Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, we face an enemy who poses a grave and growing threat to the United States and our allies, a threat that has been ignored for too long and must no longer be tolerated.

I know that many of us in this Chamber from both sides of the aisle believe that the President's strategy should do more to eradicate those extremists from the Earth, but despite those reservations--reservations that I share--we must support this amendment and take this first step towards a comprehensive strategy to combat these brutal terrorists.

Voting against this request would send a terrible message that America is unwilling to stand with those who are already fighting a common enemy and confirm the views of many in the region that America is but a paper tiger.

I am not convinced this train-and-equip effort will change the balance of power on the ground anytime soon, and I believe this approach comes with great risks. I am also concerned that airstrikes alone will be insufficient to meet the international threat posed by these terrorists.

Congress must maintain a central role. We must conduct oversight to ensure this program is managed effectively. Under the leadership of Chairman McKeon, we have taken the President's original request and have added substantial oversight provisions to ensure this program is properly and carefully managed.

Congress must also push the President to craft a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the inescapable reality that ISIL is but a symptom of a broader terrorist threat.

Preventing the next 9/11 requires us to confront the reality that al Qaeda, ISIL, and similar radical terrorist groups are spreading, operating out of sanctuaries across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. These groups pose a grave and growing threat to the United States. Our strategy cannot ignore these growing dangers.

A President who has made ending the war on terrorism the central focus of his foreign policy must now change. He must now make winning the war a priority. The Congress will need to push the President and his administration to do this right; to confront America's enemies; and to restore America's alliances, strength, and credibility.

This institution will be in no position to do that if we block his simple request today. Congress must now vote to support the first steps of what will be a long march toward that victory.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I announced that we were delaying consideration of the continuing resolution so all Members could be briefed on the President's request for additional authorities related to ISIL as part of the continuing resolution.

Members received a bipartisan classified briefing this morning. I know many are still digesting that information and getting their questions answered regarding this threat and our response.

In order to properly consider the President's request and act on the continuing resolution, Members are advised that the House will now meet on Monday at 2 p.m. for legislative business with votes at 6:30 p.m. on suspensions.

Members are advised that the House may consider legislation related to the President's request and the continuing resolution as early as Tuesday.

These are changes from the previously announced House schedule.

I thank the gentleman for working together on this.

The one thing we know, this is a threat, and this House will act as one as Americans, and I look forward to continuing to work on it.

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 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 convene at 9 a.m. and will welcome the President of Ukraine for a joint meeting at 10 a.m. There will be no morning hour and the House will meet at 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 few suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow.

In addition, as I previously announced, the House may consider the President's request and act on the continuing resolution as early as Tuesday.

The House will also consider a package of 14 bills designed to encourage an American energy revolution. This commonsense energy plan will be comprised of previously House-passed bills that received bipartisan support and focus on production, infrastructure, reliability, and efficiency.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, Members are advised that the House will also consider a package of jobs bills that will include 15 House-passed bills. This bipartisan jobs plan fosters an economic recovery and gets Americans back to work in good-paying jobs.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

There has been no decisions yet. As you know, the President requested this week, that is why we postponed, and we are continuing to work through. I will notify the gentleman as early as we get a decision.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Currently, we are scheduled to be here that last week. There has been no change to that schedule. As I noted just a little earlier, the only change we made is coming back this Monday. I want to make sure all the Members have enough time to digest and get their questions answered, but currently that schedule continues to hold.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Yes, as of this time. We have posted it this week. December 11 is the duration that the continuing resolution would go through.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

We have had many discussions. As the gentleman knows, in the last reauthorization, it was a shorter time period, with many reforms in there. Many feel that those reforms have been ignored. Many feel that the bank provides certain things the private sector is doing.

Knowing that we are in a short-term period, also knowing the threat before America today and the time, we want to make sure that we can have this debate. As for the expiration date, we felt that it was best to extend that out to June in the CR and have that debate later, moving forward, so you are not disrupting any time debating the threat from the terrorists and also doing the work that needs to be done. I do understand the gentleman has talked to me many times about that.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, September 15, 2014, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Thursday, September 18, 2014, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in Joint Meeting His Excellency Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of an announcement.

Mr. Speaker, just a short time ago, I, along with other leaders, committee chairs, and ranking members, received a classified briefing from the administration regarding a significant piece of the President's strategy to confront the international terrorist organization known as ISIL.

This piece involves a request for additional authority to be included in the continuing resolution. Tonight the country will hear from the President of the United States as he addresses the Nation on this situation.

Additionally, all Members of the House will receive a classified briefing from the administration tomorrow morning on both the threat and the strategy to confront it.

I think I speak for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle when I say that we stand ready to listen and work with the President to confront this growing threat.

