Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, January 23, at 7:57 a.m., shots erupted through the commons area of Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, taking the lives of two students and wounding many others.

The school is the cornerstone of life and activity, and the incomprehensible events of last week have shaken the community to its core. In the aftermath of the devastation, a vast network of spirited, compassionate students and alumni have united to support and further strengthen the tight-knit, resilient community of Marshall County.

As students and faculty attempt to return to some semblance of normalcy this week, I am joined by my colleagues from the Kentucky delegation to express our gratitude for the educators and first responders who acted bravely and efficiently.

We pray for the survivors who are continuing to recover from their injuries, and we remember Preston Cope and Bailey Holt, whose young lives were cut tragically short, as well as their families and friends left behind.

Mr. Speaker, please rise and join me in a moment of silence to honor Preston and Bailey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend Magistrate Ed Gorin, in the First District of Kentucky, for his decades of service to the residents of Taylor County.

Ed has served his fellow citizens in many capacities throughout the years, from his membership on the local school board to spearheading local committee projects. He has always been guided by his personal motto of ``working for the community.''

Through the years, he has maintained a singular focus and worked tirelessly to better the lives of his fellow Taylor Countians by consistently searching for the most fiscally responsible solution for the greatest number of citizens--even spending money out of his own pocket for community events.

During his career, he has secured numerous benefits for Taylor County, including a volunteer fire department and a recycling program which will impact the lives of those in his community for years to come.

Ed Gorin has established an outstanding legacy as a revered public servant, and I join with his family and friends, as well as all those he has impacted during his career, to express our dedication and gratitude for his contributions to Taylor County.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent him and wish him well in his recovery efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Simpson County Judge Executive Jim Henderson from the First Congressional District of Kentucky.

Judge Henderson has served his community since 1998, when he was elected as the youngest county judge executive in Kentucky, and has continually devoted himself to organizations which advance the development and prosperity of Simpson County.

Judge Henderson has decided to transition into a new role as deputy director of the Kentucky Association of Counties, where he will be overseeing their day-to-day operations and working with local government officials in all 120 counties throughout the Commonwealth to advocate for legislative solutions that best meet the needs of their constituencies.

His previous leadership within KACo, combined with his personal and professional networks, and his impeccable record of achievement have prepared him to serve Kentucky's local officials in a direct and expanded capacity.

Although he will be missed in his current role, I am grateful for his steadfast leadership and tireless contributions to Simpson County, as well as his friendship and guidance.

Mr. Speaker, I join his family, friends, and all those who have benefited from his efforts throughout the years in wishing him great success in his new role as deputy director of KACo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special recognition to Mr. Gayron Ferguson, Jr. for his service to our troops and his remarkable leadership through The Hugs Project of Western Kentucky.

Mr. Ferguson's patriotic aptitude is evident through his leadership of The Hugs Project and his over 10 years of volunteer work supporting our troops. Through this great organization, Mr. Ferguson donates his time to sending care packages to our brave men and women serving abroad.

Because of Mr. Ferguson's robust leadership, more than 40,000 care packages have made their way to over 12,000 troops in the Middle East. With his helping hand and enthusiasm for giving back to others, those serving overseas can receive a little piece of home through The Hugs Project.

It is individuals like Mr. Ferguson whose patriotic spirit and sense of compassion creates lasting impacts on our communities and ultimately create a better world through service and consideration of others, especially our troops. I congratulate Mr. Ferguson on his years of volunteerism through The Hugs Project and the joy he has brought over the years to countless men and women serving abroad.

On behalf of the First District of Kentucky, I am honored to recognize Mr. Gayron Ferguson as an outstanding leader in service to our troops and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Darren Luttrell from Ohio County, in the First District of Kentucky.

Darren was named the 2017 Farmer of the Year by the Kentucky Farm Bureau at their 98th annual meeting held in Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout an extensive interview process, Darren's steadfast commitment to agricultural modernization, education, and community involvement shone through every facet of his career and personal life.

During his decades of experience in farm management and agricultural technology sales, Darren has not only doubled the size of his family farming operations, but has been an outstanding leader in the Ohio County Farm Bureau and his local chamber of commerce. Known to the students as Farmer Luttrell, he has inspired the next generation of agricultural leaders through his involvement with local schools.

