Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on May 17, 2019, I was regrettably unable to attend votes due to a doctor's appointment. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 215; YEA on Roll Call No. 216; and NAY on Roll Call No. 217.

Madam Speaker, Ronnie Young was a model public servant who genuinely loved the people he represented. I was fortunate to work with him firsthand as Chairman of the Aiken County Council, where he uniquely ran countywide fairly serving every community. Each year as County Council Chairman and later, State House member, one of my highlights in public service was to be a guest of Ronnie in Christmas parades where he never had a shortage of candy to share. You could see the mutual love and affection between him and his constituents. Roxanne and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Susan, family, and innumerable friends.

Clearwater, SC--Funeral Services for Mr. Ronald ``Ronnie''

Young, 71, of Clearwater, SC, who entered into rest May 19,

2019, will be conducted Friday morning at 11 o'clock from the

Christian Heritage Congregational Holiness Church. Bishop

Phillip Napier and Pastor Stephen Phillips officiating.

Mr. Young was a native of Aiken County, having made the

Valley Community his life-long residence. He was a member of

the Sweetwater Church of God, attended Leavelle McCampbell

School and graduated from Langley-Bath-Clearwater High School

and was a former HR Manager with the Graniteville Company.

Mr. Young enjoyed a long career of public service including

the following responsibilities, currently a Full-time

Legislator as a member of the South Carolina House of

Representatives for District 84 serving on the Education and

Public Works Committee and the Rules Committee; a member of

the Aiken County Council, Valley Public Authority, Aiken

County School Board, Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority,

Three Rivers Solid Waste Technology Center, U.S. Selective

Service Board and the Lower Savannah River Council of

Governments. He was a member of several civic and

governmental organizations including the Graniteville

Exchange Club, Aiken Rotary Club, Midland Valley Lion's Club,

Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Has Been Club and the

South Carolina Association of Counties. All whom he

befriended enjoyed his well-known culinary skills.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Susan Napier Young;

a sister, Patricia Boyd, Warrenville; two brothers-in-law,

Paul (Lucy) Felberg, North Augusta and Bishop Phillip (Sonya)

Napier, Modoc; a sister-in-law, Mary Young, Graniteville;

several nieces and nephews. Mr. Young was predeceased by a

daughter, Tabatha Young, parents, Norris and Earlene Renew

Young and a brother, Terry Young.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the South Carolina

General Assembly and the Has Been Club. Active Pallbearers

will be Joel Randall, John Caleb Napier, Leighton McLendon,

Tommy McElveen, Roger Boyd, Bubba Baker and Ray Taylor.

The family will receive friends at the Christian Heritage

Congregational Holiness Church Thursday evening from 6 until

8.

The family expresses deep appreciation to Tommy McElveen

and Joel Randall for their loving care of Mr. Young.

Mr. Speaker, South Carolina is commemorating the life of Ronnie Young, who was a model public servant who genuinely loved the people he represented.

State Representative Young of Aiken County entered into rest on Sunday. He was a native of Aiken County, having made the valley community his lifelong residence. He was a member of Sweetwater Church of God.

He was a full-time legislator for District 84 in the State house. Previously, he had been elected countywide as chairman of Aiken County Council.

His civic involvement included the Graniteville Exchange Club, Aiken Rotary Club, Midland Valley Lions Club, Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Has-Been Club.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Susan Napier Young, and a sister, Patricia Boyd of Warrenville.

Ronnie Young will always be cherished for his successful dedication to public service.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or DIPG is a common form of pediatric brain cancer responsible for the majority of deaths in children with brain tumors annually. In honor of Olivia Mazzell, whose life was taken far too soon by DIPG, I am grateful to cosponsor House Resolution 114, which supports the designation of May 17th as `DIPG Awareness Day' to raise awareness and encourage research into cures for DIPG and pediatric cancers in general.

I would also like to recognize her grandparents Angelo and Kathy Basile and parents Jonathan Mazzell and Heather Hiett of Lexington, South Carolina, for their efforts to create greater access to helpful medications. Working together we can have a meaningful conversation about strengthening medical research to address the needs of children with cancer.

