Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the memory and sacrifice of the nineteen heroes who gave their lives thirteen years ago in Operation Red Wings.

On June 28, 2005, four members of Navy SEAL Team 10--Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, Marcus Luttrell, and Michael P. Murphy--were tasked with killing or capturing the high-ranking Taliban official, Ahmad Shah, in the Hindu-Kush Mountains of Afghanistan.

Shortly after encountering a small group of Afghani goat herders, hostile Taliban forces discovered the SEALs' presence and began converging on their position. An intense firefight ensued, in which three of the four SEALs tragically lost their lives.

Responding to the battle, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter and the 160th Special Operations Aviation's Regiment ``Nightstalkers'' were dispatched to rescue the team--only to be shot down by Taliban forces armed with an RPG. As a result, all sixteen men on board the Chinook-- Chris J. Scherkenbach, Corey J. Goodnature, Daniel R. Healy, Erik S. Kristensen, Jacques J. Fontan, James E. Suh, James W. Ponder III, Jeffery A. Lucas, Jeffrey S. Taylor, Kip A. Jacoby, Marcus V. Muralles, Michael L. Russell, Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., Shamus O. Goare, Shane E. Patton, Stephen C. Reich--were killed. The lone survivor of the mission, Marcus Luttrell, lives on to share the amazing story of the mission and the heroic actions that took place.

Tragically, nineteen brave heroes made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country during Operation Red Wings. They selflessly fulfilled their duty and defended our Nation in a time of war, and it is our responsibility to preserve the memory of their sacrifice. Their steadfast service, dedication to country, and the honorable sacrifices they made will never be forgotten. They stood where duty required them to stand, and we are forever grateful for their selflessness.

These men continue to inspire their friends, families, loved ones, and the millions of people around the world who hear the story of their heroic actions. I am privileged to recognize and honor the service of these American heroes who laid down their lives for our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and celebrate the rich, vibrant history and perseverant spirit of the people of the Tamina Community in the Eighth Congressional District of Texas.

Tamina's roots can be traced back to 1871, when scores of freed slaves came to work on the railroads. Under the guidance of educator R.B. Niles and businessman John Nilor, a community began to grow-- marking the beginning of what would someday be known as one of the oldest and most historic communities in Texas.

Acting as a hub for railroad workers and as a home to many of the earliest employees of Grogan's Mill, Tamina quickly grew into a community largely defined by its resilience, diversity, and resourcefulness. As the world around it changed, the Tamina community adapted and thrived, all while remaining true to its values and deep roots.

Today, Tamina's heritage represents a wealth of big dreams, shared values, and common goals. A portion of this heritage, including the tombs of freed slaves, Native Americans, and the community's original settlers, has been preserved in the Tamina Sweet Rest Cemetery for over a century. Unfortunately, the rains and flooding of Hurricane Harvey and years of drainage issues have jeopardized the future of this symbol of Tamina's history.

In the spirit of comradery and resolve, which this community has embodied for decades, the descendants of Tamina's founders and its community leaders have formed the Tamina Cemetery and Community Project CDC. This group is committed to raising awareness and the money needed to fully restore and preserve the cemetery so that current and future residents can remember their history and the legacies of their forefathers.

It is my honor to represent this remarkable community in Congress, and I am proud to recognize the residents and community leaders organizing in support of the Tamina Sweet Rest Cemetery. I know that I am joined by the entire Eighth Congressional District of Texas in recognizing their tireless efforts and thanking them for their continued dedication to preserving the rich heritage of the Tamina Community for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, I was unable to cast my vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 304 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 305.

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

Mr. Chair, the opioid crisis has impacted every community in America and robbed countless individuals of their potential.

A recent poll found that more than 4 out of 10 Americans who are young, in their 20s and 30s, personally know someone who has dealt with opioid addiction. It is a staggering number, and it shows that this crisis touches a huge part of our society.

