Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a friend and an American hero.

Chief Special Warfare Operator William Chad Mulder was a Navy SEAL and a highly decorated combat veteran receiving, among other honors, three Bronze Stars with Valor. He was a brother; he was a husband; he was a father; and he was a friend. William Chad Mulder, or ``Bill,'' as his friends knew him, concluded his mission here on this Earth June 9, 2017.

If anybody was ever born for battle, it was Bill Mulder. He seemed to come hardwired with a soldier's spirit. All who knew him felt safer on account of his service to our country. Bill was the ultimate warrior.

Those of us who grew up with Bill in my hometown of Plainview, Texas, also knew him as the epitome of a Plainview Bulldog. He was tenderhearted, but he was tough. He was as caring as he was courageous, and he was as fun-loving as he was fearless.

To his wife, Sydney: Thank you for loving Bill so well.

To his children: His tender heart and his warrior spirit will live on through each of you.

We are praying for all of you, and on behalf of Plainview High School, the class of 1989, and all of us who were fortunate enough to call Bill our friend, we are proud of you, Bill. You served with distinction and honor.

Thank you for dedicating your life to keeping us safe. We will miss you, buddy.

Mr. Speaker, it is my highest privilege to serve with Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz on the VA Committee, and I am grateful for the honor to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

I want to thank Chairman Roe for his leadership on an issue that I believe gets at the root cause of many of the problems, maybe most of the problems that plague the Department of Veterans Affairs: the lack of accountability. Where you don't have a culture of accountability in an organization, you have mediocrity; and mediocrity and excellence in service do not and cannot coexist.

We are talking about serving our veterans, the men and women who are willing to sacrifice everything for our freedom and security. These folks gave their best to our country, and they deserve the very best from our country.

Having almost half a million delinquent disability claims is not our very best; having veterans wait in line for months to see a physician, not our best; having hundreds of billions of dollars in improper payments is not our best; waiting 6 months to a year to terminate somebody for misconduct and poor performance is definitely not our best.

People all over this country, hardworking Americans, get up every day; they work hard; they perform; they deliver results; and if they don't, they lose their job. If they are small-business owners, they go out of business. We ought to have no less expectation for our Federal Government and its employees, especially those who serve our veterans.

The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act gives the Secretary the tools he needs to hold his employees accountable for serving our veterans and to change the culture from one that accepts mediocrity to one that expects excellence.

I applaud Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for helping our country take a big step towards delivering on our promises to our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I love everything about west Texas. I love the beautiful sunsets and the starry nights. I love that our farmers and ranchers feed and clothe the American people. I love that we produce more fossil and renewable energy than any other region in the United States.

People from all over the country rely on west Texas to make America great, but the greatest contribution from our region is our people. The people of west Texas have a distinct friendliness, a can-do spirit, a humble demeanor, a unique sense of humor; and on April 10, 2017, we lost one of our very own who embodied these attributes like no one else.

Former head football coach at Texas Tech and favorite son of west Texas, Spike Dykes carved his legacy into the bedrock of our region and into the hearts of hundreds of student athletes and thousands of fans across this country.

A small town kid from Ballinger, Texas, who achieved his wildest dreams of becoming a Division I head football coach, Coach Dykes went on to lead the Red Raiders to seven straight bowl seasons and was later inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

I had the honor of calling Spike Dykes ``Coach'' for a short time when I walked on the Texas Tech football team, and later I had the honor of calling him my friend.

We are all saddened by his passing, and our prayers are with his children and my friends, Rick, BeBe, Sonny, and their families.

Thank you, Coach, for your colorful wit and country wisdom. Thank you for leaving a legacy of love for people and all things west Texas. Thank you for teaching us that in life, like the game of football, it is not whether you win or lose; it is who you are; it is how you play the game.

God doesn't make them any better than you, Coach. God bless.

Mr. Speaker, in the preamble of the Constitution, our Founding Fathers explained a more perfect Union required the Federal Government to do a few things, and to do them well. At the top of the list is the Federal Government's responsibility to provide for the common defense and secure our freedom.

There is no freedom without security. These concepts, these pillars upon which this great Nation was founded, must be proactively protected every day by men and women across this Nation. A select few of those men and women wake up every morning to patrol and protect our sovereign Nation's border in the face of drug smuggling, human trafficking, and violent criminal activity.

