Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4768, the National Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal Organizations Act.

Mr. Speaker, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration's Phoenix division, the Sinaloa cartel is the biggest, most violent, and nastiest organization threatening Arizonans, even bigger than MS-13. It is a dangerous and highly sophisticated organization. Sinaloa smuggles heroin and methamphetamine across the border into Arizona and, with it, a pattern of crime, intimidation, and addiction that rips at the very fabric of our communities.

Arizonans know we need to be tough, smart, and aggressive to confront Sinaloa and other cartels. Our bill cracks down on the drug cartels and other international crime syndicates that threaten Arizona families and our quality of life by hitting them where it hurts: their bank accounts.

Drug cartels like Sinaloa obtain wealth and power through money laundering; cybercrime; and human, drugs, and weapons smuggling. To stop the drug cartels and protect Arizona families, we need a comprehensive approach to cut off the money that fuels their operations.

That is why Congressman Kustoff from Tennessee and I introduced H.R. 4768. This bill requires the administration to develop and execute a strategy that cuts off funding and other resources for transnational criminal organizations and to routinely report to Congress and the American people on the strategy's progress.

Our bill is a commonsense solution that protects Arizona families, communities, and businesses from the threats of transnational organized crime.

By focusing on the money, we take a meaningful step in combating cybercrime, money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, as well as other issues that transnational criminals bring to our communities.

I thank Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for supporting this important legislation, and I will continue working with my colleagues across the aisle to keep Arizona families safe.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3978, a package of commonsense solutions, each passed with support of both parties by the House Financial Services Committee. Madam Speaker, I also thank Congressman Hill of Arkansas for his leadership in moving the package forward.

One of these solutions is H.R. 1645, the Fostering Innovation Act, legislation we introduced to help Arizona biopharmaceutical companies make lifesaving breakthroughs.

Business expenses always involve tradeoffs. When Arizona small businesses spend money on costly regulations that provide little public benefit, they have less money to invest in research, development, and job creation for Arizona families.

That is why I introduced this bill. This narrow fix ensures that innovative emerging growth companies, or EGCs, have the time and capital to develop and perfect scientific breakthroughs. Right now, they are exempted only for 5 years from these costly external audit requirements. That is often not enough time for these emerging companies to prepare innovations for commercialization. Our bill temporarily extends this exemption for an additional 5 years for a small subset of these EGCs with an annual revenue of less than $50 million and less than $700 million in public float.

The Fostering Innovation Act empowers innovative Arizona companies, like HTG Molecular Diagnostics, to use valuable resources to remain competitive, stable, and, ultimately, successful.

HTG is a Tucson-based developer of targeted molecular profiling technology. This innovation ensures genetic testing can be turned around accurately and quickly, in as little as 24 hours. For patients, doctors, and families grappling with unexplainable symptoms or illnesses, genetic testing can provide critical insights and inform the best course of treatment.

These are lifesaving breakthroughs. It is what companies like HTG should use their limited resources to fund, not unnecessary and costly paperwork.

I urge my colleagues to support American ingenuity, job creation, and growth by passing this act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank, in particular, Chairman Hensarling and Congressman Hollingsworth of Indiana for working with me on a consensus solution that cuts red tape and supports innovative and potentially lifesaving medical research.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Mr. William (Bill) Straus who passed away at the age of 69 on February 10, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ. Bill was a beloved community leader in the Phoenix area. He dedicated his life to the preservation of civil rights and spoke his mind--even when the truth was hard to hear.

Bill worked for many years on local radio station KTAR where he headlined his own show Straus' Place. On his show, he discussed hot- button issues that faced our state and often invited lawmakers to join him. Bill was a solution-focused man. He wanted to get things done and he wanted people to be honest about their prejudices. He was a no- nonsense individual and was quick to tell callers that called into his radio show where he stood on issues. He did not waver.

Bill's enthusiasm was contagious. In 2001, he was selected to lead the Arizona Anti-Defamation League. During his 13 years as director of the ADL, Bill dedicated himself to protecting at-risk groups. He stood up against immigration raids and helped lead the fight against the controversial Senate Bill 1070, commonly referred to as the ``Show me your papers bill,'' which targeted minority communities. Community groups and leaders loved Bill. He did not balk at the opportunity to fight alongside them as they sought inclusion within our state. Many of us--including myself--drew from Bill's strength and leadership. He was a fine man and will be missed dearly.

