic member of the Lake Cumberland region and his life's work kept all of us more informed. If a story had heart and soul, it was undoubtedly penned by Mardis. His signature ``Humble Reporter'' satire series also provided much-needed comic relief to the serious nature of the daily news covering the rest of the pages. In person, Bill also brought a unique and jovial interview style to every situation, while remaining fair, straight- forward and balanced through-out his career spanning nearly six decades.

Bill was known for his stellar work ethic, often putting in 12-hour work days to publish an accurate, reputable newspaper. In recent years, our interviews would occasionally linger an hour or more as we drifted off topic and reminisced about our mutual friends and mentors who were instrumental to the growth and progress in southern Kentucky, from the late U.S. Sen. John Sherman Cooper to the late Pulaski Circuit Judge Roscoe Tartar, and others. He kept a tight grip on the political pulse of the Lake Cumberland region, cultivating a trusted network of friends across party lines, lending to his rich, in-depth reporting.

May his legacy of balanced and fair journalism live on at the Commonwealth Journal where he dedicated nearly 60 years with the utmost integrity. My wife Cynthia and I send our heartfelt condolences to Bill's family, his coworkers at the newspaper, and his expansive community of friends. In the words of our satirical Humble Reporter, ``I ain't never seed nothin' lak hit'' and I don't suspect we ever will again.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of my mentor and dear friend, the honorable Lloyd Tatum of Henderson, Tennessee, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 93.

Given the profound honor of eulogizing Lloyd, I include in the Record the following sentiments from my remarks in recognition of a life of such great scope and consequence:

Lloyd inspired all of us with his example of truthfulness,

hard work, wit, adoration to family and friends, fairness,

and morality. He inspired me to choose law as a career and

became my mentor.

Lloyd's nickname was ``Happy,'' as humor was a mainstay in

his life. He truly enjoyed things funny and his hearty laugh

was infectious. His easy-going personality, though,

camouflaged a very serious and determined hard worker--from

his days as a crewman on the B-24 Liberator of Superfortress

at the end of World War II; to a stint as an FBI agent; to a

mini-career in movies; to a great career as a highly

respected and successful practicing attorney in all of West

Tennessee; to 10 years as a distinguished appellate justice

in Tennessee's Court of Criminal Appeals.

I first met Lloyd while a teenager in my hometown of

Monticello, Kentucky. He came to southern Kentucky to clear

the titles for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they were

beginning to create Lake Cumberland,

to be a 100-mile-long impoundment of the Cumberland River. He

worked out of a local law firm's office on the square in

Monticello where he met and fell in love with my sister,

Inadene Rogers. After a beautiful church wedding, the new

couple was off to New Haven, Connecticut and the FBI, and

later to Henderson, Tennessee and law practice.

Through frequent family visits, we shared great times

together--great dinners, picnics, reunions and water skiing

on Lake Cumberland. It wasn't long until Aaron came along and

then, shortly, Janice. What a pair--full of life. Soon, there

came Tim, then little Lloyd and Suzanne--all wonderful,

talented children of happy and loving parents. But tragedy

intervened when their daughter Janice became deathly ill, and

sometime later, Inadene lost her battle with cancer.

Lloyd immersed himself in his other love--the law. His law practice and later service as a great justice on the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals, consumed him. Slowly the old Lloyd Tatum came back, and though grief was his constant companion, he regained that impressionable personality we cherish today.

But, tragedy would come again as his second wife, Yvonne, succumbed to cancer. There will never be another quite like Lloyd Tatum. The joyful memories of our wonderful time together will inspire us all until we meet him again on the other side. An inscription on the monument over the grave of James Louis Petigru in Charleston, South Carolina describes Lloyd much better than my feeble efforts:

``Future times will hardly know how great a life

This simple stone commemorates--

The tradition of his Eloquence, his

Wisdom and his Wit may fade:

But he lived for ends more durable than fame,

His Eloquence was the protection of the poor and wronged;

His Learning illuminated the principles of Law--

In the admiration of his Peers,

In the respect of his People,

In the affection of his Family,

His was the highest place;

The just need

Of his kindness and forbearance

His dignity and simplicity

His brilliant genius and his unwearied industry

Unawed by Opinion,

Unseduced by Flattery,

Undismayed by Disaster,

He confronted Life with antique Courage

And Death with Christian Hope.''