Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the opportunity to visit every county in the district I represent on an annual agenda day tour. I shared with local media and constituents the legislative agenda for 2018, as well as my appreciation for the Republican tax reform bill, which has already created jobs.

While walking through Walgreens 2 weeks ago, the owner of Mooneyhan's Auto Service, Bill Mooneyhan, told me that, as a direct result of Republican tax cuts, he is adding a new bay to his shop.

Nephron Pharmaceuticals of Cayce, led by Lou and Bill Kennedy, announced an annual $1,000 pay increase and is adding 125 jobs in Lexington County.

American Airlines and Aflac are adding jobs, while countless other businesses are providing pay increases and bonuses for their employees.

I am grateful for the leadership of President Donald Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Whip Steve Scalise, and Chairman Kevin Brady. I thank them for providing much- needed tax relief for citizens to create jobs.

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

Best wishes to Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed and Marie Royce on their decision to conclude service in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are delivering on the first meaningful tax cuts in a generation. These tax cuts are in the tradition of Ronald Reagan, allowing American families to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks and creating jobs.

Over 80 percent of hardworking American families will keep more of their own money. As early as February, American families will see more of their own money revealed in their paychecks.

Additionally, by lowering the corporate tax to 21 percent, American businesses will become more competitive overseas and jobs will be created, such as Nephron Pharmaceuticals, led by Lou and Bill Kennedy of Cayce.

I am grateful for the success of Speaker Paul Ryan, Chairman Kevin Brady, and all House Republicans in delivering tax cuts for American families. In the words of the great President Ronald Reagan: ``Whenever we lower our tax rates, our entire Nation is better off.''

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

I want to thank Ambassador Nikki Haley for standing tall with President Donald Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

God Bless Guatemala, courageously led by President Jimmy Morales, for being a friend of America today in the United Nations.

Mr. Speaker, we are thinking of my family friend Martin Whitmer and his wife, the former Julie Thurmond, as Martin is scheduled for open heart surgery this Thursday, December 14. We pray for his family in this difficult time and have faith that he will recuperate quickly to become even stronger than before.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize that this Thursday, December 14, is Greg Alia Day: a day to recognize law enforcement and their families for their dedication in promoting the protection of American families.

I appreciate the hard work and devotion of Kassy Alia in recognizing her husband in such a positive way with Greg Alia Day, truly giving back to the community and recognizing his service to the American people.

Greg was a fine young man and also a 7-year veteran of the Forest Acres Police Department. I was fortunate to have the privilege to travel with Greg and Boy Scout Troop 100 of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Columbia to Philmont Scout Ranch at Cimarron, New Mexico. I learned then what a dedicated person he was.

His legacy and courage will live on through the great work of his wife, Kassy; his son, Sal; and his parents, Dr. Richard and Alexis Alia.

To the many law enforcement and families across the country: We thank you for your service, dedication, and sacrifice, which I saw over the weekend with Sheriff Michael Hunt from Aiken, Sheriff Leon Lott from Richland, and Sheriff Jay and Kim Koon from Lexington.

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

Mr. Speaker, The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg, South Carolina, published a thoughtful editorial on November 21, entitled: ``Murder is not caused by guns, trucks.''

The editorial begins:

``Every time violence hits close to home, the debate is renewed.''

``. . . the Nation has been stunned by mass killings in Las Vegas, Texas, and New York City. In two of the incidents, guns were the weapon of terror. In New York--as has been the case in Europe in recent times--a truck was used to run over innocent people.''

The editorial continues: ``It is time to take a look beyond the surface issue such as weapons--and stop the blame game, says Marianne Clyde, a licensed therapist and expert in mental health in the workplace with more than 27 years of experience.''

Clyde continues: ``The world will change, not by overregulation, blaming, demonizing, but rather by one person at a time, taking personal responsibility for our thought processes and responses, creating an environment that creates unity and solutions that work.''

The editorial concludes by noting that, ``Clyde's point is to have individuals look deeper and realize that her points back up the title of her writing: `Murder is not caused by guns or trucks, but by our thinking.' ''

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, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to President Donald Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley--South Carolina's former Governor--for the announcement that the United States will recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel and relocate the American Embassy to the holy city which protects all religions.

As President Trump said at the White House: ``This long overdue recognition of reality is in the best interests of both the United States and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.''

America's bond with Israel is unique, and its strength is the foundation for peace through stability for all of the Middle East providing for prosperity for all countries.

The President's announcement strengthens that alliance, and I appreciate his honoring another of his campaign commitments. Friends of Israel know they have a true friend in the White House, which was heartfelt when I met last month with Sheldon and Miriam Adelson at the Washington Convention Center.

President Trump's team is leading boldly. The President is clear: peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to reach for it.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism, just as America had resolved December the 7th, 1941.

Mr. Speaker, with the leadership of Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady from Texas, the House has passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The tax cuts bill that the House Republicans supported makes the Tax Code simpler and fairer, allows hardworking taxpayers to keep more of their own money they earn, and gives small businesses more room to grow and create jobs.

