Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sheryl Lynette Branch Maxwell, the 33rd Anniversary Honoree of The Daughters of Sunset in Sikeston, Missouri. Fondly known throughout the State of Missouri as ``Ms. Sherry,'' Sheryl has continuously served the under- privileged and special needs youth and adults of the 8th Congressional District since 1979. Under Ms. Sherry's watchful hand, a program called Kids' Beat has grown tremendously. Kids Beat provides a safe and educational surrounding for underprivileged and special needs children, and has grown to cover 30 counties in Missouri. Ms. Sherry has also worked as Special Project Coordinator for the New Madrid County Health Department. In this role, Sheryl helped limited resource residents and partnered with outside groups to generate additional resources for the program. Sheryl has been named to advisory committees for three concurrent Missouri governors and spearheaded programs for the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. Ms. Sherry even has a day named after her. January 20, 2013 was declared ``Ms. Sherry Day'' by the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.

At Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ms. Sherry served her community as a choir president, Sunday school teacher, church secretary and youth leader. Whether she is raising money for those less fortunate or counseling someone through a rough time, Ms. Sherry has shown true leadership throughout our community.

Today, I am honored to announce Ms. Sherry as the 33rd Anniversary Honoree of The Daughters of Sunset. Their mission is ``Making a Difference,'' and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient than Sheryl Maxwell. Thank you, Ms. Sherry, for making a difference in the 8th Congressional District of Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Missouri Whitewater Championships celebrating their 50th year March 17 through 19, 2017. The races are held at the Millstream Gardens Conservation Area of the Saint Francis River near Fredericktown, Missouri.

The Championships continue a tradition begun in 1968, when the first Saint Francis River Whitewater Slalom Race was held. Since then, the event has expanded its scope and attracts beginners and seasoned competitors from other states and countries. Even Olympic-class paddlers have used this race as training preparation for future Olympic Games.

The event first begun by the Meramec River Canoe Club is now hosted by the Missouri Whitewater Association. It comes together as 100 volunteers set up the race course, provide safety, judge, time, and score the participants while hundreds of spectators cheer.

For providing sportsmen with the thrill of competition on the Saint Francis River for half a century and enhancing tourism for Madison and surrounding counties through its annual Whitewater Championships, I am happy to congratulate the Missouri Whitewater Association today before the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize American Red Cross Month. In Missouri's Eighth Congressional District we have a long history of helping our neighbors in need. American Red Cross Month is a special time to recognize and thank our heroes, those Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help community members.

These heroes help families find shelter after a home fire. They give blood to help trauma victims and cancer patients. They deliver comfort items to military members in the hospital. They use their lifesaving skills to save someone from a heart attack, drowning or choking. They enable children around the globe to be vaccinated against measles and rubella.

The American Red Cross depends on local heroes to deliver help and hope during a disaster. We applaud our heroes here in Missouri's Eighth Congressional District who give of themselves to assist their neighbors when they need a helping hand.

Across the country and around the world, the American Red Cross responds to disasters big and small. In fact, every eight minutes the organization responds to a community disaster by providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It collects nearly 40 percent of the nation's blood supply; provides 24- hour support to military members, veterans and their families; teaches millions lifesaving skills, such as lifeguarding and CPR; and through its Restoring Family Links program, connects family members separated by crisis, conflict or migration.

We dedicate the month of March to all those who support the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on donations of time, money and blood to fulfill its humanitarian mission.

As we celebrate March 2017 as American Red Cross Month, it is my pleasure to recognize the organization before the House of Representatives and thank them for their commitment to communities all across this great nation.

Mr. Chairman, on January 20, America witnessed the end of the most regulation-happy Presidency in American history. Under the Obama administration, the pages of the Code of Federal Regulations reached the highest level in the history of our country.

The Obama administration issued 3,037 finalized regulations, which means almost two new regulations were added each and every day on American farmers, families, and small-business owners. Regulations from the last administration alone cost taxpayers $873 billion. That is a burden of over $12 million an hour added by the Obama White House on the American taxpayer. Back home in Missouri alone, the cost of complying with regulations just added by the Obama administration totaled $19 billion, which is equal to over $9,000 in costs per person. Regulations written by unelected bureaucrats in Washington are suffocating the very farmers and small-business owners who we need to hire and expand in order to get full workforce participation.

Today, we are considering a solution to this problem with the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act, otherwise known as the SCRUB Act. The SCRUB Act's objective is to reduce the overall cost of regulations by at least 15 percent.

