Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3191) to provide for the expeditious disclosure of records related to civil rights cold cases, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 would ensure the integrity of records of civil rights cold cases and ultimately allow public access to them. This important legislation has bipartisan support.

I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize the service of Guilford County's longest-serving sheriff in history, B.J. Barnes.

Sheriff Barnes is retiring after more than two decades of service to the people and to the community of central North Carolina. Beginning in 1970, Sheriff Barnes felt the call to serve and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at only 19 years old.

After beginning a career in law enforcement, he was elected sheriff in 1994. His reforms to the Guilford County justice system over the years have not gone unnoticed, from updating ramshackle jails to bringing our county necessary forensic technology, Sheriff Barnes always fought, and succeeded, in keeping Guilford County safe.

His service forever changed our community, and, we, along with his peers throughout the State and the country, will always remember his relentless dedication, his integrity, and his compassion.

Twenty-four years and six terms later, Sheriff Barnes retires with an outstanding record and will continue to be a source of influence for Guilford County.

Heroes like Sheriff Barnes are the fabric of our community, and I am blessed to call him a friend and mentor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Jane Miller who served the citizens of the 6th District of North Carolina in the Office of Representative Howard Coble, my predecessor, and Representative Gene Johnston of North Carolina. Previously, she also worked for Representative Harold Terry ``Bizz'' Johnson of California.

Throughout her tenure as a staffer to these Members of Congress, Jane managed the legislative portfolio related to healthcare and immigration, and also worked to facilitate casework for constituents of the 6th District. She managed both these capacities in a warm and caring way and always worked to find a resolution for a problem or a way to move forward.

Jane also served as a valued coworker and friend to all those who worked with her. She was often called ``Super Mom'' by both Mr. Johnston and Mr. Coble given her ability and willingness to sew a button on a jacket or bring in a special treat for all to enjoy. In this same vein, she acted as a role model for young staffers working in the office as their ``Second Mom'' in Washington, D.C. Each day, she exhibited love, humor, and patience with her colleagues, young and old and provided support and encouragement to all she encountered.

Jane was a mentor, friend, and resource to those who lived and served the 6th District of North Carolina during her career. Some of my staff had the privilege of working with Jane and it's my honor to pay tribute to someone who set such a high bar for service to the citizens of the 6th Congressional District of North Carolina and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, it has been said, ``The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of

what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.''

These words embodied the life of Officer Jared William Franks of the Greensboro Police Department. Officer Franks was killed in the line of duty after bravely engaging in the pursuit of a suspect.

Only 24 years old, Officer Franks dedicated his life to public service and creating a safer community for us all. He is the first Greensboro officer to die in the line of duty in 17 years, reminding us of the bravery and strength members of law enforcement show our communities every single day.

We must never forget and always be thankful for their courage and dedication. Please keep his family; his dad, Officer Captain Franks; and fellow officers in your prayers as we remember Officer Franks' life and legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Cox Toyota in Burlington, North Carolina. Founded by the Cox family, Cox Toyota has remained a family business and has become a key part of the Sixth District. For five decades, Mr. Don Cox has used the success of his family owned business to serve the community, through his work with organizations such as Toys for Tots and the Wounded Warriors project. I am proud to represent businesses such as Cox Toyota who have had such a positive impact on our local economies as well as our communities in need. I offer my sincerest congratulations to Mr. Don Cox and the rest of his family and the Cox Toyota team on this amazing milestone

Mr. Speaker, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has transformed the economy, delivering economic growth in the form of more jobs, bigger paychecks, increased investment, and historically high small business optimism.

Today, I rise in support as an original cosponsor of H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018.

I thank Chairman Brady for his tireless work over the last year and a half to make this legislation possible, continuing to build on the success of the

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by locking in those tax cuts for individuals, families, and small businesses.

Today's bill makes permanent the transformational tax reforms included in the legislation we enacted last December.

Mr. Speaker, locking in those important reforms provides certainty and enhances growth. In fact, according to the Tax Foundation's analysis, making these reforms permanent will create 1.5 million new jobs, increase wages by nearly a full percentage point, and increase the overall GDP by 2.2 percent. Those are facts.

Locking in these important reforms reduces burdensome complexity. Because of this legislation, the vast majority of individuals and families will choose the enhanced standard deduction and will no longer need to do the recordkeeping required for itemizing deductions.

