Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the Nehemiah Project on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. Through exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion to their community, the men and women of the Nehemiah Project have become indispensable parts of Michigan's First District.

Named after the biblical man who helped rebuild Jerusalem, the Nehemiah Project has worked for three decades to help those in need rebuild the broken parts of their lives. The group was formed in 1988 after several area churches came together to create a nondenominational ministry to help Northern Michigan's homeless and opened their first shelter, the Nehemiah House, in Petoskey. Since then, the group has opened three other locations nearby: the Mary Margaret House, which accommodates women and children; the Grace House, a transitional apartment; and Hope Hall, which is used as office space for Nehemiah staff. Hope Hall also serves as a warming area in the winter and houses Bible study sessions and classes on job and computer skills, budgeting, and parenting. Over the last 30 years, the Nehemiah Project's focus on community, self-fulfillment, and motivation have directly improved the lives of hundreds of Michiganders that have fallen on hard times. In honor of its 30th anniversary, the Nehemiah Project will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, at its 36 Bridge Street location in Petoskey.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the administrators and volunteers of the Nehemiah Project for three decades of excellence in service to the people of Northern Michigan. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a dedicated and selfless group of people. On behalf of my constituents, I wish the Nehemiah Project all the best in its future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Captain Marko Broz for his service as Sector Commander at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie. Through his exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion, Captain Broz has become an indispensable part of Michigan's First District.

For the last two years, Captain Broz has served as Sector Commander in Sault Sainte Marie, where he oversaw all Coast Guard missions on Lake Superior, northern Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and all surrounding waterways. Under his leadership, the USCG worked to prevent ecological harm, clear winter ice for shipping, and allow the public to safely enjoy the waterways of Michigan's First District. His work has been critical to protecting the Great Lakes and promoting the livelihoods of Michiganders and Americans everywhere.

Captain Broz assumed duties as Sector Commander in June of 2016 after previously serving as Deputy. Prior to his work in Michigan, Captain Broz served as the Coast Guard liaison to Naval Surface Warfare (N86), intelligence and joint positions at Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Joint Interagency Task Force--South, and as a Senior Duty Officer at the White House Situation Room. Additionally, Broz served eight years at sea in New Jersey, Guam, and Mississippi. He is a 1994 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor's of Science Management and a Master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Captain Broz will officially retire and be relieved by Captain Patrick Nelson on July 18th at the USCG Sector Sault Sainte Marie.

Mr. Speaker, It's my honor to recognize Captain Marko Broz for his service to the people of Michigan with the U.S. Coast Guard. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Captain Broz all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Sugrue for his service as Commander at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. Through his exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion, LTC Sugrue has become an indispensable part of the state of Michigan.

LTC Sugrue first assumed command at the Detroit District in July of 2016. Under his leadership, the Corps has worked to ensure environmental stability and engineering excellence in the infrastructure of the Great Lakes Region. From dredging waterways and mitigating the threat of natural disasters to preserving and improving the Soo Locks, the work of LTC Sugrue and the Army Corps has been critical to protecting the Great Lakes and promoting the livelihoods of Michiganders and Americans everywhere.

Prior to his work in Michigan, LTC Sugrue served as the Deputy District Commander of the Corps' Los Angeles District. His service also included work in Germany, New York, two tours in Afghanistan, and one in Kosovo. He is a 1999 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, and holds two Master of Science degrees from Missouri Science and Technology and The Johns Hopkins University. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and several other prestigious awards recognizing his extraordinary service. Lieutenant Colonel Sugrue will be officially relieved by LTC Gregory E. Turner on July 26th at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Sugrue for his service to the people of Michigan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On behalf of my constituents, I wish LTC Sugrue all the best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and my next-door office mate. The south wing of Cannon is well guarded.

Of course, the third verse of the ``Marines' Hymn'' says that when all the rest of us get to heaven, they will find that the gates are guarded by United States marines. But I guarantee you, there are some snipers up there somewhere, making sure that the marines don't get taken from behind.

We have a term, or had a term because I am no longer involved with the Pentagon on a direct basis, but while working there over a long period of time, there was a term called BLUF, B-L-U-F, bottom line up front. So the bottom line up front from my remarks today is that CRs, continuing resolutions, seriously inhibit and in some cases, prevent long-term planning, training, and readiness.

We have a term that you will hear now used by the military on a daily basis: We have to be ready to fight tonight. That is not tonight next week. That is not tonight next month. That is right now and around the globe.

When you have a mission like the U.S. military does to protect not only our citizens here but those citizens in countries of our coalition partners around the world, we have to be able to fight tonight, and we have to be able to fight as a coalition force around the world. When you are not ready, you are not a good partner. Continuing resolutions consume time, they consume resources, and they increase the overall cost of warfighting.