Bill and I worked together at the Arizona State Capitol during my tenure as a state legislator. We collaborated on numerous pieces of legislation aimed at creating fair solutions for people often excluded by many of the laws designed to protect them.

Bill is survived by his son Charlie, daughter Jenni and his three grandchildren Max, Matty and Maci.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted yea on rollcall No. 61; yea on rollcall No. 62; and nay on rollcall No. 63.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2255, a package of three commonsense solutions, each passed unanimously by the House Financial Services Committee. I thank Congressman Trott of Michigan for his leadership in moving this package forward.

One of these solutions is H.R. 3758, the Senior Safe Act, legislation we introduced to protect seniors from financial fraud and abuse.

Mr. Speaker, one in five American seniors will be a target of financial abuse, and seniors lose an estimated $2.9 billion to exploitation. The financial institutions that serve America's seniors are in a unique position to detect and identify the suspicious patterns of activity that often accompany financial abuse.

Unfortunately, these institutions do not have the legal flexibility to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement. Because of this, financial abuse of our seniors may go unreported and unpunished. That is why we introduced the Senior Safe Act.

Our bill helps individuals and financial institutions safely communicate instances of financial fraud involving seniors to the appropriate law enforcement authority. It creates incentives for firms to train their employees to identify and stop financial fraud of seniors. It shields advisers and firms that responsibly disclose instances of fraud from legal liability. Importantly, it accomplishes all of this while providing reasonable legal safeguards to ensure consumers and their data are protected.

Mr. Speaker, it may seem like years, but it was just 4 months ago that the then-CEO of Equifax came before Congress to testify about the data breach that exposed the personal information of over 145 million Americans.

Those who mishandle our private data and breach the public trust must be held accountable. We must also ensure that we do all we can to minimize the damage caused by cyber attacks and financial fraud.

As a result of the Equifax data breach, millions of American seniors are now more vulnerable to financial abuse. It is all but certain that we will see increased attempts of financial fraud and identity theft. The Senior Safe Act is an important and responsible step to protecting those at risk by ensuring that financial institutions can identify fraud, report it, and stop abuse of the elderly.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hensarling, Ranking Member Waters, and Congressman Poliquin from Maine for working with me on this bipartisan solution to protect seniors from financial fraud and abuse. We are proud to work across the aisle to get things done, and we will continue working to protect seniors and get results for Arizona.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained yesterday.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 685, YEA on Roll Call No. 686, and YEA on Roll Call No. 687.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, welcome and congratulate Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veterans Wellness in Sonoita, Arizona.

I have known the team at Boulder Crest for several years. Their work and commitment to veteran and military families is exceptional.

Retired U.S. Navy bomb disposal expert, Master Chief Ken Falke and his wife, Julia, started Boulder Crest after visiting wounded Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They saw a need for a place outside of the hospital where personnel and families could relax and recover. Boulder Crest provides free, short-term retreats for military members, veterans, and their families.

Boulder Crest aims to solve the mental health issues and offers an opportunity to military members, veterans, and their families to recover and heal from combat-related stress and PTSD. During retreats, families stay in private accommodations and participate in recreational and healing activities focused on posttraumatic growth. The first location, in Virginia, has hosted over 3,000 personnel since 2013. As they open their new location in Arizona, I am excited they are expanding to our state and will be able to help more military members, veterans, and families.

Boulder Crest's Arizona is located approximately 60 miles from Tucson in Sonoita, Arizona on 130 acres of land near Parker Canyon. On the property, there are three homes, a lodge where guests can gather, an archery range, nature trails, a playground, organic garden, bird sanctuary, and fishing pond. Families are able to heal in the comfort of nature.

This organization is able to offer life-changing opportunities thanks to selfless volunteers and generous donors. Each year, tens of thousands of Americans lose their lives to suicide in our country, including an estimated 20 veterans every day. These figures represent one life lost every 72 minutes. Boulder Crest offers military members, veterans, and families as chance to recover and prevents the loss of lives.

I would like to thank Ken and Julia Falke, their team, and all the individuals who make Boulder Crest possible. I am proud Arizona is able to assist in their mission.

