Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Eastern Kentucky's longest serving county clerks, Mr. James Lewis who was sworn into office as the Leslie County Clerk in January 1986. He is retiring after dedicating 33 years of public service to the people of Leslie County, including his oversight of nearly 60 elections.

James has garnered the utmost respect of his peers and leaders across the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his astute knowledge, experience, and steadfast integrity in election operations. He has instructed election training for county clerks in Kentucky for more than 20 years, served as President of the Kentucky County Clerk's Association from 1999 to 2000, and has been Chairman of the Kentucky County Clerk's Association Election Committee from 1994 until his retirement this year. James has served as a guardian for commonsense election reform since 1986 and a staunch advocate for programs and policies that best serve Kentuckians.

During his tenure as county clerk, James has sought out opportunities to offer compassion and additional support to those most in need. In fact, he co-founded the Help A Veteran Everyday (HAVE) Program to provide funding for Veterans programs across the state. The HAVE program repurposes license plates for bird houses that can be purchased at participating County Clerk's offices, offering 100 percent of proceeds to the Hope for Veterans charity.

Aside from going above and beyond the call of duty in his role as Leslie County Clerk, James has been a loyal friend of the Republican Party who proudly works to uphold the conservative principles that he holds dear. James has participated in every election since turning 18 years old, has dedicated his career to administering six dozen elections, and been a valiant pioneer for election reform. He has served as a tireless member of the Republican Parties of Leslie County and Kentucky for many years and was inducted into the Kentucky Fifth District Lincoln Club Hall of Fame in 2010.

James' leadership has been highly respected, reliable and resourceful for one of Kentucky's most rural and impoverished counties. He is a beloved friend to the people of Leslie County who has made a lasting impact through his devoted kindness and fortitude for a brighter future. I wish James and his wife, Betty, a retirement filled with joy and peace with their daughters, Danika and Wendy, and their grandchildren, Kelsey and R.J. May their gardening and fishing days together be fruitful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Chief Ronald G. Ratliff, Jr., for his life of service to our nation in the United States Navy.

Chief Ratliff, coming from a family of coal miners in Elkhorn City, Kentucky, raised his right hand to enlist in the United States Navy in 1995. For the last 23 years, Ronnie has served with distinction--both here at home and around the world, charging forward as his career in the Navy legal field took him from Kentucky to Rhode Island and California to Guam, with deployments in between. Following the completion of Navy legal training in Rhode Island, his first assignment was in San Diego, where he provided critical legal assistance to our sailors and marines. He was then sent to Guam, where he handled all military justice matters for the command.

Chief Ratliff returned to San Diego to serve as a Discipline Officer and paralegal to the Commander of the Navy Region Southwest, before volunteering to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served two additional deployments, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Given his great success, Chief Ratliff was given the opportunity to attend the United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer's Academy in California, representing the Navy and maintaining the strong relationship with the Coast Guard. He was then sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he served as Staff Judge Advocate LCPO and Discipline Officer.

In 2014, Chief Ratliff was selected as the U.S. Navy's first enlisted member of its prestigious Defense Fellow program with the Office of Legislative Affairs. Chief Ratliff first served in the office of my friend from California, Congresswoman Susan Davis. During his time in Congresswoman Davis's office, Chief Ratliff provided critical counsel and assistance in helping Congresswoman Davis achieve her goals on the House Armed Services Committee. Upon completion of the fellowship in 2016, Chief Ratliff joined the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs as a Congressional Liaison Officer. In this role, Chief Ratliff has served as a critical resource, helping members of Congress and their staffs understand the critical issues facing the U.S. Navy and its sailors. He has also escorted countless Members of Congress, personal staff and professional staff on Congressional Delegations or Staff Delegations within the United States and around the world, advancing the mission of the U.S. Navy.

As a fellow Kentuckian, I could not be more proud of the career of Chief Ronnie Ratliff. It is honorable servicemen like Chief Ratliff who inspire us each and every day, and I wish him all the best as he enters into retirement. Congratulations, Chief Ratliff, and God speed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Virginia Combs, who is retiring as Deputy Director of the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) in Williamsburg, Kentucky after 16 years of service.

