Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Police Week and to honor the brave men and women in blue who selflessly serve in law enforcement across our Nation.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the officers back in central Arkansas, throughout the country, and right here in the U.S. Capitol who fearlessly defend our families and communities. Our communities could not run smoothly without the service and sacrifice that law enforcement officers make for us on a daily basis.

The best way to ensure better community-based policing is to support our law enforcement agencies with the proper training and the proper funding that they need. I will always support our law enforcement here in Washington, and I hope that our country can bond where all our communities are proud like I am to back the blue.

Once again, I thank all of our dedicated officers in this important week for their sacrifices and, importantly, their families' sacrifice as they serve all of our families on a daily basis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to what has become the new normal here in Washington, D.C.

Despite talks of bipartisanship and unity, Democrats have turned to a partisan, top-down, rampant spending style of governing with President Biden's infrastructure vision as the latest example.

The fact is that the President's $2.3 trillion infrastructure vision really isn't about infrastructure at all. Only 5 percent is proposed for roads and bridges, and only 2 percent for airways, waterways, and ports. Instead, Democrats have proposed spending over half a trillion dollars on Green New Deal-style programs to fulfill a far left wish list.

What is their solution for paying for all of this?

Increasing your taxes.

The tax hikes to fund this spending spree will only hurt workers and result in lower wages and suppressed economic growth.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my friends on the other side of the aisle to stop posturing and work with us on this side of the aisle. Madam Speaker, we are ready to work with you across the aisle on a package that will truly make a difference to my constituents in Arkansas and people across our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on H. Res. 130, Roll Call No. 121.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the most important news of the past few days, which was not Oprah's interview with the Duke and Duchess. In fact, it was Pope Francis' historic trip to Iraq and his extraordinary meeting with Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.

Greeted by a release of white doves, Pope Francis, age 84, and the Grand Ayatollah, age 90, met for nearly an hour at the Grand Ayatollah's simple home in the city of Najaf. Together, they reinforced the Pope's and Islamic leaders' renewed formal and joint commitment to human fraternity.

The Grand Ayatollah reinforced his belief that ``Christian citizens should live, like all Iraqis, in peace and security and with their full constitutional rights.''

In the aftermath of the undisputed victory by the Iraqi, United States, and allied forces over the murderous caliphate of ISIS, the Pope's visit gives validation to the future of Iraq and its historic cultural and geographic roots of the three Abrahamic religions.

To the people of Iraq, we American citizens pray for safety, prosperity, and peace for you and your families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the ranking member on the committee, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the PRO Act of 2021.

Out of many features that would hurt employees and economic growth in Arkansas in this bill is a hostile practice

banned by the National Labor Relations Act of 1959. This bill fully resurrects it.

Yet, these unfair practices continued post-1959 in the construction industry.

For example, Mr. Speaker, in 2004 the Eighth Circuit heard a hot cargo agreement case. In exchange for a no-strike pledge, a construction firm agreed to perform the work and agreed it would hire union workers, but they hired a subcontractor, who, while they didn't sign the agreement, agreed to use union labor anyway. They went on strike, Mr. Speaker, even though they hired union workers. This is the kind of unfair approach that does not deserve to be enshrined in this bill. As a result, the contractor received a cease and desist demand and workers lost the opportunity to work.

I tried to amend this bill to remove this hot cargo bad idea, but the amendment was rejected by House Democrats.

This is an example of how this party wants to go back to 1959 and instill this for all workers across our Nation. We need to oppose this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote and I would like to submit my vote for Roll Call No. 67. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 67.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to give thanks for the service of David M. Friedman, recently our Ambassador from the United States to Israel.

As Ambassador, Mr. Friedman strengthened our bond with Israel, took our partnership to new heights, secured peaceful relationships for Israel in the Middle East, and was influential in moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Through his diligent work, Mr. Friedman set in motion the peaceful resolution of Israel-Arab conflicts. His hard work and service set the standard for building U.S. diplomatic relationships, and earned him a well-deserved nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I would like to thank Ambassador Friedman for his service, and wish him success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise in celebration of Black History Month. I rise in honor of the memory of Daisy Bates, a native Arkansan and civil rights hero.

Daisy Bates was born in south Arkansas in 1914 and moved to Little Rock in 1942. Active in the NAACP, Daisy and her husband, L.C., started the Arkansas State Press, a weekly newspaper, which they used to call attention to racial injustices.

In the face of violent threats, Mrs. Bates courageously led the movement to desegregate Little Rock Central High School, recruiting and mentoring the Little Rock Nine.

Daisy Gatson Bates became an icon in the fight to end segregation in the Jim Crow South. She was the only woman to speak at the 1963 March on Washington, led by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Daisy Bates is a hero to Arkansans and Americans, and I am proud to honor her legacy today, and I look forward to her statue joining the pantheon of American leaders highlighted in the U.S. Capitol.

