Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Philip Dalke, a Naval Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional District. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Philip is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Philip demonstrated excellent leadership and service as captain of both the Varsity Volleyball and Basketball teams at his school. He received multiple awards recognizing his athletic talents, including the League Defensive Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year awards. He was also inducted into his school's chapter of the National Honor Society and was an active member of Student Government, showing a passion for education and heart for public service.

Our Nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Philip and his family for their commitment. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Philip.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Philip Dalke as an appointee to the Naval Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alexander Mueller, a Merchant Marine Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional district. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Alexander is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Alexander has already begun his service to our nation through his participation in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps. He demonstrated his commitment to public service as an active member of his high school's Student Council and Student Government, and was awarded Academic All State First Team in recognition of his outstanding athletic and academic achievements.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Alexander and his family for their commitment. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Alexander.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Alexander Mueller as an appointee to the Merchant Marine Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nolan Laufenberg, an Air Force Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional District. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in

uniform. Nolan is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Nolan and his family for their commitment. On behalf ofthe 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Nolan.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Nolan Laufenberg as an appointee to the Air Force Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shaina Smidt, an Air Force Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional district. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Shaina is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for her service. It is with great pleasure that I give her my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Shaina served as the Captain of her school's Varsity Basketball team for most of her high school years, and also worked as a student basketball coach, demonstrating a real gift of leadership and heart for service. Additionally, Shaina received a variety of academic awards and was a member of her high school's chapter of the National Honor Society, showing her commitment to and passion for education.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Shaina and her family for their commitment. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Shaina.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Shaina Smidt as an appointee to the Air Force Academy for her commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Spencer Rohlwing, an Air Force Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional district. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Spencer is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Spencer has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, graduating Maxima Cum Laude and receiving a variety of awards during high school, including Highest Honors and the Gold Cross Award, both of which are given only to students who attain a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Additionally, Spencer was captain of both the Varsity Soccer team and the Varsity Track and Field team, showing his excellence in leadership and service.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Spencer and his family for their commitment. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Spencer.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Spencer Rohlwing as an appointee to the Air Force Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott Johnson, an Air Force Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional district. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Scott is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Scott has proven himself to be an outstanding athlete, earning a variety of awards for his many achievements, including the Navy Outstanding Titan Award as well as the Underclassmen Athlete of the Year Award. He also served as captain of his school's Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Additionally, Scott was elected Vice President and President of his class during his freshman and senior years of high school, respectively, demonstrating his commitment to leadership and passion for public service.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Scott and his family for their commitment. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Scott.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Scott Johnson as an appointee to the Air Force Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gianni Orlando, an Air Force Academy Appointee from Colorado's Fourth Congressional district. I believe our greatest assets are America's brave men and women in uniform. Gianni is making an incredible sacrifice for our country and deserves our utmost support for his service. It is with great pleasure that I give him my endorsement to attend this prestigious institution.

Gianni has demonstrated excellent leadership and athleticism serving as captain of his school's lacrosse team, and helping lead both the football and lacrosse teams to victory in the Colorado State Championships. Additionally, he was inducted into his school's chapter of the National Honor Society and earned summa cum laude as a junior, showing his dedication to and passion for education.

Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than to those who fight to protect our freedom and liberty. I commend Gianni and his family for their commitment. On behalf of the Fourth Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Gianni.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Gianni Orlando as an appointee to the Air Force Academy for his commitment to protect and serve our nation.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to explain my amendment to the Financial CHOICE Act.

Since the passage of Dodd-Frank, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been unaccountable to Congress and harmed small businesses across this country. I am thankful for the work done by Chairman Hensarling to rein in this out-of-control agency.

With the United States nearly $20 trillion in debt, we must do everything possible to bring financial accountability to our Federal Government. Spending at this rate will leave us not only financially bankrupt but morally bankrupt as well. It is immoral to spend money we don't have today and force our children to pay in the future.