With the passage of the SCRUB Act today, we are simply putting the tools in place to support what President Trump has already started. During his first full week in office, President Trump authored an executive order for the purpose of reducing regulation and controlling regulatory costs. The order is simple. For every new proposed regulation, two existing ones must be taken off the books. This order will help prioritize regulations truly in the best interest of the American people and remove ones that are outdated, burdensome, and costly.

And just last week, the President began a regulatory review task force to review existing regulations. The SCRUB Act mirrors and supports the President's actions, ensuring that our regulatory burdens never again reach the heights that they are today.

The SCRUB Act makes sure that farmers, small-business owners, and families impacted by Washington regulators have a seat at the table in prioritizing which ones the Trump White House should remove. We must help the President put an end to the Washington-knows-best mentality that has polluted our Nation's Capital and plagued the American people for the past 8 years.

Many of you voted in favor of this legislation last Congress. However, with this new administration, the American people are calling for us to change the way things are done in Washington. So it is my hope that you will join me once again in helping put an end to the Washington regulatory machine.

I also call on my colleagues on the other side of the Capitol, who seem lately more bent on obstruction, to reevaluate why their districts and States sent them to Washington. I am hopeful they will consider supporting the legislation, policies, laws, and nominations that will help alleviate the burden of an oversized Federal Government. With the SCRUB Act, we have a real opportunity to shrink the size of government and get Washington off the backs of the American people.

I want to thank Chairman Chaffetz and Chairman Goodlatte for bringing this bill up today, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the SCRUB Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 42, to eliminate the Obama administration's intentionally unfaithful execution of our laws.

Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, the previous administration knew exactly what they were doing when they wrote this regulation. President Obama signed off on the underlying law to allow States to drug test certain unemployment insurance recipients, then he worked to block its implementation. Today, we will vote to end President Obama's obstruction.

Instead of faithfully executing the law, as our Constitution demands, the Obama administration effectively blocked States from making sure hardworking taxpayer dollars only go to deserving citizens.

The Congress spoke in 2012, before I arrived here, but here is what happened. Congress spoke, and the President signed a bill into law to give States an option--not a mandate, an option--to drug test.

I stand today to say let's roll back and undo our previous President's unfaithful execution of the law and allow States like Missouri to have the freedom to decide for themselves. This is not a mandate; this is simply about states' rights.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this joint resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the House Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 1 o'clock and 54 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Monday, January 9, 2017, at noon for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the cheerleading team from Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton, Missouri. At the National Cheerleaders Association Championship this year they took home the first place trophy, earning their first National Championship. They earned this by working hard and setting their eyes on the prize early on. During their practices they focused on quality, not quantity and the team would come together and give it their all to perfect their routines.

Last October, the cheerleading team proudly took home the title of Class 2A Large State Champion, but they did not stop there. They traveled to St. Charles for the National Championship to compete with schools from all over the country.

During the competition, the Kelly High School cheerleading team competed against schools more than ten times the size of their own. This may have seemed daunting to some, but the team came prepared and represented Scott County admirably.

This is the first National Championship trophy for the cheerleaders of Thomas W. Kelly High School, but I do not see it being their last. It is my privilege to recognize their achievements and hard work before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard the comment numerous times, ``If you like your health care, you can keep it,'' what the President had said. Mr. Speaker, we know that that was not true. I would like to give you an example of just one of thousands that I have had from my district.

This comes from Frank. When he contacted our office, he said:

My first personal introduction to ObamaCare was a

cancelation notice on December 31, 2014.

He said:

I wasn't canceled for numerous claims or because of my

health. I was canceled because of ObamaCare.

Let me tell you, he lost his health insurance; and this is the change from his current health insurance that he was supposed to keep to now what he has to have. His current policy premium was $237.86. His new premium is $531.89, an increase of 123.6 percent. His deductible on his old policy was $2,500. His new policy deductible is $6,350. His copay on his prior policy was a zero copay within the network. His new program has a 40 percent pay above his deductible.

I thank the chairman.

So let's look at it. If you have a $30,000 medical procedure, under his old insurance plan, he had a $2,500 deductible. Under this new plan, with his $6,350 deductible plus the 40 percent on top of it, he is going to be out $15,810.

This is what my constituent Frank wrote:

ObamaCare is clearly the biggest, most costly lie that has

ever been forced upon me by the Federal Government. It should

be entitled what it is, the ``Most Ridiculously Unaffordable

Health Care Act.''

Mr. Speaker, that is why I am standing here today with my colleagues asking for a vote on H.R. 596 to repeal the most ridiculously unaffordable health care act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Loyd Ivey who was elected to

the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame for his contribution and significant achievements to the industry.