Virginia has been a vital asset to the Department of State and the Kentucky Consular Center since taking on the role as Deputy Director in 2002, just two years after the center opened. When Virginia arrived, the facility had roughly 40 employees. Under her leadership and direction, more than 300 people now work at KCC, providing critical services for the State Department to process immigrant visa applications. The State Department's decision to locate in Williamsburg inspired leaders across Southern and Eastern Kentucky to dream bigger for high tech jobs and ramp up new industry recruitment. Year after year, Virginia has helped prove that we have the best workforce in the country and we can successfully meet federal government contract needs in our region.

Prior to KCC, Virginia played a monumental role in economic development projects in the

Cumberland Valley and Lake Cumberland areas. She served as Program Coordinator for the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation in its early years of business recruitment and strategic planning. Virginia was also an International Trade Development Specialist, promoting international commerce and job creation in four of our Area Development Districts. As Executive Director of Corbin Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce, she paved the way for development of the 600 acre industrial site now known as the Southeast Kentucky Business Park, which boasts a regional partnership including Bell, Clay, Knox, Laurel, McCreary and Whitley counties. She sparked the vision for a broader industrial portfolio in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

The magnitude of success throughout Virginia's career is matched only by her heart of service and compassion for our region. She is a past President of the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club and served as Lieutenant Governor for the Kentucky-Tennessee Kiwanis Division 6 from 2014 to 2016, playing an instrumental role in the growth of the civic organization and advocating for progressive community projects.

I deeply appreciate Virginia's service and leadership in Southern Kentucky, as well as her sincere friendship and loyalty to the region. As she enters retirement, my wife, Cynthia, and I wish Virginia and her family tremendous joy and blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Chiswell D. Langhorne, Jr., in memory of his quiet support of Eastern Kentucky, where he made an invaluable impact in the lives of people living and working in the coalfields.

Although he was not a native Kentuckian, Mr. Langhorne shared our Appalachian roots from Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Law School. He also attended post graduate programs at Harvard and Sloan School at MIT. He was a trust officer at NS&T Bank for 15 years and maintained a successful law practice. Mr. Langhorne joined Kentucky River Coal Corporation's board in 1965, serving as an active board member, past chairman and as vice chairman, a role he held from 1983 until April 2018. He guided the company and its successor, Kentucky River Properties (KRP) through an expansion into Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and western Kentucky. Mr. Langhorne had an innate passion for supporting job creation in Central Appalachia through the coal industry and silently invested in opportunities to improve life in the mountains. For example, he consistently insisted KRP contribute to local school systems to emphasize the importance on expanding educational opportunities in Appalachia.

Refusing personal accolades for his philanthropic spirit, Mr. Langhorne advocated for Kentucky River Properties to invest in our greatest resource--our people. In an unprecedented move from the coal industry in 2010, KRP donated $500,000 to the Operation UNITE Foundation, Eastern Kentucky's first non-profit anti-drug organization, to pay for substance abuse treatment vouchers to be distributed over the course of five years. The vouchers were awarded to low-income individuals in a four-county area in Eastern Kentucky who otherwise could not afford a residential treatment program. Thanks to his support, countless lives have been saved from potential drug overdose deaths and families have been reunited through recovery.

Mr. Langhorne's commitment to Eastern Kentucky through KRP has helped transform our region and pave a brighter path for future generations. My wife, Cynthia, and I send our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Langhorne's family and friends. We deeply appreciate the compassion he showed for fellow Appalachian families throughout his career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation and to celebrate the thousands of jobs that have been created and retained in Southern and Eastern Kentucky as a direct result of their work.

Kentucky Highlands is recognized as one of the premier business development organizations in the United States. It has been designated the Lead Entity of one of three Rural Empowerment Zones, one of eight Rural Tax Credit Community Development Corporations, a partner Community Development Corporation of Rural Local Initiative Support Corporation, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Community Development Entity by the U.S. Department of Treasury and has received allocations of New Markets Tax Credits.

