Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I would like to use my time to raise awareness that a correctly sized and properly configured maintenance facility to support and repair F-35 aircraft coming to the 187th Fighter Wing is needed very soon at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Alabama.

The 187th Fighter Wing was selected as a preferred location for the bed-down of the F-35, with the first aircraft to arrive in several years. Squadron operations require administrative, training, and support space as part of the aircraft organizational maintenance shop.

Currently, the existing facilities that service the F-16 Red Tails squadron are inadequate. Aircraft maintenance currently resides in three temporary facilities or trailers. Much of the space designated for these functions is less than required for effective operations. The aircraft maintenance shops are 43 percent undersized, and the required tool storage is kept in aircraft parking spaces in the hangar.

I appreciate very much the committee chairwoman and ranking member's efforts to provide our men and women in uniform adequate and acceptable working spaces so they can do their jobs accurately and effectively. It is my hope that, moving forward, we will continue to work together on this particular issue through the fiscal year 2020 appropriations process.

Again, I, too, thank the chairwoman and, certainly, the ranking member for yielding me this very important time.

Just very quickly, I just want to say please, please, please come out and support this event. Go Congress. Beat the press. Beat cancer.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer a commonsense amendment that will allow the courts, rather than the majority in the House, to decide the fate of a proposed rule set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.

In February of this year, HHS issued a new rule that would restrict Title X family planning grants from going to entities that are not physically and financially separated from abortion providers. But a series of court injunctions have frozen these new rule changes and, as a result, hundreds of Planned Parenthood facilities nationwide are still receiving Federal tax dollars.

Americans have made it clear time and time again that they don't want their tax dollars paying for abortions.

This rule, which prevents any tax dollars from going to any abortion- providing facility, is going through the constitutional challenges of our judicial process. Unfortunately, lawmakers here in the House have chosen to tie the hands of HHS through legislation by effectively stating that the HHS Secretary may only act in accordance of ``regulations and instructions'' established before January 18, 2017, just 2 days before Donald Trump became President.

My amendment would strike that provision, allowing the U.S. courts to decide if HHS' proposed rule should stand.

We cannot handcuff the current administration to regulations of past administrations, and I ask my colleagues to support my amendment.

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

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

Mr. Chair, I have no other speakers, and I am prepared to close.

I am unapologetically pro-life, and I will continue to use this platform and every opportunity it provides to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.

Congress must ensure that our constituents' tax dollars are not being used to end innocent lives. This is our enduring responsibility.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to please support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, as a member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I rise regarding today's full Appropriations Committee action on the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill.

This bill provides vital resources and programs supporting American and global interests around the world. As you know, the United States is a leader in global health, and it is important that we remain engaged and not become complacent, especially as life-threatening diseases begin to advance and mutate.

The State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill funds several health-related foreign policies that provide assistance, along with our partners, to eradicate deadly and preventable diseases worldwide.

The Global Fund is one of these critical programs funded in this bill. As one of the world's most effective health organizations, it has delivered real results combatting deadly diseases, saving over 27 million lives since its conception. The Global Fund partnership invests billions of dollars annually to support programs fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria around the world.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, due to policies unrelated to the Global Fund, I was unable to support this funding bill in its entirety during last week's Committee consideration. However, I would like to express the importance of the United States' participation in this partnership, and the clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States will continue to lead with its commitment to the Global Fund.

I remain committed to working with my colleagues to find an agreement with the Senate and the Administration on the overall Fiscal Year 2020 funding level. Without an agreement, the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations process will continue to have a difficult path towards funding the government.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol to come together and work towards a common goal of getting to an agreement for the overall funding amount for Fiscal Year 2020.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce on their 100th anniversary. The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce is an exceptional organization that has made enormous contributions to fostering economic development in the City of Dothan and the surrounding Houston County area.

Founded in 1919, the organization started as a small office that helped to establish the prices of produce and cotton. The organization has grown over the years and today is compromised of over 950 businesses, professionals, and individuals with the goal of serving as a catalyst for business and community growth in the Dothan area.

The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce has been successful in their mission and has created an environment that is attractive to many diverse businesses and industries. The Wiregrass region's economic growth and stability over 100 years is very impressive and reflects the successes of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to acknowledge the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce for their positive impact on the commercial, financial, civic, agricultural, industrial and general interests of the Dothan and Houston County area. We are fortunate to have this organization in Alabama's Second District, and I am looking forward to many more years of continued growth and success.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for leading this very important conversation here tonight, and I thank all my colleagues from our neighboring States and across this country for keeping this issue in the forefront of the American people's minds.

