Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, each August, I conduct a bus tour of South Carolina's Second Congressional District with my wife, Roxanne, and dedicated staff members from all offices. I would like to specifically recognize scheduler Emily Saleeby for this year's very meaningfully coordinated schedule.

It was humbling and inspiring to meet with constituents and visit 30 locations from small businesses and schools to local chambers of commerce and large employers. I took the opportunity to thank employees for their service, and employers for creating jobs in all five counties I represent.

Many of the businesses were multigeneration success stories, such as Form Tool Technology in Elgin founded by Mike and Roxann Robbins; The Marwin Company in West Columbia led by Andy Davis; Anovotek in Barnwell founded by Don Alexander; and Hansen International in Lexington led by Lisa Beebe. The pro-development policies of South Carolina were also highlighted by Kimberly-Clark corporation's largest manufacturing facility in North America located in Beech Island with 2,000 employees.

I am additionally grateful for Principal Anna Miller of Chapin Middle School; Dr. Sandra Jordan, chancellor of USC-Aiken; Director Sandra Sigmon of North Family Community School; and Principal Jacqualine Kasprowski of Cardinal Newman High School for their emphasis on proactive education across the district.

A final stop was to thank Gary David of WVOC Radio in promoting relief efforts for the recovery of Hurricane Harvey in Houston.

Additional stops included BAE Systems hosted by Michael Eaton, Aiken Rotary Club hosted by John McMichael, Jr., Hubbell Power Systems hosted by Pete Swales, Ahh Sunshine hosted by Jim Hanna, CVS Caremark

Distribution Center hosted by Elizabeth Brooks, Frank Donaghy, and Tom Moriarty, Alley Downtown Taproom hosted by Norman Dunagan, Irmo Chamber of Commerce hosted by Kerry Powers, K2Tech hosted by Zach Minton, Cayce-West Columbia Rotary hosted by Marnie Robinson, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt hosted by Jorge Gonzales, Mathnasium hosted by Annette Sudduth, Coca-Cola hosted by Alison Patient, FN America hosted by Greg Butler, South Carolina Vocations & Individual Advancement (SCVIA), a division of Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands, SC, Inc. hosted by Mike Adams, Duck Donuts hosted by Katie McCanna, Brittons of Columbia hosted by Perry Lancaster, Shealy's Bar-B-Que hosted by Tommy Shealy, and Ansaldo STS hosted by Joseph Eiseman.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, July 28, 2017, a Celebration of Life was conducted for Dr. Frank S. Moore at New Covenant Presbyterian Church with services by Pastor Drew Kornreich. A resident of Aiken, South Carolina, for 25 years, Dr. Moore was a dedicated family man, beloved member of the community, and respected nuclear physicist. He will be greatly missed.

The following thoughtful obituary was appropriately published in the Aiken Standard on June 20, 2017:

Frank S. Moore Jr., Ph.D., passed away Monday, July 24,

2017 at his residence at the age of 81. Dr. Moore was born

July 25, 1935 in Norfolk, VA to the late Frank S. Moore Sr.

and the late Margaret Moore. He received his undergraduate

degree from Hampden-Sydney College, his Master's degree from

the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and his Doctorate

from the University of Georgia. He has been a resident of

Aiken for the past twenty-five years. Dr. Moore retired as a

Nuclear Physicist at the age of 70 from Westinghouse at the

Savannah River Site. He was an avid marksman and runner all

his life.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Moore was preceded in death

by his sister, Mary Mac Moore. He is survived by his beloved

wife, Kathleen Moore; two daughters, Elizabeth Corneluis

(David) and Martha Ruthven (KT.); two sons, Christopher Moore

and Matthew Musolf (Michelle); and four grandchildren,

Allison Corneluis; Michael Corneluis, Dylan Crowell, and

Jacob Crowell.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, July 28,

2017 at New Covenant Presbyterian Church with Pastor Drew

Kornreich officiating. Interment will follow in Southlawn

Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Elmer Wilhite, Don Drinkwater,

John Cook, Ken Odell, Jim Harris, and Claude O'Donovan. The

family will receive friends beginning one hour prior to the

services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial

contributions may be directed to the Can Hope Foundation, PO

Box 3694, Aiken, SC 29802.