All too often, we hear stories of loved ones exposed to opioids, and then quickly addicted, from routine surgeries that may not have required opioid treatment in the first place. This can be prevented. That is why I rise today in support of H.R. 6, known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

This bill, which incorporates legislation recently approved by the Ways and Means Committee, addresses this crisis by putting in place many commonsense measures to reduce the unnecessary prescription of opioids and also to help those who have become addicted.

One important policy within H.R. 6, which has been championed by Congressman Peter Roskam, who leads our Subcommittee on Health, will prevent abuse by making sure folks are not able to game the system by visiting multiple doctors' offices in order to receive an opioid. H.R. 6 ensures that patients have selected prescribers and selected pharmacies that will be best able to address their needs.

Another important measure expands access to more forms of really broad, holistic treatments for addiction through the use of medication- assisted treatment. Americans who are struggling with addiction must be able to find treatment that works for them.

While we still have a long way to go to solve this crisis, this bill, which is made up of many commonsense, Republican and Democrat proposals, takes meaningful strides to help millions of Americans recapture their lost hopes and dreams.

I thank Representatives Mike Bishop, Dave Reichert, Carlos Curbelo, Peter Roskam, Erik Paulsen, and Jackie Walorski for their leadership on this important issue. And I thank all of our committee members, Republicans and Democrats, for their hard work on this important legislation. I look forward to working with the Senate to ensure that we send this important bill to the President's desk.

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

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), the leader of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bishop), the leader of the STOP Act, which prevents illegal smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding).

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), a leader on the opioid crisis.

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

Mr. Chair, I agree with Mr. Neal. Republicans and Democrats have come together from the Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce to help millions of Americans through prevention of overprescribing, education for patients and prescribers, and access to treatment. This is a major step forward.

Mr. Chair, I urge Congress to pass this bill. I look forward to getting it to the President's desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life and service of Airman First Class Bradley G. Hale and recognize his unwavering dedication to his family, his community, and his country.

Bradley was born on April 23, 1997, to Rodney and Charla Hale of Houston, Texas. Along with his sister and two brothers, Bradley grew up in Montgomery, Texas, where as a boy he loved to be outside and play baseball. As a young man, Bradley participated in a number of community service projects and was a member of various student organizations, including the Montgomery High School honor band.

Born to a distinguished family of veterans and servicemen, Bradley dreamed of following in their footsteps and serving his country by joining the Armed Forces. In particular, Bradley dreamed of flying, so much so that his friends told him he should go work for NASA. In pursuit of his dream, in March of 2016, Bradley enlisted in the United States Air Force.

From the start, it was clear that Bradley would excel in the military. During his enlistment, Bradley achieved a perfect score on his Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery. After completing basic training, Bradley was assigned to the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, where he served as an Electronic Warfare Journeyman at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for one year.

Friendly and caring, Bradley endeavored to use his talents to serve others. From his time at Montgomery High School to his service in the Air Force, Bradley always put others before himself. Bradley's father, Rodney said that ``Bradley was always friendly, had never been in a fight, he was very respectful, and would give the shirt off his back if you asked.'' His deep love for his family and his country were clearly shown as he used his talents to positively impact the lives of those with whom he served.

On March 27, Bradley lost his life while deployed on the island of Guam in support of operations in Koreas. On April 10, 2018, he was laid to rest at the Houston National Cemetery.

Bradley leaves behind his parents, Rodney and Amanda Hale, and Charla Hale and Gary Martin; his siblings, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Hale, Shane Hale, and Erika Hale; his grandparents, Ronny and Kathy Hale, Mark and Rhonda Andricks, Bill and Bobbie Mercer, Billy and Clara Bland, Eugene Hamann, Lorna Hagen, and Wanda Martin; and his great grandfathers, Lester Bourgeois and Alvin Hamann.