Now, given the severity of the situation and the need for all Members to properly evaluate the President's request, the House will postpone consideration of the continuing resolution which was originally scheduled for tomorrow.

However, votes on other measures will still take place tomorrow after the classified briefing, and all Members are encouraged to be in attendance.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today against an unlawful expansion of Federal power. The EPA's attempt at an unprecedented power grab will ultimately saddle hardworking Americans, small businesses, and farmers with new, onerous regulatory burdens.

Under this proposed new rule, the EPA will be able to claim jurisdiction over almost all bodies of water in the U.S. So, along with the bays and rivers, EPA's hand will extend over streams, ponds, ditches, and even storm water runoff. Beyond sounding ridiculous, this rule will impact farmers, energy producers, and any private citizens that use their land for economic or recreational purposes. It is harmful and unnecessary.

I live in the West. The West is burdened right now with the drought. Some of that drought is based upon excess regulations that choose fish over people, and that water will run out to the ocean because of a regulation and a lawsuit.

I have seen where regulatory effects and burdens have gone before. I have a town in my community called Taft. It is a hardworking town like many of you have. The EPA has been a part of it before. It is a town that could be anywhere in America.

Taft had a waterway, the EPA said, called Sandy Creek. The only challenge, though, in Sandy Creek is it was a dry ditch. It had been dry for 30 years. So when they came to me and they wanted to be able to move forward, they found that the Federal Government was trying to impose a permitting regulation of excess regulation on this private land. I had to personally call them, and they said: No, you cannot do it because of the creek. I had to drive an individual all the way out to the dry dirt and sit them in the dry creekbed until finally they said ``yes.''

Under the new bill, Sandy Creek will not be dry anymore because that burdensome regulation can possibly be back on them. It could be redesignated, and we will not be able to grow again.

Mr. Chairman, we are struggling with job creation in America. We are struggling with small businesses trying to make ends meet. Milk prices are at an alltime high. Why would we burden

America with more regulation? Why would we not unshackle what holds us back and let us be able to grow and let people keep their private land and protect our water, but do it in a sense that has common sense?

And I can assure you that I will work with Chairman Goodlatte in an effort to remedy that problem.

Mr. Speaker, I am both honored and humbled to welcome my good friend, Pastor Roger Spradlin, as our guest chaplain this morning.

Holding a doctorate in ministry and serving as a major leader within the Southern Baptist community, Roger has served the Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, since 1983. In that time, he has led a congregation that has grown into a family of over 8,000 followers, a family that my wife, Judy, my son, Connor, and Megan belong to.

I have watched Pastor Roger do many things for our community. I have watched him use his grace, his humility, his ability to bring people together. But the part that inspires me the most is I have watched him in time of need, in time of tragic situations in our community, to help us heal. I have watched him officiate and bring joy to a husband and wife being married. I have watched him lift up those in harm's way. But most importantly, I have watched him always bring the grace and inspire others.

So it is with a great deal of joy on a special day today that I am able to have my friend, an individual that helped change my life, be a part of all of our lives.

Madam Speaker, I want to advise all Members that additional votes are possible today. We will send out information as soon as it is possible.

I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Knowing that some Members, with this vote just now closed, and earlier they announced that we would not walk off the floor until 3:45, I think it is possible to advise all Members that it is possible to have votes later today.

I am hopeful that by late this afternoon we will be able to notify the time of it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a teacher, soldier, public servant, and community leader who for 90 years has lived and breathed the city of Taft, California. Born and raised in Taft, Pete Gianopulos has become well-known throughout the city as a passionate American and an active member of his community.

When the foundation of American resolve was tested by the Second World War, Pete answered the call of duty and served honorably with occupational forces near Hiro, Kure, and Hiroshima, Japan as part of the 41st Infantry Division in the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon. When he returned from the war, Pete completed undergraduate and graduate studies at Taft College and Fresno State College before continuing his graduate work at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Bakersfield, and Fresno State. Upon returning to Taft, Pete began teaching at Lincoln Junior High School, and continued his educational career for 35 years as an Industrial Arts teacher, a counselor, and the Director of Guidance for the Taft Union High School District. Though he retired from teaching in 1986 after 36 years, his service to the education community only represents a portion of his public service.

Pete has served in multiple positions at local levels of government, including the Oildorado Committee, the Kern County Water District, the Kern View Community Mental Health Center Committee, the State of California Resource Agency, and the Department of Water Resources. Notably, he served on the Taft City Council in 1961, where only one year later, Pete Gianopulos became Taft's mayor, and served as such through 1966.

Today, Pete continues to serve as an active member of the community. As the founder, host and producer of ``Taft Heritage,'' a local television program supported by the West Kern Oil Museum and Taft High School, and an active writer for his column in the local paper titled ``Remember When,'' Pete champions the message that there is always something to learn from the rich history of the city of Taft.