Mr. Speaker, thank you to Chairman Hensarling and Congressman Barr for working with me to make housing more affordable for Arizona families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1699, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act. Manufactured housing is an important form of affordable housing in Arizona, particularly for rural and underserved communities. More than 300,000 families in Arizona live in manufactured homes. Low- and moderate-income families count on manufactured homes as an affordable choice.

Just last week, we had the honor of working with Habitat for Humanity to help Ed, a Vietnam veteran living in Tempe, spread gravel and improve his front yard. Ed first moved to the Valley in 1950 and bought a manufactured home a few years ago.

If Ed wanted to use his VA eligibility to purchase a home, the realtor would be able to connect Ed with a number of lenders who offer VA home loans. However, if Ed wanted to purchase a manufactured home, he would be instructed to go to a table by himself and sift through the countless brochures and loan programs to decide which lender is best. This is a daunting and discouraging process for most borrowers, especially for first-time homebuyers.

Current regulations harm existing manufactured homeowners and potential buyers by curtailing consumer access to manufactured home loans or assistance in the home-buying process. These regulations unintentionally make it more difficult to match borrowers with lenders who can help them in a timely and efficient manner.

H.R. 1699 is a commonsense fix for Ed and the hundreds of thousands of Arizonans who own or are looking to own manufactured homes. The bill ensures that regulations give homebuyers more options, better advice, and greater confidence when buying a new home. The bill also amends the definition of a high cost mortgage and corresponding thresholds to ensure that consumers of small-balance mortgage loans will have the opportunity to access mortgage credit.

It was a privilege to meet Ed and thank him for his service to our country. We should make it easier, not harder, for veterans and fellow Arizonans like him to purchase a home of their choice. I urge members of both parties to join me in supporting H.R. 1699.

Mr. Speaker, due to a technical glitch, my vote was not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 604.

Mr. Speaker, September is Suicide Prevention Month, a

time for our Nation to raise awareness about the recurring tragedy of suicide.

This epidemic is too common for the men and women who wore our country's uniform and put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. An estimated 20 veterans lose their lives to suicide each and every day.

A new VA report shows the risk for suicide is 22 percent higher among veterans than civilians, and 250 percent higher amongst female veterans than female civilians. This is unacceptable.

Twenty veterans a day lost to suicide should be a call to action for our country and for this Congress. We must take action, and we must do it now.

Typically, the time in this Chamber is split. Republicans have 1 hour and Democrats have 1 hour, but we believe this issue is too important to be overshadowed by partisan politics. That is why, tonight, Congressman Tim Murphy and I have brought together Members from both sides of the aisle to show our commitment to solving this problem together and finding real solutions for our veterans.

This is the fifth year that we have assembled this team to raise awareness and send a clear message that the epidemic of veteran suicide must end. We have so much work left to do. So tonight we demonstrate our ongoing support for individuals, organizations, and agencies devoted to preventing the epidemic of veteran suicide. We challenge the VA, the Department of Defense, and our fellow lawmakers to do more. We are failing in our obligation to do right by those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Finally, we stand here tonight, unified, for the military families who have experienced this tragedy, and we say to you: Your family's loss is not forgotten. We work for the memory of your loved ones, and we will not rest until every veteran has access to the care he or she needs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), who understands the importance of addressing this epidemic, a colleague and friend of mine.

Thank you for being here this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to Congressman Johnson. Not only is he an amazing Representative for the people of Ohio, he is also a veteran who served our country ably and proudly, and his story of a veteran in his district lost to suicide should be a call to all of us around the country to take care of the veterans in each of our districts.

We have made some progress since last year. I have often shared the story of a young veteran in my district, Sergeant Daniel Somers. Sergeant Somers was an Army veteran of two tours in Iraq. He served on Task Force Lightning, an intelligence unit. He ran over 400 combat missions as a machine gunner in the turret of a Humvee. Part of his role required him to interrogate dozens of terror suspects, and his work was deemed classified.

Like many veterans, Daniel was haunted by the war when he returned. He suffered from flashbacks, nightmares, depression, and additional symptoms of post-traumatic stress, made worse by a traumatic brain injury.

Daniel needed help. He and his family asked for help, but, unfortunately, the VA enrolled Sergeant Somers in group therapy sessions, which Sergeant Somers could not attend for fear of disclosing classified information. Despite requests for individualized counseling or some other reasonable accommodation to allow Sergeant Somers to receive appropriate care for his PTSD, the VA delayed providing Sergeant Somers with appropriate support and care.