The alternative minimum tax, which requires individuals and families to calculate their tax twice each year and pay the higher amount, will be eliminated for close to 96 percent of those who have had to pay in 2017. A recent Tax Foundation study shows that a reduction in time spent on tax compliance that is expected to come from the simplification in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will, indeed, translate into savings of $3.1 billion to $5.4 billion for individuals and families.

Locking in these important reforms will fuel the small businesses that fuel the American economy.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act delivered lower tax rates in a new 20 percent deduction for pass-through business income. Today's bill locks in those benefits.

Mr. Speaker, now is the time to keep our economy booming and protect the family and small business tax reforms delivered last December. I urge my colleagues to support this and help lock in these benefits for all Americans by passing H.R. 6760.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4809, the Guidance Out of Darkness, or GOOD, Act.

Mr. Speaker, those who must live their lives or run their businesses according to a set of rules have a right to know what those rules are.

To foster accountability and transparency in Federal regulation, Congress passed the Administrative Procedure Act in 1946, which required disclosure or publication of administrative rules. Unfortunately, the law contains an exception for what we commonly refer to as guidance documents.

Guidance documents are sporadically posted on agency websites and the websites of component agencies and offices, while some are not posted at all. That inconsistency places burdens on regulated entities.

Small businesses are especially harmed because they do not have the resources to hire full-time compliance staff. Instead, small-business owners have to take the time and energy away from their businesses to stay up to date on each new regulatory guidance.

The GOOD Act requires transparency and consistency in the regulatory process.

The public deserves to know what guidance documents are out there. They deserve to know how the agencies administering our laws interpret those laws and regulations.

H.R. 4809 requires agencies to post their guidance documents online in one centralized location. Agencies create these documents and expect the guidance to be followed. They should, therefore, have no problem gathering and posting these documents for the American people to see.

At the request of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, dozens of agencies have disclosed information to us on their use of guidance documents. The results have been staggering.

To date, agencies have provided lists of more than 18,000 guidance documents issued just in the past decade, and that is just a portion of Federal guidance documents. There are a handful of agencies that have been unable or flat out refused to produce a list of guidance documents for the committees.

I believe we would agree this is a red flag. If an agency doesn't bother to keep track of its guidance documents, then how in the world can businesses and taxpayers be expected to comply with them?

The burden should be on the agencies to make guidance documents publicly available and easy to find. That is all this bill does. It requires agencies to post information they should already have in a central location so it can be easily found. This is a small step agencies can take that will have significant benefits, alleviating burdens on regulated entities and the public.

I thank the bipartisan group of my colleagues who supported H.R. 4809 during committee consideration of this bill, and I urge all Members to support this legislation. Why? Because this legislation is commonsense reform that Members of both parties can support in the name of good governance and transparency.

Mr. Speaker, there is one additional item that is common sense that I believe both parties could support, and that is wishing my wife a happy birthday today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the town of Madison, North Carolina as they celebrate the town's bicentennial year. Located in western Rockingham county, Madison is full of rich history and embodies the integrity and charm of the sixth district. As Madison continues its bicentennial festival, I want to congratulate Mayor David Myers, the Board of Aldermen, and the citizens of Madison on this incredible milestone. North Carolina is one of only 24 other states that can claim a city or town with a bicentennial trademark, and I am proud to represent such a joyous community.

I offer my sincere congratulations to the town of Madison on its 200th anniversary and join in celebration of the town's unique history, as well as its prosperous future.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment.

In December, Congress passed historic tax reform that frees people from ObamaCare's erroneous individual mandate which punished lower and middle income families for not buying health insurance they don't want or cannot afford.

Well, how does D.C. respond? The City Council has now decreed that all residents must buy health insurance, no matter the cost or need. And listen, if you refuse, not only will you be financially penalized, but the D.C. government can seize your personal property. What?

The idea that a local government can force you to buy a private product just because of your zip code is unjust and un-American.

Congress, which has direct oversight of D.C., cannot allow the District to ignore Federal law and use politics to punish their residents.

I urge my colleagues to support the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1376) to amend title 44, United States Code, to require preservation of certain electronic records by Federal agencies, to require a certification and reports relating to Presidential records, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1376, the Electronic Message Preservation Act of 2017, introduced by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Electronic Message Preservation Act of 2017 will ensure the Federal Government continues to take the necessary steps to modernize its recordkeeping.

