Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today.

In addition, the House will consider H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act, sponsored by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. This bill will continue our efforts to improve America's energy infrastructure by streamlining the FERC licensing process for hydropower projects.

The House will also consider two good jobs bills: first, H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act, sponsored by Representative Bradley Byrne. This bipartisan legislation will ensure small businesses and franchises across America receive fair government treatment rather than confusing regulations that harm workers.

Second, the House will consider H.R. 2201, the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act, sponsored by Representative Tom Emmer. As part of our Innovation Initiative, this bill creates a smarter way for entrepreneurs to start new ventures or grow existing businesses.

Now, lastly, Mr. Speaker, additional legislative items are possible in the House. If anything is added to our schedule, I will be sure to inform my friend and all Members.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I am excited about his question, because I am excited about this bill.

For more than three decades, we have waited for tax reform. Many people know the challenge of what they have with the government taking more than they should, and the challenge to see individuals raise their paychecks.

Ways and Means has announced that they will start markups next week. I assume that it will take them probably a week to get through the entire bill, going through regular order as we do, and then I would assume that we would bring that to the floor right after. We would like to get this to the American people as soon as possible.

I am willing to talk about the bill, I am willing to talk about the bill in any different manner, because we spent a lot of time working on this.

The very first thing that is going to happen for the American public, come January 1, they are going to get more in their paycheck, because what we do, we take the standard deduction, because in the current law today, a single individual in America, it is only the first $6,000 they have are tax free. Well, that is going to go to 12. For a couple, it is going to go to 24.

We take seven confusing rates and make it four. It is about cutting them. Every rate is lowered except the highest rate.

Then we go and look at: How can we make America competitive? I started my first business when I was 20 years old. Small business is the backbone of this country. Small businesses work harder than almost anybody else. We lower their rate to 25. That is the lowest it has been in 40 years.

Then all this money that is being pushed overseas that we tax too high so people won't bring it back--and there are trillions of dollars there--we are going to have that money come back. And what are they going to do? They are going to invest in America.

Now, the name of our bill is Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Just yesterday, I was with a company, Broadcom. We went into the Oval Office. I had worked with this company for quite some time. They started in America. Bell Labs was part of it, and others. Three companies got together. They are technology; they were building; they were growing. Then what they found was, America's Tax Code was so burdensome on them, that for them to compete around the world, they became a company that domiciled in Singapore.

Talking to them just the last month or so, laying out our tax bill, they said: You know what, we are so confident in you passing this, we are going to announce that we are moving back to America.

They have $20 billion a year in revenue. They invest $9 billion every year in R&D and manufacturing, those manufacturing jobs we care so much about.

So yesterday, we were sitting in the Oval Office, and this is exactly what the CEO said. You know what he talked about? He grew up in Singapore. He said: When I turned 18, the greatest engineering school in America gave me an opportunity, MIT, but my parents did not have wealth, but they gave me a scholarship.

He comes to America, gets his education, becomes an American, builds a company. He said it broke his heart he had to leave. He wants to give back to this country that has been so good to him, and he said this tax bill is actually doing it.

So we are creating jobs even before we pass it.

So I am very excited, but, if I may, I wanted to do a little research for you. So we have taken all the IRS tax information, and I broke it down in spreadsheets. So any district that wants to know about it, please come see me, and I will walk you through it.

So I take your district, Maryland's Fifth, currently, 47 percent of your filers in Maryland's Fifth take the standard deduction. They will be better off, because it doubles right off the bat. Another 11 percent of those who itemize their deductions won't have to do that anymore. Instead of spending weeks on their taxes, they will put it on a postcard in minutes. So they are going to get a higher deduction; they are going to get more money. That means even before lowering of the rates, 58 percent of your district is better off from day one.

Now, in addition, we repeal the alternative minimum tax, that AMT. So that costs 13,000 of your constituents in your district an average of $3,750. That is wiped away.

As we lower all the brackets, we will create a great deal of savings for everybody else. So I am excited about this.

I would love to look forward to working with you on it, because just as we just passed the CHIP bill bipartisan and the IPAB with more than 70 Democrats on that, I think this has been a very good week for America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I think this is an excellent question.

So, first of all, you are asking about hearings. I caught you yesterday; I caught you on TV yesterday. You were pretty good. You were asked about hearings. This is what you said: A hearing is when you ask the public to come in and say: What do you think? What are your suggestions? How will this impact you?

Since taking the majority--you know what anniversary it is this week? When we rolled this bill out, it was the seventh anniversary of the Republicans winning on that election day for the majority. This is what we campaigned on.

Now, we have been working quite some time. Dave Camp has retired, but when he was with Ways and Means, he put out a Camp proposal. We have been having numerous hearings in those Congresses and this Congress. It took us to win the White House, it took us to win the Senate, but, you know what, we have kept our promise.

Let me walk you through the rest of what we have done. Since taking the majority, we have held at least 59 hearings on tax reform with witnesses from all sides on everything from simplification, to closing those loopholes that we have talked so much about together, to creating jobs, to accelerating economic growth. That is not to mention the countless town halls and the forums of Members who have held them in their districts all across.

Now, if we need further witnesses on the burden of our Tax Code, look no further than just me. As I told you, I was 20 when I started that first business. You know the three lessons I learned in my first business? I was the first one to work, I was the last one to leave, and I was the last one to be paid.