Like many, Sergeant Somers' isolation got worse when he transitioned to civilian life. He tried to provide for his family, but he was unable to work due to his disability.

Sergeant Somers struggled with the VA bureaucracy. His disability appeal had been pending in the system for over 2 years without resolution. Sergeant Somers didn't get the help he needed in time.

On June 10 of 2013, Sergeant Somers wrote a letter to his family. In the letter he said: ``I am not getting better, I am not going to get better, and I will most certainly deteriorate further as time goes on.''

He went on to say:

``Thus, I am left with basically nothing. Too trapped in a war to be at peace, too damaged to be at war. Abandoned by those who would take the easy route, and a liability to those who stick it out--and, thus, deserve better. So you see, not only am I better off dead, but the world is better without me in it.

``This is what brought me to my actual final mission.''

We lost Sergeant Somers that day.

No one who returns home from serving our country should ever feel like he or she has nowhere to turn. I am committed to working on both sides of the aisle to ensure that no veteran ever feels trapped like Sergeant Somers did, and that all of our veterans have access to appropriate mental healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy) a freshman representative and a great addition to our Congress.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Somers' story is familiar to too many military families. Sergeant Somers' parents, Howard and Jean, were devastated by the loss of their son, but they bravely shared Sergeant Somers' story and created a mission of their own. Their mission is to ensure that Sergeant Somers' story brings to light America's deadliest war--the 20 veterans that we lose every day to suicide.

Howard and Jean are working with Congress and the VA to share their experience with the VA healthcare system and to find ways to improve care for veterans and their families. We worked closely with Howard and Jean to develop the Sergeant Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act, and ensure veterans of classified experiences can access appropriate VA mental healthcare services.

After more than 3 years of work, I am proud to say that the Sergeant Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act is now law. But this is just one small step forward, and our work with Howard and Jean doesn't stop here. We have so much work left to do.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott), who has served veterans bravely in Congress and home in his district for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Scott for being here and for his passion for veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) to talk about this important issue we have been working on together.

Mr. Murphy has been serving in Congress since 2002. He is our only practicing psychologist serving in Congress, and he is the co-chair of the Mental Health Caucus. In addition, Congressman Murphy is a commander in the Navy Reserve and provides services to veterans at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center specializing in treating those individuals who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a privilege to serve with him in Congress and work on this important issue.

Thank you so much, Congressman Murphy, and thank you for partnering with me on this important effort this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from New York, Thomas Suozzi, who serves on the Armed Services Committee and has been a great addition to our caucus this year.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you so much, Congressman Suozzi, for your commitment to taking care of veterans in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from California, Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Congressman Julia Brownley has served on the Veterans Committee for 5 years now and is the ranking member on the Health Subcommittee for Veterans. She has been doing a yeoman's amount of work to help ensure that our veterans get the care they need when they return home.

Congresswoman, thank you for joining us again.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her dedication not just to this event every year, but to taking care of veterans at home and here in Washington.

I thank all of the colleagues from both parties who joined us this evening. Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost a loved one to suicide. But our efforts to end veterans' suicide do not end today or even this month. We are committed to continuing this fight to ensure that our veterans always know that they have a place to turn.

We can do more. We need a VA that provides real and meaningful help to veterans in need; a VA that puts veterans first and works aggressively with community providers to improve the quality and accessibility of care. We need a VA that is transparent and open to restore the trust and credibility it has lost. The VA can and must do better. No one deserves our gratitude and respect more than those who put their lives on the line for our freedom. And when the VA fails, our heroes suffer.

We, who enjoy freedom every day, thanks to the sacrifices of our military servicemen and -women, must all step up to end the epidemic of veteran suicide.

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

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call vote 516. I would have voted aye on Roll Call number 516.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairmen Hultgren and Hensarling, Ranking Member Waters, and Congressman Hollingsworth for working with me on this bipartisan legislation to improve our capital markets and help more small companies succeed.

As part of the JOBS Act, Congress directed the Securities and Exchange Commission to amend Regulation A to allow small companies to raise up to $50 million in offerings exempt from full SEC registration. These amendments, known as Regulation A-Plus, exclude certain potential issuers, including Exchange Act reporting companies.

As a result, thousands of companies that already meet the SEC's high disclosure requirements are ineligible to use Regulation A-Plus to cost-effectively raise the funds they need to grow and hire employees.