Despite this, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau decided it was necessary to renovate their headquarters, estimated at more than $200 million, over $50 million more than the building is worth. Even in their initial designs, a lavish two-story waterfall and four-story glass staircase were more important than the financial prosperity of our children.

The Financial CHOICE Act makes changes to the CFPB, which will likely result in different real estate needs for the agency. My amendment is simple: it will require an assessment of whether the current CFPB building is a good use of taxpayer dollars. If not, it authorizes the General Services Administration to sell the building to the highest bidder, generating hundreds of millions of dollars by offloading a property that is unnecessary for the Federal Government to own.

Just a few months ago, my first grandchild, nicknamed Bear, was born. When he grows older, I want to tell him I did everything in my power to fight the out-of-control spending that plagues our generation. This amendment is part of that fight for Bear and all of our grandchildren.

This amendment requires our government to use taxpayer dollars efficiently, and it reinforces a culture of fiscal restraint and bureaucratic decisionmaking.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this commonsense and fiscally responsible amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 375 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. This rule provides a

structured process for debate and makes in order six amendments to the bill.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today to return hope and opportunity to Main Street America through the Financial CHOICE Act. This legislation touches at the very heart of our economy, ensuring that our financial system facilitates job creation, economic growth, and fairness.

Nearly 10 years ago, the American economy cratered. The Great Recession of the late 2000s revealed that our financial system was fragile, and many Americans got the short end of the stick.

In 2010, Democrats passed H.R. 4173, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. They promised the bill would lift the American economy. They promised an end to Wall Street bailouts. They promised to protect consumers. Seven years later, we know that these promises never came true.

Due to Dodd-Frank's excessive regulatory burden, big banks are getting bigger while small banks and credit unions are disappearing. There have only been six new bank charters since Dodd-Frank--a drastic decline from the 170 on average per year before the bill. In fact, 43 percent of banks with assets under $100 million have disappeared.

Large banks survive because they can afford armies of lawyers to understand Dodd-Frank regulations. In 2010, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein even suggested his bank would be among the biggest beneficiaries of Dodd-Frank. But for community banks with community budgets, the effects of the law have been devastating.

Dodd-Frank also failed to address the too-big-to-fail problem. Under the Dodd-Frank law, big banks are growing larger, and taxpayers are still responsible for bailing them out. Furthermore, Dodd-Frank has made access to banking and credit more difficult for average Americans. Since the passage of the bill, bank fees have increased and millions more Americans are now considered unbanked or underbanked.

Declining liquidity has limited access to credit for small businesses and the regulatory restrictions on mortgages have pushed homeownership out of reach for the middle class. Seventy-two percent of community banks say that the Dodd-Frank regulations restrict their ability to offer mortgage loans.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the price we must pay to be a hopeful and prosperous nation. That is why I am here supporting the Financial CHOICE Act. It repeals Dodd-Frank, replacing the harmful law with reasonable regulations that ensure consumer protection, job growth, economic growth, and strong community banks.

The Financial CHOICE Act ends the coddling of big banks. It implements historically tough penalties on financial fraud and insider trading. It ends taxpayer-funded bailouts and creates new bankruptcy laws designed for failing banks. It is time that Congress put Main Street ahead of Wall Street.

The Financial CHOICE Act also reins in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a government agency that has incredible power to regulate the financial industry but that has nearly no accountability. The judicial branch has actually declared its structure unconstitutional.

The CFPB is causing problems for consumers. They have a database for complaints from consumers, but it publishes consumer complaints before even checking if they are true. The CFPB also weighs in on financial regulations where Congress should instead be making these decisions, and the CFPB wasted over $200 million on lavish renovations of their office space in downtown Washington, D.C.

This legislation we are considering today will restructure the CFPB, restoring congressional oversight duties and moving the agency back under the regular legislative appropriations process. We will also be refocusing the CFPB on enforcing consumer protection laws, rather than making up their own laws that only hurt the average American consumer.

