Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield the hour to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), and I ask unanimous consent that he be permitted to control that time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I

also want to thank Chairman Sessions for the hard work he has done in putting the rules package together today.

Today, the House will adopt these rules to govern the 114th Congress and dictate how this House will function over the next 2 years. As you will hear over the course of this debate, they are a recommitment by the Republican majority to govern transparently.

The rules ensure that both Members and the public have a chance to read bills before they come up for a vote, institute more accurate accounting for the economic effect of legislation, and restore the constitutional balance of power between the legislative and executive branches.

With these rules in place, the House can now proceed in tackling the challenges facing America today and pass legislation that creates jobs, grows the economy, and promotes freedom for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the rules package.

I thank my colleagues for yielding, and I share their concern on this important matter. I want to ensure my colleagues that enacting an extension of the Secure Rural Schools program is going to be an early priority for next year.

Madam Speaker, as the gentlewoman knows, in September of last year, the House passed H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which would have allowed us to better manage our Federal forests for the benefit of our rural schools and

counties. Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to act on this bill or to find a way forward on this important issue.

I believe, in the next Congress, we should find a path forward to get this important matter across the finish line, and I will work with our colleagues and with incoming Chairman Bishop to make sure that this happens. We need to get this done, and we need to get it done early next year.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his service to this House and this country. You will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank those who have worked so diligently on this bill, like Congressman David Valadao. He understands the need. And we are not here today because we haven't thought that we might have this problem. I have stood in this well before with Congressman Devin Nunes, looking ahead, trying to be prepared so we can have water throughout California, looking prepared that government, creating a drought when we still have rain and snowpack.

Do you realize 4 years ago we had 170 percent of snowpack, but only 80 percent of the water was allocated to come down through the valley? The valley not just feeds California, not just feeds the Nation, but feeds the world.

When the valley does not get water, the price of food goes up to all. But you know what is even more important? Those that go out of work. I have watched many elected officials come to this well and talk about unemployment. They say unemployment is below 6 percent. Let me tell you what unemployment is throughout the valley today. There are some cities that have more than 30 percent unemployment. The number one factor-- water. So what does the world look like today even though not just this Congress but the Congress before it moved legislation to deal with this issue. We are now at a 1,200-year drought. That is much longer than the entire life of this Nation.

So if we are at this time, why do we bring this bill before us? I think we should have honesty in this bill. This is not the bill I would write. This is not the bill I would bring forward. This is a bipartisan bill where people on both sides of the aisle sat down. We said we need a temporary bill that lives within these means.

So do we change endangered species? No, we do not. What does this bill do? It says, in the rainy season when the flood waters are high, can we not move water down through the valley. That is what this bill does. It also has a safeguard that, if the fish are harmed, to stop.

Does this bill go on forever? No. It goes the length of September or to the length of what the Governor has declared within the drought.

Now, I know government cannot make it rain, but government can stop the government policies that pick fish over people. Government can prepare ahead of time that, if we are going to have a rainy season coming, we allow the water to have the best use of where it goes, that it protects the fish while at the time allocates water to the valley so everyone wins in the process. That is why it was bipartisan. That is why we sat together. That is why it is temporary. That is why this bill is brought before us today.

I would like to thank everybody on both sides of the aisle that worked for it. But what is unfortunate, some people will say things it is not. The most important thing we should do in this House is make sure fairness is provided. I think the greatest fairness that should be provided is being prepared for when water comes. But what is even more important is looking at the faces of the 30 percent unemployed, looking at the faces throughout that valley and saying it does not have to be that way. Government can make a difference if both sides would work together as we did to craft this bill.

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, but no votes are expected. 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. On Friday, no votes are expected.

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.

On Monday, in addition to our usual suspensions, the House will consider H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014, authored by my good friend, Representative David Valadao.

California is facing the worst drought in over a century, and that has a negative impact not only on our State's economy, but on the entire Nation's food supply. This legislation is critical so that we don't let precious water from current and future storms wash away to the ocean.

Mr. Speaker, the House is also expected to consider legislation to address the upcoming expiration of our current continuing resolution, as well as legislation on the expiration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.

I thank the gentleman.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The answer to his question is: yes, it is.

I thank my friend for yielding.

As my friend knows, negotiations are ongoing between the Appropriations of the House and the Senate; and as soon as the conclusion of the negotiations is done, we will notify everyone and post what comes out.