Mr. Speaker, this week The Boyd Company released their annual report confirming that South Carolina is the best State to locate or expand a business for jobs.

As reported in The Spartanburg Herald-Journal on Monday, the Palmetto State ranks the lowest in the Nation in annual operating costs for advanced manufacturing companies. This success is also improved by low property taxes and being a right-to-work State, which has helped recruit high-quality jobs for South Carolina families by remarkable companies, including BMW, Michelin, Boeing, Volvo, MTU, and more.

South Carolina is also a competitive State to create jobs because of our educated workforce. Working with readySC and Apprenticeship Carolina, businesses have technical colleges to close the skills gap and hire employees for highly technical jobs, enhanced with positive Federal legislation.

I appreciate the leadership of local chambers of commerce in creating jobs, working with Governor Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Ms. Katherine B. Whitman for her dedicated service as a detailee to the House Armed Services Committee over the past six months. Katie is completing her Capitol Hill detail next month, and it is my hope that she has benefited as much from this experience as have we from her service on the subcommittee staff. Katie joined the committee during a year when the Department of Defense is struggling to recover from years of readiness account shortfalls. Katie's experience as a former surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy along with her expertise as a budget analyst within the Office of Management and Budget proved critical in our successful effort to markup and adopt one of the broadest reaching National Defense Authorization Acts in recent memory. Her analytical prowess and tenacious appetite for data enabled an historic increase in fiscal year 2018 NDAA authorization of additional resourcing for the Department's facility readiness accounts by over 2 billion dollars.

I am grateful to Katie for enduring many late nights at work. Her ``can-do'' attitude and tireless work ethic have been infectious. Her willingness to tackle new issues, and to embrace the goals I have set for the staff, were truly commendable. I have no doubt that as Katie continues her career she will achieve great things for the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Defense, and her country. I appreciate her dedicated staff work and wish her the best in all her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is with sincere gratitude and appreciation I have the opportunity to recognize Candace Rich, legislative assistant for South Carolina's Second Congressional District. I will always appreciate Candace for her years of service on behalf of the people of South Carolina.

A native of Virginia, Candace is an esteemed alumna of the University of South Carolina, with degrees in history and political science. She also earned a master's of arts in instruction and curriculum from Angelo State University.

She is truly dedicated to public service, beginning as an intern in the district office starting in 2010 before joining the staff in 2014.

Candace's experience on healthcare, education, and workforce issues, combined with a genuine desire to serve constituents, has made a difference. Candace was crucial in helping Republicans pass and have signed a record number of bills this year.

It is with mixed feelings but great happiness that I bid Candace farewell. She is moving on next week to a new role teaching social studies at Central High School in San Angelo, Texas. I know her parents, Tim and Angela, along with her brothers, Aaron and Adam, join me in recognizing her achievements.

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

Mr. Speaker, this morning at Cameron, South Carolina, I was grateful to join EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Senator Lindsey Graham, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers to discuss the waters of the United States rule published by the prior administration.

This harmful rule geometrically expanded intrusion of the Federal Government, imposing greater Federal overreach, dictating the definition of waterways, and destroying jobs of original conservationists who promote a clean environment.

I appreciate Administrator Scott Pruitt who facilitated the roundtable to learn directly from local agricultural community leaders about the harmful consequences of the rule. The men and women of the roundtable, hosted by Jim and Karen Roquemore, clearly explained the real impact overreaching regulations have on environmentally positive development for jobs.

I am grateful that President Donald Trump and Administrator Pruitt have committed to review the rule and, most importantly, considered the input from grassroots organizations about the negative impact.

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

I appreciate Rusty Shannon of Sandy Run, South Carolina, for alerting me to the destructive consequences of the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to honor a true American hero who has continued to make a difference in the lives of many throughout his life. Lt. Colonel Arthur ``Ted'' Ballard Jr. was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1932. He is a graduate of Spartanburg Senior High School, Spartanburg Junior College, and attended Clemson University.

In 1954, Ted joined the U.S. Air Force as an Aviation Cadet and received his silver pilot's wings and commission the following year. In 1955, he married the love of his life, Ruth. Their son, Kevin, was born in 1959.