I remember investing all that I had. It was just a deli. I had six employees. It was early in the morning, the front was all glass, and here pulled up a little truck from the city, and they were knocking on the door 2 hours before I started. I thought maybe they wanted to give me a key to the city for starting a new business. He wanted to give me a ticket for my sign. I thought that was a little odd, because the sign was bringing more people in that paid more sales tax that paid their salary.

I learned the challenges of starting a small business.

What is so great about this bill is there are going to be so many more Americans who are going to take that risk, start a small business, and be successful, with so many more Americans working.

So I am excited about this, because that is what we have been hearing in our hearings--all those hearings we had, all those town halls, all those years we fought so hard to get to this point.

Mr. Speaker, I think this has been a good week.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the first lesson, if you ever take debate, if you cannot win the argument on the substance of the bill, argue about process; go to process.

But you know what? This is not the beginning of the process. This is the end of the process. For 31 years, we have been working to get here. We had hearings upon hearings. We have gone to the American people. We went to the American people 7 years ago this week, and they made a very big decision: to change the direction.

We went back in 2014, and they made another big decision, and they made one just a short time ago.

I heard you talk about a lot of Presidents, but I think you missed one. Really, this bill is about growth in this country, about job creation, about raising somebody's paycheck.

The history of America, from the beginning of time until 2006, we always averaged more than 3 percent growth. If you just take the last 8 years, if you take the very best year under Barack Obama--and I will go apples to apples. Let's take Bill Clinton. The growth year under Bill Clinton's worst year is higher than Barack Obama's best year. That is why the middle class is hurting. That is why this tax cut helps the middle class.

What is most interesting, you want to talk about debt? You talked about a lot of Presidents. You can add up all those Presidents, and you know what? Just one President, Barack Obama, added all that money and more to the debt.

What is more interesting to me, if my friend is concerned about the deficit, I want to ask you this: Why did you vote for a budget that increases the deficit by $6.8 trillion over 10 years? Why would you do that this year? Why would you, as a party, bring that forward as your plan.

Do you know what we are bringing forward? We are going right through the rules. We have gone all through the hearings. We know, even before this bill passes, just as yesterday, that the companies are coming back to America; $20 billion a year in revenue, one company has already announced. They are going to put $3 billion every year into research and development and $6 billion into manufacturing.

I think the debate on process is over. This bill is less than 500 pages.

You talk about us bringing it up? Yes, so the whole American public can see the bill and read it. It is much different than when we talk about your ACA--more than 2,000 pages, and I was here. I watched what was brought right to the floor and jammed through. And you are right; the ACA doesn't work.

We believed in doing something different. We made a promise to the American public--3 days for public viewing. It is longer than 3 days.

We made a promise to the American public that we would make sure you keep more of what you earn, we would create more jobs. You know what happened after that last election? We just went through the second quarter of 3 percent growth.

You and I just talked about the number of hurricanes we just watched, the devastation. People say it probably knocked off 1 percent of growth. You know what the Atlanta Fed just came out with? They are predicting, they think we are going to go to 4\1/2\.

Do you know what? The best days of America are in front of us because of the work we have done. Let's not argue about process, because we know we have been through this process for 31 years. We know what the American public has said. We know in the hearings what they have told us, and we have listened. Now I think is the time to have the courage to lead. Let's take what we heard in those committees and put it into a bill, exactly what we just did.

To have the returns before the bill is even passed of jobs coming back, to me, like I said earlier, this is a good week, but this is going to be a great month.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, because you did ask a question in there.

When you talked about Bill Clinton, you asked: What did he have?

Well, when he first came in, he had Democrats in the majority, but all that growth happened because he won a Republican House and a Republican Senate. That is when we turned it around with John Kasich as the budget chair. That is when we balanced the budget in those 4 years.

We had to send him welfare reform how many times?

Three times. He vetoed it all the other times and claimed some glory.

But also there is another question you asked. I love a good debate. I love to pick just facts when you don't want to look at the whole picture. The best thing to even just look at if you want to go: Did the election matter? Did the election matter to the American public?

Well, I heard a lot of pundits on the other side say: Oh my God, if President Trump got elected, the market is going to crash.

You know what? Most everyone in America that invests for retirement invests in the market, and President Donald Trump has given them all a raise because we set new records, more than 60 times; that is because of the belief of what they think he could achieve.

When you look at what he has been able to do with regulation, unbelievable.

The few headlines you didn't announce during Obama, when you were doing those jobs, you didn't say anything about Nabisco leaving the country, or Burger King went and domiciled someplace else. Why?

What was the answer that President Obama would have when companies were leaving America because the taxes were too high? We will pass a law to say they can't.

You know the difference that election has made?

We just proposed a tax bill. Companies are now coming to the Oval Office to say: We are coming back. And all that means is more jobs, more money for Americans.

I understand that we are going to probably have a philosophical difference of agreement. I believe Americans should keep more of what they earn. I know what you said a few weeks ago. My friend cast his vote in favor of a budget that calls for ``$3.9 trillion in revenue enhancements.''

You know who I think needs the revenue?

The American public. That is why we doubled the standard deduction, and that is for every American. On day 1 they will get more in their check.