They work to safeguard our Nation, enforce the rule of law, and promote free trade and commerce through our ports of entry. Yet the previous administration's policy left our Border Patrol and Customs operations hamstrung and significantly understaffed.

As someone who represents a border State, I have seen and experienced those vulnerabilities firsthand.

To say that our Border Patrol and Customs operations are woefully understaffed is woefully understated. We are almost 3,000 officers and agents short of the minimum that is mandated by Congress. One reason for this understaffing is the unreasonable and protracted hiring processes.

In 2015, it took more than 460 days, on average, and 11 separate steps to hire a new officer or agent. This is absolutely absurd, even by government standards, and it must be fixed. That is why today I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 2213. This legislation provides a more commonsense and expeditious process for hiring border personnel.

We also need enough Customs officers to foster efficient trade for a robust economy. A recent study found that every batch of 33 CBP officers hired could lead to an increase in GDP of $60 million and an employment gain of over 1,000 jobs. For too long, the Federal Government has abdicated its chief responsibility of securing our borders and protecting our citizens. We must put the safety and security of the American people first and give our Border Patrol and the CBP the staff they need to do their job.

Mr. Speaker, therefore, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2213, and I applaud Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Vela, and Representative McSally for their leadership on this critical issue.

Madam Speaker, if history has taught us anything over the years, it is that freedom is not free. It comes at a great price.

It is easy to take for granted the freedoms we enjoy, but this Military Appreciation Month I pray that we all reflect upon the sacrifices the men and women of our Armed Forces have made for our liberty and our security.

Specifically, I am reminded today of the 5,100 dedicated men and women serving at Dyess Air Force Base, home of the 7th Bomb Wing and the 317th Airlift Group, and the 40,000 veterans in my district in west Texas.

It is with them in mind, Madam Speaker, that I would like to express my gratitude for those who have served, my sorrow for those who did not make it back home, and my condolences to those who have lost someone dear in service to our great country. Let us never forget them. Let us always remind our children and grandchildren of the sacrifices of those who gave up their today so that we can have our tomorrow.

God bless our men and women in uniform. And God bless these United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Norm Archibald, Mayor of the City of Abilene, Texas, ``The Key City.'' Norm is a native Texan from San Benito. He and his wife Nancy have lived in Abilene for more than forty years. When he is not representing Abilene as Mayor, Norm serves as Vice President of the Hendrick Health System in Abilene where he is responsible for the development of the Health System through the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation. He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Texas A&M University, a master's degree from Abilene Christian University, and a doctorate degree from Texas Tech University. Norm is the father of two beautiful children, Bryan and Betsy, and grandfather to four grandchildren, Hunter, Hudson, Margaret, and Archer. During his childhood years, Norm achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America.

Even with his demanding professional career, Norm has always carved out time to serve his community, especially through his work with the Abilene/Taylor County Health Board, the United Way, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America Board, Junior Achievement, the Military Affairs Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, and the Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization. More recently, Norm has been serving our country through his membership on the EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee.

Norm became Mayor of Abilene in 2004 after four years of serving on the Abilene City Council. He was re-elected in 2005, in 2008, in 2011, and again in 2014. Now, after seventeen years on the Abilene City Council and thirteen years as Mayor, Norm has chosen to step down to make way for new leadership. He has been a strong, effective, and passionate advocate for the values and interests that are important to Abilene and the Big Country. Mayor Archibald devoted his tenure to improving quality of life, long-term water resources, Dyess Air Force Base, and local government.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Abilene and the people of our nation have been fortunate to have a man like Norm dedicate so much of his time, talents, and energy to building a better and stronger city. I ask that my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives join me in congratulating Norm as he completes his successful tenure as Mayor of Abilene and in thanking Norm and his wife, Nancy, for all their years of outstanding public service and exceptional contributions to the city of Abilene and the Big Country.

Mr. Speaker, community banks are an integral part of Main Street America, making up over 50 percent of banks and rural communities like the ones I represent. They are indeed the hub of economic activity for west Texas. They employ nearly 20,000 folks in my district and provide vital services to families, small businesses, and ag producers.