In June of 1966, Ted was deployed to the Korat Air Force Base in Thailand to begin flying combat missions over Vietnam. On September 26, 1966, during his 68th mission, Ted's F-105 was shot down by ground fire, forcing Ted to eject the aircraft over enemy territory just north of Hanoi. He suffered a broken left leg and was captured and interned by the North Vietnamese. Ted remained as a prisoner of war for six years, spending time in the infamous ``Hanoi Hilton.''

Upon his release in March of 1973, Ted returned to the United States and underwent medical treatment and recovery until August of that year. He and his wife decided to finish their undergraduate degrees after his return. Ted went on to earn a master's degree and serve on the faculty of the USAF War College before retiring in 1975. He and his wife moved back to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where Ted became the instructor for the Air Force Junior ROTC program at Gaffney High School. He retired in 1997 after teaching for 22 years.

Sadly, Ted lost his son in 2009 and his wife in 2015. Upon his wife's death, Ted established the Dr. Kevin Dale Ballard 1980 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wofford College, in South Carolina, in memory of both his brilliant son and loving wife. The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Wofford College student studying science, technology, or medicine for the first time this fall.

On May 7, 2017, Ted was presented the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, by Governor Henry McMaster for his admirable service to the citizens of South Carolina.

A truly remarkable man, Ted continues to share the extraordinary story of his life, his time as a POW, and his time in the armed forces. He has made South Carolina and our nation proud.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks President Donald Trump's first 6 months in office, and I appreciate his many successes for the American people.

His leadership for jobs has inspired record highs today for the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ. President Trump has advanced a decisive foreign policy positively addressing the Muslim world, upholding the United States commitment to NATO, and working with our allies for peace through strength. Additionally, the President has taken firm action against rogue regimes.

In Syria, President Trump was clear that America will not tolerate chemical weapons attacks by the Assad regime against his citizens. In North Korea, the President has made clear that he will challenge the continued provocation by the communist, totalitarian regime; and that the U.S. will expose Iran for their ballistic missile testing and human rights abuses.

As of June 30, the House has passed 269 bills, the most of the last five administrations, with 37 laws signed to date, the most of the last five administrations.

I look forward to continuing to work with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for positive achievements to promote American families.

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

Mr. Speaker, twenty-three years ago, Argentina and the world faced an unprecedented tragedy. A car, loaded down with explosives, detonated outside of the Argentine-Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), killing 85 individuals and wounding at least 300 in Buenos Aires.

This murderous terrorist attack was the largest attack on the Jewish community since the atrocities of World War II.

I am disappointed that despite years of investigation that have affirmed the attack was perpetrated by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization sponsored by Iran, there has still been no justice for the victims or their families. America has profound sympathy and solidarity for the people of Argentina.

I appreciate the leadership of my colleague, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, former Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for her diligent work to support the government of Argentina as they work to bring those responsible to justice.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is sad many Americans have forgotten the ongoing global war on terrorism declared against Western families by war fatwas in 1996 and 1998, as displayed at the entrance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.

In the last year, there has been a year of terror in Europe, as reported by The Washington Times on Friday. Beginning in defiance of the anniversary of Bastille Day on July 14, 2016, at Nice, France, with 86 people murdered, it continued with attacks in Berlin, Germany, on July 18; Ansbach, Germany, on July 24; Reutlingen, Germany, on July 24; Normandy, France, on July 26; Berlin, Germany, on December 19; Istanbul, Turkey, on January 1; London, England, on March 22; Stockholm, Sweden, on April 7; Paris, France, on April 20; Manchester, England, on May 22; and London, England, on June 3.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism. We will never forget the 85 men and women murdered in the AMIA Jewish Center bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am grateful President Donald Trump is taking actions to protect American families.

Mr. Speaker, on July 14, 2017, South Carolina lost an esteemed businessman and dedicated public servant with the death of William W. ``Hootie'' Johnson. He made a positive difference with his philanthropic efforts and I am grateful for his longtime service as Chairman of the Executive Committee at Bank of America and Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. On Monday, July 17, 2017, a funeral service will be conducted at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

The following thoughtful obituary was appropriately published in The State on July 15, 2017:

Mr. Johnson died Friday, July 14, 2017, at the age of 86.