Small businesses, lowest tax in 40 years. All that money that those companies were being pushed out are going to come back.

We can argue all you want about this, but for 31 years we have had this argument. I think the American public is waiting for us to lead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I have great respect for the gentleman.

It is true, we just recently traveled to look at the hurricanes and we had a lot of discussions. We disagree philosophically at times, but I think there is a place that we can find agreement upon.

I listen to you when you speak. I did just hear you ask right before: ``Why couldn't you do it when you controlled everything?''

I kind of ask my friend the same thing. When you controlled everything, the White House, the House, and the Senate, you had a self- proclaimed master legislator as Speaker. You had an opportunity.

But I know this is the window, and I know President Trump wants to get it done. That is why he put out things that he wants to see done as well. We talked about chain migration. We talked about border security.

We have been meeting--the Speaker and I just had a meeting yesterday with a number of Members about this. We would like to solve this problem overall, and I think it is a place everybody can work together, to secure our border, work on the chain migration problem, and solve this problem for others.

Now, I know there is a 6-month time period here, and I don't want to confuse issues because I would like to focus on this issue as well, but I don't want to have the government shutting down over an issue. You and I know we both discussed things like that, and I never think that is productive with whatever we do; but I look forward to continuing working with you to solve this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, November 6, 2017, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow.

In addition, the House will consider H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests

Act sponsored by Representative Bruce Westerman.

We have all seen the devastating effects of wildfires, especially this year. Unfortunately, the U.S. Forest Service estimates there are still nearly 58 million acres of forest at high or very high risk of wildfire. The bipartisan legislation builds on our recovery efforts by giving the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management the tools necessary to better manage our public lands.

The House will also consider H.R. 849, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act, sponsored by Representative Phil Roe. Supported by both Republicans and Democrats, this bill repeals ObamaCare's Independent Payment Advisory Board--or, as most know it as, IPAB--and gives patients more control over their healthcare and not Washington.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider legislation to extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and other important public health priorities. Now, this was marked up earlier this month by the Energy and Commerce Committee. This package will help low-income children get health coverage, continue funding important health priorities like community health centers, and do so in a fiscally responsible manner.

I look forward to the House passing these commonsense bills next week without delay.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

First, let me set the record straight. Yes, it did come out of committee, and, yes, we did hold it up three times because your side of the aisle asked us to. But the reason why we are bringing it up next week is not because next week was the date we wanted. We wanted to get this done long ago. But the reason why we are doing it next week is because Minnesota is about to run out of money. And my dear friend knows because I sat with him, even this week, trying to work something out.

Now, we know of these health centers, and in this bill we doubled the money for them. Of course, this bill is offset. We do it in a fiscally responsible manner. But this is not something to play political games with because some leadership Member wants to hold it up and go into December. We believe committees should be able to do their work.

Now, we started out, and Committee Chair Greg Walden, three times, was asked to delay by the ranking Democrat of the committee, even though we know the timeline is about to hit a number of States that cannot wait for a lack of action here.

So, yes, I am upset by this, but I am more upset about the number of times we sat down to try to work something out. And it was only yesterday I was told, Democrats said, no, they don't want to do anything, so we should just go forward. That is not the way this place should work.

If you look at this bill, I believe, if the committee had the freedom on the other side without the leadership telling them they had to vote ``no,'' it would have come out of the committee with a much different vote.

Will the gentleman yield?

Right before your question, you said you had concerns with the offsets. The gentleman knows that I reached out to him, I don't know how many months ago, before a break, numerous times, right over on the floor on his side of the aisle, and I said: I am very concerned with what I am hearing on the Democratic side in the committee; I would like to get CHIP done early. And I asked for your assistance, and you helped.

There is one higher position on your side of the aisle who called the Speaker numerous times and pretty much shut down your committee. So three times we were asked to delay, and we did.

That is why, this week, I went back to all of you and said: Let's work out if you have a difference of opinion in pay-fors.

It was not us who walked away from the table. It was the message I was delivered from the other side of the aisle.

So I don't know why we are having this discussion. I don't know why you are asking these questions. It is you and your side of the aisle that have said no. It is us who said: Let's sit down and work this out.

But let me walk through a few of the pay-fors so you understand them and so the American public can understand them, because I don't think they are controversial.

We require health insurance companies to pay claims when they cover Medicaid enrollees while keeping Medicaid as the payor of last resort. Now, that saves $4 billion.

We say that individuals can't skip on their premium for 90 days and get free coverage. That saves $5 billion.

We say if somebody wins a high-dollar lottery, those winners should not be eligible for Medicaid.

Now, your side of the aisle voted against that in committee. So the argument that you are making that it is not bipartisan is true. Your side of the aisle believes that if someone wins millions of dollars in the lottery, they should still be eligible for Medicaid.

That will save $600 million that will actually go to the disabled, those who need this.

And what is more important, these States should not have to wait. These States should not be put in this position. Colorado has just announced that it will freeze enrollment. It will freeze enrollment because you guys walked away from the table. It will freeze enrollment because you say high-dollar millionaire lottery winners should still stay on Medicaid.

I don't think that is where the American public believes this debate should go. I believe that is common sense. I believe that is an area that we can get to. Let's care for the individuals, and let's stop playing politics with this. I am personally stunned you are even asking about this because you know what has gone on.

