Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Brian Lacefield, who was recently confirmed by President Trump as Kentucky's new Farm Service Agency director. I am thrilled to recognize such a prolific member of the agriculture community as Kentucky's new FSA director.

Brian Lacefield was a successful area agriculture banker and agribusiness leader, most recently serving as market president of FNB Bank in Cadiz, Kentucky. A Hopkinsville native, Lacefield previously served as director of Commonwealth Agri-Finance with Hopkinsville Elevator, and he currently serves on the Kentucky Corn Growers board of directors, the Kentucky FFA Foundation, and the Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program.

I commend President Trump's selection of Lacefield to serve in such an important capacity.

The FSA plays a vital role in the Commonwealth's agriculture undertakings. Just last year, the agency was responsible for more than $330 million of payments and loans to Kentucky farmers.

I am grateful our new director brings with him a wealth of experience in agriculture, and I am confident he will serve Kentucky's farmers well. I look forward to working with Director Brian Lacefield in the years to come and continuing to serve Kentucky's agriculture community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the passing of a very special individual and true patriot: Mr. Edward Earl Gidcumb. Mr. Gidcumb was 92 at the time of his passing on October 25, 2017. He was born in Harrisburg, KY, and raised by his maternal grandparents, Broughton Temple and Nancy Ann Cummins.

Mr. Gidcumb attended Harrisburg Township High School, graduating in 1943. And in 1965, he received his business degree from Paducah Junior College. During World War II, he served our nation honorably as a member of the U.S. Navy, holding rank of storekeeper second class. He was assigned to two different ships, the USS Indianapolis and USS Bottineau. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy in February 1946.

Mr. Gidcumb served in the Illinois National Guard for two years as a sergeant and squad Leader, was a member of the American Legion, and received several honors throughout his life, including being named Duke of Paducah, Honorary Patriot Guard Rider, and Honorary Mustang. In his military endeavors, he was also awarded six battle stars, an honor one should be immensely proud of. Mr. Gidcumb was truly an outstanding leader and contributor in both his military and civilian life.

After his time in the military, Mr. Gidcumb retired as a purchasing manager at Westvaco. He also served as president of the National Association of Purchasing Managers. A participant and supporter of the Kentucky Veteran and Patriot Museum, many people from across the country had the opportunity to learn about his service to the U.S. But beyond his military and career accomplishments, many will remember Mr. Gidcumb as an avid golfer and also a professional trumpeter. He directed his own Big Band dance band, ``The Townsmen,'' for 30 years. The band played at numerous community events and regularly at First Baptist Church of Wickliffe. He enjoyed sharing his joy of golf with his friends, especially at Ballard County Country Club.

I am honored to recognize the memory of an individual whose life represented such patriotism, civic engagement, joy and compassion. Mr. Gidcumb will not soon be forgotten, as his remarkable life of accomplishments, skills and experiences will live on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Janet Johnson for being named Educator of the Year by the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Janet Johnson has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Allen County as an agent for the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. She dedicates her time to extending UK's research knowledge to help Kentuckians build strong families.

Much of Johnson's work revolves around community and economic development. In fact, she helped secure nearly $20 million in renovation and beautification funding for Allen County.

Johnson was an integral part of ``Plate It Up Kentucky Proud,'' which encourages consumers to purchase and eat local produce. Regionally, she was extremely influential in connecting producers and consumers in south central Kentucky through the Farm to Table program. These accomplishments only scratch the surface of Johnson's contribution to outreach and engagement for communities and families in Kentucky.

Simply put, Janet Johnson is an outstanding professional in family and consumer sciences who has paved the way for many transformative programs in Kentucky. I am proud to recognize her as Extension Educator of the Year and as a distinguished teacher and colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Mr. Jim Brien of Mayfield in Kentucky's First Congressional District, who passed away on Friday, October 6.

Jim's decades of service established him as a titan within the western Kentucky legal community. Having served as assistant prosecutor for Mayfield, an assistant Commonwealth attorney, and as a partner at the Law Offices of Neely, Brien, Wilson, and Toombs, he developed an unparalleled legal knowledge and community network which he utilized to defend his fellow citizens and work tirelessly on their behalf.

He was widely respected for his selfless service to his family and community, as evidenced by his leadership in community organizations and his membership at the First Baptist Church in Mayfield.

For all who knew him, he was a dedicated public servant and a staunch advocate for Graves County, whose passion for bettering the community was rivaled only by his love for University of Kentucky football and basketball.

May God continue to bless his sons, James B. Brien III and Joshua V. Brien, and his family and friends, through which his legacy lives on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hope That Binds, an organization based out of Carlisle County, Kentucky, that aids in domestic and international adoption services.