NATO States Are Not Paying Their Fair Share

Mr. Speaker, on a cold Tuesday in January, an irritated President met with his National Security Council. During the meeting, the President was outspoken, and complained, We cannot continue to pay for the military protection of Europe while the NATO states are not paying their fair share and living off the fat of the land. We have been very generous to Europe, and now it is time for us to look out for ourselves.

Mr. Speaker, that quote urging Europeans to pay their fair share in their own defense by way of their responsibility to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was not made by President Trump, it was not made by President Obama, or even George W. Bush. Mr. Speaker, that irritated President was John F. Kennedy.

We are now nearly 60 years after that meeting, and 30 years following the reunification of Germany and the collapse of the USSR. Yet, the debate continues.

Recently, NATO held a 2-day video conference with the theme of increasing NATO's funding for our core deterrence and defense activities. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the assembled allies that spending more together would demonstrate the strength of our commitment to Article 5, our promise to each other. And it would contribute to fairer burden sharing. Sound familiar?

When then-candidate Donald Trump became President, only three of the then 28 countries were spending the agreed upon guideline figure of 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

With President Trump's urging, today, 7 countries out of the now 30 NATO allies are meeting this important benchmark. The United States is joined by its longtime allies, Great Britain and Greece. Yet the only other countries meeting the benchmark are countries that know well the risk of Soviet--and now Russian--threats or threats from external forces of terror. These are the formerly enslaved countries from behind the Iron Curtain: Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania. As Americans, we salute their partnership, and we share in their renewed sense of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, as we in the legislative branch of this government meet and confer with our parliamentary counterparts, as well as foreign ministers and finance ministers from our NATO allies, let us urge cooperation with our promise to defend each other, but, more importantly, urge the rapid adoption to achieve that fairer burden sharing, a goal so long ago argued for by President Kennedy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition of the National Apprenticeship Act.

As the co-chair of the Skilled Workforce Caucus with my friend from Michigan, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand, professional training programs in my home State of Arkansas and in Michigan.

And, I want to thank my Democratic colleagues for their sincere effort to prioritize work training programs, however their efforts are flawed.

I have heard my colleagues in the Democratic majority say they want our legislation to reflect America and I share that goal.

I agree that we need legislation that reflects the where people work in our economy.

However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 12.1 percent of Americans are employed by unions.

Frankly, this legislation does not reflect our country's workforce because it preferences one business model over another.

Rather than encouraging entities and businesses to be empowered to make training choices that are best for their industry, we are instead picking winners and losers.

As we move towards recovery from the COVID crisis, we need as wide of an approach to training programs as possible, and this bill is not the answer. Republicans, including myself have offered several amendments that will make a bad bill better. Please support my amendment change to this legislation. In that regard, I ask for unanimous consent to submit letters of support for my amendment.

I urge my colleagues to oppose the National Apprenticeship Act.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

I want to thank my friend from Michigan and my friend from North Carolina for their leadership in promoting apprenticeship programs that benefit the American people.

Madam Speaker, my amendment is simple. It trades one word for another, but the impact is significant. The National Apprenticeship Act states, to the extent practicable, that the partnerships for funding under Title II be part of an industry or sector partnership and partner with a labor or joint labor-management organization.

My amendment changes ``and'' to an ``or.'' I am afraid that the unintended consequences of the word will be treated as a requirement for the Federal Government that entities requesting funding under Title II must partner with a union.

This bill, as written, allows the government to play favorites with Title II funding and, instead, we should encourage entities to be empowered to make choices that are best for the workforce in their area.

In my view, entities applying for Title II funding under the bill should be partnering with both non-union and union industry leaders. But I have no doubt that should this bill become law, bureaucrats at the Department of Labor will interpret the use of ``and'' in this section to mean that if you are not partnered with a union organization you will not receive funding. That is my concern.

My home State of Arkansas doesn't have a large union presence, like many States around the country, and this legislation would make it more difficult for entities in my home State to receive Title II funding.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support of my amendment from the National Association of Home Builders and the Associated General Contractors.

National Association of

Home Builders,

Washington, DC, February 3, 2021.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Kevin McCarthy,

Minority Leader, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy: On behalf of the

more than 140,000 members of the National Association of Home

Builders (NAHB), I write to share our views on H.R. 447, the

National Apprenticeship Act of 2021.

NAHB shares Congress's desire to align the national

apprenticeship system with the needs of a 21st century

workforce and ensure it better serves students, employers,

schools, and other stakeholders. For decades, NAHB's

workforce development partner the Home Builders Institute

(HBI) has offered skills development opportunities and career

and technical education to underserved, non-traditional, and

at-risk populations through its Department of Labor (DOL)-

recognized pre-apprenticeship curriculum. We appreciate the

Committee on Education and Labor's engagement with us last

Congress to address concerns we raised during the committee

process. This has, in our view, improved the bill.