Hootie Johnson was a former chairman of the Executive

Committee of Bank of America's Board of Directors. He had

also served on the Boards of Directors of Alltel Corporation,

Duke Energy Corporation, Liberty Corporation and Stephens,

Inc. He was the husband of Pierrine Baker Johnson and was a

son of the late Dewey H. and Mabel Woodward Johnson. He was

born in Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Johnson held a B.S. degree in

business administration from the University of South Carolina

as well as an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. Honorary Doctor

of Humanities degrees were also conferred upon him by the

Medical University of South Carolina and Lander University.

He served as chairman of both the South Carolina Ports

Authority and the South Carolina Research Authority, as well

as a member of The South Carolina State Development Board.

Mr. Johnson also served as chairman of the Committee to

Develop a Plan of Desegregation of the National Urban League.

He was a Laureate of the South Carolina Business Hall of

Fame. The State newspaper named Mr. Johnson as one of South

Carolina's 15 most influential business leaders of the 20th

Century. Mr. Johnson, an independent, was active in politics

serving as finance chairman for Governor Robert McNair,

Governor Carroll Campbell, Governor David Beasley, Senator

Strom Thurmond, Senator Bob Dole and President George H.W.

Bush. Mr. Johnson was chairman of Augusta National Golf Club

and chairman of the Masters Tournament from 1998-2006 and

chairman emeritus from 2006-present. He held memberships in

Biltmore Forest Country Club, Forest Lake Club, the Palmetto

Club, the Flamenco Club and the Centurion Club. Memorials may

be made to the USC Moore School of Business. Dunbar Funeral

Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. In

addition to his wife, Pierrine, Mr. Johnson is survived by

daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer and Chuck Todd, and Marie

and John Fairey, all of Columbia, Sally and Ronnie Wrenn of

Charlotte, and Jane and Dan Breeden of Spartanburg;

grandchildren, Charlie Todd, Pierrine Todd Thomas, John

Fairey, Jr., Harriett Fairey Gilmer, William Fairey, Holt

Wrenn, Sarah Wrenn, Mary Breeden, Sally Breeden and Anne

Breeden Pitt; great-granddaughters, Louise Thomas, Mabel

Marie Gilmer, Florence Elizabeth Wrenn and Elsie Fairey;

great-grandsons, Robert Gilmer, John Gilmer, John Fairey III,

Willard Fairey, Gage Fairey, William Thomas, Charles Todd IV

and Dewey Wrenn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded

in death

by his sister, Dorothy Ellington, and his brother, D.

Wellsman Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, last week the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act with a bipartisan vote of 344-81. This bill represents a strong commitment to enacting accounting reforms and rebuilding our military.

As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I am grateful that this bill modernizes our forces and begins to close the readiness gap facing our servicemembers, fulfilling President Donald Trump's pledge to rebuild the American military.

This legislation also supports military families by providing the largest pay raise in 8 years and by giving military families greater flexibility when relocating during the school year.

The primary function of the national government is to provide for our national defense, to ensure that our servicemembers have the training, equipment, and resources they need to achieve the goal as established by Senator Barry Goldwater, ``Why Not Victory.''

I appreciate the determined leadership of Chairman Mac Thornberry, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to advance the legislation through the conference process.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Mac Thornberry for his extraordinary leadership and for the opportunity to speak on amendment No. 76.

In the past few years, we have seen a clear rise in how terrorist and extremist groups use propaganda and sophisticated messaging operations to increase their reach to recruit new members, execute attacks, and raise funds.

These violent extremist organizations represent a new type of threat to the United States and our families, and we must identify how existing agencies should work together to address the threat.

This amendment requires the President to submit a comprehensive interagency strategy for countering violent extremist groups that pose a threat to American families or their interests. Any plan would identify how to counter the violent messaging, combat terrorist financing, support existing law enforcement activities, support counterradicalization organizations, and offer military support.

Additionally, the amendment provides for accountability by requiring an annual assessment of the progress made implementing and achieving the strategy. The time is now to bring a whole-government approach to combat violent extremism. This strategy will serve a vital role in this effort.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the passage of this amendment and the en bloc package.