I am thankful for Darren's advocacy for Kentucky agriculture, and I join Kentucky Farm Bureau and all those Darren has served throughout his career in wishing him the best of luck as he competes at the Swisher Sweets-Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition in Georgia in 2018.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Sue Stivers of Columbia in the First District of Kentucky.

Heralded as the ``matriarch of Adair County,'' Sue has been an outstanding contributor to the livability and prosperity of her hometown. Her extensive involvement in working to better her fellow citizens' lives through her decades of experience with the Cooperative Extension Service is a testament to her steadfast dedication to a life of serving others.

She has not only helped local businesses to thrive during her tenure as executive director of the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce, but has also been extensively involved in one of the main components of life in Columbia, Kentucky: Lindsey Wilson College.

An honorary alumnus and a long-time member of the board of trustees, Sue has continually pursued means of giving back to her community and, as a result of her positions, has had an influence on individuals from across the Commonwealth, country, and globe.

I am honored to recognize Sue for her tireless service as she has continually made Columbia and Adair County ``a great place to call home.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4182.

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

Mr. Chairman, highly skilled Federal employees are essential to a government that serves its citizens. Skilled Federal workers ensure that functions of government, from delivering mail to protecting the homeland, are carried out successfully.

Federal jobs and the skills required to perform them vary significantly across government. Some employees review patents, some work in human resources, and others work in law enforcement.

While the jobs, skills, and training required may be different from job to job, the expectation that the Federal Government hires qualified candidates is universal.

One tool agencies and managers have to ensure a qualified workforce is the probationary period--a period of time used to evaluate whether a new hire

can effectively perform the duties of the position.

Under current law, most new hires are required to complete a probationary period of 1 year before receiving full employment status. Most new employees complete the probationary period and are hired as permanent employees.

New employees who fail to demonstrate that they are a good fit for the position, however, are transitioned out of government during the probationary period, but the current 1-year trial period is not sufficient for complex Federal occupations. Potential employees deserve ample time to learn about the job and demonstrate they are able to perform all critical aspects of a Federal position, and supervisors deserve ample time to evaluate new hires.

What is a manager supposed to do in this case? Does the supervisor take a gamble and offer permanent status to an untested employee or risk missing out on a potentially skilled employee? This is a real dilemma. Supervisors throughout the Federal workforce have described this exact scenario in their advocacy for this bill.

According to the Government Managers Coalition, managers tend to err on the side of releasing borderline employees in cases like this, and it can be a very frustrating decision for them to make. They have already devoted a significant amount of time and resources into training the new hire.

However, managers would rather not risk hiring an employee who is on the fence at the end of a probationary period. This is because a manager is pretty much stuck with an employee after the probationary period. It is difficult to remove a permanent employee for poor performance or misconduct.

According to the Government Accountability Office, the procedural hurdles to removing a permanent employee can take from 6 months to 1 year. The evidence is clear, the probationary period needs to be extended.

In 2015, the GAO reported that chief human capital officers throughout the Federal Government would benefit from an extension of the probationary period, especially in occupations which are complex or difficult to assess. Federal manager groups have been asking for a longer probationary period for years.

In congressional testimony earlier this year, the national president of the Federal Managers Association, Renee Johnson said: ``FMA advocates extending the probationary period. This would benefit both the government and employees by allowing supervisors to make decisions based on the employees' performance as fully trained employees--not just guessing at how they will perform after the training is completed.''

The Government Managers Coalition, a group of five organizations that represent the interests of over 200,000 supervisors, managers, and executives serving throughout the Federal Government, supports an extension of the probationary period.

I include in the Record a letter of support from the Government Managers Coalition signed by the heads of the FAA Managers Association, Federal Managers Association, Professional Managers Association, National Council of Social Security Management Associations, and Senior Executives Association; and a letter from the Professional Managers Association.

Government Managers Coalition,

November 29, 2017.

United States Congress,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative: We write on behalf of the Government

Managers Coalition (GMC), which is comprised of five major

federal sector professional associations collectively

representing the interests of over 200,000 supervisors,

managers, and executives serving throughout the federal

government.