Perhaps most important to Coloradans, the Financial CHOICE Act creates economic growth and jobs by making credit easier to access for Main Street America. Thanks to the TAILOR Act, introduced by my friend and colleague from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), regulators will be able to craft custom regulations to reflect the specific business model of local banks.

This bill also creates jobs and economic growth by requiring more transparent policymaking at the Federal Reserve. We rein in stifling regulations on small, community banks, allowing them to compete against their larger counterparts. We increase consumer choice by ensuring Americans can access a bank and a credit card.

Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity today to transform our Nation's financial system. We have the opportunity to level the playing field between big and small banks. We have the opportunity to turn up the heat on financial fraud. We have the opportunity to return regulatory power from the hands of unelected bureaucrats to the people. We have the opportunity to roll back hurtful regulations.

We are here to restore hope and opportunity through the Financial CHOICE Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams), the vice chair of the Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), the chair of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I note for the record that the best way for a student to repay student loans is to have a strong economy and not the anemic recovery that we had from the last recession.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), the chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman.

I do.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), the chair of the Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry), the chief deputy whip of the Republican Conference.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), the vice chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time. The points have been made. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is not for the big banks. It is not for the bureaucrats and their swanky downtown office at CFPB. This legislation was crafted for the American people, the men and women who work hard every day to earn a living. These individuals want choice in the financial products they can buy. They want healthy community banks. They want lower taxes instead of Wall Street bailouts.

The Financial CHOICE Act was written over the past several years with these people in mind. We will restore hope and opportunity for them.

I thank Chairman Hensarling and the Financial Services Committee for their hard work on this bill. I thank Chairman Sessions for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on the resolution, and then to vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 352 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. This rule provides a structured process for debate. I want to highlight that this rule makes in order all amendments submitted to the Rules Committee, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Nearly 30 years ago, I held my son, Cody, for the first time. A couple of years later, I held my daughter, Kaitlin. I knew right then that these two children were the most important and cherished things in my life. They deserve the happiest childhood and the brightest future and the safest world.

I imagine anyone who holds their child for the first time has the same thought. Until you become a parent, it is hard to describe the love you have for your children.

Mr. Speaker, that someone would hurt a child simply perplexes me. Children are the most vulnerable, the most innocent in our society. They, most of all, don't deserve the trauma and pain that accompany abuse. They don't deserve to have their trust in adults or their trust in the world shattered at such a young age. They don't deserve the ghosts of suffering that accompany abuse victims for the rest of their lives.

Mr. Speaker, to commit a crime against children is to engage in the greatest of evils. It is to violate our moral order in the most egregious of ways. Our job in Congress is to debate and maintain that moral order. Thankfully, everyone in this Chamber can agree on the moral imperative to protect children.

Our job today is to uphold our values through well-crafted legislation. We are here today to pass laws that uphold our belief in the sanctity of innocence. We are here today for our children.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1973, the first bill in this rule resolution, strengthens the laws protecting child athletes. The bill requires coaches and adults involved with amateur sports organizations overseen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to report suspected child abuse to local and Federal authorities.

Unfortunately, reporting isn't always the standard under current law. Over the past 20 years, around 368 individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics faced sexual abuse by adults affiliated with the organization, according to The Indianapolis Star. Sadly, some of the victims never saw justice. Their allegations remained unresolved, sometimes because coaches moved from State to State to avoid investigation.

H.R. 1973 pulls additional adults into the mandatory reporting category, ensuring that those adults working with minors under the U.S. Olympic Committee's jurisdiction must report instances of child abuse to local and Federal authorities.

It further clarifies the sexual abuse reporting duties of national governing bodies, or NGBs. These organizations, supervised by the U.S. Olympic Committee, manage amateur athletic competitions.

We need to promote a culture of reporting sexual assault among youth athletes. That culture needs to overflow into all parts of our society.

We are not suggesting we toss out due process for the accused. The legislation at hand only requires the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse of children. Additionally, H.R. 1973 makes stronger the civil remedies that victims of sexual abuse may pursue.