Why in the world do we want to hamstring them with onerous and unnecessary regulations that make it harder for them to serve their communities?

That is exactly what I believe we have done with Dodd-Frank.

Each day that goes by, another community bank goes out of business. As many of my colleagues have pointed out, Dodd-Frank didn't end too big to fail, but it did create too small to succeed.

Dodd-Frank didn't protect consumers. It created new layers of bureaucracy, paperwork, confusion, and limited services for consumers.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that Congress act on this opportunity to pass the CHOICE Act before it is too late for our community banks and for our rural communities to choose between relationship banking and transactional banking.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 237.

Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare's disastrous effects over the last several years have wreaked havoc on our small businesses, broken the backs of middle and working class families, and have had a disproportionately negative impact on rural America. Those are the folks who I represent in west Texas.

While the current bill before us is far from perfect--and let's be honest, there is no such thing as perfect legislation--it reverses course and takes us in the right direction. It repeals the mandates and restores freedom to individuals and markets.

It repeals about $1 trillion of taxes. It reduces deficit spending by over $100 billion, making it the largest entitlement reform since the 1960s. It rolls back regulations, gives maximum flexibility to States, and begins to defederalize health care.

For 7 years now, Republicans have promised the American people that if we were given control of the Presidency and the House and the Senate, then we would repeal and replace ObamaCare. And now that we are given the opportunity to govern and to keep our promises and to deliver results for the American people, we can't let perfect be the enemy of good.

The debate is now closing. We have two choices. We either pass a good but imperfect bill, or we leave ObamaCare in place. That is an unacceptable alternative.

As leaders, we have a moral obligation to do something, to not stand idly by while the people suffer under a system that is failing them.

If we are going to restore the greatness of America and transfer power back to the people, we need more than policy solutions, even perfect policy solutions. We need the political will and the courage to lead.

This is a rescue mission, Mr. Speaker, and it isn't without risk; but I have faith in the President and his team. I have faith in our States and the free markets, and, above all, Mr. Speaker, I have faith in the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague for his leadership on this very important issue.

I have made the statement often when I ran for this office that I ran to change not only the course for this country, but the culture of Washington. It is my strong belief that we cannot change the course in any meaningful way without changing the culture.

So I want to, again, thank my colleague, Mike Gallagher, for his leadership in rallying the freshman class, both Republicans and Democrats, on an issue that I think, because of this unique time in the history of our country, a time that I think calls for bold action, he is seizing the opportunity and heeding that call on behalf of our freshman class. And so I am deeply grateful for his courageous leadership.

Our country, the greatest experiment in liberty and democracy, was conceived by men of great principle; men who were committed to leading, to governing; and, yes--and I know this isn't popular--to compromising; making difficult decisions and putting the Nation's interest above their own personal interest. They were also men who never envisioned a lifelong career in politics.

In 1819, only 1 percent of Representatives had served over 16 years. Now, 20 percent of Representatives have served over 16 years. The current scenario where Members of Congress serve for 15, 20, even 30 years, is inconsistent with the Founders' view of citizen statesmen. We need an environment that encourages politicians to do what is right not by their party or some special interest, and certainly not to secure their long-term career goals, but to do what is right for their fellow countrymen. Period.

I think passing legislation to implement term limits across the board is a good step in the right direction. I am grateful to be a part of this body and a part of this freshman class. It is such a unique time in our Nation's history.

We need to go big; we need to go bold; or we need to go home.

So thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker, and my distinguished colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Louise Hopkins Underwood, a west Texas icon who passed away Tuesday, March 7, at the age of 97.

Mrs. Underwood was known as a charismatic woman with a sharp sense of humor. A woman loved by all, she was gracious, she was generous, and she was inspirational.

Mrs. Underwood was the mother of six and a pioneer in her quest to promote a passion for the arts and a stronger sense of community on the south plains.

Our region, which has a rich history better known for farming and ranching, is now also known for the arts, thanks to Mrs. Underwood.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 says:

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of

death better than the day of birth.

Thank you, Mrs. Underwood. Thank you for your fragrant life and for leaving a legacy of a brighter, more colorful west Texas.

God bless the Underwood family.