Our coalition is supportive of H.R. 4182, the Ensuring a

Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017 (the EQUALS Act),

introduced by Representative James Comer. We appreciate Rep.

Comer's efforts to take the lead on this important

legislation and the consideration earlier this month by the

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The GMC has

advocated for an extended probationary period for over a

decade. We encourage you to support the measure when it comes

to the floor later this week.

The EQUALS Act would grant agencies the authority to extend

the probationary period for competitive service appointments

and supervisors. In addition, this legislation would align

appointments under competitive and senior executive service

with the two-year trial period served under excepted service

appointments, bringing consistency to hiring throughout

government.

Extension of the probationary period is supported by a 2015

Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, GAO-15-191.

Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) commented to GAO that

often supervisors within federal departments and agencies are

not given sufficient time to accurately review performance

before the probationary period is complete. The CHCO

recommended an extension of the probationary period to the

GAO in order to accurately assess an employee's abilities in

the federal workforce. In addition, Congress has already

approved a two-year probationary period for employees at the

Department of Defense, as part of the Fiscal Year 2016

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), P.L. 114-92.

The GMC's mission is to promote good government initiatives

that foster effectiveness and efficiency throughout the

federal government. We believe that this legislation will

allow employees sufficient time on the job to demonstrate

their abilities as well as allow for proper assessment. The

measure will also ensure that supervisors have the

opportunity and authority to fulfill their performance

management responsibilities that may not be feasible under

the current one-year probationary period.

The current one-year probationary period is often

insufficient to assess an employee's performance in more

technical and complex jobs, of which there are many in the

federal government, and may in fact place an employee at risk

of termination before having had the opportunity to

effectively demonstrate their abilities. The reality is that

many technical jobs require agency classroom training,

mentoring and on-the-job training for employees to become

proficient. Often, the supervisor does not see the employee

during those times, and is unable to observe the employee's

performance. In front-line public service roles, such as with

the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Internal

Revenue Service (IRS), employees must not only learn

material, but also need to be able to effectively interact

with citizens. The EQUALS Act would ensure that employees are

provided with the opportunity to not only receive training,

but also to effectively demonstrate their abilities.

Extending the probationary period will in no way penalize an

employee who is performing well and progressing in their

training and responsibilities.

The GMC would appreciate your support of this legislation.

In light of ongoing agency reorganization efforts, it is now

more important than ever to ensure federal managers making

personnel decisions have a comprehensive toolset available

that represents both flexibility for agencies and fairness

for affected federal employees. We look forward to passage of

this legislation, as well as other commonsense federal

workforce reform bills resulting in an improved federal

government that can better serve the American public. Should

you require additional information or want to discuss this

issue further, please contact Rachel A. Emmons with the

National Council of Social Security Management Associations

(NCSSMA).

Sincerely,

Andy Taylor,

President, FAA Managers Association.

Renee M. Johnson,

President, Federal Managers Association.

Thomas R. Burger,

Executive Director, Professional Managers Association.

Christopher Detzler,

President, National Council of Social Security, Management

Association.

Bill Valdez,

President, Senior Executives Association.

In the letter, the coalition members write that they have ``advocated for an extended probationary period for over a decade,'' and that this legislation will allow employees sufficient time on the job to demonstrate their abilities as well as allow for proper assessment.

The individuals they represent see the difficulties associated with the current system in their day-to-day lives. They understand the problems associated with the arbitrary nature of the current 1-year probationary period.

The EQUALS Act addresses these problems and moves toward a system better suited for the modern workforce. The bill will extend the probationary period for new hires in the competitive service and initial appointments for managers to 2 years after the completion of formal training or licensure.

The concept of a 2-year probationary period is not new. Congress extended the probationary period for new hires at the Department of Defense to 2 years in 2015. This bill brings the rest of the government in line with the Department of Defense standards. The EQUALS Act also recognizes the variety of positions and training requirements throughout the Federal Government. The EQUALS Act requires the 2-year period to begin upon the conclusion of the formal training or licensure process.

This is important, because under current law, time spent in training counts against the probationary period. This means that a Federal job with long training, by the time a probationary employee completes the training, the supervisor often has little or no time to evaluate the employee's performance.

For example, training for new hires at the Internal Revenue Service takes 1 year. By the time a new IRS employee completes training, the manager has to make a decision whether to keep the employee without having seen the employee do the job.