Nobody did on your side of the aisle in the committee. They all voted against that.

If the gentleman's question is if IPAB is offset, it doesn't need to be.

No, and it doesn't need to be.

I appreciate the roundabout way of trying to get around why you are not involved in the CHIP program, but let me explain very easily.

I look forward to that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

CHIP is in effect; IPAB is not. It hasn't even created a board yet. So what you are saying to me is let's offset something that hasn't even been created.

What I am saying is the last time we had this bill on the floor, it was bipartisan votes. Democrats voted for it as well; 43 cosponsors on your side of the aisle.

So I don't think this question is just to me; it is probably for the whole body. But I think the reason the majority of the body wants to get rid of it is it hasn't even been created, and the majority of the people think it is a bad idea. So let's get rid of it now.

And do you know what? CHIP is already in effect. What is even worse on this process is it is in effect, but now people are freezing enrollments.

So, if your argument why Democrats can't help us on CHIP and why they want to defend millionaire lottery winners is somewhere that something not created has to be offset, I don't think that is really a fair argument.

Will the gentleman yield?

Did I hear correctly that you voted to repeal IPAB?

My question to the gentleman is: We have brought to the floor, twice, the repeal of IPAB. Am I understanding correctly that you voted to repeal that?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Let me repeat what happened on this floor in history.

Twice, this bill has come to the floor. Neither time--the repealing of IPAB--has it been offset. And do you know what? Forty-three Members on your side of the aisle joined with us. So it was the will of this House, a majority.

But if your argument is why we cannot fund children's health, why we cannot say that millionaires winning a lottery have to stay on Medicaid, if that is the defense from the other side of the aisle why they walk away from the table, I am ashamed. We are better than that, and this House is better than that.

I told you each time--and I tell the gentleman, I know it is not you, but there are other people on your side of the aisle who won't even release their Members from committee.

I know your members on the Energy and Commerce Committee did not want to vote ``no'' on that amendment. They don't want to defend those millionaires for being on Medicaid and taking away from the disabled and children. I know, in your heart, you don't want to sit back and make CHIP have problems for States, that maybe

Minnesota and Colorado can't increase enrollment, that they have to freeze it today.

We are better than this. If twice it has come to the floor without an offset, and it is the majority of the House that voted on it and it is 43 of your members doing it, I think we should move on now. Let's get back to the table. Let's solve this problem.

I thank the gentleman for the question, but, as the gentleman knows, for a bill to come to the floor here, it first has to get out of the Senate. The Senate has not voted on that bill.

I know the gentleman quotes a certain number, but I would wait to see how many votes there are for the bill to see where it goes.

As the gentleman knows, this House has passed a bill that repealed ObamaCare, reformed it, got us a new bill, but made those payments as it went forward. So there is a bill sitting in the Senate that they can take up and solve this problem at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, when it shall convene at noon for morning- hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I want to thank the gentleman for his work as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I stand on this floor thinking of the world and America's place in it. What I desire most is peace. America has no desire to fight those who do not harm us. I would gladly support any international agreement that I thought would bring us to an honorable and enduring peace.

But peace is not based on hope; it is not based on good intentions; and it is not based on pieces of paper signed at well-planned ceremonies. Peace is based on strength. America and our allies will only be at peace if those who hate us fear us. This is where our credibility matters.

When an American President agrees to a deal that is so obviously unequal and untenable, everyone stops fearing us. They start to think they can push us around.

Let me be clear. They may start to push, but no one can knock us down. America will win any fight. Our enemies should know that. But, frankly, I want our enemies to be so afraid of us they don't even want to fight. That saves everyone a great deal of trouble.

When I look back to our nuclear deal with North Korea and our deal with Iran, they aren't just flawed; they are dangerous. The displays of weakness have consequences beyond nuclear weapons.

Our North Korea deal has failed. The Kim regime will soon have nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles. These warheads will be capable of hitting our homeland. In the meantime, they have reportedly fired missiles over our allies South Korea and Japan and, almost daily, threatened war.

The deal with Iran is on a path to failure, designed in such a way that, even if it were followed, a regime that chants ``death to America''--let me say that again, a regime that chants ``death to America''--could have nuclear weapons the day after the deal expires.

Even ignoring the deal, Iran continues to destabilize the region for its own goal, funding terrorism abroad and fueling violence between Shia and Sunni Muslims that is tearing the Middle East apart.

The spread of nuclear weapons is a danger in and of itself. I do not need to explain why enemies of the United States should be stopped from gaining the power to level American cities, but the evil is made worse when our enemies, with any weapons, think they can push America and our allies around.

America will not be weak any longer. Today's sanction on Iran undermines its ballistic missile program and the terrorist warriors of Hezbollah whose pockets are filled with Iranian money,

just as their hands are covered with American blood. This is an important part of our Nation's new Iran strategy.

Yesterday, we passed the most far-reaching sanctions we have ever imposed on North Korea. Those who do business with North Korea support a regime run on slave labor. They support a regime that deprives its citizens of every freedom, even the freedom to think, and they support a regime that tortured and murdered American citizen Otto Warmbier not because he committed a crime or threatened their government in any way, but because he was an American. If you do business with such a regime, there will be severe consequences.