DOD's mission is to protect all of our citizens by successfully executing operational war plans. These operational plans change over time due to evolving threats. Continuing resolutions prevent DOD from maintaining momentum in keeping ahead of those changing threats. Warfighting is not like a sports team where you can go 18 and 1 for the season and still claim victory. That 1 has to always be in the zero column for our military.

Training and readiness go hand in hand. The readiness comes in two forms: personnel readiness and equipment readiness. When you think about the time it takes to train a young soldier, sailor, airman, marine or coastguardsman, that can't be done overnight. Long-term planning goes into that individual training. That individual training morphs into unit training so that individual part of a unit is

ready to go and defend our Nation's interests at home and abroad.

Equipment readiness is a challenge, because when you cannot plan long term for your buys of parts, whether they be for aircraft, ships, tanks, whatever it happens to be, again, your cost goes up.

We have the responsibility as the Congress to give our Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense the tools they need to keep our country safe. Continuing resolutions seriously hinder our capability to complete that mission.

I strongly urge the Senate to act swiftly and come to the realization that a continuing resolution is not an answer going forward for the safety and security of our country, all of its citizens, our families, and our coalition partners who rely on us when times get in dire straits.

So, Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak with you tonight, and I just want to end with one real-time, real-life anecdote.

Forty-six years ago yesterday, July 11, 1972, we saw the evidence of a successful evolving threat in Vietnam when the worst, most devastating helicopter shoot-down of the entire Vietnam war occurred. Sixty-two people perished in one CH-53 helicopter in the northern I Corps. We had not had the capability to adjust our tactics because the SA-7 missile had been introduced. That is how quickly life can change on the battlefield.

We as the Congress need to do everything possible to ensure that that doesn't happen to our Nation's warriors.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague not only for his service, but for his friendship.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Zachary J. Corey and Karen Marie Mallon for receiving the Carnegie Medal in recognition of their act of extraordinary heroism. Through their actions, Karen and Zachary have shown themselves to be selfless, courageous, and indispensable parts of Michigan's First District.

The Carnegie Medal was established in 1904 by the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It is given to recognize those who perform extraordinary acts of heroism in civilian life, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed saving or attempting to save others. Since 1904, more than 10,000 awardees have been honored, with more than $40 million given in grants, scholarships, death benefits, and other assistance. There is no doubt that Karen and Zachary are deserving of this honor.

Six-year-old Olivia Thomas and her sister Addalyn, just 13 days old, along with their mother and eight year-old sister were in a vehicle that struck a tow truck head on, veered off the road, and into a shallow ditch where it caught fire. Zachary, the driver of the tow truck, ran to the passenger side of the vehicle where he saw Olivia in the front passenger seat. Unable to open the door, Zachary grasped the window frame and pulled on it, forcing the door open slightly. He extended his upper body inside the vehicle, removed Olivia's seat belt, and pulled her out. When Karen arrived, she entered through the open rear passenger-side door and knelt on the seat while trying to remove Addalyn from her car seat. With difficulty Mallon freed Addalyn from the seat, picked her up, and exited the vehicle, taking her to safety. Soon after, the vehicle was engulfed by flames. While their mother and 8-year-old sister did not survive the crash, the heroic actions of Zachary and Karen ensured that this tragedy did not take the lives of these two young girls. Their courage has touched the lives of countless community members, and the impact of their heroism cannot be overstated.

Mr. Speaker, It's my honor to recognize Zachary and Karen for their exceptional heroism in saving the lives of Olivia and Addalyn. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such selfless and courageous individuals. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Karen and Zachary all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the Tippy Dam upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary. Through a century of dedicated service and commitment to its community, the Tippy Dam has become an indispensable part of Northern Michigan and the First District.

Originally completed in 1918, the dam then-known as Junction Hydro was lauded for its innovative engineering and design. It was later renamed in honor of Charles W. Tippy, a Board of Directors chair for Consumers Power. Spanning the Manistee River 20 miles from its end in Lake Michigan, the Tippy Dam generates 20,000 kilowatts of clean, renewable electricity for approximately 6,500 residents of Manistee County in Northern Michigan.

In addition to its critical energy production for the region, the Tippy Dam is beloved for the outdoor recreation it facilitates. Every year, its recreation area hosts over 50,000 visitors--most taking advantage of the world-class fishing for salmon, steelhead, and brown trout in its tailwaters. The dam is also home to the largest bat hibernaculum in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Its long stretch of underground passages and warm temperature makes the Tippy Dam an ideal location for the more than 20,000 bats that hibernate there over the winter--the dam's operators have played a critical role in protecting the bats by following strict operation regulations. Tippy Dam is a perfect example of what can happen when business and government work together for the good of the American people. I am pleased to join Consumers Energy employees and retirees to commemorate 100 years of clean, reliable, and renewable energy generated by this facility.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate the fortitude and dedication of the men and women who have kept watch over the Tippy Dam as it has supplied power to generations of Michiganders. On behalf of my constituents, I wish the Tippy Dam and its operators all the best as we look forward to the next 100 years

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act.