Kentucky Highlands became the nation's first nonbank lender under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Business and Industry Loan Guaranty program and the first Small Business Administration guaranteed lender under the Community Advantage Program. Kentucky Highlands sponsors entrepreneur development programs and has developed the Kentucky Highlands Business Innovation and Growth Center.

When you survey Southern and Eastern Kentucky, the footprint of Kentucky Highlands is abundantly clear. Countless businesses have been established in our rural, mountainous region that otherwise would not be here without the direct investments and support of Kentucky Highlands. This organization has coordinated, implemented and promoted business growth across its 22-county service area.

The first venture capital investment that Kentucky Highlands made was in 1972 for Outdoor Venture Corporation (OVC) in McCreary County. Today, OVC is a thriving manufacturing company in Stearns, Kentucky that has won repeated successful bids for military contract work, employing over 200 people in our region. Our people take great pride in producing products for our U.S. warfighters, and we can celebrate their ongoing work as a result of the visionary seed funding that Kentucky Highlands made 46 years ago.

In addition to its pioneering efforts in business development, Kentucky Highlands has also utilized its success to impact social development and improve the quality of low-income housing in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. The Highlands Housing Corporation has helped over 150 families achieve the dream of homeownership, while other programs have been implemented to transform energy-efficient housing options where it's needed the most.

Finally, I want to applaud the visionary leadership of Jerry Rickett, who was named President and CEO of Kentucky Highlands in 1989. He is a native of Southern Kentucky who was determined to make a dynamic change in his home region through economic development and improvements in housing. Rather than seeing challenges, he sees opportunities, and it's that same drive and determination that has guided this flagship organization to great success, benefitting families and businesses across our region.

I'm incredibly grateful for the commitment that Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation has made in Southern and Eastern Kentucky, and it is with great enthusiasm that I wish them many more years of success on their 50th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Mike Miller, on his retirement as Executive Director of the Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD) and for his long-time public service in Eastern Kentucky.

Under his direction, KRADD has been a dedicated service organization for local communities in the Kentucky River area, which serves Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe Counties. KRADD celebrated its 50th Anniversary earlier this year. I can't overstate the value of the partnerships and regional planning that have been cultivated by Mike and his leadership of this organization. The infrastructural footprint of KRADD includes 13 million linear feet of water lines and 1.5 million linear feet of sewer lines extended in its service area, as well as nine new water plants and eleven wastewater treatment plants. Those fundamental services have been critical for families and businesses alike. As the former Mayor of the City of Jackson, Kentucky, where he dedicated eleven years of service, Mike understands first-hand the economic challenges of local elected officials in our rural region. His experience as a chief city administrator undoubtedly drove his passion to help city and county leaders access grant opportunities and to work collectively as a regional hub for economic development.

Aside from his career in public service, Mike owned and operated a local insurance company for 35 years. Mike's work ethic and success have garnered the utmost respect of his colleagues and multiple organizations across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He served as President of the Kentucky League of Cities for one year and as a board member and officer of the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts. He has also volunteered his experience and time to help countless local boards, including the Jackson Independent School System, the Kentucky River Authority, Kentucky River Community Care and many others.

Outside of boardrooms and office buildings, Mike has dedicated several years on the baseball diamond, coaching local Little League teams and spending time outdoors as Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 91 for 12 years. Mike understands the importance of mentoring and investing in the lives of our future leaders.

I have enjoyed working with Mike over the years to improve our infrastructure and economic opportunities in Eastern Kentucky. I wish Mike and his wife, Paula, many peaceful and fun-filled years of retirement together with their family.

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to add my appreciation and thanks to the chairman and ranking members that you have just heard from for this momentous agreement before us today. And I would like to especially commend our big chairman, Frelinghuysen, for the work he has done on this bill, but, more importantly, the work he has done throughout his career in this body.

Mr. Frelinghuysen, you are a great friend, a great Member of this body, a great leader, and you will be missed.