While we mourn with Bradley's family, we also celebrate with them his life, service, and legacy. I am proud to join his family, his friends, and the entire Eighth District of Texas in honoring his life and steadfast devotion and service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of World Blood Donor Day and to celebrate and thank the 7 million Americans who choose to donate blood each year.

Generosity saved the life of my dear friend and roommate, Congressman Steve Scalise, after a shooter attacked our fellow colleagues and teammates on the ball field during an early morning baseball practice a year ago.

Blood can't be manufactured, so our entire national supply depends on the selfless generosity of our blood donors. Because donated blood is perishable, it has a limited shelf life and has to be continually replenished.

Volunteer blood donations ensure that patients in need always have access to the lifesaving gift of blood. In the summer, we see a big drop in donations exactly at the time when people are out and about and need it the most.

I encourage my colleagues to visit their local blood center and help promote awareness. Be there for someone else. Give blood and share life.

Mr. Speaker, there aren't many today who haven't been touched by the opioid crisis in America. This swift and devastating epidemic has hit every community in America and robbed countless individuals of their hopes and ambitions.

Addiction is devastating to witness and, in some cases, it only takes 5 days for someone's son, daughter, or parent to become addicted. The sad truth is that, all too often, many become addicted after taking an opioid for a legitimate reason. This is an epidemic that has torn apart families and left in its path of destruction a generation of children without parents and parents faced with burying their kids.

We have also seen more and more news stories of law enforcement agents having near-fatal encounters with just trace amounts of these synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In one case, a small fleck almost killed a police officer in Ohio. This is a frightening reminder of how dangerous these substances truly are.

The loss of so many Americans due to opioid addiction is unfathomable. In 2016 alone, more Americans died due to opioid overdoses than were lost over the entire Vietnam war.

The scale of the crisis is immense. The loss of potential for so many is hard to comprehend, but House Republicans and Democrats are coming together in fighting with every tool in our arsenal to combat the opioid crisis.

That is why today I rise in strong support of H.R. 5788, known as the STOP Act. This bipartisan bill addresses a serious problem that has helped fuel the opioid epidemic: cheap and illegal synthetic opioids shipped from

foreign nations through the international mail. From our speakers today you have learned about the proven techniques to stop this drug smuggling.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the leaders who brought this solution to the floor. I thank Congressman Bishop of Michigan, the author of this bill, for his leadership; as well as Ranking Member Pascrell of New Jersey; chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, David Reichert of Washington; Congressman John Faso of New York; and Senator Portman from Ohio for their diligent work to deliver a hard-hitting solution to this very serious problem.

I am confident that this bill, shaped by Republicans and Democrats working together, will make a difference in the opioid crisis and help protect many Americans. By passing this bill, we can take meaningful action to help stop the flow of the illegal smuggling of opioids into this Nation.

I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict, I was unable to cast my votes on time.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 253, ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 254, ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 255, ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 256, and ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 257.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the service of my personal hero, my brother, Command Sergeant Major Matthew Thomas Brady.

Over thirty-five years ago, Matt began his military career when he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard. After completing his basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey, Matt continued to expand his skill set with Combat Engineer Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Combat Medic Training at Fort Sam Houston in the great state of Texas.

While serving in the National Guard, Matt earned his Bachelor's Degree, and upon his graduation, he began his active-duty military service in the U.S. Army. Always willing to go where there was a need, Matt's service has taken him across the United States and around the world, from postings in Colorado and Alaska to South Korea and Germany. Matt has served with valor and distinction in multiple conflicts, including Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Matt's distinguished service has not gone unrecognized. He has earned countless awards and honors, including the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal with two Bronze Stars, and many others.

Our mother, Nancy, inspired us to have faith, always be optimistic, and to give back. Matt turned this advice into a creed that he followed throughout his storied military career. From his time as a medic to his current role as Command Sergeant Major of the Regional Health Command-- Atlantic, Matt has spent most of his career managing healthcare systems to care for our wounded warriors and treat our active duty service members.

After thirty-six years of military service, Matt will begin his hard- earned and well-deserved retirement on September 30, 2018. My brother represents the best of what this country has to offer. Matt; his wife, Christina; and their tWo children, Matthew and Caitlin, have given so much over the years, and I could not be prouder to pay tribute to my little brother--my hero--and honor his decades of selfless, dedicated service to our family and our country.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained to cast my votes on time. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 235 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize and thank Dr. Don Stockton for his tireless service and unwavering commitment to the students and employees of the Conroe Independent School District.

A graduate of both Purdue University and Texas A&M University, Don Stockton began his career in education as a math teacher in Lafayette, Indiana, but just two years later, Don found his way to Conroe lSD, where he continued to teach math and coach at Conroe High School and Travis Junior High School.

Over the course of seventeen years, Don served throughout Conroe lSD: working as the Assistant Principal at Oak Ridge High School, the Assistant Principal and Principal of McCullough Junior High, the Assistant Principal and Principal of Knox Junior High, the Principal of The Woodlands High School, and

the Interim and Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

In 2003, Don was appointed Conroe ISD's Superintendent of Schools--a posting he has held for fifteen years. Under his leadership, Conroe ISD has reached new levels of success and earned countless performance and achievement awards--becoming the largest school district to ever be named Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency and one of only three school districts with the highest academic achievement rating eight years in a row.

Throughout his time in Montgomery County and the Greater Houston Area, Don has used his talents to serve his community in both Conroe ISD and a wide variety of educational and civic organizations. These tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dan's hard work and passion for service have earned him the title of Superintendent of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and many other community and public service awards.

Don dedicated his career to making a difference in his community that reached far beyond the classroom, and thousands of students, families, educators, and staff have been changed for the better due to his efforts.

I am proud to join his wife, Kara; his daughter, Brooke; his friends; and his colleagues in thanking Don for his career of service and wishing him the best as he begins his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Michael K. Baker, the Chief Clerk of the Committee on Ways and Means Committee, who recently left the Committee staff after seven years of dedicated service.

Michael began his Congressional career as an intern under then Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp. Michael shortly joined the Ways and Means Committee staff and served as Clerk over the past seven years under Chairman Camp, Chairman Paul Ryan, and myself.

During his time with the Committee, Michael has overseen too many hearings to count and markups involving transformational tax, trade, and health care legislation. But at the end of markups that often stretched long into the night, after the crowds had gone home, you could find Michael back at his desk faithfully entering votes and statements into the record. His dedication to the legislative process and commitment to serving the American people is an essential part of the Committee's work. We simply could not have done all we have been able to achieve in recent years without his dedication and hard work.

Some markups, especially those stretching late into the night and involving dozens of amendment votes, would be particularly challenging for someone in Michael's position. But he was always undeterred. At those moments he would turn to those close to him to remind them--with a half-serious, half-joking smile--``We do not have to do this. We get to do this.'' I truly believe the lives of all Americans are better because of Michael's service at the Committee.

I know I speak for all Members and staff of the Committee on Ways and Means when I

say we greatly appreciate all of Michael's dedicated effort. We thank Michael for a job well done and we wish him every success in his bright future.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of the Nucor Corporation's Vulcraft Steel Plant in Grapeland, Texas.

In 1946, a small steel fabrication company, the Vulcraft Corporation, was founded in Florence, South Carolina. For sixteen years, the company grew and prospered, ultimately transforming into an exclusive manufacturer of steel span joints, before the Nuclear Corporation, a company tracing its roots to the founder of Oldsmobile, purchased its facilities in 1962.

After expanding its steel manufacturing operations to facilities in Nebraska and Alabama, Nucor, previously known as the Nuclear Corporation, made its move to the Lone Star State on April 1, 1968, when it opened a fourth steel plant in Grapeland, Texas.