Despite the significant shift to electronic communications over the last two decades, many Federal agencies are just now moving away from a print-to-file method of electronic record preservation. Using paper to preserve electronic records is inefficient, difficult to manage, difficult to search, and risks loss of the records. Paper-based systems can also increase the cost to the taxpayer.

At the end of 2016, the Office of Management and Budget began requiring agencies to preserve records electronically if they were created electronically. This bill codifies that requirement. This bill ensures agencies will continue to electronically manage their records, where possible, and closes gaps in current law.

H.R. 1376 also requires electronic Presidential records be held to the same archival standards as those of executive agencies.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Maryland for his work on this important issue this Congress and in the previous Congress.

I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5415) to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5415, the GAO- IG Act.

The Government Accountability Office and inspectors general are two of the best sources for recommendations to improve the operations of the Federal Government. Their efforts help fight waste, fraud, and abuse; promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the executive branch; and save taxpayer dollars.

GAO and inspector general audits and investigations often end with corrective recommendations to the agency reviewed. As of May 2018, the GAO has issued more than 1,500 products with about 4,800 open recommendations.

Since 2014, IGs have issued over 8,900 reports, with approximately 40,300 total recommendations. During that same time period, IGs identified over $99 billion in potential savings through their audits, investigations, and recommendations.

But all of these recommendations are only as valuable as the agency's commitment to implement them. I introduced the GAO-IG Act to ensure every agency evaluates and implements recommendations by GAO and the inspector general. The bill requires agencies to include the unresolved GAO and IG recommendations within their annual budget justification to Congress.

Agencies must also report on the implementation status of each recommendation and why they are not fully implemented. This creates a formal process in which agencies must take stock of their open and unimplemented recommendations each year. This increased transparency will encourage each agency to work with GAO and its inspector general to identify and implement high-priority open recommendations.

I would like to thank Representatives Palmer, Duncan, Bishop, and Fitzpatrick for their cosponsorship of this legislation. I would also like to thank Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for their support. The bill passed out of the committee unanimously by voice vote earlier this year.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4446) to amend the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act to extend the expiration date of the Commission, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4446, introduced by the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

H.R. 4446 would extend the Virgin Islands Centennial Commission by a period of 1 year.

Congress established the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States. The Commission was delayed in convening. As a result, no events have been planned or carried out, and there is no final report available detailing the Commission's recommended activities.

This bill extends the life of the Commission by 1 year to give it more time to plan events celebrating this important moment in American history. The bill also delays the deadline for submitting the final report by 1 year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4890) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, as the ``Wayne K. Curry Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4890, a bill to name the post office at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, after Wayne K. Curry.

Mr. Curry was born in Brooklyn in 1951, but grew up in Cheverly, Maryland. After graduating from Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College, Curry began working for Prince George's County while earning his law degree at night. In 1944, Wayne Curry ran and was elected to the position of county executive.

Curry passed away from lung cancer on July 2, 2014, at the age of 63.

He was a dedicated public servant, and we honor him today by naming a post office after him in the county in which he served.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5238) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5238, a bill to name the post office at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, after Major Robert Odell Owens.

Major Owens led a life of public service, beginning as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library. At around the same time, Owens became a member of the Brooklyn chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, where he worked to fight racism and discrimination in New York City.

From 1975 to 1982, Owens served as New York State senator. In 1982, Owens won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he went on to serve 24 years as a representative to the citizens of New York City.

In Congress, Owens fought passionately for many causes, including education policy. He was active in the Congressional Black Caucus Education Brain Trust, promoting reading, science, and math education.

This bill would honor Congressman Owens' service by naming a post office in Brooklyn in his name.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2692) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4558 Broadway in New York, New York, as the ``Stanley Michels Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2692, a bill to name the post office at 4558 Broadway in New York, New York, after Stanley E. Michels.

Stanley Michels was a lawyer and politician from Washington Heights who was a New York councilman from 1978 to 2001. He was active in environmental protection and public health, having sponsored New York City's first law regulating smoking in public places.

Michels also sponsored one of the first city laws to prevent childhood lead poisoning, and he played a significant role in expanding the city's recycling program. Stanley Michels was a dedicated public servant.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.