Once again, we are demonstrating that the Appropriations Committee can and will do everything in our power to get the job done. I especially appreciate the committee's continued commitment to address the addiction crisis.

This bill maintains a comprehensive focus on prevention, treatment, and education, following the holistic model of Operation UNITE in my congressional district, and it provides a record $6.6 billion toward those programs.

You have all heard me talk endlessly, if you will, about the devastation brought by opioid abuse touching so many lives around the country over the last 20 years. Chairman Cole has been a truly incredible leader and partner in combating this epidemic, and I am confident that this bill will bring substantial relief to our communities in need.

I would also like to thank the conference committee for their work to ensure that the Department of Defense not only receives the funding it needs, but that its funding is finalized before the beginning of the fiscal year to allow them to plan.

For too long, some say 22 years, we in Congress have not delivered this bill in time to allow the Department to operate as it should with its full allotment of funding on October 1.

When combined with the Energy and Water and MILCON-VA bills that are already law, this bill does exactly that and provides the Department of Defense with the funds it needs to defend American interests and values around the world, including a well-deserved pay raise for the men and women in uniform who serve bravely under our flag.

Thank you again for your collective leadership. This is a great agreement, and I urge its support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Kentucky Educational Television's (KET) 50th Anniversary. Since 1968, KET has impacted the lives of countless Kentuckians through its advocacy and broadcasting of educational programs. KET has long-served as a successful educational platform for the arts, theater, history, politics, health and STEM fields. In 1989 , KET introduced one of the first interactive distance learning program services, giving Kentuckians the opportunity to advance their education via network broadcasting. KET is now one of the largest public television networks in the country with more than 25 programs, reaching over one million people each week.

I applaud KET's commitment to raise awareness of pertinent issues across the Commonwealth and challenges in our rural Appalachian region. While many media outlets have been slow to produce comprehensive coverage of the nation's deadly opioid epidemic, KET has led the way by shedding light on the long history of addiction in Kentucky and the multi-faceted pledge for rehabilitation and recovery. It is because of these efforts, including in-depth reports, community forums, and annual coverage of the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, that KET recently received the national Mental Health America Media Award for its Inside Opioid Addiction Initiative. Thanks to KET's broadcasting efforts, more people across Kentucky have rallied together to become part of the solution to the drug abuse crisis and we are making significant strides to save lives across the state.

As part of this Golden Anniversary celebration, I also want to commend KET for bringing Kentuckians together and promoting healthy debates about vital issues for the state. For decades, great journalists like Al Smith, Bill Goodman, Bill Bryant and many others have set the stage for state and federal legislators to discuss how key policies impact our daily lives, while also providing civic awareness during elections, spending countless hours on the air, sharing election results from all of our 120 counties. In addition to educational programming and news coverage, KET has also used its platform to extend immense compassion through local partnerships to benefit those most in- need.

As KET celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first broadcast, I join my fellow Kentuckians in sharing my appreciation for every minute of broadcasting excellence that has been used to educate our children and our families. KET has made a significant impact in our state and it is an honor to support this organization's continued work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dave Hopkins, for his years of invaluable service in fighting the opioid epidemic with the Kentucky All-Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting System (KASPER). A true icon and pioneer in the world of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), Dave has left an indelible mark on our Commonwealth--and indeed, the entire nation--for his leadership in fighting the scourge of drug abuse that has plagued far too many communities. His retirement on August 31, 2018 marks the end of a storied 13-year career with the Drug Enforcement & Professional Practices Branch in the Office of Inspector General; however, Dave will forever remain a part of the KASPER family.

Dave joined the KASPER team as Grant Manager in 2005, and has since secured over $4.5 million in federal funding for this groundbreaking program. Indeed, in many respects, due to Dave's vision, KASPER has paved the way for successful implementation and integration of PDMPs in every state across our country. In particular, he was an integral part of the team that transitioned KASPER from a voluntary prescription drug monitoring system to a mandatory use system through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services; this modification has proved invaluable in engaging the medical community in our shared fight against the abuse of prescription medications. In his role, Dave has worked tirelessly to educate prescribers, dispensers, and law enforcement to use this system and to help fight the spread of opioid abuse in the Fifth District and across Kentucky. Since KASPER became one of the first mandatory programs in the country, the Commonwealth has seen a reduction of nearly 90 million dosage units of opioid painkillers--which is a tremendous achievement.