As Ms. Johnson testified before Congress: ``New employees must often master broad and complex policies and procedures to meet their agencies' missions, necessitating several months of formal training followed by long periods of on-the-job instruction. In occupations where training takes substantial time, supervisors may only have a few months of work to judge employees' performance.''

According to data from the Office of Personnel Management, most formal training programs last less than 1 month. For those positions, the inclusion of formal training in the probationary period does not do any harm.

However, for those positions that have long training periods, the EQUALS Act will make a big difference. The EQUALS Act also helps ensure managers are doing their jobs. Under the bill, agencies must notify supervisors prior to the completion of a probationary period so that the supervisor is reminded to make a decision about a probationary employee.

The bill also requires agencies to certify that an employee has successfully completed a probationary period and to provide justification for that decision.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, I want to make sure we are clear about what the EQUALS Act does and does not do. The EQUALS Act does not remove or change any due process rights for probationary period employees. Probationary employees will still have due process protections. Probationary employees have access to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Office of Special Counsel. Each of those offices are empowered to hear appeals from probationary employees, and that will not change when H.R. 4182 becomes law.

This bill is a much-needed fix to the Federal hiring process. It will allow the Federal Government to select the best and brightest civil servants to serve the American people.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chair, I think it is important to define what the probationary period is and what it is not.

According to the MSPB, the probationary period is the final step in the employee screening process when an individual must demonstrate ``why it is

in the public interest for the government to finalize an appointment to the civil service.''

This is not a punitive measure. It is an opportunity for a prospective employee to prove they are qualified to serve the American people through a position in the civil service. These are critically important jobs and we need the best and brightest to fill them. A longer probationary period gives all new hires time to complete their training, learn on the job, and demonstrate that they can perform the role they were hired to do. This is good for our government, good for Federal employees, and good for the American people.

Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment does not create an exception for alumni of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other national service programs. It puts them at a disadvantage.

They would have less time than other new hires to prove themselves before managers make a decision whether to keep them or let them go. This could mean fewer Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other national service alumni are retained at the end of the probationary period.

Under the current 1-year system, supervisors often do not have enough time to determine whether a potential employee is a good fit for the job. Managers tend to err on the side of releasing an employee who is on the fence at the end of a probationary period.

New hires to the Federal Government deserve ample time to demonstrate they are able to perform all critical aspects of the job. H.R. 4182 gives them more time.

This amendment would actually put certain groups at a disadvantage in comparison to the rest of the Federal workforce. Alumni of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other programs would have 1 year to demonstrate the skills and core competencies required for the

Federal job they are seeking. Their colleagues would have 2 years.

The spirit of this amendment is admirable, but the unintended consequence of adopting it will be that the very people the amendment is meant to benefit would be at a disadvantage.

The probationary period is not a punishment. It is an extension of the hiring process and a tool to help ensure a qualified civil service. This amendment would create additional classes of Federal employees and unnecessarily add complexity to an already complex system.

Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Chairman, extending the probationary period is not a new idea. Federal manager groups have advocated for an extended probationary period for more than a decade.

The Government Accountability Office completed a study on the probationary period in February of 2015. In that study, chief human capital officers told GAO a longer probationary period could help supervisors make a performance assessment for those occupations that are particularly complex or difficult to assess. GAO also recommended considering, ``extending the supervisory probationary period beyond 1 year to include at least 1 full employee appraisal cycle.''

As far back as 2005, the Merit Systems Protection Board completed a study and recommended longer probationary periods when an agency deems it necessary to fully evaluate a probationer. It is not necessary to wait for more studies on this issue.

This amendment strikes the entire bill, meaning the current probationary period would remain the same and the problems that GAO and others have identified would persist. This amendment undermines the entire purpose of the bill, which is to allow managers' employees more time to conduct a fair and complete assessment of probationary Federal employees.

Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2873) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 207 Glenside Avenue in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, as the ``Staff Sergeant Peter Taub Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2873, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).

The bill names the United States Post Office at 207 Glenside Avenue in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, after U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Peter Taub.

During his service, Staff Sergeant Taub participated in more than 12 combat missions in hostile areas.