Mr. Speaker, the facts are indisputable: President Obama's attempt to plan our healthcare economy from Washington, D.C., has failed.

I have spent nearly 2 years criss-crossing 29 counties in west Texas, and I can report from the many stories from my constituents that no single law or policy has been more reviled, more destructive, or more intrusive than ObamaCare. It is absolutely crushing our small businesses and Main Street Americans everywhere.

The American Health Care Act repeals ObamaCare and is a step in the right direction to freeing the American people from the scourge of government-controlled health care.

For the first time since the passage of ObamaCare, according to the Congressional Budget Office's report recently, the American Health Care Act will lower premiums over time by 10 percent, a far cry from the skyrocketing premiums we have seen over the last several years since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

The report goes on to say that the American Health Care Act will reduce the deficit by $337 billion and make the biggest entitlement reform in generations, saving taxpayers well over $800 billion.

This bill strikes at the heart of ObamaCare by repealing its mandates, eliminating its taxes, and gutting its regulations.

Make no mistake, this legislation is not perfect. I will continue to fight for more conservative and more fiscally responsible policy outcomes like work requirements for able-bodied adults. But when the dust settles and the debate is over, we cannot allow perfect policy aspirations to be the enemy of good, conservative results. The alternative, Mr. Speaker, is simply unacceptable.

My constituents sent me to Washington to tackle the tough issues and solve the big problems. Well, we have got one, and it is called ObamaCare. I committed a long time ago that if I ever had the chance, I would repeal ObamaCare, and I plan on keeping my promise, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud and so excited and so honored to be able to serve in the United States House of Representatives and to serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I did not serve in the military, but now I have the amazing blessing of serving those who did serve to protect our freedom to keep us safe.

I am filing my first piece of legislation today, and it is the Veterans, Employees and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2017. In my first hearing as chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I heard with great concern, and even outrage, that some employees at the VA spend 100 percent of their time on union activity. Even physicians and nurses and folks who are hired to provide health care to our veterans, 100 percent of their time on union activity.

The law says their activity and time on union activities should be reasonable and in the best interest of the public. I don't believe in west Texas, or any area around the country, that it is reasonable and in the best interest of the public to spend 100 percent of your time on union activity and not fulfilling the mission. And, in this case, it is protecting and serving and caring for our vets.

Madam Speaker, we have a new era that has dawned on American politics. Our citizens are demanding that we don't conduct our business as usual.

These are times that call for bold leadership and bold action. Over the last couple of years, my observation is that we don't need new solutions. We have reforms for immigration, reforms for regulations, reforms for our Tax Code. What we need is courage: courage to act, courage to keep our promises, as our President said last night, and finish what we started.

ObamaCare is a disaster, to repeat what the President said. The facts are undisputable. This isn't a situation where we have a leaky roof in need of repair. We are on faulty foundation, and it is shifting under our feet. If we don't act swiftly and decisively, the house will collapse.

Leadership is about courage. Leadership is about keeping our promises. We all owe it to the American people to act accordingly.

Madam Chair, the cumulative cost of regulations in our country is now at the tune of $2 trillion, and it costs us $60 billion just to enforce those regulations every year. With all due respect, that is not window dressing. When you take a look at those numbers, it is clear to see that the bureaucratic state of our Federal Government is threatening our job creators and killing our economy.

Today, we have an opportunity to reverse course on the stifling regulations flowing from Washington by passing H.R. 998, the SCRUB Act, as amended here by my colleague, Congresswoman Martha McSally.

The SCRUB Act will establish a commission to review existing Federal regulations and identify for Congress which of those place unnecessary costs on our economy. The amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally) will take the SCRUB Act a step further by requiring this commission to consider for removal all regulations dating back to 1996 that did not comply with the law that states that there must be an accompanying report to Congress. According to the GAO, that is almost 30 percent of final rules.

All of this is done in a manner consistent with my colleague's standalone bill, the Require CRA Compliance Act, that I was also proud to join her in sponsoring.

Madam Chair, in closing, we owe this to the American people. We owe this to my children and your grandchildren. We owe this to our local job creators to break the chains of these burdensome regulations and, once again, unleash the spirit of American innovation and enterprise that made this country the envy of the world by passing the SCRUB Act and the McSally amendment.