Furthermore, Dave has worked on legislation and policy solutions, spoken at conferences across the country, and worked with state and international leaders to develop their own prescription drug monitoring programs. When I have had the honor of sharing the stage with Dave, he has been introduced by his colleagues and peers as ``Dave Kasper,'' a true testament to how he's become synonymous with Kentucky's premiere

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Eastern Kentucky's greatest champions, my friend Sandy Runyon, who is retiring after 18 years of dedication as Executive Director of the Big Sandy Area Development District (ADD). She has been a staunch advocate for economic development and infrastructure enhancement in Kentucky's Appalachian region for many years.

Throughout her life, Sandy has always selflessly served those around her, which has been overwhelmingly visible within the various positions she has held. Before Sandy was appointed as the Executive Director of the Big Sandy ADD, she was my first Field Representative in the Big Sandy area and an ardent campaign advisor. In fact, she helped manage my 1992 campaign in the Big Sandy region when the boundaries of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District expanded to the state's West Virginia border. In a region where Republicans were few and far between, Sandy put her name on the line and introduced me to everyone she knew, and more. With several new counties joining the district, it proved to be the closest election of my congressional service, but I owe a great debt of gratitude to Sandy Runyon for that victory. After the election, I hired Sandy to open and run my new Pikeville office. In both the congressional office and the Big Sandy ADD, she has served the great people of Eastern Kentucky with tremendous compassion and vigor.

She has proven to be a diligent advocate for infrastructure enhancement in our small, rural communities, and a trusted guide for local government leaders. In fact, she personally spent hours with the Bureau of Prisons to make the Big Sandy Penitentiary a reality in a region desperately in need of good paying jobs. Throughout her time as Executive Director, the Big Sandy region has experienced overwhelming economic progress and growth. She has demonstrated admirable leadership in trailblazing the way for new projects and partnerships that have tremendously benefitted the Big Sandy area.

Sandy's love for Eastern Kentucky has been evident in her tireless dedication and adamant advocacy. Her service to our region has been nothing short of phenomenal. She is truly one in a million, and it is people like her who make Eastern Kentucky such an incredible place.

I deeply appreciate Sandy's service, her leadership, her advice and most importantly, her loyal friendship. As she enters retirement, my wife, Cynthia, and I wish Sandy and her family tremendous joy and blessings in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Geoff Laredo in recognition of his retirement after many years of dedication to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

I have come to know and respect Mr. Laredo through our shared mission to combat the nation's opioid epidemic. Geoff is a true leader in the field and has been a trusted advisor to his boss and my dear friend, Dr. Nora Volkow, but also to me and my staff. He has a wealth of institutional knowledge and his departure will surely leave a void in the heralded halls of NIDA.

Mr. Laredo graduated with a degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and received his master's degree in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He then began a storied career of dedicated public service with stops at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute of Justice, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.

During his time at NIDA, Geoff served as a liaison to state and local governments, ensuring NIDA research is used to inform local policies. Additionally, he served as the liaison to the Friends of NIDA organization, advocating for a level of resources for NIDA that reflects the tremendous personal, social and economic burden of drug abuse and addiction. Mr. Laredo has provided assistance to Congressional staff on legislative issues related to drug addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery research in response to the opioid crisis. He has also planned and coordinated hundreds of Hill briefings on a variety of topics, and is incredibly well known and well liked among members and staff alike. Geoff is one of the few who understood the urgency of the opioid epidemic early on and was a founding member of the planning committee for the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit that was jointly established with Operation UNITE, an organization I founded to help combat the drug epidemic in rural southern and eastern Kentucky.

I am tremendously grateful for Mr. Laredo's many years of service to our great nation, and wish him the best in all his future endeavors. I hope that he and his wife, Donna, enjoy their many years of retirement together. Congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5979, the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act, legislation that I introduced that directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument as a unit of the National Park System.