Mr. Speaker, I witnessed firsthand the scope of Agent Orange exposure experienced by our servicemen and -women while in Vietnam. I am one of that group of veterans.

Congress recognized the dangerous health consequences of exposure by passing the Agent Orange Act of 1991, which extended disability compensation to veterans who served in Vietnam or its inland waterways between the years of 1962 and 1975. While the Agent Orange Act provided benefits for tens of thousands of Vietnam mainland veterans, it overlooked the blue water Navy veterans who served on the ships off of the coast.

Those dedicated veterans served our country honorably and are now dealing with health problems due to Agent Orange exposure. This is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 299, which extends the disability benefits to veterans who served in the blue water Navy in Vietnam.

Mr. Speaker, veterans in Michigan's First District have greatly sacrificed and earned these benefits, and I look forward to ensuring that their service is honored.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Votes No. 269, No. 270 and No. 271 I am not recorded because I was absent from the House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner.

On Roll Call No. 269. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

On Roll Call No. 270. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

On Roll Call No. 271. Had I been present, I would have voted NO.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Marsha J. Smith for receiving the Lifetime Humanitarian Award at the 2018 Governor's Service Awards. Through her exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion to her community, Sue has become an indispensable part of Michigan's First District.

The Lifetime Humanitarian Award is given annually by the Michigan Community Service Commission to individuals who demonstrate a ``lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service.'' They have shown a ``tremendous passion for helping others'' and are well-known for their exceptional impact in their community and state. Few are as deserving of this honor as Marsha Smith. In her 24 years as the executive director of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, Marsha's leadership has helped the organization provide more than $58 million worth of grants and transform Northern Michigan.

Marsha was also instrumental in forming the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, which has led the acquisition of over 40,000 acres of land and 124 miles of coastline for environmental protection. Before her work with Rotary Charities, Marsha was involved in the founding of the Women's Resource Center in Traverse City, which offers support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Marsha's tireless devotion to public service has touched the lives of countless members of her community, and the impact of her work in her community cannot be overstated.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Marsha Smith for her decades of service to Northern Michigan and congratulate her once again for receiving the Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a dedicated individual. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Marsha all the best in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

I want to thank Chairman Thornberry for all his leadership on this bill.

Providing for our Nation's common defense is our constitutional duty. As a retired lieutenant general in the Marine Corps, I know that certainty from Washington, especially on this side of the river, is critical for the military to carry out its missions. Our men and women in uniform need consistency and reliability over the long term to meet complex threats, changing threats, in all corners of the world.

This bill increases resources for readiness training and upgrades essential

equipment to provide our warfighters with increased capabilities on land, at sea, and in the air.

I also want to thank the committee for including report language highlighting the critical role that the Soo Locks play in our national security. The Soo Locks, located in my home district, are a single point of failure in a multibillion-dollar supply chain and a potential target for disruptive activities. Any unscheduled outing of the locks would threaten our national economy and, in turn, our national security.

Again, I thank the chairman for all his hard work on this defense authorization. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, government purchase cards are issued to Federal employees to make small, simple purchases. Their transaction limit was $3,500, but the fiscal year 2018 NDAA increased that limit to $10,000. This increase will cause purchase card usage to go up, thereby increasing the chance for misuse.

Purchase card transactions already total roughly $4 billion annually in the VA, and the program has been found repeatedly to lack adequate controls related to waste, fraud, and abuse.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, it is my job to monitor programs involving taxpayer dollars and veterans. That is why I introduced the Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act. It will mitigate the potential for misuse of purchase card spending by requiring the VA Secretary to revoke a purchase card from any employee found to have knowingly misused their card or approval authority.

Currently, penalties are applied slowly, if at all, and employees are very rarely terminated for purchase card misuse or abuse. H.R. 5215 creates a safeguard to stop purchase card misuse once it begins and holds bad actors accountable for all of their actions.

Mr. Speaker, being a good steward of taxpayers' dollars is my top priority, and this bill brings accountability to the necessary but problematic purchase card structure.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, the Medical-Surgical Prime Vendor Program is VA's system of contracts to

purchase and distribute medical and surgical supplies.

VA attempted to create a centralized MSPV formulary to standardize the products its clinicians can buy as an idea to concentrate VA's buying power to extract savings from fewer suppliers.

But the formulary was developed with inadequate input from experienced clinicians, and as a result, it contains unwanted supplies while omitting necessary products.

Because of these problems, usage of MSPV has failed to meet its objectives, putting some of the prime vendors and suppliers under financial strain, and threatening the stability of the program.