However, we remain deeply concerned that the bill includes

ambiguous language requiring eligible entities seeking access

to robust new grant funding to partner with a labor or joint

labor-management organization ``to the extent practicable.''

Consequently, this provision could restrict bona fide,

respected training providers' access to grant opportunities

or force them to partner with organized labor groups with

which they have no purpose for affiliation. NAHB strongly

supports Hill Amendment #29 which clarifies that entities may

partner with an industry sector partnership or with a labor

or joint labor management organization to satisfy the grant

program's eligibility requirements. This will ensure access

to critical funds by a diversity of registered training

programs as employers seek to rebuild their workforces in the

pandemic-ravaged economy.

NAHB recognizes Congress's work to expand youth and adult

access to instruction in the skilled trades and believes the

National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 is a step in the right

direction. As the bill moves forward in the Senate, we look

forward to working together to modernize the national

apprenticeship system to ensure pre-apprenticeships remain a

viable training tool for residential construction.

Sincerely,

James W. Tobin III

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), the distinguished ranking member on the Committee on Education and Labor.

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

I thank my friend from Michigan. He, in the last Congress, in putting the word ``and'' into the act, said he wanted to give a shout-out to unions. Therefore, I think he has actually identified it very well, that this does improve flexibility and choice. I am concerned about the Department of Labor reading the ``and'' as essentially a directive. So I believe the ``or'' is important, Madam Speaker.

Americans are struggling with the COVID-19 crisis. Restrictions, as it relates to title II funding of this bill, unintentionally hurt the American people trying to get new jobs and opportunities. We need every angle to help our citizens get to a successful career.

I call on my colleagues to support this simple amendment, to change the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, let me say this. Bottom line, in the construction industry, important to every one of our States, registered apprenticeships trained about 28,000 people a year, where the need is over 440,000 people a year in construction.

We need more flexibility. This amendment is flexible. It supports the American people.

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

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

Madam Speaker, as we recover from the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, I am humbled and honored to recognize, along with my friend and colleague, Congressman Perlmutter, our deep admiration and gratitude for the heroic actions of the men and women of the United States Capitol Police and to remember the two officers lost, Office Sicknick and Officer Liebengood.

H. Res. 39 will ensure that the legacies of Officer Sicknick and Officer Liebengood will never be forgotten.

I extend my sincere condolences to the families of Officer Sicknick and Officer Liebengood and am proud to recognize the selfless dedication and service that the men and women of the United States Capitol Police alongside all other involved federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies displayed on that day as they do every day.

H. Res. 39--Honoring the bravery and self-sacrifice by officers of the United States Capitol Police and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies during the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.

Whereas on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, during a joint session of Congress, an attack occurred on the United States Capitol, gravely threatening the physical wellbeing of the Vice President, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate along with hundreds of civilians located within and on the grounds of the Capitol Complex and the security of the Capitol Complex itself;

Whereas United States Capitol Police officers and other law enforcement officers directly engaged the attackers, who were armed with explosives, metal pipes, chemical irritants, and other weapons;

Whereas Officer Brian D. Sicknick of the United States Capitol Police sustained fatal injuries while engaging with the attackers and defending the United States Capitol;

Whereas Officer Howard Liebengood of the United States Capitol Police died while off-duty after the attacks on the United States Capitol;

Whereas more than 50 United States Capitol Police officers and Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia officers sustained injuries during the attack on the United States Capitol; and

Whereas no members of the House of Representatives or the Senate were injured during the attack due to the swift and courageous actions taken by members of the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) commends the examples of bravery and service-above-self demonstrated by officers of the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and the multiple Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and protective entities that joined alongside of them during the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol; and

(2) honors the example of service and devotion to duty displayed by Officer Brian D. Sicknick and Officer Howard Liebengood of the United States Capitol Police.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the full committee, and I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Today I rise in support of Mr. Rose's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, which I cosponsored, takes the necessary steps to target bad actors responsible for the illegal trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.

Across Arkansas, heartbroken families have told me their stories time and time again about how the opioid crisis has claimed the lives of their loved ones.

According to the CDC, in 2017, more than 130 Americans lost their lives to opioid abuse each day, nearly half of those deaths attributable to fentanyl.

We have a responsibility to stem the tide of this crisis. Targeting the source of the world's largest producers and distributors of fentanyl will begin to stop the flow of these drugs.

Mr. Chair, I am grateful to Mr. Rose for this effort, which complements work that I have been doing over the past year with my friend, Senator Tom Cotton, to fight this plague.

Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this en bloc package.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in this Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill was passed in the Senate with 84 votes, Madam Speaker, and could be sent today to the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and her program, Prescription for Life.