On January 19, 1862, the small Kentucky town of Logan's Cross Roads erupted in a blast of artillery and musket fire as Confederate and Union forces clashed in the Battle of Mill Springs.

When the smoke cleared, it was clear that the Union was victorious and had secured its first significant victory in the Civil War. To honor the site, the Mill Springs Battlefield in Pulaski and Wayne Counties in Kentucky was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark district in 1994.

Realizing the need to preserve and protect the battlefield for the future,

the Mill Springs Battlefield Association was founded in 1992. That association currently owns more than 900 acres of the battlefield that they have pieced together over the years with their own money and grant money from various sources. They even built a $1.7 million, 10,000- square-foot visitor center and museum at the site, which is adjacent to the Mill Springs National Cemetery, which, of course, was started by the deaths from this battle.

Mr. Speaker, while the association is currently doing an exemplary job in maintaining the battlefield, it simply does not have the financial resources to adequately preserve and maintain this site in perpetuity.

To ensure that the Mill Springs Battlefield is protected for future generations, I introduced this legislation to add the battlefield to the National Park System. This will ensure that the battlefield where the Union first tasted victory is protected, preserved, and promoted well into the future.

Mr. Speaker, this effort is supported by the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, as well as the National Park Service.

It is also supported by many in Kentucky, including our Governor, our friends in our congressional delegation, and countless local and regional leaders.

It is also supported by the Battlefield Association which is willing to donate their property, some 900 of the acres, to make this national monument a reality.

I am particularly grateful to Chairman McClintock, Chairman Bishop, and their staff who worked closely with us to bring this bill to the floor. I can't thank the chairman enough for the great work that he does.

I would also like to specifically thank my friend and colleague, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is ushering companion legislation through the Senate.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the men and women of the Mill Springs Battlefield Association. Without their decades of work to piece together and preserve this important site, none of this would be possible today. They stage an annual reenactment of this battle which is realistic to the nth degree, and I would invite everyone to attend the annual reunion of this battle in January of next year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend and trusted spiritual advisor, Dr. Robert ``Bob'' Browning, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky, upon his retirement after dedicating his life to nearly 50 years of faithful ministry.

My bride, Cynthia, and I were honored to have Dr. Browning officiate our wedding in 1999. He blessed the beginning of our marriage with an eloquent ceremony about the unmatched value of love, devotion and thanksgiving. We have held his words close to our hearts each day and uphold Dr. Browning with the highest esteem.

He was also my beloved Pastor at the Somerset First Baptist Church, where he served our community for 16 years. Dr. Browning shared the Word of God with great boldness, discipling young Christians and shepherding his flock with enduring wisdom. I have always been inspired by his passion to serve and share the Gospel of Jesus. Just as the Bible instructs us to do, Dr. Browning has cared for the widows and the poor, visited the sick, mourned with the broken-hearted, and rejoiced with those in times of celebration.

Dr. Browning was licensed and ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the First Baptist Church of Greenville after diligently studying at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. While most of his ministry was dedicated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, he also ministered in Atlanta, Georgia for 13 years. From 1994 to 1995, he served as President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

As noted in his biography, ``Dr. Browning is proud of his Baptist heritage and works with other Baptists through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to spread the Gospel, build bridges of goodwill and understanding among all people, promote the cause of justice and meet the needs of those who are struggling.''

He and his wife, Jackie, have been a tremendous blessing to families and individuals across Kentucky, and I extend my deepest gratitude for their friendship and counsel over the years. As they enter into retirement, Cynthia and I pray the years ahead are filled with exceeding peace and joy along with their three children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, all of us are painfully aware of the devastating toll taken by opioid addiction and abuse in every corner of this great country.

While this epidemic is truly national in its scope today, it actually began in the small communities in Appalachia over a decade ago. Our hills were flooded with painkillers, our hospitals flooded with patients, our churches flooded with helpless parents crying out for help. Our rural towns simply did not have the capacity to handle this monstrous problem.