The organization was recently recognized as a 2017 Angels in Adoption honoree. Wendy Davis-Wilson, Jeff and Benita Davis, and Brooke Kelly have all dedicated their time to bridging the gaps in the complicated adoption processing. Wendy and Brandon, adoptive parents themselves, have a sincere passion for ensuring resources are available for families wishing to adopt.

Through Hope That Binds, a network of loving families is growing and expanding constantly. To date, more than 40 families have been assisted through the organization's fundraisers and grant programs.

In addition, I would like to recognize Josh and Mandy Thurman, who were also selected as Angels in Adoption honorees. After a 2-year adoption process starting in 2013, the Thurmans brought their son, Townes, home to Simpson County from Ethiopia. Families like the Davises and Thurmans make a major difference in the lives of children who need loving families.

On behalf of the First District of Kentucky, I congratulate both families in their efforts to make the dream of a family a reality for children in need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue that my constituents in the First District of Kentucky are following closely: the escalating threat from North Korea.

The world has watched as the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, has built up his country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs over the past several years.

Just this month, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test--the largest one yet. This followed a series of missile tests that led U.S. intelligence analysts to conclude that the Kim regime is on the verge of developing a reliable intercontinental missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, a feat that officials previously did not expect would be possible for several more years.

Clearly, this rogue state is moving full steam ahead toward its goal of becoming a nuclear power that cannot only threaten our allies and territories in the region, but also the American mainland.

I have the utmost confidence in our military leaders, and I trust Secretary Mattis when he says that our existing missile defense systems have what it takes to keep our country safe from the North Korean threat. The American people can feel safe and secure, knowing that our military is protecting them and that their Representatives in Congress, like myself, are ready to provide whatever funding is needed to support the development and deployment of missile defense technology, both now and in the future.

That being said, it is simply unacceptable to allow a leader like Kim Jong-un, who shows no regard for international norms or human rights, to gain valuable leverage and deterrent capability as a nuclear-armed state.

I was encouraged to hear our Commander in Chief speak out forcefully against the ``forces of destruction'' that are gathering power in our world in his address to the United Nations last week. President Trump has made it clear to North Korea that denuclearization is the only path forward, and he has successfully mobilized the international community to impose strong sanctions that will help deprive the Kim regime of the resources it needs to continue its rush to nuclear weapons.

This is a critical step forward, but make no mistake: the nuclear advancements that North Korea has been allowed to achieve in recent years pose a very serious threat to our Nation, our allies, and the international community overall. That is why we must stand firm now and be prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect our national security and that of our allies, including military action.

I am proud that Congress is doing its part to support the Trump administration's efforts to counter the North Korean threat, including passing sanctions legislation that was enacted into law in August; and the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act, which passed the House yesterday.

We must continue to stand united, both as a country and with our international partners, to send a clear message to North Korea that its hostile behavior must end and that it must never be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of August, I was able to join the majority leader and a number of my fellow freshmen on an 8-day trip to Israel.

I would like to thank Leader McCarthy for organizing this informative and memorable visit, which taught me so much about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the numerous challenges and opportunities facing our two countries and our other allies in the region.

It is impossible to visit Israel without feeling the weight of history, from Biblical times to modern day. Staying in Jerusalem, seeing Bethlehem up close, viewing Israel from atop the Golan Heights, and traveling all along the Jordan River, all made a lasting impression.

My time in Israel also impressed me on Israel's undeniable security needs in the face of the persistent threat from Iran and its proxies in Syria and Lebanon, as well as the instability and violence stemming from the long-running conflict with the Palestinians.

Listening to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's presentation to our congressional delegation greatly enhanced my level of support for Israeli foreign aid, just as listening to the Palestinian Authority's presentation greatly enhanced my opposition to foreign aid for Palestine.

For these reasons, I believe U.S. security assistance to Israel should continue to be a high priority, and I am proud that defense collaboration between our two countries has yielded many important developments, including the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system, which is among the top missile shield technologies in the world.

Considering the growing threat of North Korea's nuclear missile program and Iran's ballistic missile development, it is clear that our efforts in this field are more important now than ever.

In addition to our successful cooperation on defense, the U.S. and Israel also work together on many other issues. One of these issues that is of particular interest to me is agriculture. I never dreamed that Israel's agriculture industry would be as advanced as it was.

Despite a very challenging ecosystem, Israel produces enough food to feed their entire country, as well as boasts a very impressive agriculture export market.

In conclusion, I believe the close working relationship between our two governments will remain critically important for many years to come, and I am grateful for the opportunity to advance these ties in one small way through my visit last month.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Arrington for shining the spotlight on rural America today.