Arkansas has the second-highest opioid prescription rate in this country. Prescription for Life is a drug abuse prevention program used in high schools across Arkansas. This program aims to encourage students to avoid taking prescription drugs in an illicit manner.

The course is interactive and designed to educate young people through animated videos about the dangers of prescription drugs. This course also teaches students how to recognize the symptoms of a drug overdose and abuse and how to help people who may be suffering from an overdose.

Prescription for Life is provided at no cost to Arkansas schools.

Thank you to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and to all the contributors for this important effort.

Vascugenix Business Plan

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Vascugenix, a medical device company representing the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, for winning the undergraduate division of the 2019 Delta Plastics Arkansas Governor's Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition.

Vascugenix is a Little Rock startup that is run by students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and led by Dr. Dwight Chrisman, a cardiologist with Arkansas Cardiology and Baptist Health in Little Rock.

Dr. Chrisman invented Vascugenix's flagship product, the Speed- Torque, which is a device that allows surgeons to perform heart surgery faster and safer, all while being minimally invasive.

Vascugenix is partnering with local hospitals such as Arkansas Heart Hospital and Baptist Health, along with Arkansas' medical university,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History for receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Collections Care and Conservation Award by the Arkansas Museums Association.

This award recognizes excellence in preservation and conservation and practices that illustrate exceptional standards that are set forth by the American Alliance of Museums and Society of American Archivists.

The museum received this award for renovations last year of the historic Arsenal Building built in 1841, which now houses the military history educational exhibits.

MacArthur Museum's Executive Director, Stephen McAteer, was also recognized and received the Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year Award for his oversight role in these renovations.

MacArthur Museum opened in May 2001, and continues to educate local, State, national, and international visitors about Arkansas' military heritage.

Thank you to my friend, Stephen, and all of the dedicated workers at the MacArthur Military Museum of History for your service and leadership in the preservation of Arkansas' heritage.

Recognizing the Recipient of the 2019 Steve Willbanks Award

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, John Maus, for being awarded the 2019 Steve Willbanks award for community service in his outstanding work in Morrilton, Arkansas.

The Steve Willbanks award was established in 2011 to honor his more than 40 years of leadership as president and CEO of Community Service, Incorporated.

Maus is a lifelong resident of Conway County, and serves as president of the Sacred Heart School Board, where he

graduated in 1981. He also serves as president of the Sacred Heart Parish Council, and recently co-chaired their $3 million school and church renovation project.

John is active in the community, and serving on the Board for Community Service Properties, and a member of the ASU Beebe Ag-Tech advisory board, as well as the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Board of Visitors.

John's service to the State of Arkansas, and commitment to our youth will never be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in congratulating John Maus on this recognition, and I wish him much continued success.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very straightforward. It ensures that $5 million within the Small Business Administration's entrepreneurial development program is spent in support of the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters program.

Earlier this year the SBA awarded a $500,000 contract through this Regional Innovation Clusters program to an organization in my district called the Conductor. The Conductor is a public-private partnership between the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, and Startup Junkie in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Conductor is one of seven clusters nationwide to be awarded this competitive contract, and this important funding will enable the Conductor to bolster its ability and expand its footprint across underserved areas particularly in rural Arkansas. With only a small amount of money, $5 million, the SBA can continue to drive innovation and job creation in Arkansas.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to work with my friend from northwest Arkansas on this important amendment. I appreciate my colleague's support.

In just the 3 years since it has launched, the Conductor has served nearly 9,000 people through its free programming and its business consulting. I thank UCA for its leadership on the Conductor.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage all Members to support this important amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I recognize Mr. Michael A. Nelson of the United States Army Legislative Liaison office for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Mr. Nelson will soon transition from his current assignment as a Department of the Army Civilian and Congressional Operations Analyst with the Department of the Army in the House of Representatives to serve as the Congressional Travel Manager for the Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mike is a former Navy Legislative Liaison and served 24 honorable years in the United States Navy. He enlisted in the Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command San Diego, California in February 1993 and served on a myriad of sea and shore duty assignments until his retirement in February 2017.

In July 2017, Mike was selected to serve as a Department of the Army Civilian and Congressional Operations Analyst in the Army House Liaison Office. In his role as an Analyst, Mike served as the primary liaison between Members of the 115th and 116th Congresses, their Staff, Legislative Committees, and the U.S. Army. Mike also provided factual, coordinated, and timely replies to Congressional Inquiries. Additionally, Mr. Nelson planned, scheduled and coordinated Secretary of the Army events and accompanied Congressional and Staff Delegations on worldwide fact-finding and investigative missions and built the relationships needed to increase the trust and confidence the U.S. Congress has in the U.S. Army.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of a fellow Arkansan, Michael Anthony Nelson, as he proceeds to the next chapter in his remarkable career. I wish him the very best.