Mr. Speaker, the other legislation under this rule, H.R. 1761, goes after those who create child pornography. Just to utter those words is unbearable, but our job in Congress is to stop the unbearable.

Under current law and due to the impact of the court ruling in United States v. Palomino-Coronado, perpetrators of child pornography can sometimes evade prosecution for child pornography under a loophole. Under the precedent set in the case, even if perpetrators memorialize the sexual abuse of a child through images and video, they do not necessarily possess the intent or purpose to sexually abuse children in order to take a picture. In other words, they didn't intend to violate title 18 of the U.S. Code, section 2251, which prohibits child pornography.

We need to close this loophole. If evildoers are sexually abusing our children and photographing or filming it, they should be going to prison for a long time. This loophole was carved out by the judicial branch. It is time for the legislative branch to step in and tighten the statutory language to prevent the exploitation of this loophole and to prevent the exploitation of our children.

The bills under consideration today serve two purposes. First and foremost, they provide a deterrent to criminals who would consider harming a child.

We can't preemptively stop everyone who plans to commit a crime against a child, which is why we must deter them with the threat of discovery, conviction, and jail time.

These bills very practically make the exploitation of a child harder to get away with. They commission more well-meaning adults to be on guard against the occurrence of sexual abuse. They allow victims to pursue even stronger civil penalties that will, hopefully, deter future criminals, and they strengthen the law itself to ensure that child pornographers face prosecution and appropriate punishment for their heinous crimes.

The second purpose achieved today is to send a message. These bills signal to all of America that our society is serious about protecting children and that we are serious about catching child predators.

H.R. 1973 specifically directs coaches and others to report sexual abuse. But these bills send a broader message: everyone in this Nation should join the fight against child exploitation.

We have too many examples of well-meaning adults remaining silent in the face of child abuse. This legislation is meant to push Americans to do what is right, even if it is not easy.

We are all the guardians of our Nation's youth. We all are responsible for their childhood. We are all proponents of their future. These are our children, our pride and joy. We must offer them the same vigilance and protection we offer our own children. The rule before us gives this House a chance to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important rule and the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today for the children.

In voting for the bill and the underlying bills, we are sending a message to the abuser of children: If you harm one of these little ones, you will be met with the full fury of the American justice system. You will be discovered and reported by your peers. You will face the threat of appropriately harsh demands. You will face the full force of the law if you visually depict child exploitation.

We are sending a message to the bystanders: You have a solemn duty to protect these children. You have a duty to be their hope and happiness and their future when you step in and stop abuse. You have a duty to report the heinous acts committed by monsters.

Lately, we don't have many moments in Washington where both political parties can come together and reach a consensus, but the legislation we are considering today provides the perfect opportunity.

These bills should not be controversial. They should draw the support of both sides, because protecting our children is a moral necessity for every American. That is, after all, the message these bills send.

I thank Representative Brooks and Representative Johnson for the hard work they have done on these bills, and I thank Chairman Goodlatte for shepherding these bills through the Judiciary Committee and spending so much time in committee working on legislation to protect our children.

Mr. Speaker, I urge members to vote ``yes'' on the resolution, vote ``yes'' on the underlying bills.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 323 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation.

As a former Federal and State prosecutor, I often hear how Americans value and respect our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders. We talk about their heroism, their selflessness, their willingness to protect and serve no matter the cost.

These fearless individuals truly are the fabric that holds our communities together. However, in recent years, a violent and disturbing trend has developed. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders are increasingly being targeted for violence and cruelty based solely on the uniform they wear.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, there were 64 police shooting deaths in 2016. That number is 56 percent higher than the previous year. The National Association of Police Organizations also notes that ambush-style killings of law enforcement officers increased by 167 percent in 2016.

Allowing this appalling trend to continue unchecked is not only unacceptable, it is indefensible. Congress must take concrete steps to address this deadly problem.

