Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Edmonton in the First Congressional District of Kentucky. The local community is holding a celebration the weekend of September 7th through 9th in the downtown area, which will highlight their shared heritage and reflect on the city's past.

I appreciate the generations of local officials and citizens of Edmonton who have steadfastly devoted themselves to the betterment of others, as well as all those who have assisted with the planning of the event. This historic milestone is a culmination of their efforts and a testament to their collective pride for their beloved hometown.

I look forward to continuing to work with local leaders and the residents of Edmonton to further the economic and industrial prosperity of Metcalfe County for generations to come, and I join with the city's current and former residents in honoring this tight-knit, culturally rich community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nick Ratliff, a native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and a senior at Campbellsville University, who recently earned the title of individual champion at the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster Classic College Series.

The grueling competition at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kansas, tested Ratliff's endurance and fishing prowess, with only 4 ounces ultimately separating him from his competitor. After 3 days of challenges, and battling stormy conditions, Ratliff emerged the champion with a 13-pound, 8-ounce catch.

Following this incredible victory, he has earned the right to compete at the 2019 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River in March of 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

I join with his family and friends, as well as his coach, Pete Hedgepath, in congratulating him on this great accomplishment. I wish him the best of luck in his future competitions, and look forward to many more titles and championships as a result of his continued dedication to his sport.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mr. John Call who passed away a year ago on September 3, 2017, at the age of 96. A resident of Cedar Creek, Mr. Call diligently managed his farming operation and retired from the Jim Beam Distillery.

Throughout his career, he was not only a hard-working farmer, but a true patriot who rose beyond the call of duty. Serving in the United States Army during World War II in Alaska, he helped build the Alaska Highway, and served as a barber and member of the military police.

Mr. Call's valiant service in the United States Army is evidence of his dedication to safeguarding our nation's freedoms and values and is worthy of our deepest respect and admiration. His patriotic spirit and dedication to his country were rivaled only by his fervent commitment to his family and his faith. A devoted member of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Mr. Call was an exemplary community servant who continually sought opportunities to better the lives of his fellow citizens.

I join with his family and loved ones--including his wife, Iva Lee Call, his children, and his extended family--in celebrating his lifetime of accomplishments and recognizing his valiant service to our nation. His outstanding legacy of service and compassion lives on in each member of his family and in all those who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Virginia Staton DeRossett who will soon be celebrating her 95th birthday on November 1, 2018. A resident of Clinton County in the First District of Kentucky, Ms. DeRossett diligently served her country throughout her twenty-year tenure at the Pentagon. In addition to her civil service during World War II and the Korean war, her three brothers served in our nation's military, further solidifying her sense of duty.

An exemplary community servant, Ms. DeRossett retired from the Pentagon in 1962 and is still an active, engaged member of the community who continually seeks opportunities to better the lives of her fellow citizens.

Ms. DeRossett's patriotic spirit and dedication to her country are rivaled only by her fervent commitment to her family and her conservative ideology. I join with her family and loved ones--including her daughter and her extended family--in celebrating her lifetime of accomplishments and recognizing her valiant efforts to safeguard our nation's freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Magistrate Terry M. Hadley of Adair County in the First District of Kentucky upon his retirement from Duo County Telecom.

Over the past 37 years, Terry has developed a well-deserved reputation as an expert technician and loyal employee throughout multiple changes in his company's ownership. He is known throughout his community of Columbia, Kentucky for having an excellent rapport with customers and colleagues alike, and his knowledge and experience made him the first choice for customers in need of assistance with their phone, cable, or internet service.

After retirement, Terry Hadley plans to continue serving his community as a magistrate for Adair County, Kentucky. He also looks forward to spending time with his wife, Rita Hadley, and their children and grandchildren and pursuing his interest in collecting antiques, particularly antique cars.