I thank the gentleman for always being willing to give advice, and as soon as we get the negotiations done, we will keep you abreast.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As the gentleman was correct in my announcement, I did announce that we will have legislation on TRIA on the floor next week. And I take what the gentleman said prior, about not wanting to shut the government down, and I am glad that you feel the same way. I just, at times, get concerned with the news reports that I hear from your leader--I don't know if they are true or not--from inside your own conference about trying to withhold votes. I hope that we can continue the working relationship that we have developed and, into the new Congress as well, work together, because no one on this side of the aisle ever wants to shut the government down. That is why we will bring forth legislation that will not shut the government down and protects it at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, December 8, 2014, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the outstanding public service of Dr. Julian Crocker, longtime educator, superintendent and public servant. Julian plans to retire this January after fifty years as a scholastic leader, a fixture of the San Luis Obispo County public school system.

Born and raised in Tennessee, Julian matriculated at Vanderbilt University and Joined the United States Army shortly after graduating. On the completion of his term of service, Captain Crocker settled in sunny San Mateo, California in 1964, where he began to teach high school. Julian also earned a doctorate in Educational Administration from Harvard University in 1972, and upon returning to San Mateo, was appointed principal.

A renaissance man to the core, Julian recognized early in his career that education represented only the last, most public component of childhood development. All his professional life, he strove to unite broad coalitions of businesses, nonprofits and local government offices to improve housing and medical care for young and poor children.

Julian spent twenty one years as superintendent of different school districts in California--in San Mateo, Palo Alto and eventually Paso Robles. In 1999, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools for San Luis Obispo, in which capacity he has worked ever since. Under his tenure, San Luis Obispo expanded its charter school system, enlarged its English proficiency program, and founded the Grizzly Academy--an innovative boarding school for at-risk youth--in partnership with the California National Guard. These are but a few of his many accomplishments on behalf of his community.

Julian acquired a wealth of experience and knowledge from his years of service, a foundation of wisdom which I have often relied upon throughout the years, either by seeking his counsel directly or in meeting him and other County Superintendents to discuss educational needs on the Central Coast. I could always count on straight talk and sound advice--advice I took back with me to the halls of Congress.

In fact, in his office, Julian kept a framed quotation above his desk--one of my favorite Presidential quotes as it happens, from one of my favorite presidents: Theodore Roosevelt. It reads: ``It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly . . .'' Julian's arena has been the classroom, where he has lived that phrase, educating our students, expanding our curriculum, fighting to ensure students have the resources they need.

In this next chapter of his life, I know Julian is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Donna, his children, and his six grandchildren. While the next County Superintendent of Schools for San Luis Obispo has large shoes to fill and Julian's presence will be missed, I know he will always remain involved on the issues important to him. I thank Julian for his friendship and counsel, and his leadership to improve education in California, and wish him and Donna all the best.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire Kern County community, I would like to congratulate Kevin Harvick on winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship at Homestead this weekend.

Sunday's win capped off an incredible season, exemplifying the determination, resilience, and fortitude needed to excel, especially in such a long and competitive racing season.

These attributes that embody Kevin's success are ingrained in our community. Our families get up early, work hard, and put in long hours to get the job done. Kevin's racing is a reminder to the world that the Bakersfield way drives champions.

Your hometown is proud of your achievement, Kevin. For all the kids across Kern County who watched races, like myself, at Mesa Marin and now at the Kern County Raceway Park and dreamed of becoming a NASCAR champion, they now have someone to emulate.

Congratulations again to you, to DeLana and Keelan and your entire family, and to your crew chief, Rodney Childers, and the entire 4 team for an incredible season and championship. Kevin, as you said, not bad for an '08er.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I appreciate your comments.

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 p.m. 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. On Friday, no votes are expected.

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

In addition, the House will consider three bills aimed at alleviating burdens imposed on small businesses by EPA practices. The first, H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act, sponsored by Representative Chris Stewart, would establish board member qualifications. The second, H.R. 4012, the Secret Science Reform Act, sponsored by Representative David Schweikert, would prohibit EPA from finalizing a regulation unless the data is made public. The third, H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, sponsored by our majority whip, Steve Scalise, will bring much-needed

transparency to the EPA permitting process.

I thank the gentleman.

Will the gentleman yield?

Yes, it is our intention. I do understand that government is only funded until the 11th, and it is our intention to continue to work with you and all Members and have that finished by December 11 and be out.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is right. We did pass seven of the 12 and 11 of the 12 out of committee. Unfortunately, the Senate had passed none.