Staff Sergeant Taub was killed in action on December 21, 2015, in an ambush suicide attack in Afghanistan. He gave his life in service to this Nation.

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle) for introducing this bill to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Taub.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3109) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1114 North 2nd Street in Chillicothe, Illinois, as the ``Sr. Chief Ryan Owens Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3109, introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood). The bill names the United States Post Office at 1114 North 2nd Street in Chillicothe, Illinois, after U.S. Navy SEAL Senior Chief Ryan Owens, who was killed in action in Yemen earlier this year.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) to further describe the bill and Senior Chief Owens' service to his country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Taylor).

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3893) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, as the ``Robert H. Jenkins Post Office'', as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3893, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).

The bill names the United States Post Office located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, after U.S. Marine Private First Class Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., who was killed in action during the Vietnam war.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) to further describe the bill and Private First Class Jenkins' service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 3893, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2672) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 520 Carter Street in Fairview, Illinois, as the ``Sgt. Douglas J. Riney Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2672, introduced by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos).

The bill names the United States Post Office located at 520 Carter Street in Fairview, Illinois, after U.S. Army Sergeant Douglas J. Riney.

Sergeant Riney was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2014 to February 2015 and Operation Freedom's Sentinel beginning June 2016.

In October 2016, Sergeant Riney died of wounds received after encountering hostile enemy forces in Kabul. We honor his service to our Nation.

I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for introducing this bill to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Sergeant Riney.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3821) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 430 Main Street in Clermont, Georgia, as the ``Zachary Addington Post Office'', as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3821, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

The bill names the United States Post Office at 430 Main Street in Clermont, Georgia, after U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Zach T. Addington, who was killed in action in the Vietnam war.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) to further describe the bill and Lance Corporal Addington's service to our country.

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

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

Madam Speaker, it has been more than 30 years since Congress passed meaningful tax reform. In those three decades, we have seen unbelievable progress in technology, communications, manufacturing, and so much more. I am thrilled we now have a chance to pass meaningful tax reform, an opportunity to finally move to a Tax Code that works for families, small businesses, and Americans across the board.

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to bolster middle class prosperity, strengthen our economy, and help America's global competitiveness. These are not just abstract concepts. These are real people, families, businesses, and workers.

Over this past year, I have traveled through the 35 counties that I represent, and I have been so impressed by the countless Kentuckians who are working to bring jobs of the future into rural America. Unlike these innovative entrepreneurs, our Tax Code is, unfortunately, stuck in the past.

Like many of my constituents in the First District, I run a family farm and have experienced the challenges of dealing with an outdated and cumbersome Tax Code. know firsthand the difficulties small businesses face when they try to operate, grow, and hire more workers while battling a Tax Code that does not work for them. Passing tax reform is finally within reach, and I enthusiastically support swift passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Throughout our Nation's history, small businesses have served as the backbone of our communities. These companies provide high-quality jobs, contribute to their local communities, and invest money right here at home. That is why I am dedicated to enacting tax relief that allows American small-business owners to keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars, to grow their businesses, and to compete globally.

This bill will create almost 13,000 new jobs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and will raise after-tax income for middle class families by almost $2,000. More than 59,000 taxpayers in the First District itemize their taxes, and because of the near doubling of the standard deduction and other simplifications, many of our taxpayers will have much simpler returns. And for our Nation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will generate economic growth adequate to increase Federal tax receipts by $1 trillion.

In the First District of Kentucky, there are nearly 44,000 taxpayers who earn small business income. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, small- business owners will benefit from the new lower 9 percent tax rate on the first $75,000 of their business income for owners earning less than $150,000. Families and small businesses will have more opportunities to succeed with this framework.

Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduces the number of deductions and credits aimed at special interests and other well- connected groups, which will create a simpler, more level playing field for American taxpayers. Getting rid of these special privileges in the Tax Code will ensure that all Americans, not just those who can afford their own tax preparers, get to keep more of their own money.

President Trump, my colleagues in Congress and I have promised to deliver tax reform in a big way. I am proud to be keeping this promise now. My constituents deserve a system that enables them to keep more of their hard-earned money and spend less of their time dealing with our overly complicated Tax Code.