I join with Terry's family and friends, as well as all those he has helped during his career, to express our appreciation for his years of service to his community. I am honored to represent him and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today the First District of Kentucky fondly reflects on the life of Mr. R.C. Riley of Benton, Kentucky. A community leader revered for his commitment to his industry, Mr. Riley served as an integral facet of business development and economic prosperity in Western Kentucky.

Mr. Riley was instrumental in the founding, management and growth of Peel & Holland Financial Group, beginning his career in 1965 and serving the organization as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board. During his tenure, he was not only a distinguished industry leader known throughout the Commonwealth, but represented the region on national association boards and garnered the most prestigious nationwide accolades in the insurance industry.

On behalf of all who knew him, I send my greatest sympathies to his family, including his two sons, Roy and Keith Riley through whom his legacy lives on. I join with his family and friends to celebrate his meaningful presence in the lives of everyone he touched and honor his outstanding legacy of selfless, compassionate service to others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an inspiring group of middle school students from Heath Middle School and Calloway County Middle School.

The First District of Kentucky was well represented at the Future Problem Solving Program International's 2018 conference at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Teams from these two schools competed against their peers from across the globe.

Both teams placed in the top 10 internationally, with the team from Heath Middle School placing eighth and the all-girls team from Calloway County placing ninth.

Throughout the conference, the students experienced new cultures, enjoyed trading keepsakes from around the world, and socialized with students from many countries and States.

I am grateful for the efforts of all involved in helping these students achieve their goals and for encouraging them to pursue interactive, holistic learning to prepare themselves for the future.

I join with their family, friends, and teachers to congratulate these exceptional students on their outstanding efforts and look forward to their continued contributions to the First District of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, today is a momentous occasion for the family of a beloved Clinton County, Kentucky native and American hero, First Lieutenant Garlin Murl Conner.

First Lieutenant Conner enlisted in the Army on March 1, 1941 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He served on the front lines of ten campaigns, was injured seven times, and received a battlefield commission. While recovering from a serious hip wound at a field hospital in France, First Lieutenant Conner voluntarily left the hospital to rejoin his unit as Germany launched the brutal Operation Northwind to challenge the advancing Allied forces in the final months of World War II.

On January 24, 1945, First Lieutenant Conner ran ahead of the defending force--in the face of intense enemy fire--to attain a better position to call in artillery strikes on six hundred advancing enemy soldiers during a three-hour onslaught. At times, he even called in artillery on his own position. His bravery that day not only distinguished him as an intrepid, selfless patriot, but also saved the lives of his unit.

In acknowledgment of First Lieutenant Conner's exceptional valor, President Donald J. Trump presented a posthumous Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military distinction, to his wife, Pauline Conner, in a ceremony at the White House today.

The Medal of Honor commemorates the extraordinary sacrifice and bravery of American heroes like First Lieutenant Conner. Today, I join this Clinton County native's family and friends in celebrating his legacy and honoring his noble service to our nation.

Mr. Speaker, many Members have gathered in recent months to remind the American people about the great impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is having on individuals, families, and our economy. I join with them today to reiterate that reminder and reflect on the accomplishments of tax reform.

We kept our promise to deliver on tax reform, and with new legislation in place, we are finally creating an environment that fosters growth in our job market, brings jobs back to the U.S., and supports companies that want to compete globally.

Under the new tax law, the typical family of four in the First District of Kentucky will see an average tax cut of over $1,700. Some people look at these cuts as nothing more than crumbs, which is unfortunate. A resident of Scottsville, Kentucky, shared with me that she plans to use her crumbs, as some in Congress like to call it, to put toward remodeling her house, updating appliances, and even helping her daughter and son-in-law remodel their home. The new tax law lowers tax rates on American businesses to help grow jobs, increases wages, and promotes economic growth here at home.

Until this legislation was passed, the United States had nearly the highest corporate tax rate in the world, making U.S. businesses uncompetitive, stunting economic growth, and sending jobs and profits overseas. Now many businesses across the U.S. are demonstrating how a lower tax rate helps boost business and the workforce.