Pete's dedication and service to Taft has not gone unnoticed and next month, the Taft City Council will proclaim August 23, 2014 as ``Pete Gianopulos Day.'' On that day, it is my hope that all the residents of Taft look to this man's history as a source of inspiration for what it means to be a citizen of the people. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Pete Gianopulos a very happy 90th birthday, and thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the city of Taft.

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 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 few suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today.

In addition, the House will consider a package of bills to ensure transparency and accountability within the Endangered Species Act. Included in this package are H.R. 4315, the 21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act, authored by Chairman Doc Hastings; H.R. 4316, the Endangered Species Recovery Transparency Act, authored by Representative Cynthia Lummis; H.R. 4317, the State, Tribal, and Local Species Transparency Act, authored by Representative Randy Neugebauer; and H.R. 4318, the Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act, authored by Representative Bill Huizenga.

The House will also consider House Resolution 676, which provides for authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President or other executive branch officials inconsistent with their duties under the Constitution of the United States.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, Members are advised that the House may also consider legislation to deal with the ongoing crisis on the border.

I thank my gentleman for yielding.

Currently, there have been no changes to the schedule.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As I mentioned in the schedule announcement for next week, Members should be prepared for possible consideration of legislation to address the ongoing border crisis. Once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing on the measure to determine the process by which the bill will be brought before the House.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As I said earlier, you should be prepared for a possible consideration. Once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing to announce the process.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman for his passion on the crisis, just as we have on this side.

Since we have taken the majority, we made a pledge to America that we post bills with a 3-day process. So, as I mentioned in the schedule announcement for next week, Members should be prepared for possible consideration of legislation to address the ongoing border crisis. Once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing on the measure to determine the process by which the bill will be brought before the House.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I know we originated this for the schedule for next week. As the gentleman knows, the House has passed seven of the 12 appropriations bills in an open process.

To the fact that even one of your Members, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, has had 50 percent more amendments offered on this floor than the entire Republican Conference in the Senate for the last year, we are very proud of the open process we have brought back to the floor.

While the House is not scheduled to consider a regular appropriations bill next week, as the gentleman knows and as I stated already, the House may consider a supplemental appropriation request next week.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

The gentleman initiated this with inquiring about the schedule for next week. As I stated earlier, in the schedule for next week we do not have anything considered in the regular appropriations process, but we could possibly have a supplemental appropriation next week.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As my friend, the gentleman knows, this is in regard to the schedule for next week. And it is not scheduled for next week. If there will be any consideration, we will notify you.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As the gentleman knows, this colloquy is always based upon the schedule for next week, and I would very proudly like to lay out the schedule for next week.

As the gentleman raised the question, he very well knows we did agree on that bill just as we agreed on quite a few bills. As of today, there are 333 bills that have passed this House that have gotten stuck in the Senate. Of those 333 bills, 40 of them are jobs bills. We know we linger in a very tough economy, and the gentleman voted for a few of those 40 bills. So let me repeat: the 40 jobs bills are still stuck in the Senate. We want to encourage economic growth and innovation. We can ensure a robust American manufacturing sector and put Americans back to work.

As the gentleman knows, as we sat down to lunch, we want to work together on that, but as of right now, it is not scheduled for next week. It was on this week. Unfortunately, it did not pass, but I look forward to continuing working with the gentleman, and, hopefully, we could work together to make the Senate move on those 40 jobs bills and those 333 bills that the American public would like to see move forward.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I appreciate the gentleman's concern on the crisis. It is not just my word. It is the American word.

If it were not a crisis, we would not have three Presidents from Central American countries here today to talk about the crisis. We would not have three Presidents who are asking to reunite their children with their families in their countries. If it were not a crisis, you would not have a task force that was introduced by this Speaker on this side to address it. If it were not a crisis, you wouldn't even have Members on your side of the aisle partnering with their Senators from another party, sitting in the Senate, to address the crisis.

Now, many Members of this House have gone there to see the crisis. Some in the administration have not. This House is committed to addressing it as soon as it is available.

We take great pride in changing this House. As the majority leader knows, he cares about the institution; but when the majority changed over here, one of the number one things we said we would do is a 3-day process, as you would know in importance, so people can read the bill, because too many times I have been to this floor when thousands of pages have come out at 2 a.m. and have been voted on that day. We made a commitment to the American people, and we have kept our commitment just as we will keep our commitment that we will end this crisis no matter what it takes. This House will act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, July 28, 2014, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

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 few suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow and which, I am proud to say, will include additional bills to combat human trafficking.

