Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today we honor Lula Clay Naff, America's First Lady of theatre management, innovative booker and 35-year manager of the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Born in 1875 in Fall Branch, Tennessee, Mrs. Naff almost single- handedly elevated the Ryman as the must-see, must-do Nashville venue for musicians, speakers, and actors. She rose to prominence as a young, widowed mother, years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, let alone oversee a 2,360-seat event space.

Her remarkable decision-making skills and bold instincts shifted a religious setting to an entertainment destination. Her shrewd booking acumen filled pews with some of the biggest names in music, theatre and public speaking. She was a trailblazer for working women and a visionary for performance arts. As Mrs. Naff widened the Ryman's roster, the venue grew in respect and prestige. The Grand Old Opry's 31-year run on the Ryman stage was her swansong and a showcase for her influence.

She retired in 1955 at the age of 80 as Manager Emeritus, having elevated the Ryman through a half-century of diverse, cultural events. In 2015, the Ryman opened Cafe Lula to commemorate Mrs. Naffs legacy and longevity in shaping one of Nashville's greatest event destinations.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we honor lifelong Wayne County resident, Private First Class James Calvin (Bill) Robertson, decorated combat veteran, farmer, friend, and family man.

Born on the 4th of July, 1923, PFC Robertson trained as an Army Cannoneer and shipped to the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations in 1945 to protect American ground forces from enemy aircraft at Iwo Jima. His Anti-Aircraft Artillery unit's mission: To keep the airstrips open and safe for refueling B29 bombers on their way to targets on the Japanese mainland.

For this critical service, PFC Robertson was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The American Theater Ribbon, and the Asian-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars. His battalion enabled American forces to invade Japan and change the trajectory of the war in favor of the Allies. But he rarely spoke of his military sacrifice, seared into our minds by the iconic U.S. Marine Corp monument of soldiers raising the American flag high above the Iwo Jima battlefield in February 1945. PFC Robertson simply acknowledged that he was there.

He returned to Wayne County in December 1945, married, and purchased farmland through which the Middle Butler Creek flows. Many family memories were made with his eight children, on this land, in this creek, and throughout his 90 years.

We dedicate the Butler Creek Bridge to the memory of Private First Class James Calvin (Bill) Robertson, World War II hero, who not only ensured the lives lost at Iwo Jima were not lost in vain, but who left a legacy of service and sacrifice.

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

Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to begin by thanking the committee for their hard work on this appropriations bill.

Every year, I come to this floor through the appropriations process to present amendments calling for 1 percent across-the-board cuts. So many years I have come down here to talk about how the spending continues to increase. Indeed, our budget does increase. But I have to tell you, the chairman and his team have done an incredible job this year.

The outlays that we see in this bill this year are $209 million-- think about that--less than the budget authority from last year. That is significant, and it should be recognized and should be praised, because that is the type of work that we need to see.

Now, I do continue to present the 1 percent across-the-board amendment because we are facing a time in our Nation where 1 percent makes a difference, just as we are seeing from the good work that they have done.

Passing this amendment for the 1 percent across-the-board spending reduction would save us an additional $376 million. It is important to do because our Nation is facing $20 trillion in debt. Because of that, we have to ask ourselves: Is it important to spend some of the money that is being spent on programs that we see taking place in the Department of Energy?

It causes us to look at these programs and talk about priorities, where we should spend those precious dollars that are not Federal dollars. They are taxpayer dollars that are coming out of the pockets of hardworking men and women.

Indeed, we have, many times, quoted Admiral Mullins' comments from July 6, 2010, that the greatest threat to our Nation's security is our Nation's debt. Because of that, I recognize and applaud the good work that has been done, but I encourage support for my amendment and the continued honing and prioritizing of what takes the taxpayer money that is spent by this body.

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

Mr. Chairman, I will tell you every comment that Mr. Simpson made about the mandatory spending is something that I agree with. Yes, we have to do that. But just as we in Congress have reduced our Legislative Branch budget by about 20 percent over the last few years, and just as our Appropriations Committee has done a wonderful job of pulling back on the spending that is done to discretionary, we need to give that same challenge to the bureaucracy, to those rank-and- file Federal employees and challenge them to go save a penny on a dollar out of what they are appropriated. Find a way to yield savings to the work that they do and help us with this process to rein in spending.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Upton and Mr. Flores for the work that they have done on this piece of legislation. Mr. Flores spoke of the need to do this and why it is so important for us to begin to simplify and clean up the rules and the regulation process so that we do provide certainty not only for our constituents, but also for industry.