Today, given the unique challenges confronting Appalachia, the opioid-related overdose rate is 65 percent higher than in the rest of the Nation. Let me repeat that. In Appalachia, the opioid-related overdose rate is 65 percent higher than the rest of the country.

But the people of Appalachia are resilient, and they are problem solvers. They have taken important strides to combat this problem holistically.

Operation UNITE in my district, where it began, is a leading national example. UNITE, Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education, is a three-pronged, holistic approach to tackle this monster.

I was really heartened and grateful when Chairman Barletta invited Operation UNITE's CEO, Nancy Hale, to testify before his subcommittee about the unique challenges UNITE confronts in southern and eastern Kentucky, and the creative solutions they have employed to beat back against this scourge.

Today, I remain grateful for his leadership in shepherding H.R. 5294 through the House floor. This bill will bolster the Appalachian Regional Commission's role in combating the opioid epidemic.

ARC has always been a valued partner in our fight, but this legislation clarifies that the commission can and should make targeted investments to reduce barriers to workforce development; attract and retain healthcare services, businesses, and workers; and develop relevant infrastructure, including broadband, which can be used for telemedicine treatment.

These investments are critical for my district and the entire Appalachian region, and I urge other Members to support this bill.

Let me thank, again, Chairman Barletta for his great leadership in this problem. He is a recognized expert, and he has proven he cares for the people that he represents and that the rest of us represent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on becoming the longest serving Republican Senate Leader with a historic tenure of 11 years, 5 months and 10 days. My dear friend and colleague from Kentucky is a masterful political strategist with a once in a generation political mind, and it gives me great pride and happiness to recognize him on the achievement of this remarkable milestone.

For decades, Leader McConnell has dedicated himself to the public service of the Nation, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the Republican Party. Guided by a deep-seeded conservatism, an unparalleled respect for our great Nation's Constitution and the institutions of our democracy, and the ever-relevant wisdom of our Founding Fathers, Leader McConnell has demonstrated unmatched political acumen and dynamic leadership. His instincts are second to none: he knows when to fight and he knows when to compromise. The Leader is calculated and tactical, with keen foresight, and he works harder than anyone in the U.S. Capitol building. As a result, he simply gets things done.

While he has been at the helm of our great Party during times of celebration, prosperity and jubilance, the Senator has also never hesitated to step forward and lead the Party in times of turbulence and controversy. Through it all, he has seemed unflappable. Time after time, Senator McConnell has taken on a leadership role and worked tirelessly for the Republican Party by serving as our Party's Senate Whip, Minority Leader, and Majority Leader. While holding each of these positions, Senator McConnell has worked to unify and guide the Party in the right direction. In doing so, he has rightfully attained the confidence, respect, and admiration of his colleagues and garnered many great accomplishments in the process.

As Senate Minority Leader, Senator McConnell held closely to his conservative values in spite of enormous pressure from an opposing Democratic Party in Congress and Presidential Administration. As the momentum in Congress began to turn, Senator McConnell once again stepped up to the challenge when his colleagues elected him as Senate Majority Leader. While holding this leadership position, he has achieved many successes, including the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and passage of the Senate's Tax Reform bill--both of which required a champion who was not afraid to be a target of criticism. Both victories serve as a testament to Leader McConnell's vision as one of the finest master strategists in the history of the U.S. Senate.

Throughout Leader McConnell's tenure, he has also brought great esteem to our state and always remembered to prioritize our old Kentucky home. He has also continued to proudly represent our region since he was first elected as Senator in 1984. It has been a joy of mine to work alongside him on various bills and projects that have positively impacted Kentuckians. Together, we have worked to create jobs, support veterans, protect the coal industry, and sustain agriculture within Kentucky. I look forward to continuing our collaboration to further the prosperity of the people and communities of our beloved Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

Once again, I would like to congratulate Leader McConnell for this major milestone in his career of public service. It has been a pleasure to serve alongside him in Congress and to observe these historic moments of success. I wish him many more years of continued good health, happiness, and success.