Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mac Thornberry for his leadership.

The extraordinary, controversial issue that should be addressed of the widows' tax has been solved with his leadership and will be so meaningful to military families.

I am grateful to support H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

Throughout this past year, as chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, we heard testimony from each of the Joint Chiefs about the critical necessity to address the military's alarming readiness shortfalls across all domains: air, land, sea, cyber, and space.

Sadly, the recent, tragic deaths of 17 sailors in two avoidable collisions in the Indo-Pacific region provided unmistakable evidence that readiness has fallen to a dangerous level. We can no longer delay the maintenance and sustainment problems that plague the military, and we can no longer defer critical training and modernization that directly impact the ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats worldwide. There are numerous important readiness provisions in the bill.

I also appreciate the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), my friend, colleague, and Readiness Subcommittee ranking member, for her tireless efforts and participation in this process. The creation of the NDAA was truly bipartisan and represents real emphasis for readiness recovery efforts and the enhanced defense of our Nation to promote peace through strength, protecting American families, as we recognize freedom is not free.

I strongly support the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2018 and encourage my colleagues in the House to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Bill Bethea, chairman of the South Carolina Military Base Task Force, on receiving the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Sergeant William Jasper Freedom Award this year. Bill and his wife, Paula, are appreciated State leaders for families.

The Sergeant William Jasper Freedom Award is named for the Revolutionary War patriot and is given to those who have performed outstanding public service and contributions to the freedom of the people of South Carolina and our Nation.

As chairman of South Carolina's Military Base Task Force, Chairman Bethea has worked with leaders across the Nation to enhance the value of South Carolina's military installations and facilities. He has also improved the quality of life for military personnel and their families.

As the father of four sons in military service who have served overseas, I am grateful for the leadership of Bill Bethea. This is a well-deserved honor. I look forward to working with him in the future to make sure our men and women in uniform who call South Carolina home are fully appreciated.

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, 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, congratulations to Ambassador Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina, for leadership opposing a misguided U.N. resolution calling for the U.S. to lift the Cuban embargo. This was a resolution the Obama administration has shamefully abstained from voting on.

Rather than bow down to the Cuban Communist dictatorship, Ambassador Haley stood up to them and stood up for the oppressed people of Cuba.

Ambassador Haley correctly reviewed: ``The United States opposes this resolution today in continued solidarity with the Cuban people and in the hope that they will one day be free to choose their own destiny.''

The economic catastrophe of Cuba is due to the Communist, totalitarian dictatorship, not the American embargo. As cited by the late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher: socialism will work until you run out of spending other people's money.

Ambassador Haley's service has ushered in a new era of moral clarity. The United States is again a leader for expanded freedom. President Donald Trump's commitment to peace through strength is going to make the world safer for American families, along with Vice President Mike Pence, who is here in the Capitol Building today.

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, our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are grieving at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

This morning, I was grateful to join the Israeli-American Council at their fourth National Council Conference to celebrate our ally, Israel, and the special relationship we have formed over many years with the people of Israel. It was meaningful to be greeted by National Chairman Adam Milstein, and to discuss issues with Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson.

The Israeli-American Council is the fastest growing Jewish-American organization in the United States, and works every day to foster a strong and positive relationship between the United States and the Israeli people.

I am grateful for their many accomplishments, and I wish them continued success in strengthening the American-Israeli relationship in the years to come through mutual economic success, creating jobs while promoting peace through strength with military cooperation.

South Carolina has always appreciated its Jewish heritage as home of the largest Jewish population of any State at the time of the American Revolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I recognize and congratulate Colonel Mark Shade on his recent retirement after years of service as Deputy Commanding Officer of the United States Army Training Center and Fort Jackson. Colonel Shade was commissioned after graduating from The Citadel in 1989 and his first duty assignment was at Fort Hood Texas, as a Platoon Leader in support of the 1st Calvary Division during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After attending the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course and the Petroleum Officers Course at Fort Lee, Colonel Shade reported to the 10th Mountain Division and served as the Assistant Support Operations Officer for 1st Brigade. He was then selected to Command Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Alpha Company of the 10th Forward Support Battalion.

After attending the Tactical Officer's Education Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and receiving his Masters in Education (Counseling and Leader Development) in 1999, Colonel Shade was the Tactical Officer for company A3. He then attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Colonel Shade served in a multitude of leadership and staff positions within the 25th Infantry Division, and was the G4 for United States Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox prior to assuming his final position at Fort Jackson.

Colonel Shade has multiple combat deployments to Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. He has been awarded two legions of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Medal, three Army Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Action Badge, and the Airborne Badge. I am grateful for the service of Colonel Mark Shade and his family to the Midlands community and to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize the statewide consortium of ten South Carolina higher education institutions for receiving a $20 million, five-year Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 grant from the National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. This grant led to the creation of the Materials Assembly and Design in South Carolina initiative, or MADE in SC to create jobs.

These higher-education institutions are as follows: The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, The Medical University of South Carolina, Furman University, The College of Charleston, USC Beaufort, Winthrop University, South Carolina State University, Claflin University, and Florence-Darlington Technical College.

This grant encourages small business growth by providing seed funding through Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards to South Carolina businesses in materials- related projects. This consortium will use this grant to foster research and development in the state by focusing on advanced materials discovery and optimization efforts that are in high-demand. MADE in SC will boost the manufacturing and materials science workforce by adding new undergraduate degree programs and expanding current coursework, ultimately increasing the skilled-labor workforce.