Mr. Speaker, on June 18, 2017, The State newspaper of Columbia, South Carolina, published a remarkable article by John Monk entitled, ``In S.C. artist's portraits, Holocaust children live.''

The following portions of the article reveal how the memories of these children are kept alive through an extraordinary heartfelt achievement:

``I draw their eyes first,'' said Mary Burkett, ``and I

reach a moment where I just make some little subtle shading,

and all of a sudden, I see the little person, and I just sort

of say, `Hey, darling.'

``It is so wonderful that they are there. They seem to me

as though they are hiding in the paper, and I just reveal

them. I just find them.

Since January, Burkett, 64, of West Columbia, has created

19 pastel portraits of children. Using old grainy black and

white photos she printed from the Internet, she has spent

hours, dabbing on minute amounts of pastel with a Q-tip or a

rolled paper stump called a tortillon, creating the pictures

on light brown paper.

She works at home, surrounded by high windows, or on the

third floor of the Richland County's main library--both

places with natural or bright overhead light. It takes her 25

or 30 hours over a week to draw just one image.

They aren't just any children. They are Jewish children who

died in the Holocaust. Their faces exude happiness, though,

for the photos that Burkett worked from were taken when the

children were with their families, before being sent to the

horror of the death camps created by Nazi Germany.

To those who have seen them, Burkett's portraits radiate

life, love and loss, intertwined in a way digital or

photographic images can't convey.

Many viewer tear up. They might have come across photos

before of Jewish children killed in Hitler's concentration

camps during World War II. But none like Burkett's, they

said.

``I've never seen anything like it, personally,'' said

Barry Abels, executive director of the Columbia Jewish

Federation. ``Something gets yanked right out of me when I

look at these pictures.''

Abels heard about Burkett's portraits. After showing them

to some friends, he invited her to Holocaust Remembrance Day

at Columbia's Tree of Life Synagogue in April. She set up a

table, and people dropped by to see her sketches, still in

her sketch book.

``Everybody was amazed,'' Abels said. ``The images jump out

of the paper. She had captured the essence of the children.

`Remarkable' was a word I heard more than once . . .''

Because of the positive reactions from others, Burkett has

made her goal with the pictures to share them with others in

a way that lets others learn their stories . . .

Burkett showed her first portrait, of Hersch Goldberg, to

her husband of 40 years, Ronny. He liked what she had done,

encouraged her to continue, and advised her that if she felt

she had to do the portraits, she should continue.

``I started looking for pictures of children from the

Holocaust, wanting their pictures to be from the 1930s,

before the Holocaust happened. The reason for that is, they

were children. They laughed, and they cried, and they fussed,

and they giggled, and they ran, all the things that kids

do.''

Back then, Burkett said, cameras were a novelty and

children didn't make faces when you took their picture.

``Whatever emotion they were feeling, is actually on their

little faces . . .''

Belinda Gergel, a Burkett friend and retired history

professor at Columbia College who now lives in Charleston,

said, ``Quite frankly, these drawings are about as powerful

as they could be.''

``Mary has a gift, and it's a gift that transcends time,

and it brings the past right back into the present,'' Gergel

said. ``When you look at these drawings, you are confronting

the central question about human experience: How could we

have lost these very special children?''

Gergel, Hamm, Abels and Filler all hope Burkett can find a

way to share what she's done with wider audiences.

Whatever happens, Burkett doesn't want herself to be the

focus of attention.

``All the power resides in the children. I don't think it's

my drawing at all,'' she said.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks 2 years since the previous administration capitulated to the dangerous Iran deal, a one-sided agreement that rewarded the regime in Tehran with a $1.7 billion ransom of pallets of unmarked currency for four hostages and put our allies, including Israel, at risk. The Iran deal emboldened the authoritarian regime.

Just last month, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley correctly pointed out that Tehran has engaged in destructive and destabilizing actions, both testing ballistic missiles and engaging in arms smuggling.

This week, Senators Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and David Perdue, sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging him not to certify Iran's compliance with the Iran deal as the deadline approaches.

Refusing to certify Iran's compliance with the Iran deal would send a clear message that President Donald Trump is committed to peace through strength and refuses to comply with a ridiculous deal that puts American families at risk.

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