I think it is important to address a concern that I have heard throughout the tax reform debate, one that I take very seriously: our national debt, which currently tops $20 trillion and is growing every day. The debt is a serious problem that poses an impediment to growth, a burden on our future, and a threat to our national security.

While I am glad to finally hear bipartisan interest in addressing this challenge and getting the deficit under control, I think it is clear that any solution must include reducing government spending, particularly on mandatory programs that are the major drivers of our debt. I look forward to continuing to work towards this goal.

The last time we addressed our Tax Code was when President Reagan was in office. Sticking with the Tax Code we have had for decades, one that leaves U.S. businesses and workers behind, is not an option. Now, I have high hopes for the future with this tax reform framework.

I will continue fighting for reform that will benefit Kentuckians and our Nation as a whole, and I look forward to supporting progrowth solutions that have proven to benefit our Nation and our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Debbie Williams of Monroe County, Kentucky for her philanthropy in the revitalization of downtown Tompkinsville and her entrepreneurial achievement in attracting new private investment into the Tompkinsville/Monroe County area.

Debbie Williams' first experience in business in Tompkinsville was with Page Brothers--her parents' clothing store located on Main Street which operated next door to my father's dental office until 1979.

Like most of rural America, the 1980's and 1990's saw a massive exodus from downtown retail and office storefronts. Most rural Kentucky downtown areas were filled with vacant, aging buildings badly in need of repair.

Around 2010, Debbie Williams took her entrepreneurial success as co- owner of Bluegrass Dairy and made it her passion to purchase many of the depressed, vacant downtown Tompkinsville storefronts and renovate them. She purchased the building where Page Brothers was located and opened Family Circle Clothing Store. Mrs. Williams also opened and operates Brass Bell in downtown--a home furnishing store.

In two other buildings purchased by Debbie Williams, she has partnered with young entrepreneurs to provide funding for The Flower Cart and Moments in Monroe which are two new start up businesses.

In addition to her downtown Tompkinsville investments, Debbie Williams also owns Spinout Body Shop and Monroe County's only motel-- The Tompkinsville Inn.

Despite Tompkinsville being a small town in an economically depressed region, thanks to Debbie Williams, Tompkinsville is now a hotbed of new investments, and it has one of the most beautiful downtown areas in Kentucky.

Debbie Williams is not just a female entrepreneur success story, she is a hometown hero for her downtown revitalization efforts and her achievement in attracting new private investment into the great town of Tompkinsville, Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the outstanding career of Dr. Theodore Davies.

It all began in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, making house calls with his Father. Often, there was no road to help them travel where they needed to go; but, still, they found a way or made their own. This would become the story of young Theodore Edwin Clyde Davies' life. A life spent in dedication to others.

His formal education began at the prestigious McCallie School located on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Founded in 1905, McCallie is highly regarded as a private, Christian based college preparatory school for young boys and men, grades 6 through 12. Here, the virtues of honor, truth, and duty would be fostered, and he would encounter the question, ``What is man's chief end?''

Young Theodore next found his way to Vanderbilt University and graduated in 1967. Answering the call to follow in his Father's footsteps, he then attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine and graduated in 1971. His surgical internships and residency in Neurosurgery would take him to the Indiana Medical Center, and Montreal, Canada. In Montreal, he would train on the first CT scanner in North America. Later, during his training in Louisville, he would begin treating patients with the first CT scans in the United States.

The next leg of his journey would lead to the service of his country in the United States Navy. Reporting to both Portsmouth, Virginia, and Okinawa, Japan, he would leave the service with the rank of Lt. Commander.

Finally, on to Paducah, Kentucky, answering the need for a private Neurosurgical practice. Here, he would make his home with his wife, Debbie--the most beautiful nurse he had ever seen. That home would eventually include the blessings of Ann, Teddy, Ellen and Emily. Now, 37 years later, they continue to be blessed with new additions, including 4 grandchildren.

As he concludes his active practice and retires this December, he looks forward to traveling and spending time with family, reading all those books that have been on his ``to do list'' for years, and hitting the greens every chance he gets. He will also be able to reflect upon his work as a physician and surgeon and know that he has upheld his Oath to others. He knows well, and has shared with countless others, that the answers to man's chief end is ``to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.'' I thank Dr. Davies; well done, Sir.