Current Federal law provides 16 aggravating factors that a jury must consider when deciding whether a death sentence is warranted. These factors include whether the defendant acted in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner; whether the defendant engaged in substantial planning and premeditation; whether the victim was

particularly vulnerable; whether the victim was a high public official, which includes high-ranking public persons, from the President to a foreign head of state, to a judge or a Federal law enforcement officer. However, State and local police officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and first responders are excluded from these protections.

In response, my friend, Mr. Buchanan, introduced H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act. This legislation amends Federal law to include murdering, attempting to murder, or targeting of State and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and first responders as an aggravating factor a jury must consider when determining whether a death sentence is justified. Furthermore, these protections extend to all public safety officers who are murdered or targeted while engaging in their official duties, because of the performance of their duties, or because of their status as a public official or employee.

This bill sends a clear message: Those who target our police officers, firefighters, or first responders with violence will be met with an equally harsh punishment.

We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of our fallen officers, but we must do more to protect these brave individuals. We can't stand idly by as the individuals who protect our homes and communities are targeted because of the uniform they wear. We must act to ensure those individuals who would commit an act of violence against our public safety officers know they will face the gravest of sentences if they go through with their heinous plot.

We must send the message that Congress stands with those fearless individuals who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, no matter the cost. We can't continue allowing them to suffer the price of our inaction. I support this effort and thank Chairman Goodlatte and the Committee on the Judiciary for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we are here because we are making sure that local police officers, sheriff's deputies, prosecutors, first responders, and firefighters have the same protections that those in the Federal system have.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Knight) to get this debate

back on track and to protect local law enforcement officials.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Brooks).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), a former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I include in the Record four letters which I will briefly describe:

The first is from the Major County Sheriffs of America, supporting the Thin Blue Line Act; the second is from the National Association of Police Organizations, Inc., again, supporting the Thin Blue Line Act; the third is from the National Fraternal Order of Police, supporting H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act; and then finally, from the Sergeants Benevolent Association in strong support of H.R. 115, the Thin Blue Line Act.

Major County Sheriffs

of America,

April 25, 2017.

Hon. Vern Buchanan,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Buchanan: I write to you today on a matter

of significant importance to the Major County Sheriffs of

America (MCSA) and all of America's law enforcement

professionals. MCSA is an association of elected Sheriffs

representing the Nation's largest counties with populations

of 500,000 or more. Collectively, we represent more than 100

million Americans.

As Vice President in charge of Government Affairs for the

MCSA, I am pleased to express our association's support of

your legislation, the Thin Blue Line Act. This legislation

would make the murder of law enforcement officers,

firefighters and other first responders an aggravating factor

in capital punishment determinations.

In 2016, one hundred forty-four officers died in the line

of duty and to date, line of duty deaths are up 10 percent.

The targeting of law enforcement officers is unconscionable

and those who commit such heinous acts should be prosecuted

to the fullest extent of the law. Law enforcement officers

and other first responders have the right to go home to their

families at the end of their shifts.

The Thin Blue Line Act is a step in the right direction and

your work on this legislation is sincerely appreciated. We

value your support and look forward to working with you in

the future.

Michael J. Bouchard,

Sheriff, Oakland County (MI),

Vice President--Government Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, the rule before the House today is simple. It provides for the consideration of the Thin Blue Line Act. We often talk of how resolute our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders are in the face of immense danger. These heroic individuals charge into burning buildings, face down violence, and stand ready to jump into the fray at a moment's notice.

Simply putting on a uniform should not be one of those dangers. It is our duty to ensure that law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders have every tool at their disposal to do their job safely and effectively and to ensure they return home to their families.

Countless spouses and children kiss their loved ones good-bye as they head to work, praying that it will not be their last day. We must never forget this as we work to ensure our police officers, firefighters, and first responders have every possible protection.