With this foundation, Vulcraft's operations expanded to three additional states and two production facilities in Canada. Despite experiencing such massive growth and success in business, Vulcraft maintained its high levels of customer satisfaction and standards of excellence. In fact, Vulcraft is known worldwide for exceptional safety standards, high-quality steel products it manufactures, and the commitment it has made to producing environmentally friendly products.

Look no further than Vulcraft's Grapeland facility for proof that the company is dedicated to serving its customers and its employees. Since its foundation in 1968, Vulcraft Grapeland has tripled in size, and it continues to serve as a beacon of success and excellence in our community.

Notably, Vulcraft and its parent company, Nucor, are now looking to use their years of experience, successful business practices, and high standing in the steel industry to advocate for free trade policies and the safety of men and women in the workplace.

On April 1, 2018, Vulcraft celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its plant in Grapeland. I am proud to join the men and woman of Vulcraft, and the entire Eighth District of Texas to recognize this significant mile-marker and their continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Culberson not just for his leadership of this special tribute to Barbara Bush, but for keeping the legacy of President Bush and the Bush family alive in the eastern region in the district that he represented.

Mr. Culberson has now worked his way up into such a key position for our region, our State, and our country, advancing space in such a major way for the world, in my view, and then leading the effort for Hurricane Harvey relief, a record $146 billion for Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Irma, and some of the wildfires in California, all of which are the largest amount of disaster recovery and really the first prevention funds to help rebuild the levees and the dams, and all that can prevent these floods. I thank the gentleman for his leadership in that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Barbara Bush. Our country mourns the loss of a truly incomparable First Lady.

For many of us, Barbara Pierce Bush is the original ``thousand points of light'' by her urging, her applauding, and, at times, insisting that we should all live up to higher standards when it comes to family, honor, and duty.

Barbara Bush deserves to be honored because of her dedication to making our world a better place, specifically, through her work as an advocate for adult and child literacy. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the leading advocate for family literacy in America, will continue her great work to give children and parents the skills they need for a brighter future.

I had the honor of representing Texas A&M at College Station when the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library was dedicated. It is a remarkable library in so many ways, as is President Bush and the First Lady.

But it was, to me, remarkable how much time and access the President and Barbara Bush gave to the young people of College Station and the region, bringing in leaders from around the country and the world; having deep discussions about freedom, about faith, about family, about leadership and service, all the things that made the Bush family so special.

One time, early on a Saturday morning, I was driving up to College Station to interview our applicants for West Point and the Naval Academy and the Air Force and Merchant Marine. We were doing it at the Corps of Cadets Center at Texas A&M. It was really early on a Saturday morning.

So we were on 290, and I am not really paying attention. I look up and I see this bluish green car just up ahead of me, and I notice the license plate says: ``Read 1.'' I thought, Read 1; that is amazing.

So as we drive past her--I may have been pushing the speed limit a bit--I noticed that famous white hair, and it was Mrs. Bush driving up to the library on a Saturday morning for some work or the other, probably focused on family literacy.

The Bush family is simply adored in Texas, and especially in the Houston region, for so many reasons.

I had a chance, as Congressman Culberson talked about, to be able to follow on the Ways and Means Committee, the seat that President Bush once held, that Chairman Archer once held, and now that I have the privilege to hold. So I always feel like I have a duty to uphold his standards, his legacy, his commitment to honor and duty on our committee as well.

When I won the seat on the Ways and Means Committee, President Bush reached out to say: Congratulations. Come down and visit.

Then, when I was fortunate enough to succeed now Speaker Paul Ryan to chair the committee, his office called again and said: Come down. The President wants to visit about Ways and Means issues.

So I got a chance to visit with Mrs. Bush and the President, my good friend Chase Untermeyer, and others. We talked about tax reform and trade issues and Social Security and Medicare. Mrs. Bush was in the thick of things in those discussions, and that is my last memory of being able to visit with her in person.

Anyone who didn't leave a conversation with her better than when you started probably wasn't paying attention to the conversation.