That is why I have introduced this legislation with Congressman Hollingsworth to allow SEC reporting companies access to Regulation A- Plus. It is a valuable pathway for small businesses to raise money in an efficient, public, and transparent manner.

I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that Arizona's innovative small businesses have every opportunity to thrive, and I hope that Members will join us today in support of this bipartisan legislation.

Again, I thank Congressman Hollingsworth for working with me on this commonsense, bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3364. The authoritarian regimes in Iran, Russia, and North Korea continue to undermine global peace and security and threaten the safety of the United States and our allies.

Russia's coordinated efforts to undermine democracies and free and fair elections around the world is particularly troubling and demand a strong response.

I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their bipartisan legislation that counters these belligerent regimes and ensures strong oversight by Congress and the American people.

The safety and security of our communities and our country must come before partisanship.

I also thank the chair and ranking member for introducing our bipartisan legislation introduced with Congressman Budd to establish a whole-of-government strategy to combat the financing of terrorism.

Current U.S. efforts to counter the financing of terrorism lack sufficient coordination, and the U.S. has no unified national strategy to guide our counterfinancing efforts. Money is the lifeblood of any organization. We must establish a comprehensive and effective strategy to deny money to terrorists. This strategy will enhance detection, deterrence, and prosecution and ultimately strengthen our broader national security goals.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member for advancing this important bipartisan national security bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Sinema- Fitzpatrick-Budd amendment to H.R. 2810, the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.

I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their support of our amendment and for including it in the en bloc package.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to represent a clear threat to the security of the United States and our allies, and to stability in the Middle East.

While ISIL has lost significant territory over the last six months, the terrorist organization continues to oppress and murder civilians in Syria and Iraq and spread its message of violence and hate across the globe.

ISIL's perverted orthodoxy and efforts to support and inspire attacks in the United States and elsewhere are direct threats to our security and safety.

We must do all we can to accelerate ISIL's destruction.

Our bipartisan amendment ensures that the Report on the United States Strategy in Syria

required by the underlying bill includes a description of amounts and sources of ISIL financing and our efforts to disrupt this financing as part of the broader US strategy in Syria.

Financing is the lifeblood of any organization.

Denying revenue streams from oil, from stolen currency, and from extortion, has helped in the fight against ISIL.

Less money means fewer weapons, fewer fighters, and fewer resources to support those fighters, but the fight is far from over and ISIL has already demonstrated its ability to adapt and evolve.

As ISIL loses territory in Iraq and Syria, it looks abroad to inspire and support terrorist attacks in other countries around the world.

We must choke off its sources of revenue. We must deny its access to resources that fund operations in Syria, Iraq, and abroad.

Our amendment ensures we stay focused on financing, and we do it in a way that supports our broader military and counter-terrorism strategies.

As we have seen, effectively integrating smart counter threat finance enhances our overall strategy in Syria and Iraq and can prevent ISIL support for attacks in the US, in Europe and elsewhere.

Ultimately, it will accelerate the fall of ISIL and keep Americans safe.

I thank my colleagues Congressman Fitzpatrick and Congressman Budd for offering this amendment with me.

Again, I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their support and for their continued bipartisan leadership in support of our country's national security.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1551, which improves the Section 45(J) nuclear production tax credit (NPTC), as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation and thank Congressman Rice of South Carolina and Congressman Blumenauer of Oregon for their leadership on this issue.

The NPTC encourages the development of advanced nuclear power plants that make strides in safety and reliability but is limited to the first 6,000 megawatts of new generating capacity constructed by 2020. Since passage of the Act, more advanced reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), have moved steadily through the research and development stage and could be ready for commercial deployment by the middle of the next decade.

Once approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), these technologies will provide reliable, carbon-free baseload electricity with safety features that nearly eliminate the possibility of a radiological release. The first SMRs in the United States will most likely be in the West. Arizona energy providers like the Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service are both evaluating the potential use of small modular reactors as they replace aging generation capacity.

When the NPTC expires in 2020, it will likely do so without reaching the megawatt cap. H.R. 1551 makes the remaining credit available beyond 2020, providing a powerful incentive for the next generation of advanced nuclear and SMR projects. I strongly support these efforts and encourage you to consider the positive impact these changes would have on incentivizing a new generation of safe, reliable, and carbon-free advanced nuclear power.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and to move America toward energy independence.