Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding constituent on her 100th birthday--Esther Ward of Randolph County.

I am pleased to share in the momentous celebration of her 100th birthday, and I am honored to acknowledge this joyous milestone, filled with memories and experiences. It is not only a time of happiness, but a time to reflect on the lives Esther has enriched. In particular, Esther continues to be a pillar of her church, Hopewell Friends Meeting of Asheboro. North Carolina has been truly fortunate to share in her long legacy of achievement.

I join with her family, friends, church and the Sixth District in congratulating Esther on this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, tonight is our third time that we have hosted People's Night. This is a time for our Members to bypass outside forces and influences and talk directly to the American people.

Tonight we are presenting something that has been very important, not just a topic, but something that nearly 6 years ago--or a little over 6 years ago--right here where we stand tonight was passed in an overly bipartisan manner and has burdened the American people in what is now known as ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act.

This is a piece of legislation that has burdened small businesses and individuals alike. Now we have been asked to fix it, to repeal and to replace. Well, it takes Members to be able to have experience in this particular field to understand the heart of community. One of the people who does that most, specifically in the area of poverty initiatives, who reaches across community lines, reaches across party lines is the gentleman from Kentucky, my good friend, Representative Andy Barr from Kentucky. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

I thank Representative Barr. Your compassion on this topic is certainly evident. We appreciate your comments this evening.

Mr. Speaker, there are a couple of numbers I would like to share that puts it a little bit in the context of what we are dealing with here. Seventy-five percent of co-ops have failed. In five States, Americans are down to just one option. The great thing about our country's history is that we have choices. We have decisions. Yet, since the takeover of this administration over health care, those choices have continued to reduce. Sometimes you may hear Congress this or Congress that. One of the neat things about Congress is the amount of people coming from diverse backgrounds.

Our next speaker tonight is Representative Mike Bishop, former senate majority leader in his home State of Michigan, who was already working on those reforms when he came to the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Bishop).

I thank Representative Bishop of Michigan.

One of the numbers my friend just mentioned was 8 out of 10. Nearly 80 percent, according to Gallup, believe this law should be overhauled or completely repealed. So I ask people watching tonight and my friends across the aisle: Are we to do nothing? In fact, even in the press conference today, President-elect Trump said that, if we did nothing, it would continue to fail. But we have an obligation to stand up and do what is right.

We can't do nothing. People are suffering--in fact, suffering to the place that even recently a couple months ago a Minnesota Governor was honest enough to talk about how it has damaged small business. Goodness gracious, even a former Democratic President has acknowledged the destruction it has caused for individuals and small businesses.

No one knows more about what it does to our States than individual Representatives. One of the fine gentlemen that is speaking tonight is Representative French Hill. He is one of the sharper minds that we have had as part of the 114th class that I have been privileged to meet and serve with for the last 2 years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

If you listened closely there, Representative Hill talked about some of the premiums increasing. If you think back 6, 7, even 8 years ago, even part of the original campaign talking about the Affordable Care Act, this ObamaCare, we think about three promises--we have all heard them--you can keep your doctor, you can keep your healthcare plan, and premiums are going down. Specifically one that stands out more was the premiums going down $2,500.

My Democratic friends want to ignore some of those numbers, but here are the facts: In 2014, premiums increased across the board 37 percent; 2015, again, last year, 25 percent. In fact, in some States, it is out of sight. In my home State of North Carolina, it is 40 percent. But in some places, in Arizona, it is as high as 116 percent.

So the process of working to put this together, the RSC plan and the repeal and replace, who better than to have people that have experience in this? There is maybe nobody better in the House who has the insurance background than our friend, Representative Austin Scott from Georgia's Eighth District.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Representative Scott, well articulated. I appreciate your heart on this.

Looking at this and tackling this project because of the 2,600 pages of complexities, I guess we don't need to reiterate it, but how the minority leader said that we needed to pass this law to be able to figure out what is in it.

Obviously, it is more than just a running joke. With the people in the background, what does it take to kind of wrap our minds around it and to wrap our arms around it so as to find our way back? It takes people with medical experience, and it takes people with budget experience. This is going to be huge.

One of the Members we have here with us tonight is the vice chair of the Committee on the Budget, someone who has great concern about the damage that this has caused to the fine folks of Indiana, whom he represents. It is my privilege to yield to the Representative from Indiana, Todd Rokita.

I thank Representative Rokita.