We honor the life of Olivia Mazzell, commend the tireless work of her family to raise awareness of DIPG, and gratefully encourage fellow Members of Congress to continue prioritizing medical research for childhood cancer.

Mr. Speaker, this is National Police Week, highlighted by Peace Officers Memorial Day, which President John F. Kennedy designated, in 1962, as May 15.

Law enforcement officers and their families selflessly serve our communities across the country. Americans appreciate honoring officers, their families, and fallen heroes on Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Law enforcement personnel are national heroes. We are grateful for their sacrifices made to serve and protect our country on a daily basis.

We also provide our deepest support and gratitude to those who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty and to their families. Grateful citizens across the country will take time to thank a police officer this week.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, on this day last year, I was grateful to lead nine House colleagues on a congressional delegation to Jerusalem for the opening of the U.S. Embassy.

We had the opportunity to meet with Members of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, and to meet the Knesset Foreign Affairs chairman, Avi Dichter.

It was an honor to be welcomed to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We have a shared priority to stop terrorism and anti-Semitism in both of our countries and around the world. I am confident in the leadership of Israel and know they will do all they can to protect and serve its citizens.

I am thankful for the strong commitment shown to the American-Israeli alliance by President Donald Trump, with promises made and promises kept. Ambassador David Friedman enthusiastically coordinated the Embassy movement, fulfilling a vote of Congress in 1994 to relocate from Tel Aviv to the capital of Jerusalem.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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, last Friday's economic numbers continue to show that policies championed by the President and Republicans are helping the American people succeed:

The economy added an incredible 263,000 jobs in April;

More than 5.8 million jobs have been created since the election;

The unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent in April, the lowest since December 1969;

The employment rate for women is the lowest rate since 1953;

The veterans' unemployment rate fell to 2.3 percent, the lowest rate on record;

The employment rate for Americans with a disability fell to the lowest rate on record;

Average hourly earnings rose by 3.2 percent over 12 months. Before 2018, wage gains had not reached 3 percent since April 2009.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, Annie Dickerson has been a leading activist and advocate for several decades on conservative policy. She began her career at the Michigan Republican Party in the 1980s working for Spencer Abraham, who later became a United States Senator from Michigan and then the Secretary of Energy. She has supported and helped elect candidates from state and local position to statewide and federal offices.

She did presidential campaign advance work for President H.W. Bush and was deputy finance director for the reelection of President George W. Bush in 2003 and 2004. She served as chief of staff to American Ambassador Mercer Reynolds in Switzerland during the Bush Administration.

Later, she was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2016, serving on the Platform Committee where she stood up for inclusion and support of minority communities within the GOP. Annie has also been a mentor of and advocate for women, founding Winning For Women in 2017 to support more conservative women to federal office. She has been a political commentator on television and a leading fundraiser for candidates and charities over the years. She is the proud mother of two children and currently resides in New York City.

Mr. Speaker, on Easter Sunday, at least 253 innocents were brutally murdered in Sri Lanka as a result of coordinated attacks targeting hotels and Christian churches. There were four American fatalities.

The tragic Easter Sunday bombings are one of the worst terrorist attacks since September 11, 2001. At least seven suicide bombers hit multiple targets, including St. Anthony's Shrine, within a short period of time of each other.

The attack was clearly planned in advance, as at least nine sites were targeted. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and a safe house of ISIS was raided by authorities on Friday.

The American people stand steadfast beside the people of Sri Lanka in

mourning and solidarity. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and we vow to never let the people of Sri Lanka or any country stand alone before the scourge of terrorism.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Clyburn for inviting the delegation to participate in honoring the late Senator Ernest F. ``Fritz'' Hollings.

Every day, when I travel across South Carolina, I am reminded of an extraordinary achievement of Senator Hollings, when he served as Governor. He helped establish the technical college education system to develop trained workers in manufacturing. This enabled South Carolina to recruit new industry, foreign and domestic.