As a proponent of creating jobs and encouraging manufacturing in the district and across South Carolina, I look forward to seeing these higher education institutions utilizing this grant to stimulating small business growth, jobs, and valuable research across South Carolina.

In conclusion, God Bless our Troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize the statewide consortium of ten institutions of higher education in South Carolina for receiving a 5-year Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 grant from the National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. This grant led to the creation of the Materials, Assembly, and Design Excellence in South Carolina initiative--or MADE in South Carolina--to create jobs.

This grant encourages small businesses to grow by providing seed money through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards to businesses and materials-related projects. This consortium will further foster research and development in the State by focusing on advanced materials discovery and optimization efforts that are in high demand. MADE in South Carolina will boost the manufacturing and materials science workforce by adding new undergraduate degree programs and expanding current coursework, which will provide and increase the skilled-labor workforce.

As a proponent of creating jobs and encouraging manufacturing across South Carolina, I look forward to seeing these higher education institutions utilizing the grant to stimulate small business growth, jobs, and valuable research.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Rick Crawford for his leadership today.

I am grateful to sponsor and support the South Carolina Peanut Parity Act of 2017, H.R. 2521. This bipartisan bill is cosponsored by all seven Members of the South Carolina delegation. It gives the hard- working peanut farmers of South Carolina a voice and say on the United States Department of Agriculture Peanut Standards Board. South Carolina is fortunate to have Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers from Bowman for his leadership.

When the 2002 farm bill created the USDA Peanut Standards Board to advise on standards for the handling and quality of peanuts, South Carolina was not a substantial peanut grower. Since then, South Carolina peanut production has increased significantly, as it now produces 8 percent of the United States peanut crop, making the Palmetto State the fourth largest peanut-producing State.

As I have said before, South Carolina appreciates peanuts so much that the State legislature has selected the boiled peanut as the State's official snack. Each year, I look forward to the Pelion Peanut Party festival which celebrates the importance of peanuts which is held in Pelion, South Carolina, led by Mayor Barbara Carey.

The midlands of South Carolina is fortunate to have enterprising entrepreneurs promoting boiled peanuts with Four Oaks Farm of Lexington owned by the Mathias family and the appreciated Cromer's peanuts of Columbia, heralded as ``guaranteed worst in town.'' That is actually meant as a compliment.

My South Carolina colleagues and I are grateful to acknowledge the significant increase in the peanut crops in the State and to advocate for the increase to be reflected on the Peanut Standards Board. We look forward to encouraging peanut farmers in South Carolina creating jobs and having their valuable input reflected on the national level.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support today of H.R. 2521.

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, sadly, radical Islamic terrorists continue their assault on innocent victims across the world.

This month, there were ISIS-inspired knife attacks in France and Canada, as well as the surprise attack in Niger, with mass murders of worshippers at mosques in Kabul.

Gratefully, there are victories over the terrorists, such as the recent liberation of Raqqa, Syria, and now in the Philippines.

Congratulations to the people of the Philippines, successfully led by President Rodrigo Duterte and their courageous military, on the recent liberation of Marawi from ISIS militants.

Marawi is the capital city of over 200,000 citizens in the province of Lanao del Sur on the island of Mindanao, which has been under ISIS control since the end of May. Innocent families were persecuted in this murderous occupation.

While liberating Marawi from ISIS control is a milestone in combatting global terrorism, this fight is far from finished. We must be successful to defeat the terrorists overseas to protect American families at home.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Zeldin for his leadership. We sincerely appreciate his leadership for American families, particularly based on his service in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, on October 23, 1983, an otherwise peaceful Sunday morning in Beirut, Lebanon, there was, tragically, a disruption of a suicide truck bomb that crashed into the Marine Corps barracks, killing 241 courageous U.S. Marines. This was the deadliest attack, 21,000 pounds of TNT, since the U.S. Marines were in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Investigators determined that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist organization that has targeted America and our allies for decades, was responsible for the attack.

The 34th anniversary of the Beirut attack serves as a solemn reminder that we have a responsibility to defeat Hezbollah and radical Islamic terrorists across the globe, many of whom are financed by Iran, all the way from Niger to the Philippines. It is important that we defeat the terrorists overseas to protect American families at home.

President Donald Trump's decision to decertify the Iranian deal was correct. President Trump is protecting American families. The deal was reckless and dangerous from the start; it never served the interests of American families; and it threatened the safety and security of America and our allies in the region, from Israel to southeastern Europe, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.

I am grateful to join Members of the House, especially my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in promoting the fight against global terrorism. This includes tougher sanctions like those being considered by the House that target Hezbollah and its financiers in Tehran, and it includes working together with President Trump's administration that is committed to peace through strength.

I am grateful to thank Congressman Lee Zeldin from New York, an appreciated Iraq veteran, for his leadership and for being firm with the Iranian regime, which subjugates its extraordinary people.

As the father of four sons who have served our country overseas, I want to say once again: God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize Dr. Akil Ross, the principal of South Carolina's Chapin High School, as the 2018 National Principal of the Year. I appreciated being with Dr. Ross, alongside Chapin High School students, family, teachers, staff, board members, and community leaders last Friday as they surprised him with this fantastic news.

Dr. Ross works diligently each day to create an environment that allows students to rise to their full potential. At Chapin High School, he is known for promoting the six Rs, including ready to learn, respectful to others, and responsible to ourselves.

As a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I am both grateful and humbled to have such wonderful educators and students located in the Second Congressional District.

It is inspiring to work with leaders in the Second Congressional District who are building a great foundation for younger generations of South Carolina so they can leave high school ready for fulfilling lives.

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