Mr. Speaker, as I was sitting here, I just received a text from a volunteer fire department official right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. He writes that they were watching the proceedings this evening:

I just want to let you know that even my drug prescription

has gone up $200 out of pocket per person.

He has three daughters in his family.

Think about this. This is real-life stuff. That is why we are stepping in. Part of our plan in the repeal and replacement--the American Health Care Reform Act--allows you to have immediate access to your health savings account. You would not have to worry about somebody's needing a prescription or somebody's needing medicine--one of the children--and, every time, it is $200 out of pocket. That is why it is important to move--and to move with diligence.

Someone who knows a little bit about the healthcare industry is my friend Dr. Brian Babin of Texas, who has been dealing with this in his own dentist's practice. He is a former veteran and is someone who cares about his district but who cares about all Americans. It is my privilege to yield to my friend from the great State of Texas, the Lone Star State, Dr. Brian Babin.

I thank Dr. Babin. I appreciate that spirited, heartfelt talk. In my previous vocation, we would usually call for an invitation at about this time.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a problem in red States; this is a problem in blue States, like it is with my good friend from the First District of California, Representative Doug LaMalfa, to whom I yield as he shares a little bit of his heart when it comes to ObamaCare and the repeal.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), our resident veterinarian in the House.

Mr. Speaker, we talk about numbers. Twenty-five percent of all Americans have been damaged at some point under this Affordable Care Act. We cannot look the other way.

One gentleman who doesn't look the other way but stands up and speaks the truth is Representative Pete Olson.

I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. Speaker, who better to close out our Special Order than a gentleman, a doctor who has employed hundreds of people and has worked with thousands of patients?

You may have heard the false narrative that, yes, we have contributed in breaking the program, from the Democrat's perspective, and you guys need to fix it, but you don't have a plan.

Well, that is a false narrative and here to tell you why is Dr. Phil Roe.

I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe).

Mr. Speaker, the bottom line to the American people is this: it is time to return healthcare choices to the American people.

God bless and good night.

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

Madam Speaker, in traveling throughout the district this past week, people shared with me their frustration at the ambiguous language from this administration in describing the evils of radical Islamist terrorism.

Though I greatly respect the office of the President, I too have grown weary at the timidity. While other world leaders have come to the forefront, our President continues to be defensive, at best.

At first glance, the silence appears to be passive or poor leadership. But I am inclined to believe that the President's posture is not one of weakness but, rather, an intentional directive in both rhetoric and action. It appears that his promise to take our country in a fundamentally new direction is being played out in realtime. Instead of defending our liberty and our way of life, which is the most charitable in the world, our President seems to scoff at the belief that our country has been uniquely blessed by God.

I would be remiss today if I did not pause and remember our Egyptian Christian brothers in the recent barbaric attacks in Libya. ISIS murdered innocent husbands and fathers who clearly died for their faith and their beliefs.

Just this morning, we hear further reports out of Syria that Islamic State militants have abducted dozens of Christians, including women and children. Weeks prior, the President chastised the Christian community for getting on their judgmental high horses. Yet, in describing our martyred brothers from Egypt, the President refused to even utter the word, ``Christian.''

The undermining of our beliefs has become an issue with this President. This very week, we face a constitutional crisis that was created solely by this administration. House Republicans have passed legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, yet this President is now asking me and my colleagues to do something that, for 6 years and on more than 20 occasions, he said was outside the law.

Throughout history, strong leaders have exhibited strength in times of crises. Recently, Tony Blair met with a few of us and gave a great speech on the concerns and the ills of extreme terrorism. He said this, and I haven't forgotten it. He said: America, it is not your job to be loved; it is your job to lead.

Today, I beseech the President to lead by clearly defining this expanding extremism that is ISIS, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, al Shabaab, and other radical Islamic fundamentalists.

There are times when riding the high horse of justice is our only option. The American people are demanding strength. It is time to speak out. Defend our inalienable rights of liberty and life, be courageous, be a leader, Mr. President. The world is watching.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a great man who left his mark--in fact, a legacy--on our State of North Carolina.

Coach Dean Smith retired as the winningest coach in FBS history, but many will remember Dean Smith as a pioneer in another arena. Dean grew up in a home that valued the inalienable human dignity conferred upon us by our Creator.