I had the honor of meeting Otto's parents, Cindy and Fred. They told me about Otto's warmth, his joy, his love of life, and the great hopes he had. In everything, he stood as a living example of the good in humanity that the Kim regime seeks to destroy. We renamed that legislation as the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act. It won't bring him back, but it will remind North Korea that evil has consequences.

Otto's murder was a crime we cannot accept, but it is a crime, I fear, our enemies would repeat on a much larger scale if we do not start stopping them now. Let's remind them who they are up against. America will not fail.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and am joined by my colleagues from California, Congressman David Valadao and Congressman Jim Costa, to recognize an essential resource in our community--the Kern Water Bank--and the incredibly positive impact that it has made upon California's Central Valley over the past twenty years.

This year, the Kern Water Bank celebrates twenty years since the signing of the 75 year Habitat Conservation Plan, which allowed the Water Bank to begin operating at its full capacity in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley. Prior to this monumental agreement, the roughly 32-square mile stretch of land on which the Kern Water Bank operates today was used largely for farming while California experienced wide fluctuations in water supply. The creation of the Kern Water Bank Authority and eventually the Kern Water Bank exemplifies the innovative and determined spirit of the Kern community and the effectiveness with which this community has been able to assist in meeting California's water needs.

Prior to the creation of the Kern Water Bank Authority, the California Department of Water Resources sought to create a system that would serve as a response to the water shortages that often plagued California's agricultural community. The Department of Water Resources struggled for years to achieve anything tangible--facing various legal, institutional, and environmental setbacks that made the project seem nearly impossible. It was at this point that the Kern Water Bank Authority came to fruition, and through the hard work and cooperation of both public and private contributors, the Kern Water Bank was finally feasible. Now, after twenty years of successful operation, we recognize the degree to which the Kern Water Bank has impacted California's water situation, the greater San Joaquin environment and the Central Valley community that Congressman Valadao, Congressman Costa and I share.

The daily operations and functions of the Kern Water Bank greatly assisted in combating the drought that has plagued California, especially throughout the past five years. As Delta pumping was slowly reduced, the Kern Water Bank served a particularly important purpose as the prominent storage facility for the water that local farmers and agricultural communities needed even more desperately in light of the drought. Additionally, the Kern Water Bank has become a notable wildlife resource of regional significance. The environment created by the Kern Water Bank supports many special-status species in alignment with the Habitat Conservation Plan and EPA standards, and creates a unique wetlands area that serves as a refuge for local wildlife. Very rarely do projects of this nature serve so many purposes all at once, and we believe that the Kern Water Bank serves as the ideal model for other similar projects.

The Kern Water Bank is the largest operation of its kind in California, and has even

been described as the most effective groundwater storage program in the United States. It is with great pride that Congressman Valadao, Congressman Costa and I recognize the vast success of the Kern Water Bank Authority and the Kern Water Bank. We look forward to witnessing the continued efforts of the Bank in serving the water needs of the Central Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an integral component of California's 23rd Congressional District and the U.S. Air Force--Edwards Air Force Base--and the life and legacy of Captain Charles E. Yeager, who played an essential role in achieving a critical milestone in U.S. aviation history.

This year, the United States Air Force observes its 70th birthday. Edwards Air Force Base, the second largest base in the Air Force, has long played an important role in the success and development of this branch and its weaponry. From the 412th Test Wing to the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards has always been a leader in developing and testing new technology to ensure that our warfighters operate with the most advanced weapons systems and platforms.

Coincidentally, the Air Force also celebrates the 70th anniversary of the very first supersonic flight, which occurred at Edwards Air Force Base, this year. Captain Charles E. Yeager became the fastest man in the sky on October 14, 1947, when he flew faster than the speed of sound in the rocket-powered Bell X-1, high above Edwards and over Southern California's famed Mojave Desert. Captain Yeager paved the way for a new era of air and space travel on that day and ushered in the development and eventual practical use of the X-Plane, an advancement that has greatly benefited NASA and the U.S. Air Force. I want to recognize Captain Yeager's fearlessness and desire for adventure, which was pivotal in advancing American aviation.

Throughout its history, Edwards Air Force Base has always remained on the forefront of various scientific initiatives and discoveries. After Captain Yeager broke the sound barrier, pilots at Edwards were eventually able to fly at more than six times the speed of sound. Additionally, and among many other accomplishments, the very first space shuttle mission landed at Edwards on April 12, 1981. As we celebrate the Air Force's 70th year, it is important to take a moment to recognize the rich legacy and history of installations like Edwards, which, having been established in 1933, predates the creation of the Air Force itself. Prior to the establishment of the United States Air Force in 1947, Edwards was the Muroc Army Airfield.

I am reminded of Edwards Air Force Base every time I get the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum here in Washington, D.C. The very Bell X-1, in which Captain Yeager broke the sound barrier, is displayed in the main hall on the first floor of the museum. It serves as a reminder of the critical importance that Edwards has played to advance the greater mission of the Air Force.

I am incredibly grateful for the many men and women who have served and currently serve at Edwards Air Force Base. Their creativity, dedication, and sacrifice reflects the same spirit that Captain Charles Yeager exemplified 70 years ago. Edwards plays an important role in California's 23rd Congressional District, and this is due to my constituents who

work tirelessly to innovate and to further its mission. I wish Edwards, and the United States Air Force, many more years of innovation and success.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House on account of Columbus Day. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow.