As a local growing up in Scopus, Missouri, he graduated from Woodland High School and moved to Illinois to work in the steel and wood industries. In 1971 he founded Ivey Electronics to produce bookshelf speakers encased in a burn and spill-proof walnut laminate for the student market of Northwestern University.

Loyd joined the Consumer Electronics Association in 1974 and presented his first product there before merging with American Case Company to create American Acoustic Labs.

American Acoustic Labs became MiTek Corporation in 1979, which went on to become one of the United States' largest manufacturers of car and home speakers. MiTek has grown into a global enterprise with offices around the world.

Loyd has been married to his wife Debi since 1968 and is the father of two sons. He also serves as a sheriffs deputy and department pilot in Bollinger Country. It is my privilege to recognize his achievements and lasting contributions before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Terry Brewer, the founder and president of Brewer Science, who recently received the 2014 SEMI award for North America as a result of his impact on the manufacturing of integrated circuits in the semiconductor industry. The SEMI Award recognizes outstanding technical achievement, and is the highest honor conferred by SEMI. As a global industry association that is composed of 1,900 member companies that are the engine of the future, SEMI creates smarter, faster, and more economical products that improve our lives.

Dr. Brewer has distinguished himself not only as a leader, but as an innovator in the field of technology. Brewer Science is a global technology leader in developing and manufacturing innovative materials, processes, and equipment used in electronics such as tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, and LED lighting. On May 5, 2014, Brewer Science unveiled its new high-volume manufacturing facility at the Rolla National Airport. This expansion accommodates product demand growth and exemplifies the company's commitment to continuous improvement. From its headquarters in Rolla, Missouri, Brewer Science supports its worldwide customers through a service and distribution network in North America, Europe, and Asia.

It is my pleasure to commend Dr. Brewer for his achievements, and I am confident that his business will continue to stay on the forefront of technological advancement.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the centennial celebration of the New Madrid County Courthouse. As one of the five original counties in the state of Missouri, this courthouse is a landmark symbol for justice and peace serving its citizens for over 100 years.

The New Madrid County Courthouse relocated to its current location through the support of the community raising $20,000 to supplement the bond issue.

In the fall of 1934, President Truman gave his speech near the front steps of this courthouse for his second Senate campaign before becoming the first Missouri born president.

In celebration of the courthouse's longevity in service, the county has reinstated the 1821

county seal as the official seal. There will be 24 stars featured on this seal representing Missouri as the 24th state in the Union.

Today, the dedicated staff members of New Madrid County Courthouse continue to create a safe environment and provide peace and order for the community. It is my pleasure to recognize the centennial celebration of the New Madrid County Courthouse.

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 32 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Schock

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gene Bess from Poplar Bluff, Missouri for his exceptional years of service to the community as a basketball coach and mentor.

Coach Gene Bess is considered one of the most winningest college basketball coaches recently gaining his 1,200th win. Coach Gene has been recognized as one of the best coaches in college basketball winning two national junior college championships.

Coach Bess has been named the NJCAA Coach of the Year twice and Regional Coach of the Year 18 times. He has led the Raiders of Three Rivers College to 17 tournament appearances and the program has kept a winning record consistently over .750.

Coach Bess's impressive winning record is only one of the reasons he is such a beloved and respected member of the community Coach Bess not only strives to motivate his players to do their best on the court, but to keep a clear focus on their future. He has expressed the importance he places on seeing his players continuing their education at other institutions and finishing their degrees.

For his remarkable accomplishments as a college basketball coach and his dedication to serve our community, it is my pleasure to recognize the achievements of Coach Gene Bess before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, President Obama, just last week, made the action and said, ``Change the law,'' on immigration granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. The President should not be allowed to do this. In fact, article II, section 3, of the Constitution requires the President to take care that the law is being faithfully executed.

On March 28, 2011, President Obama said he would not use an executive order for amnesty, explaining that, ``Temporary protective status historically has been used for special circumstances.'' Those are his words.

More than 20 times, the President said executive action on immigration would not be appropriate. Nothing has changed in our Constitution, but now, the administration is singing a different tune.

Mr. Speaker, I am from the Show-Me State. I would love for any of my colleagues in this body to show me in this document, the Constitution of the United States, where it grants the President the authority to change the laws. Article I of the Constitution says Congress will change the laws, not the President. The President will execute the laws--faithfully execute the laws.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly support this legislation, and I ask all my colleagues to do so to stop this action.