When Coach Alfred Smith, Dean's father, brought a young African American student on to his high school team, he did so against the wishes of the State's athletic association. By speaking truth to power, Alfred Smith stood up for a principle that he knew was right. No doubt this had a profound impact on his son, Dean.

Years later, Coach Dean Smith helped integrate ACC basketball by recruiting UNC's first African American player, Charlie Scott, in 1966.

During his tenure, the greatest rivalry in college basketball became Duke and UNC. In fact, Coach K of Duke University said it best:

While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was

clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues.

However, his greatest gift was his unique ability to teach

what it takes to become a good man. That was easy for him to

do because he was a great man himself.

Thank you, Coach Smith, for your investment into basketball but even more into the lives you touched.

Mr. Speaker, we are rapidly approaching a crossroads regarding the President's executive actions that provide de facto amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.

On February 27, the appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security runs out. Here are the facts:

The House has done exactly what the American people have asked. We have passed a bill that fully funds the Department of Homeland Security, including broadly supported amendments that would defund the President's illegal executive orders.

Now the time has come for the Senate to engage. Sadly, they are not even debating the issue. Senate Democrats are now blocking the consideration of the bill. I strongly urge the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to hold the line and to work diligently.

The President's overreach needs to be stopped. This is a constitutional issue, not an immigration one. Are we not outraged at such abuse? The President has violated his own words, attempting to enforce authoritative actions he repeatedly said he did not have. In fact, 22 times he has said he did not have the constitutional privilege to do so. This administration's opinion on other issues may continue to evolve or change, but may I remind him the Constitution has not changed.

I am calling on not only my constituents but on our fellow citizens across this land to let your voices be heard. Demand results from your leaders.

I would like to thank my colleague from Georgia for organizing this meeting to allow our voices to be heard in a very loud manner.

Mr. Chairman, every day small businesses and local governments are weighed down by Washington's numerous regulations. H.R. 50, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, acts to curb the constant rules and regulations that Washington continues to impose on the American people.

This law builds on and improves the bipartisan legislation, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, which was enacted to promote transparent decisionmaking and curb unfunded Federal mandates. However, due to loopholes and exemptions, UMRA has failed to keep unfunded mandates off the backs of local governments and taxpayers.

I would like to thank Congresswoman Foxx for introducing this bipartisan legislation to close these gaps, hold Washington accountable, and better protect our fellow Americans.

Importantly, this bill will do three things: one, it will close loopholes that allow agencies and independent regulators to forgo UMRA analysis; two, it enables stakeholders to engage Federal agencies before unfunded mandates are implemented; and three, it holds regulators accountable through the courts and congressional oversight.

I am reminded every day that we were elected to bring change to Washington, and this reform is exactly what needs to be sent to the President's desk.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, ``middle class economics'' is the President's new catchphrase and method to pay lip service to helping American families--more smoke and mirrors.

In November, voters spoke loudly and clearly in sending 58 Members to Washington. I made a promise over these past 2 years that I would come to Washington and stand up. Today, for the first time, I am proud to vote for a full repeal of this law.

The ACA has caused insurance premiums to skyrocket for working families in North Carolina. It continues to weigh on our economy and on our job creators. This law is seriously flawed in the fact that the President's administration has overreached dozens of times in trying to change and fix the law themselves. Yes, the damaging effects of ObamaCare are so ingrained in the fabric of this law that fixing it is not an option. That is why I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 596 for a full repeal.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 460) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to train Department of Homeland Security personnel how to effectively deter, detect, disrupt, and prevent human trafficking during the course of their primary roles and responsibilities, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 460, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 460, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015, the first bill I have introduced as a Member of Congress.

A few weeks ago, we took an oath promising to protect the people of this great country. I am convinced that part of this high calling is protecting those who are victims of human trafficking.

North Carolina is often ranked as a top State for labor and sex trafficking. This insidious industry is in our own backyard and, unfortunately, it is growing. Just last week, in my own district, local officials announced the formation of the Alamance County Anti-Human Trafficking Advocacy Council to respond to the growing human trafficking problem throughout Alamance County. However, they cannot do it alone, and we must come together to stop this unconscionable industry.

As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I feel strongly that the men and the women of the Department of Homeland Security have a crucial role in preventing human trafficking. Up to an estimated 17,500 people are trafficked each year into the United States, and many of these victims will pass by either Border Patrol or TSA. We must make certain that these agents are properly trained in the current trends and practices to end human trafficking.

This bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to train Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant DHS personnel to counter human trafficking in a manner specific to their professional roles and responsibilities.

The bill also ensures that such training will be assessed by the Secretary of Homeland Security on an annual basis so that it is based on the most current human trafficking trends and intelligence and directs the Secretary to report to Congress on the number of suspected cases reported by the DHS officials.

Lastly, this legislation recognizes the critical role that State and local authorities play in preventing human trafficking by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to make training curricula available to State, local, tribal, and private sector partners.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is one of the most profitable forms of transnational crime in the world, second only to drug trafficking. It is incumbent upon Congress to take action

and ensure that DHS personnel are better equipped to prevent this serious threat and this modern-day form of slavery.

The Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015 builds on the good work already under way at DHS by mandating position-specific, relevant training to enable effective trafficking countermeasures at points of entry, transit hubs, and other high-risk locations across the country.

I would like to thank Congressman Meadows for developing and championing this legislation in the 113th Congress and for working with me to reintroduce the measure in this Congress.

Additionally, I would like to thank the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. McCaul, for his work on this important issue and for his support of this bill, as well as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Katko, for cosponsoring this legislation.

Finally, I would like to thank each of the bill's cosponsors, including North Carolina's own Alma Adams, Robert Pittenger, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry, and the aforementioned Mark Meadows for their great support of this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).

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

Thank you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, for your eloquence on such an important issue.

Mr. Speaker, there are millions of victims who are trapped in the United States and around the world who are suffering in silence. In many cases, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security, who are on the front lines of the fight, are trying to end this heinous crime and help these victims.

This legislation codifies some of the good work already being done to train DHS personnel to detect and prevent human trafficking while also ensuring that such training is specific to the professional roles of the personnel who will utilize it. Moreover, this bill will enable the DHS to equip its non-Federal partners to better counter the devastating effects of human trafficking. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this critically important, bipartisan bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Wagner for her work in organizing this Special Order, and I also thank Representative Mark Meadows in allowing us to lead with such an important piece of legislation.

It was only a week ago that we celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., who famously said: ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.''

We now have the opportunity to act upon one of the greatest injustices of our time--the growing criminal industry of human trafficking.

All across America, vulnerable young men, women, children, and even entire families, are being victimized and exploited in unspeakable ways. These precious human beings are seen by their traffickers as a commodity, valued only for the profit they can turn. We must not remain silent about such depravity. Rather, we must engage with immediate fervor on this significant humanitarian crisis.

Victims of human trafficking can literally be hidden in plain sight. However, we know that the United States is considered a leading destination for human traffickers. It is a top source of income for organized crime and involves more than half the street gangs in our Nation. From our big cities to our small towns, this billion-dollar industry is here. And unless we move

quickly, it will be here for some time. It is growing, and it must be eradicated.

Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and nonprofit groups such as Alamance for Freedom in my own Sixth Congressional District of North Carolina are on the front lines of this battle, and they are pleading for our help. Here in Congress, we hear your voices. Most importantly, we hear the voices of those trapped in this evil, modern-day slavery.

There is an immediate need for training that will enable officers and agents to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.

Last week, I introduced my first bill, H.R. 460, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation works to effectively train and inform the Department of Homeland Security personnel to better detect and intercept human traffickers and their victims.

We took an oath a few weeks ago promising to protect the people of this great country. I am convinced that part of this high calling is to protect those who are victims of human trafficking. Our President even says that the fight against human trafficking is one of the greatest human rights causes of our time, and the United States will continue to lead it. Well, now is the time to lead.

This bill will provide the very necessary training skills in identifying victims of human trafficking as they enter and move about across this country. It is not a final step, but an important one that can immediately save these precious individuals from years of abuse. Let us do so with boldness, courage, and an unflinching dedication to those who need us the most.

Mr. Speaker, it is a true honor to be here today, and I am humbled to serve in Washington following the Honorable Howard Coble. Before ever arriving in these hallowed Halls, I made a promise to always put the people before the politics.

Each day upon entering this most historic place, I am reminded that this House belongs to the people. This past November, these same individuals voiced their strong desire for change--real change--with fresh faces and new ideas.

As part of my commitment, I have joined several of my colleagues in supporting term limits for Members of Congress. As Members, we must always stay connected with our constituents without falling prey to special interests.

It is not always the most popular of choices, but I was sent to Washington to serve the people, and I believe that term limits are needed to ensure that we never lose sight of why we are here.