Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it was reported last week that the BMW plant in South Carolina remained the top vehicle exporter in America, with more than $8.4 billion worth of cars shipped to foreign countries.

Nearly a quarter of a million cars were exported, with the vast majority sent from the Port of Charleston, led by State Ports Authority President Jim Newsome.

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, the late Governor Carroll Campbell recruited BMW to South Carolina with export production of 1,400 cars a day. Production in 2018 was 356,749 vehicles.

Governor Henry McMaster and Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt continue to promote an additional $600 million investment in Plant Spartanburg, which already at $10 billion is the largest BMW plant in the world, providing 11,000 jobs.

Thousands of additional jobs in the region have been created by suppliers to the assembly facility.

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

Madam Speaker, in honor of National Vending Day, it is appropriate to celebrate the millions of Americans who get beverages, snacks, and unlimited items from vending machines.

Crane Merchandising Systems of Williston, South Carolina, managed by Rich Tucker, is a leading full-service vending solutions provider and employs over 700 associates. Crane is one of the largest employers of the Barnwell County region, and I am grateful for their success creating jobs.

The automatic merchandising industry in America promotes an economic impact of nearly $25 billion with 150,000 employees. Not only does the industry meet the needs of consumers around the world, it also contributes $7.21 billion in wages to the economy and pays $3.5 billion in taxes.

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

Madam Speaker, Saudi Arabia has a vital role in the global war on terrorism. Riyadh is a crucial counterterrorism partner. But, sadly, textbooks of Saudi Arabia have been teaching its students to hate others for too long.

One current textbook is inflammatory against Christianity, Judaism, and even other Muslims who do not subscribe to the Saudi interpretation of Islam, which they describe as ``evil.''

Saudi Arabia has committed to reforming curriculum for over a decade. That is why Congressman Bill Keating and I have introduced H.R. 554, the Saudi Educational and Transparency and Reform Act. It will hold the Saudis accountable by requiring an annual report on any intolerant content of their textbooks. It will also send a clear, bipartisan message to end the incitement now.

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

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

Madam 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, as co-chair of the Congressional Bulgaria Caucus, I appreciate Ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev and Mrs. Lubka Stoytchev for their hosting a reception yesterday in recognition of National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria at the Library of Congress, celebrating 141 years of liberation.

Bulgaria is a close strategic ally and partner of the United States. This month, we celebrate 15 years since Bulgaria joined the NATO alliance.

During his time recently in Sofia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted: ``Bulgaria has contributed to strengthening the Alliance.'' He also thanked Prime Minister Boyko Borissov for his government's commitment to reach the NATO defense spending goal of 2 percent.

I am confident the partnership between the United States and Bulgaria will continue to grow in the years ahead. It will be mutually beneficial to promote peace through strength.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology is celebrating 30 years of success. I am grateful to recognize the achievement of MEP in South Carolina.

Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina introduced the legislation that led to the creation of the program. It later was renamed in his honor.

The MEP has served over 26,000 companies. It has earned support in Congress for assisting small- to mid-sized manufacturers.

I am grateful that the South Carolina MEP has generated almost $380 million in new investment and created 1,361 jobs. It generated almost $2.7 billion in statewide economic impact.

In the Second Congressional District, it helped to create and retain 989 jobs last year and brought in over $30 million in new investment.

I commend these employers for creating jobs in South Carolina and nationwide.

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

Mr. Speaker, last week I was grateful to join Senator Lindsey Graham on a delegation for the Munich Security Conference. A highlight was Vice President Mike Pence reaffirming America's commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance.

I then joined the delegation led by Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Rick Larsen for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reassured our allies of bipartisan support for NATO's continued success. Congressman Mike Turner ably presided as vice president of the assembly.

Another highlight in Brussels was to meet with U.S. Ambassador Ronald Gidwitz and his wife, Christina, whose enthusiasm for service is extraordinary.

The ambassador is promoting the restoration of the Mardasson Memorial, honoring American servicemembers in the Battle of the Bulge.

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

Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to H.J. Res. 37, directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from the hostilities in Yemen. Actually, the U.S. is not directly engaged in any hostilities in Yemen. This is not my independent assessment, but the determination of the Department of Defense.

The U.S. is currently supporting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen by providing targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and joint planning to defeat the Houthi rebels who are armed by Iran, with missiles that they have directed at civilian airports in Saudi Arabia.

There is no doubt that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has made terrible targeting mistakes. But what would happen if the U.S. were to pull the plug on our intelligence-sharing and targeting cooperation?

Would this improve the coalition's targeting or possibly make it worse, increasing the chances for collateral damage and civilian casualties?

I am concerned that, if we walk away now, these terrible tragedies will simply multiply.

The United States must be at the table so that we can insist on and respect international law. This does not mean that the coalition will always do the right thing, but it does mean that we will have leverage and influence to promote the right direction.

Instead of this resolution, I hope that our colleagues, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Ranking Member, Republican leader, Mike McCaul, will work together on a bipartisan initiative that can address these important concerns in Yemen.

We can all agree that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen must be addressed and that the ongoing conflict must come to an end. Let's work together as we have always done on the Foreign Affairs Committee to address this issue and end the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 940.

Mr. Speaker, President Donald Trump made the courageous decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty last week. This was long overdue. Sadly, there have been obvious Russian violations since 2011.

The 1987 INF Treaty was achieved by President Ronald Reagan to prohibit development of ground-launched cruise missiles. The INF Treaty was seen as the gold standard of arms control agreements for years, but Russia has been in violation of the agreement, while we have continued to limit our research and development.

Allowing Russia to violate the INF Treaty endangers American families. Now, Russia will find more incentive to return to the negotiating table, encouraged by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

We must continue to seek peace through strength. It was this strategy implemented by President Reagan that prompted Moscow to sign the INF Treaty in the first place.

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

Mr. Speaker, the people of Venezuela have taken to the streets to demand an end to 20 years of dictatorship and repression. I am grateful that President Donald Trump is supporting the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people.

The people of Venezuela deserve to prosper. They are fortunate to hold the world's largest supply of crude oil, but decades of socialist corruption and mismanagement, first under Hugo Chavez and then Nicolas Maduro, have impoverished Venezuela.

Then came the sham 2018 Presidential elections. That is why the National Assembly President Juan Guaido implemented their constitution by declaring himself interim President and called for new elections.

We must continue to support hope in Venezuela. Free and fair elections must be held. The people of Venezuela deserve freedom and democracy.

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

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, the world paused to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Millions of Jews were mercilessly killed as part of what the Nazis called their final solution to the Jewish problem. This happened just 74 years ago, though many seem to forget.

From the ashes, Jewish people returned to their ancient homeland and established a dynamic democracy in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the Jewish people of Israel are again targets of extermination. Just yesterday, the deputy head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps called to erase Israel from the global political map.

We must honor the memories of the 6 million murdered by Nazis by vowing that Jews will never again be threatened with extermination. The American people stand with Israel as proven by the embassy being established in Jerusalem where I led the House delegation May 14.

We remember, and we vow: never again.

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

Mr. Speaker, this month, Qatar and the United States completed the second annual Strategic Dialogue. The State Department cited the many successes of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The Strategic Dialogue highlighted the strength of the relationship to deepen the cooperation to benefit both countries.

The United States welcomed Qatar's generous offer to expand critical facilities at bases used by U.S. forces in the country, enabling expansion at Al Udeid Air Base.

Both sides intend to strengthen their security and counterterrorism partnership to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism.

There was continued support for a strong and united Gulf Cooperation Council promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the region. Our GCC allies should work together to resolve their differences for the sake of the success and security of the region.

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

Our sympathy to the family of Robert Adams, VI.

Madam Speaker, last week South Carolina paid deserved tribute to the late Redd Reynolds who was appreciated as the ``South Carolina Bob Hope'' of the National Guard. I include in the Record his thoughtful obituary, which was published January 15th in The State newspaper.

Lexington.--Clarence T. ``Redd'' Reynolds, 91, went home to

be with the Lord on Sunday January 13, 2019. The son of the

late Henry and Lottie Reynolds, Redd was born Jan. 17, 1927

and grew up in Lexington, South Carolina, where he attended

Lexington schools. He honorably served in the 78th Division

of the United States Army in World War II and with the Armed

Forces Radio Network. Following World War II, Redd attended

Newberry College and, most importantly, married the beautiful

Doris Rawl on Aug. 26, 1950.

Redd became a prominent radio personality and broadcaster

at WBLR 1430 AM in Batesburg. As a result of his ties in the

broadcasting industry and his patriotism, he and Doris

created Caravan of Stars, a traveling music and dance group

that entertained troops at military bases in Georgia,

Virginia and Mississippi. Redd was considered the Bob Hope of

the National Guard, producing and directing shows for more

than 30 years. In 1987 he was honored with the Order of the

Palmetto by Gov. Carroll Campbell.

Redd was a committed member of American Legion Post 7 for

more than five decades, dedicating his time and talents to

the cultivation of his beloved community. He made significant

contributions to the Palmetto Boys and Girls State programs,

as well as American Legion Post 7 baseball. He also served on

Lexington Medical Center's board of trustees from 1978 to

1987.

In 2012, Redd was thrilled to be selected for the Honor

Flight program, joining other South Carolina World War II

veterans on a trip to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C.

Redd was a vibrant member of St. John's Lutheran Church in

Lexington, serving with Lutheran Men in Mission and as a

Sunday School teacher, Young at Heart member and church

council member. He and Doris also teamed tirelessly to care

for the grounds of St. John's. If it was happening in God's

house, Redd participated.

Surviving Redd are his wife of 68 years, Doris; children

Terry (Anne) Reynolds, Phil (Janice) Reynolds, Jandell

(Richard) Morrison and Barry (Jeanne) Reynolds; grandchildren

Clay (Lindsey) Reynolds, Justin (Rachel) Reynolds, David (Ann

Marie) Reynolds, Macaulay Morrison and Caroline Morrison; and

great-grandchildren Cale, Jack Wyatt and Amelia Reynolds.

Redd was predeceased by his two sisters, Betty Hutto and

Pauline Salter.

The family will receive friends and the community at Barr-

Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel from

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2019. A

celebration of life and interment will be held at St. John's

Lutheran Church 3:00 p.m. Wednesday January 16, 2019. In lieu

of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St.

John's Lutheran Church or to the Redd and Doris Family ROTC

Grant-in-Aid at Clemson University. (Mail to Deborah Towery,

Clemson University Foundation, P.O. Box. 1889, Clemson, SC.

29633.)

Mr. Speaker, the murderous regime in Tehran has a very clear policy: death to America, death to Israel. That is why Iran trains, arms, and funds militia groups to fight its proxy wars throughout the Middle East.

In Iraq, these militias destabilize the country, weaken Baghdad's central authority, and do Iran's bidding. These militias directly threaten American interests in Iraq.

Many of them have American blood on their hands, but they are not being held accountable for their actions by our government. That is why I introduced H.R. 361, the Iranian Proxies Terrorist Sanctions Act, with my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Brad Sherman, Steve Chabot, and Tom Suozzi.

This bill will finally sanction two notorious Iranian-controlled proxy groups in Iraq, including those responsible for the September 2018 attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and U.S. Consulate Mosul. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

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