In addition, the House will consider S. 585, the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Ron Johnson. Dr. Kirkpatrick was a psychologist who was fired from the VA medical center where he worked after raising concerns about patients' medications. He committed suicide the day he was fired.

This bill will enhance whistleblower protections while ensuring supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers are punished. I look forward to the House passing this bill and continuing our work to fundamentally change the culture of the VA.

Mr. Speaker, I also expect the House to make a motion to go to conference on the National Defense Authorization Act.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I expect the House to consider an additional supplemental package to assist the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The gentleman is correct. The White House has sent up a supplemental, and I do not believe this will be the last of the supplementals, based on the damage that has been done from the numerous hurricanes. But, yes, there will be more money for the Disaster Relief Fund to help throughout Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

As you know, too, the West had devastating forest fires, so there is roughly $577 million there. And the National Flood Insurance Program has hit a ceiling. To deal with all of the flooding that has gone on, we have to deal with that, as well.

The Appropriations Committee has just received that last night. They are working through it now. I don't intend on seeing other things with it. I look forward to the Member working with me on that to make sure we get it right from what the President has asked.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Yes, we are dealing with the DACA situation and the situation along the border.

As you know, the Speaker has put together a task force. They have met numerous times. I have had dinner with the President just this week dealing with this issue, and you and I have talked, as well.

I think the best way to solve this problem, to make sure we get to the root cause, we have to secure the border, we have to deal with DACA, and, more importantly, I think we do it in a manner where we are all working together.

I am, as you know, not a fan of a discharge petition. I think the best way to handle this is continuing to work through the matter with the committees--and on your side of the aisle, as well--to solve this problem. The President gave us 6 months. I would like to get this done before then.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday next, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Madam Speaker, last week I had the pleasure of meeting a young boy named Micah Pickering. He was cute and shy and, you know, as young boys often are, he would give me a high five, play around and run to where everybody had to catch him.

Now, he gave me this bracelet. You see, it says: ``Miracles for Micah.'' And you know what? He is a miracle. He is strong. He was born prematurely at only 20 weeks. He spent the first 128 days of his life in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Though he could fit in the palm of your hand, his parents couldn't hold him at first. His skin was so sensitive, the slightest touch would cause little Micah intensive pain. It didn't matter where he was. If he was in that intensive care unit, or if he was still waiting for that expected date to be born, he could feel, and he wanted to live.

The fact is that children at 20 weeks feel pain. Science increasingly shows it. The European Journal of Anesthesiology describes how it is critical to administer anesthesia during fetal surgery procedures.

You know, a standard text on human development, Patten's Foundations of Embryology, shows how the basics of the nervous system are formed by week 4.

Dr. Ronald Brusseau, of Boston's Children's Hospital, wrote that by week 18, children have developed sensory receptors for pain.

Two independent studies in 2006 used brain scans and showed unborn children respond to pain. These children have noses, eyes, and ears. You can hear their heartbeats and feel them move. They are human.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act--I like to call it Micah's Law--is called what it is because children like Micah feel pain. Those children are strong, just like Micah is strong, and those children should be protected.

Now, I have to admit, Madam Speaker, across the aisle I do hear some beautiful speeches filled with compassion for the voiceless, the defenseless, and the marginalized. They are trying to speak for those who can't speak for themselves.

But what about Micah? What about the thousands of others like him, the same age he was born? What about the millions who were never given a chance?

Look into Micah's face--I think we all should--and tell me he isn't human. Look at him when he was born and tell me that child doesn't have a right to live.

We should care for the voiceless, for those whose cries of pain are never heard. We should care for the defenseless, for those who will only be saved if we act to protect them.

We should care for the marginalized, for those who have their very humanity denied, even as their noses, eyes, ears, and heartbeats, every movement are visible testaments of their lives.

These children need love. Their mothers need love. Let's end the pain. These children are suffering, so let's end the pain. These children want to live, so let's end their pain.

Micah is a beautiful kid, and there are millions of Micahs who will never smile; Micahs who will never walk; Micahs who will never scrape their knees and get into trouble; Micahs who will never learn to read; Micahs who will never fall in love and have children of their own; Micahs who will never have the chance to tell their mother and father: ``I love you.''

We will never know those Micahs. Our lives are poorer because their lives were cut short. But there are more. Instead of pain--instead of pain--we should fill them with love.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional newsman and life-long journalist, whose desire and commitment to inform and strengthen the community led him to an impressive career in journalism spanning nearly four decades.

Rick Elkins retired this August from the Porterville Recorder, leaving an unparalleled legacy of service not only to the newspaper, but also to the community he covered. As one of California's longest- serving and most locally-invested journalists, Rick spent 22 out of his 39 years in journalism at the Porterville Recorder before his retirement last month.

Rick began his career as a reporter in January of 1976. Ever since, his inquisitive nature has yielded countless stories covering many facets of life. From our region's historic drought to the infamous Tulare County cocaine bust in the late 1980s, Rick kept the people of Porterville and the surrounding communities well-informed for decades. The magnitude of his service has earned him recognition as one of California's great journalists.