So we are blessed. It is a remarkable legacy she leaves for her family, for Texas, for the United States and, really, for the whole world. So, surely, Heaven rejoiced as Mrs. Bush joined her Saviour, pearls and all.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for blessing us with such a remarkable woman with a remarkable life and a remarkable family.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a resolution honoring the life of First Lady Barbara Bush.

Resolution

Honoring the life of First Lady Barbara Bush

Whereas Barbara Pierce was born on June 8, 1925, in New

York City;

Whereas Barbara Pierce became engaged to George Herbert

Walker Bush and, while awaiting his return from combat during

World War II, supported the war effort by working at a nuts

and bolts factory in Port Chester, New York;

Whereas Barbara Bush was married to President George H.W.

Bush for 73 years, and together they had 2 daughters, 4 sons,

17 grandchildren, and 8 great-grand-children;

Whereas as Second Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush

became a passionate champion for family literacy and

published ``C. Fred's Story: A Dog's Life'', which raised

$100,000 for Literacy Volunteers of America and Laubach

Literacy Action;

Whereas, in January of 1983, Barbara Bush joined the board

of the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and

worked with Dr. Louis Sullivan to help raise $10 million for

the school's first capital campaign;

Whereas First Lady Barbara Bush founded the Barbara Bush

Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989, and over the course

of 30 years raised more than $110 million to support family

literacy programs in every State across America;

Whereas while serving as First Lady, Barbara Bush visited

facilities for AIDS victims and held infected babies and

hugged adults, and in so doing, helped erase the stigma of

that disease;

Whereas, in 1991, Barbara Bush and other advocates worked

for the passage of the National Literacy Act of 1991, which

created the National Institute for Literacy and permitted the

use of libraries and other municipal property as evening

literacy centers for adults;

Whereas after leaving the White House, Barbara Bush

continued to support a broad range of important organizations

and causes, including AmeriCares, the Mayo Clinic Foundation,

the Leukemia Society of America, the Ronald McDonald House,

and the Boys & Girls Club of America;

Whereas three primary schools and two middle schools in

Texas have been named for Barbara Bush, along with an

elementary school in Mesa, Arizona, the Barbara Bush Library

in Harris County, Texas, and the Barbara Bush Children's

Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine;

Whereas Barbara Bush shares the rare distinction with

Abigail Adams of being both a wife to, and mother of, a

President of the United States, and is also the mother of a

Governor of Florida and a Governor of Texas; and

Whereas Barbara Bush was a truly great American, First and

Second Lady of the United States, literacy advocate, author,

mother, and ``Ganny'': Now, therefore, be it:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) extends its sympathies to the family of Barbara Bush;

and

(2) honors the life of First Lady Barbara Bush and her

contribution to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a good friend, a trusted policy adviser and by every measure, one of the very best to ever serve the Ways and Means Committee and the House, Mr. David Stewart.

David began his Congressional journey in 2000 when he came to intern for Ways and Means Committee Member Congressman Phil English. Over his career as a staffer, David became a trusted voice on policy for Speaker John Boehner, Speaker Paul Ryan, and two and a half years ago to me when he joined the Ways and Means Committee as staff director.

This past year, with David's steady leadership, and immutable resolve we were able to pass the first tax reform in a generation that's boosted our economy and helped so many families.

David's focus has always been on making lives better for all Americans, and I stand here today to tell him job well done. David is a selfless public servant, who has sacrificed time away from his family-- his wife Betsy and his daughters Grace and Poppy and has served his nation well.

To say David works hard is an understatement. Once when he was asked how many hours he works per week, David replied simply with ``a lot.'' This also shows David's witty and wry sense of humor that has always made busy days brighter.

His dedication to mastering intricate policy is unmatched. I know I speak for all Members and staff when I say: Thank you, David for your service to the House and to the Committee on Ways and Means. He is going to be greatly missed around here.