There is no greater deterrent than the threat of losing one's life. It is my hope that this legislation makes individuals who would consider taking the life of an officer stop to consider the consequences before going through with an attack; that we one day reach a point where our Nation's finest can go to work without worrying about being targeted because of the uniform on their back; that one day our officers' families have one less reason to worry.

But until that day, we must continue standing resolutely against this evil. I ask my colleagues in the House to support our law enforcement community, firefighters, and first responders. Protect them from the heinous acts of violence. Give their families some assurance that we have their backs. Vote ``yes'' on the resolution, vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill, vote ``yes'' to give our law enforcement officers the protections they so desperately need.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte and Chairman Sessions for bringing this bill before us.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aminah Al-Jaber for her hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office for the Spring of 2017.

The work of this young woman has been exemplary, and I know she has a bright future. She served as a tour guide, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing her build her career in public service.

Aminah plans to continue pursuing her degree at the end of this internship. I wish her the best as she pursues her career path. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Aminah Al-Jaber for her service the last several months to the people of Colorado's 4th district.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Adam Blanks for his hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office for the Spring of 2017.

The work of this young man has been exemplary, and I know he has a bright future. He served as a tour guide, interacted with constituents, and learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing him build his career in public service.

Adam plans to continue pursuing his degree at the end of this internship. I wish him the best as he pursues his career path. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Adam Blanks for his service the last several months to the people of Colorado's 4th district.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 242 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. H.R. 1219, the Supporting America's Innovators Act of 2017, will allow America's small businesses to thrive, creating jobs, developing incredible products and services, and growing our Nation's economy.

Starting a business, designing a product, developing a service, these projects often require upfront capital. For entrepreneurs and startups in this country, access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles they will face. Without it, they may not have the cash on hand for research and development, the funds to make payroll at the end of the month, or the raw material needed to start production.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1219 seeks to provide more sources of funding for our small businesses by raising the cap that requires a group of investors to register as an investment company. This change in the law is important. It allows angel funds, which are basically a pool of accredited investors, to permit up to 250 investors in one fund as opposed to the 100 permitted by current law.

As long as the fund does not exceed $10 million in capital commitments, it would be considered a qualified venture capital fund that is exempt from costly registration with the SEC.

Angel funds allow individuals who may not otherwise invest in startups to join together and direct their investment dollars to promising young companies. Without raising the cap on the size of these funds, we may be pushing potential investors out of the market.

Small businesses, in their earliest stages, often have nowhere to turn for credit. While banks have historically been a source of funds, in recent years, small business loans from banks have declined. That is where these groups of individual investors come in. In many cases, they are providing just enough cash to push businesses off the ground to the next level of funding; but by overregulating groups of angel investors, we are blocking significant sources of capital from ever reaching startups.

We need to wisely regulate in this country, and this legislation doesn't eliminate the need for larger investment funds to register with the SEC. It simply raises the cap for smaller groups of individuals to contribute a limited amount of funds to the American small business community. For businesses on the receiving end, these funds may be the difference between success and bankruptcy.

Thankfully, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act has already raised the cap requiring companies to register with the SEC from 500 investors to 2,000 investors. By allowing small companies

to seek more individual investors, these businesses can expand the number of individuals who have a stake in the company's future, the number of individuals who will ensure the venture succeeds.

H.R. 1219 is a natural complement to the JOBS Act, allowing those potential investors to more easily join their resources to efficiently and successfully invest in America's small businesses. In fact, the current limit on the number of investors who can join together, set by the Investment Company Act of 1940, is a relic from nearly 80 years ago. In the past 80 years, our financial market and our economy have drastically changed. The barriers to entry for small businesses in many industries are lower than ever.

Just yesterday, I spent time with Etash Kalra. Etash is a young man from my district who won the Congressional App Challenge. Already, in high school, he takes computer science classes and codes smartphone apps. He even started a club to teach others programming.

He and students like him have many of the skills needed to start a small business. They have the ability to create software programs that consumers want and need. They may start small, they may start in high school, but they hold great potential.