The best way for this House and this country to work is through regular order, and we hope to be able to get that back with the new Senate.

The gentleman is right. It is not scheduled for next week. No decisions are made, but there is a possibility that we could end on an omnibus in December.

No decisions are made on the direction that we will go. The gentleman knows that we were down at the White House just last week meeting with the President. I do believe the best way forward is that we would all work together and move this country in the right direction. So no decisions are made on the direction that we go.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I had just met with our chairman of Ways and Means and he has been working in the other House with the chair on the Senate, and nothing has been finalized yet.

As you know, we had passed many of those bills permanently out of this House. Negotiations are still going on with the Senate, but it is our intention to have that done before the end of the year as well.

I thank the gentleman again. As the gentleman stated, yes, coming out of the House we made it permanent because that gives much greater stability to the country, and that is still part of the negotiation.

The Senate has a different idea than inside the House. None of that has been finalized yet. When the negotiation gets finalized, that will give us the answer.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I have just met with our chairman and he is scheduled to meet with the Senate on the other side of the aisle early next week.

The Speaker and I have both put a statement out that we know the timeline of this. If they can't come to agreement, we are open to doing a 1-year extension, making sure that it doesn't have any problems. But we would like to see a resolution of this with a negotiation between both sides.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct. We have passed it in the House and we have been working with the Senate. I think it is very

strong that we will get this done before December 11. I don't have a set date, but I believe that this is a top priority, not just on this side, but on your side of the aisle as well. We just need a little movement on the Senate and we will be done with it.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

You were with us at the White House when the President laid out the supplemental. The Appropriations Committee is going through all the funding there. No decisions have been made yet where that would move forward, but it is our intention to be able to have that question answered but be able to have the resources needed to do the job.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a joint resolution (H.J. Res. 129) appointing the day for the convening of the first session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a resolution (H. Res. 753) providing for the printing of a revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, November 17, 2014, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Kern County Farm Bureau's 100th anniversary, and to commend this organization which has done so much for Kern's hardworking farming families.

The foundation of Kern County's rich history rests with our agricultural heritage. When the first Californians settled in Kern, they brought their seeds with them, planting carrots, cotton, potatoes, citrus groves and vineyards, which they passed down through the generations. The most recent fruits of their labor--the 2013 harvest-- tallied more than six billion dollars. Whenever our farmers sow, our whole valley and nation prospers.

A hundred years ago, the creation of Kern County Farm Bureau forged a coalition of 200 farms and 200 families, uniting to lend a neighborly hand through drought, earthquake and fire. These were the farmers who founded Kern's first reservoir system with water brought down from the mountains, who built 800 square miles of canals to make the valley bloom. By their labor, Bakersfield, Kern County and our region flourished; our population boomed. By a succession of horticultural breakthroughs--irrigation drip lines, and precision sprinklers to name a few--Kern County's farmers have learned to do more with less water, leading our state and nation with some of the most innovative and effective conservation practices. In the last fifty years, Kern's farmers have doubled our valley's crop yield without adding a single drop of water to their allotment. Our farmers have humbly overseen

nothing short of a production revolution and yet Americans have become so accustomed to the stability of our food supply--itself a testament to the quality of our agriculture--that scarcely anyone notices the triumphs managed on their behalf.

Today, the Kern County Farm Bureau serves 1,400 farmers, large and small, educating and inspiring the community, closely monitoring the agricultural legislation and regulation proliferating from Sacramento and Washington, and effectively advocating on behalf of its members across all levels of government. Kern County farms run the gamut, from the very small to the very large, and Kern County Farm Bureau works with all of them to educate policymakers on agricultural practices and traditions, and, most importantly, make Kern agriculture's voice heard.

Challenges and opportunities for Kern County agriculture still lay ahead. We cannot ask the sky for rain or the winter not to frost, but we can choose the friends we depend upon when crisis comes. The Kern County Farm Bureau has been a friend and a partner in our community over the past 100 years, and on behalf of our communities and neighbors, I congratulate the Farm Bureau's century of richness and relationships, and wish them another 100 years of success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday our friend and colleague from Nevada, Congressman Joe Heck, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve.

As you all know, while the gentleman from Nevada has been serving in Congress, he has also been working as a physician and member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Since 1991, he has been called to duty three times, most recently in Iraq in 2008. His accomplishments and service to our country in a variety of fields are truly remarkable.

On behalf of this House, I would like to offer Doctor, Congressman, General Heck our warmest and most sincere congratulations.