One story of success from my district comes from Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Miss Peg Jones, who works at the distillery, stated that they have already made plans to reinvest in the distillery for new space, employees, production, and barreling. This is all made possible by craft beverage modernization provisions in the tax bill which reduce taxes across the board, especially for small distilleries like Casey Jones.

Computer Services, Inc., or CSI, out of Paducah, Kentucky, which provides financial technology solutions, has acknowledged the positive effects of a reduced corporate tax rate, which has allowed them to reinvest in their employees in the form of bonuses and contributions to retirement plans.

The changes we have made to the Tax Code incentivize businesses to invest in new equipment and facilities. This is good news for businesses and communities throughout my district

and across the Nation. An employer in my district shared with me how the new 100 percent expensing provision has helped their customers afford more of the products they sell, which has, in turn, boosted their business.

Each time I return to my district, I hear about the different ways families and businesses are utilizing savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Delivering on these reforms was long overdue, but the tax reform is truly working for the American people. After more than 30 years, Americans are finally able to reap the benefits of a simplified Tax Code that cuts middle class taxes and supports expanding businesses. I am thrilled to see the continued success of tax reform and am eager to see more lasting changes that will strengthen our workforce and economy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1709, the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2018, expands support for entrepreneurs by modernizing the statute governing the Small Business Administration's Small Business Development Centers program.

Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, provide entrepreneurs and small-business owners with business counseling and training at roughly 1,000 locations throughout the country.

These centers, spanning rural and urban areas alike, have had an immense impact on the American economy. As a result of SBDC training, a new job is created every 5\1/2\ minutes, a new business is created every 30 minutes, and $100,000 in sales is generated every 8.2 minutes.

The SBDC program is providing small-business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful.

H.R. 1702 further expands support for entrepreneurs by ensuring that the SBA focuses its resources and attention on congressionally authorized entrepreneurial development programs, such as SBDCs. This provision will promote operational efficiency within these programs, to the benefit of both small-business owners and taxpayers.

Additionally, this legislation allows SBDCs to market or advertise their business counseling and training programs. This will increase the impact of SBDCs by ensuring that entrepreneurs and small-business owners are aware of the resources available to them.

Finally, H.R. 1702 includes minor programmatic updates, including confidentiality requirements and data collection requirements that allow for the continued integrity of the SBDC program overall.

Small business development centers serve an important purpose in furthering entrepreneurship and business creation throughout the United States. H.R. 1702 allows SBDCs to continue to fulfill this purpose.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of a lifelong friend and neighbor, Mrs. Dora Duncan Gillenwater Bartley of my hometown of Tompkinsville, in the First District of Kentucky, who is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Dora Bartley's dedication to serving others rivals only her love for her husband, James Dale Bartley, and their seven children.

Known throughout Monroe County for her abundant compassion and unwavering work ethic, she has not only cared for her family, but also welcomed abused and orphaned women and children into her home and treated them as her own.

Throughout her life, she has been guided by her steadfast commitment to her faith and has worked tirelessly for the benefit of others, not only during her service as deputy jailer, but even after her retirement through her involvement in distributing commodities and serving her fellow senior citizens.

I am deeply thankful for her friendship and guidance throughout my life, and I am honored to join with her friends and family, as well as all who have benefited from her generous spirit, in celebrating this milestone achievement. I wish Dora Bartley a happy 100th birthday and many more joyful years filled with blessings.

Mr. Speaker, when many of us were growing up learning how to use our first spare dollars or our first credit card, our parents and teachers always told us, ``Budget your money and don't spend more than you have.''

This is a simple, commonsense life lesson we are all taught at some time or another when we are growing up. It is a reality for any individual who wants to have a sustainable future. It is unfortunate, however, that the same rules do not apply for Congress, our Nation's largest and most important spender.

The United States currently faces $20 trillion in debt, which will lead us to a fiscal crisis if unabated. Year after year, our mandatory spending levels increase, leaving little room for our defense, education, and other spending priorities.

If we continue down this path, it is estimated that by 2040, spending for mandatory programs will make up 81 percent of our annual budget. This trajectory of runaway mandatory spending is skyrocketing our national debt.

It is evident that this Congress has not taken the necessary steps to balance the Federal budget.

It is time that this Congress make the tough decisions necessary to reduce the national debt and practice restrained spending.

Representative Goodlatte's balanced budget amendment would require the President to submit an annual balanced budget to Congress and mandate that Congress cannot spend more money than it receives in revenue.

The next steps we take to change our Federal spending behavior will impact future generations of this country. We owe it to our children and grandchildren, those who will inherit this great Nation, to address our national debt.

I remain committed to reining in Federal spending and ensuring Americans' tax dollars are spent wisely, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of Representative Goodlatte's balanced budget amendment.

Let's pass this commonsense measure and finally prioritize fiscal responsibility, and make smarter, more responsible Federal spending choices for the people of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. James Mooneyhan and Mr. Steve Thurmond for their contributions to Simpson County in the First Congressional District of Kentucky.

These two community leaders have not only served as ambassadors for Franklin-Simpson High School throughout their careers and collectively witnessed over 33 years of sports history, but have contributed to the economic development and well-being of their fellow citizens during their careers in public service.

Off air, Steve Thurmond is the executive director of the Franklin- Simpson Chamber of Commerce, and James Mooneyhan has served as Simpson County's jailer. From state championship titles to their children's successes, their commentary continually showcased the fervent pride Simpson Countians hold for their community.

The excitement and spirit resulting from the unique blend of their personalities will be extremely difficult to replace, and their retirement marks the end of an era for this storied program.

Although the voices of Franklin-Simpson athletics will soon be broadcast throughout the region for the last time, I join with the entire community to thank them for the laughs and unforgettable memories they have provided over the last 25 years. I look forward to seeing these Wildcat fans on the sidelines for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I joined my colleagues from the Kentucky delegation here on the House floor to lead a moment of silence for the victims of a tragic school shooting at Marshall County High School in my district in Kentucky on January 23.

Today I am proud to rise in support of the STOP School Violence Act, which I believe will be a critical step forward in preventing future school shootings like the tragedies we witnessed in Marshall County, Kentucky, and, of course, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

In the wake of the Marshall County shooting, I heard from the families of victims and other members of the community that their top priority was enhancing physical security, whether that means installing metal detectors, hiring school resource officers, or making other evidence-based improvements to prevent and mitigate school violence.

This bill will provide resources to schools so that they can do just that while also supporting training for students, teachers, and local law enforcement to identify and prevent violence in our schools.

The Marshall County community is resilient. As we continue to mourn the loss of two young lives in our community along with those in Parkland, we will also fight to protect our students, educators, and communities. I believe the STOP School Violence Act will help defend our schools from those who wish to inflict harm on others, and I urge my colleagues to support this important and bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Dr. James E. Carter from my hometown of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, who passed away on February 12, 2018.

For over 50 years, Dr. Jimmy served generations of families in Monroe County as their physician, earning the title of Doctor of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as being named one of America's Top Family Doctors.

Throughout his years of service to his community, he was not only a beloved doctor, but was widely respected for being the leader of one of Kentucky's greatest political families: the Monroe County Carter family.

Dr. Jimmy's father, Abe, also held countless political offices. His uncle, Tim Lee, was a U.S. Congressman. His grandfather, James Carter, and his uncle, James, Jr., held the same circuit judgeship for nearly a century. Dr. Jimmy served on the Monroe County Board of Education and as Monroe County GOP Chair for most of my life.

Although Monroe County has lost one of our greatest public servants, I join with the entire community in celebrating his accomplishments and reflecting on his meaningful, compassionate presence in our life.

May God continue to bless his children, Jim, Tom, Cindy, and Mary Catherine, through whom his legacy lives on.