There are many individuals around our community who turned to the Porterville Recorder to learn what was happening in Porterville and Tulare County because of Rick's professionalism and dedication to truthful news coverage. His career and contributions reflect his attitude toward treating the community as a family, among which was his leadership in returning the Porterville Recorder's focus to local news first. As the Representative for California's 23rd Congressional District, I greatly value the importance of an informed citizenry and holding elected officials accountable. The press plays a key role in that. I always looked forward to being interviewed by Rick--he always had his thumb on the pulse of the community and got to the crux of the issues on the community's mind. This approach to journalistic integrity was also reflected by how he ran the Porterville Recorder, earning the respect of his reporters, staff, and the local community. Rick's reporting reflected his passion to make sure his readers got the facts of the story and he respected them enough to allow them to draw their own conclusions.

I am confident Rick's legacy will live on for generations to come and that his contribution to our community will have a lasting impact. I thank Rick for his lifetime of service to journalism and his lasting impact on Porterville. I'm sure Rick is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Doris, and Dana, his daughter, as he begins this new chapter of his life. I wish Rick and his family happiness in his retirement and look forward to his continued involvement in our community.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, before I give the schedule, I do want to say today was a day that was very good to see our dear friend, Steve Scalise, make it back.

As the gentleman said, an attack on him was an attack on the entire institution. I was there that day in the hospital, my wife and I, and waiting for Jennifer to arrive, and Steve, going through those surgeries. The number of times we would go back to visit, he is the strongest man I have ever known. I thought his speech today was fantastic.

It is from the heart that he first would seek God's guidance. The strength of Jennifer--I watched Madison and Harrison spend their entire summer in that hospital for their father, and for him to be able to walk back here as soon as he did and the excitement in his face when he was able to cast that vote, I know Steve is going to continue to get stronger as he goes, and he thanks everybody for the help they provided.

We should not forget the spirit that this floor had today. We should take that spirit into the days forward and continue it. We can disagree, but it takes an unbelievable terrible situation, at times, to remind us of the human spirit we have for one another, and I want to make sure, even for myself, that I remember those moments in times of the most heated debates.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business.

Last votes of the week are expected no later than 3 p.m.

And on Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow.

Now, in addition, the House will consider H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also, as I like to call it, ``Micah's Law.''

Mr. Speaker, I spent some time on Tuesday with a young boy named Micah. Micah gave me this bracelet, ``Miracles for Micah,'' and I wear it because Micah was born premature at 20 weeks. If you look at a picture of Micah, he was the size of a bag of M&Ms. Today, he is happy, he is healthy, he is 5 years old, and no one would know the difference.

Mr. Speaker, all life is a miracle, and we have an obligation here to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

I look forward to the House passing this compassionate bill next week that will protect the lives of countless others just like Micah.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will take up the FY18 budget resolution. Our Republican budget balances within 10 years, provides for a strong national defense, eliminates burdensome regulations, and cracks down on waste, fraud, and abuse. Passing this budget will also enable tax reform, which is the key to economic growth and seeing that Americans take home more of their hard-earned dollars.

I thank Chairman Black and the entire Budget Committee--and especially you, Mr. Speaker--for their hard work on this bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for his interest, and it is true, the gentleman and I were hopefully trying to go down to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and Key West to look at some of the damage, and, right now, the Coast Guard tells us, with the rescue attempts that are ongoing, that we probably would be taking some equipment away from doing that work, and we do not want to do any of that. We will be able to go a little later when the time is right.

We will continue to work with the administration. When you think what this country has gone through with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, I do want to give thanks to the work of the administration. I have seen some coordination like I have not seen in the past.

We know these are islands. The damage of the two hurricanes they have to go through, I have been keeping in constant contact, and just speaking with FEMA just recently, they are currently coordinating and establishing seven temporary hospitals. That was one of my concerns with dialysis and others, but there is so much more to do to be able to move through, and I will work with the gentleman, as we have in the past, to make sure whatever they need will be able to get there.

And I do want to thank Congressman Carlos Curbelo for his amendment to the bill that we just voted on, adding a little more resources there to make sure, knowing the tax code of Puerto Rico is a little different than the one we had voted on as we go through, to give them greater assistance, and the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

I first want to applaud Speaker Ryan for forming a working group on this important issue. The gentleman and I have met numerous times on this, and I have talked to the President about it, as well. He has been very clear, and I agree with the President's position, courts have shown that the past was unconstitutional, and that just means the House has to do their job and the Senate. The one thing I would hate to happen here is that we only do the job halfway, and then we have this problem come back to us.

The President has asked us about border security, as well. I believe we can find a solution here, together. I look forward to working with Mr. Hoyer.

The President has challenged this Congress to find a solution, and I believe we can. We are going to work to make sure we get it done. I would like to do it sooner than the timeframe the President has given us.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I expect reconciliation in this budget. I leave it up to the Rules Committee and the Budget Committee when they produce it, but on this floor, I believe there will be reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

If the question is have I given up on repealing ObamaCare, the answer is no.

So, yes, this is the budget for the rest of the year. We know the harm that ObamaCare has brought to many Americans. The lack of insurance, when you look at the number of counties, 40 percent of all of the counties in America only have one provider, some have none. We watched premiums go up.