Our Senate colleagues deserve credit for listening to the people of the country and voting to pass tax cuts last week. Now we stand on the doorstep of history. As we move to conference committee, we have the chance to overhaul the antiquated and notoriously confusing Tax Code for the first time in a generation.

When the conference process is finished, the President will be able to sign a tax cut bill that serves the interests of American families and businesses rather than those of politicians and special interests.

As Speaker Paul Ryan has said, these opportunities come around only once in a generation, and now is the time for us to seize the moment.

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

Mr. Speaker, sadly, South Carolina lost a trailblazer with the death, Sunday, of Chief Justice Ernest A. Finney, Jr.

Justice Finney started his storied career in public service as an educator and then went on to become a renowned civil rights attorney and was South Carolina's first African-American chief justice since Reconstruction.

My first judicial commitment as a State senator was for Justice Finney, after meeting him with former Congressman John Napier, who had been my classmate in law school.

A graduate of Claflin University and South Carolina State University School of Law, the justice was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1972. As a member of the house, he made history as a founder of the Legislative Black Caucus. He served as the first caucus chairman.

In 1976, the justice was elected the first African-American circuit court judge. In 1985, he became the State's first African-American supreme court justice since Reconstruction. Justice Finney became chief justice in 1994.

South Carolina is grateful for the life and service of Justice Finney. We lift up his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee and a conferee for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act, I am grateful for the continued support of Gold Star Widows included in the FY2018 NDAA. The bill includes a permanent extension of the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance under the Survivor Benefit Plan. The more than 60,000 Americans whose spouses died either on active duty or during retirement will continue to receive $310 per month plus a Cost of Living Allowance indefinitely. My predecessor, the late Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Floyd Spence, championed this kind of relief for our military families, and I have continued that fight because our military personnel risk their lives to defend our nation and they should be able to trust that the benefits they designate for their spouses and families will always be there.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, North Korea, ruled by a tyrannical dictator, tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that may have the capacity to reach the United States.

North Korea's latest nuclear missile test was its most provocative to date, putting American families at risk of nuclear attack, in addition to the families of South Korea and Japan, with also a threat to China and Russia of regional chaos.

During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley issued a stern warning to North Korea: ``We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it. If war comes, it will be because of the continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday.''

Ambassador Nikki Haley was absolutely right when she urged China and its President, Xi Jinping, to do more to stop North Korea from pushing the world closer to a nuclear war.

Ambassador Haley and President Donald Trump are promoting peace through strength to keep American families safe, and we should support the call for China to cut off oil to North Korea.

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

Mr. Speaker, former first lady of South Carolina, Iris Campbell, wife of the late Governor Carroll Campbell, passed away last week. South Carolinians are grateful for her dedication to our citizens.

Born in Greenville, Iris Campbell was married to the love of her life, Carroll Campbell, for 46 years. Together, they built successful small businesses and then served the people they loved for three decades, being instrumental in the development of the two-party system, with Carroll Campbell being the first Republican elected to Congress from Greenville-Spartanburg in over 100 years.

As South Carolina's first lady from 1987 to 1995, Iris Campbell devoted herself to service organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, and Carolina Children's Home. She served on the board of trustees for Richland Memorial Children's Hospital.

When Governor Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Iris Campbell devoted herself to caring for him and to raising money for Alzheimer's research and the Carroll Campbell Place for Alzheimer's Care of Lexington Medical Center in Lexington.

Roxanne and I join all South Carolinians in thanking the Campbell family, especially sons Carroll, Jr.--Tumpy--and Mike for sharing Iris with us. She has made South Carolina better, and we will miss her.

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

Mr. Speaker, as we approach Thanksgiving 2017, I am thankful for the change since election 2016 and the positive success of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to cut taxes to create jobs.

In the House, led by Speaker Paul Ryan, there have been records set on productivity. As of this week, there have been 458 bills passed out of committee, more than the last five administrations; 407 bills passed out of the House, more than the last five administrations; and 82 bills signed by the President. There is progress for limited government and expanded freedom.

President Trump has also restored trust in America as a beacon for freedom with his strong friendship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, and President Emmanuel Macron of France. He has championed liberty with 50 Muslim nations in Saudi Arabia, with stunning tributes in Warsaw and with the National Assembly in Seoul this week.

President Trump's success in creating jobs is clear with the Dow Jones, achieving 50 new highs and soaring. Consumer confidence is at a record high, establishing 261,000 new jobs in October alone.

Mr. Speaker, 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, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, last week, in a column by Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner in The Washington Times, it sadly identified November 7, 1917, as a day of infamy. This day marks the overthrow of the Russian Government by the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, and the establishment of the murderous communist dictatorship 100 years ago.

This revolution led to horrific deaths. Ed Feulner notes historians estimate that, according to Richard Pipes, 9 million were deceased. Richard Conquest says at least 20 million and, likely, as many as 30 million died in the Great Terror.

Ed Feulner continued: ``Its legacy is also one of grinding poverty. Most of the 88 countries that score `repressed' or `mostly unfree' on the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom are either communist, former communist, or some type of socialist economy. They are also the world's poorest nations.''

Americans still hope for democratic reform in Russia, which, with its extraordinary culture and limitless resources, should be one of the wealthiest nations on Earth.

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