In addition to that, Mr. Chairman, what we do is to provide hope to millions of workers who work in the energy sector.

I want to read from a letter of support. This is from the International Union of Operating Engineers. They sent a letter in support of Mr. Flores' bill, and it gets right to the heart of the issue.

``Domestic energy production provides good-paying jobs for members of the IUOE and other construction craftworkers and continues to employ thousands of our members. Uncertainty and delay during environmental reviews, however, hinder the growth of jobs related to the Nation's energy infrastructure. Congress should give FERC additional tools to keep Federal agencies accountable and maximum coordination in the permitting process.''

Mr. Chairman, this is from individuals who work in this energy sector, who understand the vital importance of having a secure, safe, and stable energy supply. They are individuals who want to see growth in this industry. They also want to make certain that we do this in the appropriate way--as we have done, as H.R. 2910 does--to respect individual and private property works.

Giving FERC the authority that they need to go in and consolidate and simplify this environmental process for these interstate gas projects is the right thing to do.

Many times, what slows these projects down and causes the situation that the International Union of Operating Engineers speaks to is the fact that you have multiple permits that are required, and they are from multiple agencies and multiple levels of government. Any time you are going through that, there are more opportunities for mistakes and it is going to be more costly.

So I congratulate my colleague for a job well done, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for and support H.R. 2910.

Mr. Speaker, it is truly remarkable and moving to witness a student chosen among their generation to bring strong direction to their community. As a leader of leaders, this extraordinary individual contributes their time, energy, and wisdom to create opportunities for many to succeed. Priscilla Kirkpatrick, from Franklin, Tennessee, is one of these distinguished leaders. She was elected as governor of the American Legion Auxiliary's Volunteer Girls State and was chosen to be one of the 2017 Girls Nation Nominees.

For Priscilla, there is no limit nor bound of what could be attained. Her mindful service and vision for community has inspired many to go above and beyond themselves. Priscilla's success in the classroom, and involvement in several extracurricular activities has set her apart from the rest of her peers. These experiences have prepared her to perform the responsibilities that come along with this role. Franklin High School has been marked by her caring and serving nature. Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. I congratulate Priscilla for her new role as governor of the American Legion Auxiliary's Volunteer Girls State.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to record my last vote due to ineffective card. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 307.

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, public service is not just a career path, it is a way of life. Many aspire to this role but very few fulfill this profession devoutly. These diligent leaders seek and strive to empower their constituency. They understand the pulse and the needs of their community and give the people their voice. Today, I would like to acknowledge Representative Charles Sargent for his service to our community, state, and nation.

Service is not a foreign term to Representative Sargent. He faithfully served in the United States Navy. His time in the military and as a business leader created the foundation of his life's work as a strong conservative leader in the Tennessee State House. His leadership in business and the insurance industry served as an asset which made him an outstanding and excellent leader as the chairman of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. Representative Sargent is also generous with his time, energy, and resources. He dedicates himself to multiple charities throughout our state. True leadership is not as it appears but as it performs. His admirable service in making the tough decisions today will make a brighter future for millions of Tennesseans tomorrow. His insight will continue to impact our state and we look forward to his leadership in the future.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present for votes on May 19, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 267 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 268.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, as we have heard, this week is National Police Week. It is a time for us to honor the service of those officers who have fallen in the line of duty and to recognize those who serve and protect our communities day in and day out.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Paul Arnold of the Franklin, Tennessee, Police Department. Sergeant Arnold is a 26-year Franklin Police veteran. In July of last year, for the third time, he faced a cancer diagnosis. Through each of these diagnoses, treatment, rehab, he has maintained one demand, and that is that it not affect the work that he is doing in the line of duty with the Franklin Police Department.

Today, the police department is standing together as he is receiving the Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award, which is given to an officer who has rendered outstanding and praiseworthy service to the department and the community despite a serious handicap, illness, or injury.

His dedication to service is noted. It is appreciated. We honor him and congratulate him on a well-deserved honor and say thank you to all of the law enforcement community that chooses to protect and defend.

Mr. Speaker, there are those whose lives shine so brightly and give us hope regardless of life circumstances and tragedies we may endure. Patsy Cline, who was also known as the First Lady of Country Music, was one of those inspiring and uplifting souls. She moved us all by her incredible voice and meaningful lyrics such as Crazy and Walking after Midnight that would continue to be cherished by generations to follow.

Patsy was a true treasure whose memory will forever be remembered by her fans and Tennesseans alike. Patsy Cline was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was the first female soloist chosen for the honor. Her short yet remarkable music and television career paved a way for women to pursue their passion in the entertainment industry. The true strength she exemplified came from the genuine love in her heart to serve and entertain her family, friends, and fans. She lived a life worth living.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Foxx and Chairman Roby for the outstanding job that they have done on this.

Listening to my colleagues, you would think that there is a lack of understanding, if you will, to that old saying that women want more time.

As one of my constituents asked me today: If you pass this bill, is it going to mean that I can bank my time during tax season, take time and a half and use it to take a field trip or a school trip with my child?

I said: Absolutely. Because this is a bill that puts you in charge of how you want to be compensated for overtime work. Do you want the money? Do you want the added time so that you have control of your schedule?

Yes, this is about empowering the employee.

It is so interesting, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 put in place something for the public sector. They forgot about the private sector. You could look at this and say, well, it is a correction within the law so that not only public sector employees, but also private sector employees have the ability to say: I choose to have more time at this point in my career. I want the flexibility.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1695, the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act.

I am an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation. It was introduced by Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers, making this Register of Copyrights a position nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It was passed out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 27-1. It is completely appropriate that we bring this provision to the floor.

As a co-chair of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus, and a Representative of middle Tennessee, which is the Nashville area, it is home to many content producers and creators, in particular, to songwriters. Creators deserve to know that they will have a Register who will do a couple of things really well: is accountable to the people through their elected Representatives, and will provide independent and expert advice to Congress.

According to a report prepared by the International Intellectual Property Alliance: the total copyright industries employed nearly 11.4 million workers in 2015, accounting for 7.95 percent of all U.S. employment, 9.39 percent of all private employment in the U.S. The average annual compensation paid to employees of the total copyright industries in 2015, per employee, $82,117, exceeds the average annual wage by about 21 percent.

Intellectual property must be protected. Copyrights must be protected. Congress has a role in making certain that these constitutional provisions are held and, also, making certain that the Office is responsible to Congress. I urge the House to move forward on this commonsense measure.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 230, I call up the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 34) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to ``Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services'', and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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 S.J. Res. 34.

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

Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in support of S.J. Res. 34, which disapproves of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to protecting the privacy of customers of broadband and other telecommunication services.

I applaud Senator Flake's work on this issue, as S.J. Res. 34 was passed by the Senate last week. I also filed a companion resolution in the House.

The FCC finalized its broadband privacy rules on October 27, 2016. At that time, they assured us that the rules would provide broadband customers meaningful choice, greater transparency, and stronger security protections for their personal information collected by internet service providers, but the reality is much different.

There are three specific problems with which the FCC has gone about these rules. First, the FCC unilaterally swiped jurisdiction from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has served as our Nation's sole online privacy regulator for over 20 years.

Second, having two privacy cops on the beat will create confusion within the internet ecosystem and will end up harming consumers.

Third, the FCC already has authority to enforce privacy obligations of broadband service providers on a case-by-case basis. These broadband privacy rules are unnecessary and are just another example of Big Government overreach. The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates that Federal regulations cost our economy $1.9 trillion in 2015.

Since President Trump took office, Republicans have been working diligently to loosen the regulatory environment that is suffocating hardworking taxpayers.

Here is what multiple House Democrats said in a letter to the FCC last May regarding the FCC's privacy rules:

The rulemaking intends to go well beyond the traditional

framework that has guarded consumers from data practices of

internet service providers and ill-served consumers who seek

and expect consistency in how their personal data is

protected.

Further, FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright testified before Congress that the FTC has unique experience in enforcing broadband service providers' obligations to protect the privacy and security of consumer data. He added that the rules will actually do less to protect consumers by depriving the FTC of its longstanding jurisdiction in the area. Once again, these rules hurt consumers.

Incredibly, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler referred to the internet as the most powerful and pervasive network in the history of the planet before these rules were even created. I found this really odd because it implied that the FTC regulation had indeed been successful and ought to continue, ultimately undermining his own rationale for additional FCC privacy regulation.

Now, there are a couple of myths that are going around that I want to take the time to dispel. Our friends claim there will be a gap for ISPs in the FCC privacy rules when they are overturned. This simply is false, and let me tell you why. The FCC already has the authority to enforce the privacy obligations of broadband service providers on a case-by-case basis.

Pursuant to section 201 of the Communications Act, they can police practices of the ISPs that are unjust or unreasonable. Sections 202 and 222 also protect consumers. It is already in statute. So I encourage my friends to read title II of the Communications Act. Also, the State attorneys general have the ability to go after companies for unfair and deceptive practices.

Third, litigation is another avenue consumers can pursue against ISPs for mishandling personal data. Service providers have privacy policies. If they violate the policy, guess what? They can be sued. I know Democrats will certainly understand that, as they have many trial lawyer friends, and I urge them to speak to the trial bar.

Fourth, the free market is another great equalizer. Can you imagine the embarrassment for an ISP that is caught unlawfully selling data? We have all seen the economic fallout from something such as a data breach. Companies have a financial incentive to handle your personal data properly because to do otherwise would significantly impair their financial standing.

To my Democrat friends across the aisle, the bottom line is this: the only gap that exists is in these arguments that you have made.

Consumer privacy is something we all want to protect, and consumer privacy will continue to be protected and will actually be enhanced by removing the uncertainty and confusion these rules will create, as the Democrats Rush, Schrader, and Green indicated in a letter to the FCC last May.

I also want to speak, for just a moment, on the edge providers because there has been some question about who has visibility into your data. Clinton administration veteran privacy expert Peter Swire offered a report in February 2016 titled ``Online Privacy in ISPs.''

ISP's access to consumer data is limited and often less than access to others. Swire found that ISPs have less visibility into consumer behavior online than search, social media, advertising, and big tech companies.

Swire's study found that, as a result of advancing technologies, the rise of encryption, and the various ways and locations individuals access the internet, ISPs now have increasingly limited insight into our activities and information online.

By contrast, however, so-called edge providers, like search engines, social media, advertising, shopping, and other services online, often have greater visibility into personal consumer data.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will remind my colleagues across the aisle that, again, section 222 of the Communications Act covers the authority that the FCC needs. Traditionally, online privacy has been handled by the FTC. That is an authority that we have designated to them.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control that time.

Mr. Speaker, Fred Thompson was a neighbor and trusted friend.

He was embraced by the people of Tennessee because of his dedication to first principles and strong conservative values.

To most Americans, he was an actor, usually taking roles that exuded confidence and integrity.

To those of us that knew him personally, he was a devoted public servant that spent a large part of his life service to the people of the United States.

He began his public career as an assistant U.S. attorney in Tennessee before working with Senator Howard Baker, a man who was a role model for generations of Tennesseans looking to serve the American people.

He would go on to spend 8 years in the U.S. Senate himself, famously touring the state of Tennessee in his red pickup truck.

After conducting a life well-lived, naming this federal courthouse to honor him is a great way to show our respect for his commitment to the people of Tennessee.

I am glad this bill to give him that honor is on the floor today, and I hope all my colleagues will join me in passing it

Mr. Speaker, family is the greatest gift life can offer to us. There is no relationship more special or more enduring than the bonds that are found within family. Family is truly the tie that binds us together. Both the friendship that is shared and struggles overcome are a testament of what is possible when a family is united and dedicated to loving God and one another. Because of their friendship, work, endurance, and giving spirit, it is an honor to recognize the Holt family for their efforts in the pioneering of Williamson County. Their story is a story of faith and family and it is an honor for those of us gathered this evening to share this story.

The presence of the Holt family in this area can be traced back to the 1840's, beginning with Lucretia and Henry Holt. With each trial that came along; with slavery and segregation, each member of the Holt family chose kindness and compassion and in the midst of injustice, they chose forgiveness. Their heritage will forever be memorialized by the naming of Holt Road off of Nolensville Pike and Stanfield Road in Brentwood, Tennessee.

There is much wisdom we can all glean from the example set by the Holt family, who created a generational legacy of love that will be remembered for decades to come. Their story is a story of a life well lived. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this family for their influence and impact on Williamson County, Tennessee.