We want a healthcare system where people have choice, that, actually, the price is lower and the quality is better. That is something I will never give up on, so, yes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the only thing I want to say, and I know we have debated this many times--we can always put an endorsement somewhere and we can always go back and forth, but I will just tell you for my own district--I don't know why anybody would ever say they are making a decision based on something when our bill carries it out another 2 years even, so I don't believe that to be true.

But I know what is true. Currently, 30 percent of the people who are on the exchange in my district just had somebody pull out; and they had that health insurance, Anthem, so now they don't. They have to go find something else. They had doctors who they loved, and they were promised that they were going to be able to keep them. Well, they couldn't.

I just look at numbers; and I take Republican, Democrat, I take whatever name is across from it. Almost twice as many people pay the penalty or take a waiver as actually make a payment for ObamaCare.

So, yes, this will continue not because you and I have a disagreement, but because people are hurting, premiums are going up, deductibles are going up, and people are losing their providers. And the providers are not leaving because it is staying the same way for another 2 years, they are leaving because it is staying there.

So, yes, I look forward to continuing this conversation because we cannot allow this harm to continue to go through this country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

You raised a couple issues there. When it comes to teaching hospitals, that was in the bill you just voted against twice this week on the floor. So that has been taken care of.

When you are talking about SCHIP and the extension of that, Chairman Walden actually postponed a markup not because he wanted to, but because it was requested by the Democrats. So he postponed the markup this week in continuing bipartisan negotiations.

This is something I would like to get done. I know Chairman Walden has now scheduled a markup for next week, so I am very hopeful that we will get this done very soon. I am a big supporter of SCHIP and a lot of the work that they do and what it moves forward for our healthcare in the future, especially for the health clinics out there. So I look forward to working with you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I apologize. You did mention the Perkins Act. I do not have that scheduled at the current time, but I will keep you abreast when I do.

Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding that today could be the very last time that Margarida Curtis provides a message to us on this floor.

We would like to thank Margarida Curtis. From a very grateful nation, thank you for your service. Many times the American people see your voice, but also the power of what you bring back and forth to make this democracy work. We want to thank you for your service, and we wish you all the happiness in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Monday, October 2, 2017, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today and am joined by my colleague from California, Mr. Valadao, to recognize two outstanding leaders in our community: Barbara Grimm-Marshall and Kari Grimm-Anderson. Throughout the years, Barbara and Kari have been deeply involved in our community and it comes as no surprise they have each been named by the Kern County Fair as 2017 Person of the Year.

Every year, the Kern County Fair attracts families from all over the Central Valley to partake in the unique festivities ranging from the Great American Duck Race to the highly-competitive 4-H livestock showcases. However, we also take time to acknowledge and pay tribute to individuals who have improved our community with the Person of the Year award.

While Barbara and Kari may be known for their leadership roles with the world's largest carrot operation through their family-owned farm, Grimmway Enterprises, Inc., they have each played an integral part in the betterment of our community. Notably, in 1998, Grimmway Enterprises created a college scholarship program for the children of their employees that has provided access to higher education through more than 300 college scholarships.

Through their philanthropic endeavors, Barbara and Kari have been instrumental in helping students in rural regions of the Central Valley prepare for college, while also working to address the increasing prevalence of childhood diabetes and obesity through various programs and outreach efforts.

Barbara founded and currently serves as the CEO of the Grimm Family Education Foundation and has worked tirelessly to establish rural charter schools throughout Kern County to ensure students have access to a world-class education. In August 2011, the Foundation opened the Grimmway Academy in Arvin, California, enrolling more than 280 students Kindergarten through third grade. Today, the Academy has two campuses, one in Arvin and the other in Shafter, with total enrollment surpassing 1,200 students for the 2017-2018 school year. Additionally, the Foundation recently opened the Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard, dedicated to exposing students to the many facets of agricultural and environmental stewardship in the region.

Kari is widely known for her insight and contributions to a number of civically-minded groups, including the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Bakersfield and the Board of Regents at Concordia University, Irvine. Similarly, Barbara has dedicated her time serving on various boards, such as the Lori Brock Children's Museum, St. John's Lutheran Church, the California State University

Foundation, the Regents of Concordia University, and the Board of Directors of Tejon Ranch, among others.

The selfless efforts of Barbara and Kari have impacted so many and both have set an exceptional example for all of us to follow as we work to improve our community. Through investing in education to providing resources to those less fortunate, Barbara and Kari are steadfast in their vision and commitment to helping others. We congratulate Barbara and Kari for jointly being named the 2017 Kern County Person of the Year and commend them for their tireless service, work, and vision for our community. We look forward to witnessing their continued efforts that touch the hearts of so many

Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of a scheduling announcement.

Mr. Chairman, as we continue to track Hurricane Irma, I know many of our Members in southeastern United States are anxious to get home to their families and constituents. So, in order to ensure these Members can get home safely, the last votes for the week will now occur tomorrow afternoon on the Harvey disaster relief package at approximately 12:30 p.m.

The House will complete consideration of H.R. 3354 next week.

I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

The quick overview, as you know, we will complete this appropriations package next week. We have a couple of other items that we will list for you tomorrow, but we will continue to monitor this storm.

I know it is going to hit a couple of States, so we will keep you posted about the schedule for next week as well. As soon as we know, we will keep you updated.

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

Amendment No. 92 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia