Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Jimmy Terry, Sr., beloved pastor, devoted family man, tireless community leader, and passionate proclaimer of the love of Jesus.

Raised by his beloved ``Aunt Lucy'' in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Pastor Terry served in the United States Navy on the USS Saratoga and in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio before he was called to minister to Clarksville-Montgomery County, first as pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, then as founder of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and Christian School.

Although renowned statewide for his vast civic involvement in the NAACP, Legend Bank, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, hospitals, colleges and associations, it was his gift of uniting people through powerful prayer, joyous celebration, and the simplicity of the words ``I love you'' that made him such a Tennessee treasure. His servant leadership, continual encouragement, and fierce defense of the Christian faith inspired thousands. His mission to return Christ to the central meanings of Christmas and Easter became The Jesus Sign Ministry, extending from Clarksville-Montgomery County to all 95 Tennessee counties to communities nationwide. His life's work was his life.

On June 21, 2017 Pastor Terry left Clarksville on the evening train to Glory. His influence is far-reaching, his legacy is profound, and his impact in our community is immeasurable. We rejoice in simply knowing him.

Mr. Speaker, I think we should talk about pain on the floor today because, when you talk to physicians and OB/GYNs, they will tell you that, if they are doing work, if they are doing an amniocentesis, then that baby feels pain, that baby responds, that child in the womb.

So I would encourage my colleagues, talk to Dr. Roe, talk to some of the OB/GYNs who serve in this Chamber, because they fully understand, as we understand, that the gift of life is not something that comes through the law. That is a natural gift. That is a gift of God. And that child who is receiving that life, who is held in the womb, if they are poked or prodded or there is an uncomfortable situation, they experience pain. That is why this legislation is referred to as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

I encourage support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Harold T. Riggins, III, decorated combat soldier, community trailblazer, and passionate advocate for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life.

During 27 years of active military duty--first as an enlisted Sergeant, then as an officer--LTC (R) Riggins deployed with the 101st Airborne Division for two tours in Iraq, earning distinction as a proven combat leader. For his outstanding service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, coveted Ranger Tab, and multiple medals and badges.

While working post-retirement as program director for the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP), he personally walked 38,000 Fort Campbell soldiers, hand-in-hand, through one of the toughest processes they experience at the end of their careers. Working with multiple city, county and state governments, and thousands of companies in a one-stop facility, he delivered a ``smooth takeoff'' for each of the 400 soldiers transitioning monthly from the Army, helping them successfully move into the National Guard and Reserves, higher education, civilian or self-employment worldwide, while learning to plan financially and utilize federal and state benefits. His servant attitude, superior management, and infinite compassion make him an inspirational model for military personnel nearing end of service.

Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. We now celebrate LTC (R) Riggins, who for seven dynamic years ensured the 1 percent of Americans who sacrificed to serve our nation thrive in the communities they love.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Wayne County resident, Private First Class Freelon F. Kelly, decorated combat veteran, farmer, friend, and fallen hero.

Born on the 2nd of May, 1912, PFC Kelly trained as an infantryman and shipped to the European Theater of Operations in 1940 where his 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division led America's first-ever combat amphibious assault in North Africa. His division, nicknamed the ``Big Red One'' for the red Arabic numeral 1 on their shoulder sleeve insignia, fought the enemy at Tunisia's Kasserine Pass, the Amphibious Battle of Gela, Sicily, the Normandy invasion, the battle of

Aachen, Germany, and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium's Ardennes province.

The Big Red One held the critical shoulder of the Bulge at Bullingen--a small, rural town of 2,000 residents--facing insurmountable odds, rallying to their motto: ``No Mission Too Difficult. No Sacrifice Too Great.'' PFC Kelly was Killed In Action on a snowy, bitterly cold day, December 21st, 1944, and for his sacrifice was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. His name is inscribed on the 1st Infantry Division obelisk in Bullingen, commemorating the 458 Big Red One soldiers who died there while ``fighting for the liberty of the world.''

He was brought home to his final resting place in the Gallaher Cemetery on Glenrock Rd less than a mile from his family's farmland through which the Factory Creek flows. Many family memories were made with his nine siblings, on this land, in this creek, and throughout his 32 years.

We dedicate the Factory Creek Bridge to the memory of PFC Freelon F. Kelly, WWII hero, who not only ensured the lives lost in combat were not lost in vain, but also embodied the legacy of service and sacrifice of The Greatest Generation.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor retired Army Command Sergeant Major Sidney Brown, decorated combat soldier, passionate community leader, and tireless advocate for the Clarksville-Montgomery County area and its veterans.

During 30 years of active military duty, CSM Brown deployed with the 101st Airborne Division, serving two tours in Vietnam, Germany, and Korea, earning distinction as a member of the Triple Nickle--555th Parachute Infantry Association. For his outstanding service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and multiple medals and badges.

Upon retirement, he was elected as a Montgomery County Commissioner. Within one year of appointment as Chairman of the Clarksville- Montgomery Veterans' Home Board, he gathered support from city council members, county commissioners, and state and federal officials to build a much-needed nursing home for veterans to ``give back to them what they sacrificed to give us.'' In spite of many obstacles in fundraising and land acquisition, the Veterans' Home opened in 2016--due in large part to CSM Brown's steadfast mission. His ever-present enthusiasm, determination and devotion make him an inspirational model for the active-duty soldiers, veteran students and ROTC cadets he has championed for decades. He has dedicated his life to our nation's military, and we are truly humbled to honor him.

Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. We join his family and friends in dedicating the Sidney Brown Bistro to CSM Brown, who ensured our veterans' sacrifices are revered and repaid.

Mr. Speaker, more than 46 million Americans and tens of thousands of Tennesseans live over an hour away from Level 1 or 2 trauma centers, making them twice as likely to die from an accident or medical condition. Rapid, sophisticated, air transportation is their only option for complex, time-dependent care.

That is why today we recognize Air Evac Lifeteam for its critical service to rural, medically-underserved communities. Five bases in Lawrenceburg, Parsons, Savannah, Waverly, and Waynesboro, Tennessee, serve all 19 contiguous counties in the 7th Congressional District through advanced helicopter ambulances and personnel.

Their crews of 65 pilots, nurses, paramedics, and mechanics maintain a patient-first focus on high-tech, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Many pilots, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan on military air assaults and medivac missions, use those same skills to save thousands of lives every year in Tennessee. Many crews are regularly deployed for disaster relief nationwide. Their service is invaluable.

Air medical transportation will ensure access to emergency health care for the people who need it most, and Air Evac Lifeteam puts the journey in experienced, cutting-edged, compassionate hands

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the recognition, and I want to begin by commending Chairman Cole, his staff, and the Appropriations Committee for the fine work that they have done.

As we are looking at the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill, we are looking at $156 billion for fiscal year 2018. My amendment would cut an additional 1 percent out of that number.

I think it is important to commend the work that they have done over the past couple of years. If you go back and look at the appropriations numbers in 2016, they were at $163.65 billion; 2017, down to $162.985 billion; and this year, at $156 billion.

I think that that work is to be commended. The leadership in this House, the chairman, Chairman Cole, and the work that they are doing is getting us on the right path. It is important that as we as Members of Congress do our job, it is important that we engage the

rank-and-file employees that are there in these various agencies--over at the Department of Education and at Labor and HHS--and make certain that they are saving that one penny out of a dollar, because we hit a pretty dubious marker this week.

Our national debt now is at $20 trillion, and because of this, because of the responsibility that we have to our children, to our grandchildren, to future generations, because we realize, as Admiral Mullen said on July 6, 2010, the greatest threat to our Nation's security is our Nation's debt, we need to do a little bit more. And, of course, there are always good programs that we can stand here and talk about, and talk about what will not be funded if we do a penny on a dollar.

But the important thing to realize is future generations, my grandchildren that are now 8 and 9 years old, are paying for programs that we are refusing to address the growth in these programs. We are committing money they have not earned, taxes they have not paid, because we are $20 trillion in debt.

It is time to make these changes, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, we do always hear, well, you would take from this or that if you were doing across-the-board cuts. But just to my colleagues who are in the Chamber tonight and those who are watching, across-the-board cuts work at the local level and the State level because you look at that number that you need to hit and you get inside some programs more than others, and you find that penny on the dollar, and you find a way to yield a savings, and you examine what the priorities of a budget ought to be.

That is the heavy lift. And while we are doing it with the work we do here in this Chamber and that the appropriators do, it is important that, just as Governors in our States--both Democratic and Republican Governors, by the way--just as mayors in towns and cities across this country do on a regular basis, and many are doing right now because fiscal years are beginning October 1, just as they do that work, we need to do it.

Do we need to look at entitlements?

Yes, absolutely. I am for putting those issues on the table. I encourage our colleagues and our administration to do that. It is imperative because we are staring $20 trillion in debt. We are staring that in the face.

How do you look at your children and grandchildren and say, ``That is okay. That is okay. Paying for $20 trillion worth of debt is easy''?

The answer is you don't, because it is not.

What it takes to address it is will. It takes resolve. It takes cutting back more than you have cut back before and examining programs that are essential. It is time to get serious about this. I encourage support of my amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, there are no greater heroes than our veterans and active military. In worldwide campaigns, they courageously and selflessly serve and protect our nation from foreign and domestic threats. Their efforts have never failed us.

Today, I would like to recognize and honor U.S. Army Master Sergeant John Dorval Minatra for his extraordinary heroism and exceptional valor in operations during Indo China, Korea, and Vietnam warfare. In the Republic of Vietnam, he was cited several times for valor in combat with U.S. and Vietnamese awards--most notably the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross, and three Bronze Stars. For his Ranger spirit in three voluntary tours of duty, three assignments training the Vietnamese Battalion with the Mountain Ranger Committee, service as Ranger Advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Battalion, and third voluntary tour with the IV Corps HQ, he received the Ranger Hall of Fame medallion--a validation of ``Rangers Lead the Way.''

MSG Minatra's tactical knowledge, initiative, high standards, and unswerving desire to train and produce the best possible warrior made him an inspirational model for Rangers. His ability to rally and direct soldiers under fire, while wounded, reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. We join his children Barry, Larry and Melissa, nine grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren in gratitude for his guidance, heroism, and devotion through 20 years of military service.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I know that we have a lot of activity on the House floor tonight, which I think is a good thing. It shows that the people's House is here, that we are working, and that we are meeting the needs of the American people. One of those is making certain that we fund the activity of this government, and that we do it in a responsible way.

I think that as I come to offer my amendment, that I offer every single year, on this piece of legislation, Mr. Chairman, it is very important to note that this Appropriations Committee has done a phenomenal job of reining in out-of-control spending.

One of the lessons that should have been learned over the past couple of years is that it is very clear the American people understand that Washington does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. As I said, Washington does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.

We know that the bureaucracy has an insatiable appetite for the taxpayers' money. We see it all of the time. It is why we are having a vote to raise the debt ceiling. It is why we are right at $20 trillion in debt. It is because the spending is, indeed, out of control.

The work that has been done by this committee to prepare these appropriations bills is so vitally important, and it is to be commended. I think we have to look at this Interior Appropriations bill and realize that last year it was a $32.28 billion bill. This year, they have worked that spending down to $31.4 billion, and that is, indeed, commendable. In this bill, they have cut the spending at the EPA a total of 27 percent, and that is, indeed, commendable.

The amendment that I bring forward tonight is to reduce that budget authority by an additional 1 percent. And I do this in calling for a penny-on-a-dollar cut, to challenge the bureaucracy to match the great work that has been done by our colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, as they have worked through to reduce what we spend to cut out waste, to look for fraud, to find ways that the taxpayer dollar is being abused, and to end that abuse.

And, indeed, we know that saving a penny on a dollar is something we can do. It is important to our children and grandchildren. Indeed, I think we have a moral responsibility to do that.

And there are areas where we can do this. I will give you a couple of examples where there is more that we could be doing.

One is in ceiling fan regulations through the EPA. Some of the regulations they have put on ceiling fans, which actually reduce energy consumption, are absolutely ridiculous. We know that they yield a benefit, especially for people that live in areas, like I live in, in Tennessee.

So while we recognize the vital work of the Department of the Interior, we also realize there are areas where more could be done to curb the waste, and where we could challenge the rank and file employees in these bureaucracies.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I do appreciate the chairman's work, and the committee's good work.

I do want to point out that across-the-board cuts work. We see them work in our State governments, and we see them work in our local communities. And certainly families see these work, where they go in and they just shave a little out of everything that they are spending.

If you look at the discretionary spending components of our Federal budget and you say, Let's find a way to save one penny out of every dollar that has been appropriated, then you put yourself on the road to reducing what the Federal Government spends, what they take from the taxpayer and then spend.

We are spending too much money on programs that we don't need, programs that have outlived their usefulness, and programs that future generations don't even realize that they are going to have to pay for.

So, let's do the fiscally responsible thing. Let's challenge these agencies, let's cut one more penny out of the dollar, and do this for our children, for our grandchildren, and for the fiscal health of our Nation.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Amy Kurland, founder of the Bluebird Cafe, pioneer of ``in the round'' acoustic sessions, and gatekeeper to Nashville songwriters.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and transplanted to the mid-South, Ms. Kurland followed her instincts and in 1982 opened ``the Ellis Island of Nashville''--a cozy, 100-seat venue for the unheard and unsigned songwriters in the heart of the music industry.

Her intuition and influence pioneered a listening room template used worldwide and featured in books, movies, and television. Her solid reputation as an advocate and ``den mother'' of songwriters launched careers and collaborations. Her keen ability to recognize and execute opportunities enabled the Bluebird to sponsor nationwide tours, host charity benefits, and develop partnerships with travel destinations. A series of bold and audacious decisions have only escalated the venue's visibility and success.

After 25 years, Ms. Kurland entrusted the Bluebird Cafe to the folks at Nashville Songwriters Association International and devoted her attention and expertise to philanthropic pursuits in education, leadership, social justice, and alcohol and drug recovery.

We honor Amy Kurland with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Martha Moore, multi- market media force, Nashville PR queen, and go-to expert on independent public relations.

Born in Washington, DC and transplanted to the mid-South via University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Ms. Moore kicked off her Nashville career in 1976 with WLAC Radio before transitioning to press and artist relations with MCA/ABC Records and Mercury/Polygram.

In 1988, she marshalled her impeccable industry pedigree and vast connections, and launched her own independent, boutique PR firm. Known for her strategic planning and attention to detail, she wasted no time in crashing through the industry glass ceiling by signing Johnny Cash as her first client. Her charisma and personal motivation propelled invaluable connections with the foreign press. Her creativity and dependability fostered strategic partnerships with powerhouse firms. Her professional relationships with songwriters and performers generate an evolving and eclectic client roster, and are a testament to her passion for success in a demanding, but rewarding career.

We honor Martha Moore with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Judith Percival-Newby, producer, manager, .com founder, and tech marketer, serving the music/ entertainment industry worldwide.

Born in Canada, Ms. Newby developed a passion for promoting and developing talent in Toronto's live music, transferring her profile- raising skills to Nashville in tour coordination, management/booking, and special-event PR, cracking the glass ceiling by leading a management company and directing promotions for iconic country artists.

In 1986 she launched a sole proprietorship, offering personal management and career development services to more than 50 major performing artists. Seeking more industry control and foreseeing the evolution of internet marketing, she co-founded TappedInto and developed a proprietary webcasting platform that captured the 1999 WTO Free Trade/Fair Trade Seattle street protests in the first-ever, global ``news webcast'' immortalized in the movie Battle In Seattle.

Her ability to find inexpensive, turnkey solutions for marketing rising artists is noteworthy. Her use of technology to enhance global outreach is outstanding. Her commitment to civic and community service through Elephant Aid International, Alive Hospice, Music of the Heart Sangha, and the American Eagle Foundation fits precisely with her history of active involvement.

We honor Judith Percival-Newby with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Joyce M. Rice, advisor, banking pioneer, and director of writer/publisher relations in the country, pop, and Christian music genres.

A Nashville native, Ms. Rice developed her unique expertise in commercial lending with the Federal Reserve Bank and First American National Bank. In 1983, she designed and opened First American's satellite office on Music Row, specifically catering to the entertainment industry, proving the potential of lending to the music business. She revolutionized music banking by championing royalty- advanced loans. After 15 dynamic years with BMI, Ms. Rice retired, having started her career as a respectable bank teller and ending it as an innovator and trailblazer in the banking and music industries.

Her commitment to charitable and community projects through Nashville and National Academy of Television Arts, the Mark Collie Foundation, Chet Atkins Place, and the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School fits precisely with her history of active involvement.

We honor Joyce M. Rice with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Bonnie Sugarman, performing arts leader, award-winning talent director, and live-tour innovator.

A Chicago native, Ms. Sugarman credits her live-tour expertise to E.O Stacy of Music Corporation of America, founding father of entertainment at fairs. She burst onto the Nashville stage via Los Angeles, volunteering to launch the new Music City office for the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA), expanding her expertise in fairs and festivals to building long-term relationships with venues, promoters and talent buyers.

Throughout her decades-long tenure, she's maintained an advantageously low agent-to-artist ratio, centered on quality music and people, and remained passionate about developing and sustaining successful artists.

Ms. Sugarman cracked the glass ceiling when she became the first woman to receive the NATD's ``Agent of the Year'' award, then shattered it as the first agent to win the award for two consecutive years. The prestigious Hubert Long Award further acknowledged her significant and positive impact on the music industry through artist development. Her service on the Academy of Country Music board and leadership of NATD fit precisely with her history of active involvement.

We honor Bonnie Sugarman with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Susan Turner, talented and dedicated promoter and advocate.

Since her beginnings with Capital Records-Atlanta in 1974, Ms. Turner earned promotion after promotion in an impressive array of positions for RCA, Disc Mastering, and artist management firms until 1991, when she joined promotion legend Bruce Shindler to form an independent company.

The transformation of Shindler-Turner Promotions to Turner & Associates resulted in a 14-year reign as one of the top three Billboard and R&R independent promotion companies, working product for 99 percent of the major labels with 253 No. 1 singles.

Her 2004 retirement only enhanced her commitment to charitable and community projects through Franklin County's (Fla.) Humane Society, ``The Dixie Does Nashville'' show (Fla.), and Just For Kids LLC (Tenn.) which fit precisely with her history of active involvement.

We honor Susan Turner with a SOURCE Award, recognizing her vital contribution to the success of Music Row and the Nashville entertainment industry.