Many individual investors may see that potential. This bill allows those investors to make a down payment on the future of these young entrepreneurs. Without growing the sources and amount of capital available to these businesses, we will end up stifling the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that our country is known for.

Our Nation is successful because Americans are innovators and hard workers. Those Americans who start businesses embody this spirit. We are not here asking for the government to help these people succeed. No, these individuals are fully capable of building businesses on their own. But we are here asking the government to step out of the way so that our fellow citizens can help American small businesses succeed.

This rule and the underlying legislation should not be controversial. Last Congress, similar legislation passed the Financial Services Committee by a vote of 57-2. It then passed the House by a vote of 388- 9.

Yesterday, I came to the House floor and spoke about the importance of passing bipartisan bills. Many Americans see their Capital awash in partisanship and bickering. They suffer under poorly crafted policies, while politicians in D.C. fail to find consensus on legislation that would help. They wonder why politicians who talk about bipartisanship on the campaign trail can't come together in Washington to pass commonsense legislation.

The challenge before us is to find solutions to our Nation's problems that overlap the principles held by both parties. That is why this bill is refreshing. It stands as an exemplar of the sort of consensus-driven legislation that can earn America's trust.

Everyone can agree that innovative companies help the American economy grow and add to the quality of life in our Nation. Everyone recognizes how important access to capital is for small businesses.

This bill was reported out of the Financial Services Committee with overwhelming support. I ask now that the entire House support the rule and this underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have an inquiry for the Speaker, if I may. What is the title of this bill?

That is all right, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), my friend.

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of an old Western movie, ``The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,'' and a line in that movie: ``When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.''

It turns out, Mr. Speaker, that this bill was marked up without any amendments on March 9, 2017, in the Senate Banking Committee and was favorably reported unanimously and without any amendments offered. It was also marked up on March 9, 2017, in the Financial Services Committee and was reported out with a 54-2 vote.

There were no amendments offered on this particular legislation, Mr. Speaker, in the Rules Committee; and, as a matter of practice, it is considered a closed rule because there were no amendments offered. So the idea that somehow this legislation has been hidden and that we are engaging in some sort of subterfuge is not accurate.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from Massachusetts quoting me yesterday, and I would love to just emphasize a few of the words that he said a moment ago: I also shudder to think if Hillary Clinton won the Presidency.

My friend was kind enough to focus his half hour on H.R. 1219, Supporting America's Innovators Act of 2017. It is, in fact, a great piece of legislation, and I am proud to close now on that bill.

We have the opportunity today to improve access to capital for America's entrepreneurs and startups. The men and women who start companies in this Nation put everything on the line. They give of their time and their financial resources. They give of their weekends and evenings and vacations.

Our economy relies on the small businesses that these men and women create. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. They provide jobs and important products and services. They contribute to the life of their communities.

If we want to grow our economy, if we want to increase hiring, if we want to improve our quality of life, then we need to unleash America's entrepreneurs and startups. That is why we need to support this bill.

We must expand access to credit for small-business owners. We need to make it easier for angel investors to take a risk on young companies. We are not asking the American taxpayer to take a risk or spend any money on this. We are simply asking the Federal Government to allow angel investors to join together in larger groups to invest in promising young American companies.

I am encouraged that this bill represents a bipartisan effort to make small-business owners in this country more rewarding. When the cost of starting a small business is outweighed by the reward, our country will benefit from the resulting innovation and job creation. We simply need to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed, and one of those tools is access to capital.

America's entrepreneurs and startups need H.R. 1219. Americans who want to work for small businesses need H.R. 1219. Americans who want to buy great products, access incredible services, and visit amazing websites all need H.R. 1219.

I thank Chief Deputy Whip McHenry for introducing this important bill, and I thank Chairman Hensarling for bringing this legislation before us. I also thank Representative Velazquez, Representative Hollingsworth, Representative Sherman, and Representative Gottheimer for cosponsoring this legislation.

I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and vote ``yes'' on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.