In addition, the House will consider two bills to support innovation and enhance financial counseling in higher education: H.R. 3136, the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act, authored by Representative Matt Salmon; and H.R. 4984, the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, authored by Representative Brett Guthrie.

The House will consider H.R. 3393, the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act. It is a bipartisan bill, authored by Representatives Diane Black and Danny Davis, to ensure a simple and fair Tax Code so that students and families can afford a college education.

The House will consider H.R. 4935, the Child Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2014, authored by Representative Lynn Jenkins, to help low- and middle-income families save for child expenses.

Finally, the House will also consider legislation to address the growing crisis on the border and the reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.

I thank the gentleman.

I did say ``may'' come up. We would always like to work together on any capabilities that we can on legislation that we move forward, and once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing on the measure to determine the process by which the bill will be brought before the floor.

Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As I mentioned, in the schedule announcement for next week, Members should be prepared for the possible consideration of legislation to address the ongoing border crisis. Once again, once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing on the measure to determine the process by which the bill will be brought before the floor.

Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As the gentleman knows, there has been ongoing consideration of this.

As the gentleman knows, from this side of the aisle, many of our Members, including on your side of the aisle, have been to the border to see this crisis, and it is the intent that we solve this problem and solve it for the long term. So, as I did mention in the schedule announcement for next week, Members should still be prepared for the possible consideration of the legislation to address the ongoing border crisis, and we will keep you posted.

Again, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Yes, we have had those conversations, and I appreciate the continual conversations.

As the gentleman knows, the Science Committee has several manufacturing and jobs bills before it, and I am confident they are reviewing and giving all due consideration. The bill that you speak of that passed out of the last Congress was changed within this Congress, and I know the process in which it is going. I do not anticipate any coming up next week, but we will certainly notify the Member of any consideration in the House in the future.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I look forward to a very strong working relationship with you.

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 few suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business today.

In addition, the House will consider H.R. 5016, the fiscal year 2015 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, sponsored by Chairman Ander Crenshaw. Members are advised that debate on the bill and amendments will begin Monday night after the 6:30 p.m. vote series. Members are further advised that it is possible that we will have an additional vote series Monday night on amendments to the Financial Services Appropriations bill.

For the remainder of the week, the House will consider a package of five tax bills from Ways and Means that will help foster charitable giving. These five bills that will be included are H.R. 2807, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2014, authored by Representative Jim Gerlach; H.R. 4619, making the rule allowing certain tax-free distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts for charitable purposes permanent, authored by Representative Aaron Schock; H.R. 4719, which will permanently extend and expand the charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory, authored by Representative Tom Reed; H.R. 3134, the Charitable Giving Extension Act, authored by Representative Mike Kelly; and H.R. 4691, modifying the tax rate for excise tax on income investment for private foundations, authored by Representative Erik Paulsen.

The House will also likely consider the highway extension bill to ensure that the vital transportation projects continue during the busy summer construction season.

Finally, Members are advised that the House may also consider an extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.

I thank the gentleman.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

As the gentleman noted, as of last night, the House has now acted on six appropriations bills, which is halfway through, and, as I mentioned in the schedule announcement for next week, the House will begin consideration of the seventh bill with the Financial Services Appropriations Act starting on Monday evening. That is as much as I see for the next week, but as we move forward through the July calendar, I will keep you notified as we continue through.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I do not anticipate that bill coming up next week, but as we look towards the remainder of the July schedule, we will certainly notify the Members for the consideration of the House.

I do want to thank the gentleman on the other side of the aisle. As you did note, it did pass out of Ways and Means on a voice vote unanimously. We are committed. We want to bring the bill to the floor and fill the hole, but we are committed to looking long term, as with many of the ideas that we have brought forth in the past, and we look forward to working with you on the highway bill.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, I thank him for his input. As I said earlier, in next week's schedule I do not anticipate that coming up, but as we look towards the rest of July, I will keep all Members posted.

I thank you for yielding and for bringing up this issue.

As I mentioned the schedule announcement for next week, Members should be prepared for possible consideration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Once the timing is finalized, the Rules Committee will announce a hearing on the measure to determine the process by which the bill will be brought before the floor.

Will the gentleman yield?

As I noticed earlier in next week's schedule, I do not anticipate that coming up next week, but as we look toward the remainder of the July schedule, we will certainly notify the Members if that will be considered in the House.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I appreciate the gentleman's bringing up the crisis at the border.

Many of the Members in this House, on both sides, have been down to the border personally to see the crisis, and I think that is very important for all elected officials to go see.

We have a task force working on this right now. I know the President has put forth a supplemental--and the Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing the President's request for a supplemental, but I do not anticipate that coming up next week. As we look toward the remainder of July, we will keep you posted--and others--and I look forward to working with the gentleman further on other issues.