As Governor, there was no auto production, there was no tire production in our State. Today, because of the highly skilled, trained workers, South Carolina is the leading exporter of cars from any State in America. Two years ago, this was $10.4 billion of product. South Carolina is now the largest manufacturer and exporter of tires of any State. Thousands of jobs have been created.

Our citizens will always cherish the vision of Senator Hollings to help families have fulfilling lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hollings family and his many friends.

Madam Speaker, due to recovery from being sick, I was unable to attend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 126; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 127; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 128; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 129; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 130; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 131; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 132; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 133; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 134; ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 135; and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 136.

Madam Speaker, the people of Lexington and South Carolina are mourning the loss of one of its great citizens, Mr. Raymond Caughman.

He was ``Mr. Lexington'' leading the small town of Lexington in banking and civic service to be the center of one of America's most dynamic counties. He and his wife, Lib, are beloved in the community. The following obituary for Caughman-Harman Funeral Home clearly indicates his achievements.

Lexington.--Funeral services for Raymond Sox Caughman, Sr.,

92, will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at

St. David Lutheran Church with interment to follow in the

church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00

p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. David

Lutheran Church, 132 St. David's Church Road, West Columbia,

SC 29170. Mr. Caughman was born January 10, 1927 in

Lexington, SC, and passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

He was a son of the late Willie Morgan and Mary Catherine Sox

Caughman. Mr. Caughman was educated in the Lexington Public

Schools, graduating in 1944. He attended the American

Institute of Banking from 1954 to 1957 and earned an Honorary

Doctorate from Newberry College. He served in the US Army

from July 20, 1945 through December 31, 1946, serving with

occupational forces in China in 1946. Mr. Caughman's

employment included The Bank of Lexington, of The Lexington

State Bank (President and CEO) and he retired from BB&T Bank

and was Coroner of Lexington County. He was President of both

the SC Bankers Association and Independent Bankers of SC. His

many involvements included the Lexington Chamber of Commerce,

Lexington Rotary Club, Lutheran Men, SC Lutheran Synod

(Treasurer), Lexington School District One Board of Trustees

and Educational Foundation, Woodmen of the World (National

Director), 6-51 Club, Lexington County Planning Commission,

Central Midlands Planning Commission, Walking Horse

Association, Lexington Medical Center Foundation Board, and

he was honored by Lexington Extended Care when a wing of one

of the buildings was named ``Caughman Way''. Mr. Caughman is

survived by his wife of 67 years, Ann Elizabeth ``Lib'' Hook;

children, Ann Elizabeth Caughman Alexander (Gene), Amanda

Catherine ``Mandy'' Caughman Derrick (John), Raymond S.

``Ray'' Caughman, Jr. (Ron); grandson, John Caughman

Alexander (Katie); granddaughters, Beth Ann Alexander Bremer

(Mike), Anna Catherine Derrick Panning (Jonathan), Sarah

Elizabeth Derrick; great-grandchildren, Anderson Alexander,

Caughman Alexander, Allie Bremer and Jacob Panning and twin

brother, Hampton Sox Caughman, Sr. He was predeceased by his

siblings, Evelyn C. Segelken, Zela C. Boozer, Henry Etta C.

Frye, Henry Morgan Caughman, Sue C. Shull, Elford Caughman,

Virginia C. Shull and Kenneth Caughman. Caughman-Harman

Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, is assisting the family with

arrangements.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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, South Carolinians are grateful that President Donald Trump has nominated Michael Kratsios, son of John and Maria Kratsios of Columbia, to be the U.S. Chief Technology Officer. He is a very successful and qualified leader to develop technology initiatives for the White House.

Under Michael's leadership, the White House has been able to develop plans for artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, STEM education, and advanced manufacturing. Michael is a global leader and has proven that he is the best person to serve our country in this position.

Among many accomplishments, Michael led the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which secures American leadership and artificial intelligence research and development and opens the door for greater innovation.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has praised the nomination of Michael Kratsios as putting a ``knowledgeable leader at the helm of American technology.''

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.