I am proud to be a product of rural America. The great thing about growing up in rural America is you learn values, you learn morals, and you learn a work ethic. Not every individual in America has that opportunity. So those of us that grew up with that upbringing in rural America should appreciate that.

That is why, when I took the oath of office as a brand-new Congressman back in November, I said my number one priority is to promote agriculture and restore and revive rural America. I believe we can. I believe in the future of rural America. But we are going to have to work together.

Rural America has many challenges right now. The number one challenge is the economy. We need to help create good-paying jobs in rural America, because in rural America we are faced with a brain drain. That is why our best and brightest young people graduate from the good public schools that we have in rural America, they go off to college or technical school, but they don't come back. There aren't the same opportunities, unfortunately, in many of the rural communities as there are in the more urban and suburban areas.

I believe that we can change that because rural America has so much to offer. We have work ethic. We have available skilled workers. We have communities where everyone knows everyone. Everyone has a spirit of community. We have good churches, good schools, and good rural hospitals.

So I believe that we need to spread that message as Members of Congress. As Members of Congress, we also need to invest in rural America.

As was mentioned earlier, one of the President's main priorities is an infrastructure bill. I believe that we need to invest in infrastructure. I believe in a limited government, I believe in small government, but I do believe it is the government's responsibility to do certain things. One of those things that is the government's responsibility is to invest and maintain infrastructure. When we talk about infrastructure, it is not just interstates and airports. It is also things that we need in rural America, like broadband and wireless technology.

I believe that we can create an environment with public-private partnerships where we can make that investment to help revive rural America and help to create jobs in rural America to keep our best and brightest in rural America.

Growing up in Monroe County, which is a rural community in south- central Kentucky, I had the opportunity to go to Monroe County schools, where I knew every student in my class. I knew the teachers, I knew where they lived, I knew where they go to church. I played every sport I could play and excelled in none, but I enjoyed that opportunity and learned a lot about it. Of course, we went to church on Sundays.

Throughout my business career as a farmer, the president of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, a State representative, and as a commissioner of agriculture, I always worked hard to try to promote and be positive about rural America. Now as a Member of Congress, I want to join with my fellow colleagues that represent rural areas like the First Congressional District of Kentucky and make sure that we make that investment to where we can take rural America to the next level.

So I appreciate Congressman Arrington creating this opportunity tonight to talk about rural America. I pledge to work with him and our colleagues to see that we can make a brighter future for rural America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce for their designation as the 2017 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. This national honor was awarded at the ACCE National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 18.

This is the second win for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce in the last 6 years, and is national recognition of the area's national business leaders whose community contributions are unparalleled. Ranking among the top 10 percent of Chambers nationwide, their mission of promotion, advocacy, and education develops well-

rounded, lifelong business leaders with a pride and responsibility to their fellow community members.

As the largest city in the First District of Kentucky, the chamber's efforts have benefited not only the Paducah area, but positively impact communities throughout western Kentucky.

I would like to thank President Sandra Wilson and Board Chair Tammy Zimmerman, as well as the board of directors, staff, and chamber members for their unwavering dedication to the betterment of local industry. I look forward to many future accomplishments for the chamber, and I am proud to represent the thriving business leaders of Paducah.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a spectacular event that will take place in Hopkinsville, Kentucky this coming August. A solar eclipse will occur on August 21, 2017, the first to traverse coast to coast in the United States in nearly a century. The last time a solar eclipse was in the United States was in 1918. It will not be until 2045 that we witness a similar event.

Hopkinsville is one location in the U.S. fortunate enough to have a position in the direct path of the shadow cast by the eclipse of the Sun. The historic city of Hopkinsville is expecting a huge turnout for this event, as many consider Hopkinsville the ``point of greatest eclipse'' for this August lunar display.

August 18 to 20 will be a weekend full of celebrations surrounding this rare and memorable experience, including live music, food vendors, and activities for all ages. I thank the many people who have contributed to the promotion of this event in Hopkinsville, and I look forward to a festive weekend in the First District of Kentucky to celebrate the much anticipated solar eclipse.

I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, neighbor, mentor, and former Kentucky Commissioner of

Agriculture, J. Robert Miller. Robert passed away last night at the age of 97.

J. Robert Miller was a legend in agriculture, agriculture education, and Kentucky politics. He served as Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture from 1957 to 1971 during the Louie Nunn administration. Before that, J. Robert was an agriculture teacher at Tompkinsville High School and always an active, lifelong farmer.

Growing up in 4-H and FFA, my earliest memories include Robert Miller. He was a mainstay at Monroe County area livestock shows and FFA banquets, always helping out and offering advice to present and future farmers.