H.R. 5418 preserves the MSPV's current structure, consisting of multiple regional prime vendors, and it prohibits a move to a single nationwide prime vendor.

The bill also requires that each VA employee making decisions related to the structure have medical expertise relevant to those items.

H.R. 5418 ensures medical professionals have the tools and resources they need to deliver world-class care to our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the city of Sault Sainte Marie upon the occasion of its 350th Anniversary. Through three and a half centuries of community investment and growth, the Soo has become an indispensable part of the Upper Peninsula and the state of Michigan.

For centuries before the arrival of Europeans, the area now known as Sault Sainte Marie was inhabited by Chippewa Native Americans. In 1668, French missionaries Jacques Marquette and Claude Dablon founded a Jesuit mission near the rapids of the St. Mary's River--establishing the oldest permanent settlement in what is now the state of Michigan. The first look connecting Lake Superior to Lake Huron was constructed in 1855, and since then a steady flow of goods and materials have flowed through this critical junction. Over its 350 years, the settlement grew from a mission and base for fur trappers into a modern city and major artery for the industry of the Great Lakes.

In honor of the Soo's semiseptcentennial, the city is hosting a variety of events and celebrations throughout the year. The festivities kicked off with the ball drop that welcomed the New Year, and has already included the 50th Annual I-500 Snowmobile Race and the annual opening of the Soo Locks. From July 20th to the 27th, the city will host a week-long 350th Festival filled with history, games, kids' entertainment, music, and food. The closing ceremonies for the year- long festivities will be December 16, 2018, with a performance at Pullar Stadium and the closing of the Semiseptcentennial Time Capsule.

Mr. Speaker, day after day, the city of Sault Sainte Marie continues to set a positive example of what can be achieved when the people of a community work together for the common good. It's my honor to congratulate them for their 350 years of success and community growth. On behalf of my constituents, I wish the Soo all the best as it ventures into the future.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor today to acknowledge the life of a devoted community leader and loving father and husband, Chief Tom Emerson, who died suddenly at the age of 58 after more than 30 years of service to law enforcement and public safety in Northern Michigan.

A native to the Grand Traverse area, Chief Emerson dedicated his life to public service. For the past seven years, Tom served as the Elk Rapids Police Chief, first joining the department in March 2011. Prior to that, he served with the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, where he retired as a Captain in 2010 after 26 years of service. Chief Emerson was also a firefighter with Grand Traverse Rural Fire and the Elk Rapids Fire Department, where his contributions to the creation of their training facility were instrumental. He was named Firefighter of the Year in January of 2018.

Tom was well-respected as a community leader, selfless public servant, mentor, and friend. Following visitation, Chief Emerson will be laid to rest on Sunday, May 20, in Traverse City.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Emerson's impact on Northern Michigan cannot be overstated. His family and community can take pride in knowing that the state of Michigan is a better place thanks to his life's work. On behalf of Michigan's First Congressional District, I ask you to join me in recognizing an outstanding community leader whose contributions will continue to bless Michiganders for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor today to acknowledge the life of a devoted community leader and loving father and husband, Mr. Joshua Wunsch, who passed away at the age of 69 on April 25, 2018, surrounded by his loved ones.

Josh was born in Traverse City on November 7, 1948, to Ellis and Ann (Donald) Wunsch. A third-generation Grand Traverse County farmer, Wunsch, along with his wife Barb, son Isiah, and daughter Adele raised apples, tart cherries, and sweet cherries on their family orchard. Wunsch's passion for the trade was evident in his roles with the Michigan Agricultural Commodities Marketing Association (MACMA) and the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB). He was first elected to the MACMA board in 1988, becoming Vice President in 1999. There he worked to promote and protect the Michigan apple industry until his retirement in 2011. On the MFB board, Wunsch was District 9 Director from 1988 to 2011, served as MFB Vice President from 2006 to 2009, served on the MACMA Board from 1989 to 2011, and served on its Executive Committee and as Vice President from 1999 to 2011.

In 2012, Wunsch received the MACMA Apple Division Distinguished Service to Agriculture award. In addition to his work with the MACMA and MFB, Josh was a board member of Shoreline Fruit Inc., Sleeping Bear Co-op, Traverse City Cherry, and Cherrco Inc. As a leader in his community and industry, Josh was well-known for his knowledge, expertise, and willingness to mentor others, and his dedication made him one of the most respected growers in Michigan agriculture. When not in his orchards, Josh loved to travel, enjoy Michigan's beautiful outdoors, and spend time with his family.

Mr. Speaker, Joshua Wunsch's impact on Northern Michigan cannot be overstated. His family and community can take pride in knowing that the state of Michigan is a better place thanks to his life's work. On behalf of Michigan's First Congressional District, I ask you to join me in recognizing an outstanding community leader whose contributions will continue to bless Michiganders for many years to come