J. Robert Miller was a great man who had a positive influence on countless Kentuckians

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Miss Molly Matney, an outstanding resident of Metcalfe County in the First Congressional District of Kentucky.

Ms. Matney was crowned Miss Kentucky 2017 on July 1. She is an agriculture major at Western Kentucky University and hopes to pursue a career as an agricultural lending executive. Her talents and accomplishments distinguish her as a valuable asset to the Miss Kentucky organization, as well as the First District of Kentucky.

The ``Farm Fit'' platform she has developed encourages consumption of products found in local farmers' markets to help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle. This concept complements and reemphasizes fundamental aspects of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's ``Kentucky Proud'' campaign.

Her yearlong travels will allow her to promote both of these initiatives throughout the Commonwealth. I am confident she will utilize her knowledge of Kentucky's agriculture industry for the betterment of her platform and will continue to be a deserving advocate for Kentucky farmers.

I wish her the best of luck as she prepares to compete at the Miss America pageant in Atlanta City, New Jersey, on September 10, and I look forward to her continued contributions to the First District of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud President Trump's selection of Ms. Kelly Craft as the next U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

Canada is the number one export market for my home State of Kentucky. Agriculture is the major industry in my congressional district, and Canada is a critical export market for Kentucky farm products. As a result of our successful history of trade with the nation of Canada, I cannot think of a better person to lead relations between these two countries than my dear friend, Kelly Craft.

Kelly was raised in Glasgow, Kentucky, which is 30 miles from my hometown. She has a lifetime of achievements and is extremely qualified. On a personal note, Kelly has always been there for and believed in me, and I am very appreciative of her support and friendship.

I look forward to Kelly Craft's great leadership as Ambassador to Canada, and I urge a swift confirmation process in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special recognition to Army Specialist Michael Marteney for an incredible act of heroism. While off duty, Specialist Marteney displayed remarkable selflessness and courage in the rescue and treatment of a fatally wounded civilian.

On May 27, 2017, a motor home traveling in Oak Grove, Kentucky, collided with a civilian building. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Michael pulled his car over to the site of the accident and rushed to the scene. The front of the motor home was crushed, and Michael saw that the driver had life-threatening injuries to his head and leg.

With gasoline still rapidly spilling from the vehicle, Michael was able to gain access to the passenger side of the motor home and fashion a makeshift tourniquet. Oak Grove Police Officer Sergeant Havens arrived on scene and handed Michael a combat application tourniquet, which he swiftly applied.

Despite the imminence of fire or explosion, Michael went into the back of the motor home to locate a first-aid kit. Michael conveyed lifesaving information to EMS about the driver's disposition that prompted the call for immediate flight evacuation services.

If Specialist Michael Marteney had not taken control of the situation and implemented key medical assistance, the wounded driver would not have survived the trauma sustained.

I am honored to recognize Specialist Marteney's lifesaving actions, an inspiring illustration of the good will of others and the consequences of brave deeds. I thank Specialist Marteney for his bravery and all others in Oak Grove who were involved in the rescue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Senator Jim Bunning. I met Senator Bunning in 1983, when I was 10 years old. He was running for Governor. At the time, he was a State senator in Kentucky, and my grandfather was chairman of the Republican Party of Monroe County.

So when he ran for Governor, my grandfather was the chairman of the county for his election. And I went up to him, a 10-year-old boy, and I had my baseball in my hand--because that is what you did when you saw Jim Bunning, you gave him a baseball to sign--and I said: ``Mr. Bunning, I am like you. We have two things in common.'' I said: ``I am a fan of sports and a fan of politics.''

And he laughed and patted me on the head, and he said: ``We are going to get along just fine.'' And he figured out who I was, who my grandfather was, and we stayed close through the years.

When I ran for State representative in 2000, he was one of the first people to call and encourage me and offer his support. I won that election. I served in the Kentucky General Assembly. He was always a supporter. He was always there for me.

I ran for commissioner of agriculture in another statewide office, and he was always there for me. I think the world of Jim Bunning just because I knew him and I knew that he cared and he remembered things.

In 2004, he was running for reelection for the U.S. Senate, and it was a tough election. It was a very close election. In fact, there were 120 counties in the State. With 118 counties in, he was behind in that election. And there were two counties left, Metcalfe County and Monroe County, two counties in my State House district. So he knew he was going to win because he won those counties by 4-to-1 margins.

So every time I would see him, he would remind me that he is in the Senate because of those counties in south central Kentucky. Most politicians probably wouldn't remember that, but he did.

So I am honored to stand here tonight with Representative Barr and show my support and appreciation for Jim Bunning. Kentucky is a better State because of the leadership of U.S. Senator Jim Bunning.