Over the last several months, Americans in many corners of this country have experienced a devastating loss of life, property, and livelihood because of wildfires, flooding, and severe storms. I am here tonight to express my strong support for the many Alabamians, both in the Second District and in neighboring Lee County, who have been badly impacted by severe weather.

Last October, areas of the Wiregrass region in Alabama's Second Congressional District were ravaged when Hurricane Michael made landfall. Barbour, Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston Counties were the most severely impacted.

Throughout the Southeast, people lost their loved ones and their homes, and our farmers were dealt a devastating blow during the middle of harvest.

This unprecedented disaster resulted in a tremendous economic setback for our agriculture community and our State. Last month, our neighbors in Lee County faced extreme devastation when tornadoes touched down. Many were killed, and many homes were lost and destroyed.

Madam Speaker, we are here tonight because these people need help. Here in Congress, it is our responsibility to make disaster recovery funds available now. I implore my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stop playing political games with disaster funding. By politicizing this humanitarian issue, we are playing politics with people's lives.

We must immediately advance commonsense, nonpartisan disaster assistance for the people who have been hit hardest and are struggling to recover. I am hopeful that alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that a solution will be reached soon. Many Alabamians--many Americans--are depending on it.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for leading this discussion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Charlotte W. Bent for her years of service to the people of Alabama's Second District and my office.

Charlotte grew up in Troy, Alabama, and she spent time during college in Virginia, New York City, and Florence, Italy. She graduated from Troy University in Troy, Alabama, with a degree in Fine Art and Art History.

Prior to joining my staff in 2011, Charlotte worked several different positions, including jobs with Eastern Airlines and with her own sister's Sister Shubert's Homemade Rolls. In 2000, Charlotte joined former Congressman Terry Everett's staff as a Constituent Services Representative. Then, Charlotte graciously came back to serve Alabama's Second District and joined my original staff as a caseworker in my Montgomery district office.

Charlotte has dedicated much of her professional life to serving the constituents of Alabama's Second District. During her time in my office and in Congressman Everett's office, Charlotte worked to resolve various types of casework problems to better the lives of those in need of assistance. Throughout her time on Team Roby, Charlotte proved to be a dedicated staff member with a strong commitment

to team work. I am thankful for Charlotte's time on my staff, and I am grateful to call her a dear friend.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to join Charlotte's colleagues, family, and friends in honoring her successful career serving Alabama's Second District. I wish her all the best in all her future endeavors. Congratulations, Charlotte.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Jeanie Parnell, an exceptional Alabamian who won the 2018 Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative writing contest with her short story, ``Tunnel Vision,'' that focuses on the American Civil Rights Movement in my hometown Montgomery, Alabama.

Born and raised in Montgomery, Jeanie received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University. Following her graduation from Auburn, Jeanie received post-graduate degrees in English and Teaching Writing from Auburn University Montgomery.

Jeanie is a stay-at-home mother of three currently living in Montgomery. She has written several successful novels, including ``Fairhope,'' a second-prize winner of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Her most recent short story, ``Tunnel Vision,'' captures the spirit of social change through the eyes of a 1954 Montgomery woman who is magically transported to modern-day Alabama.

Literature like Jeanie's story can encourage tourism and promote economic growth in communities throughout the United States. The Southeastern Literary Tourism Initiative challenges writers to create stories that attract visitors to areas like Alabama's Second District. Jeanie has truly captured the spirit of Montgomery, and I encourage others to visit our beautiful city so that they may see firsthand the rich history of our area.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to honor Ms. Parnell's literary success and to acknowledge her impact on the Montgomery community. I am proud to call her a lifelong friend and fellow Alabamian.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman for leading this very, very Special Order tonight.

This topic is critically important, especially in light of the heartbreaking news we have already referenced that has come out of New York and Virginia in recent weeks.

I want to start by thanking the gentlewoman from Washington for standing up tonight and telling us her story. The gentlewoman does have an amazing story and an amazing family: a loving husband, Dan; and Ethan and Abigail.

This is a family, and so we know each other's children. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that walking through that journey with the gentlewoman as her friend and colleague has been so special to Riley, to me, and to our children, Margaret and George, who love them just the same.

So I thank the gentlewoman so much for standing on the floor tonight and having the courage to tell her amazing story. It just means a lot. So I thank the gentlewoman for that.

Of course, I was stunned to hear the boisterous cheering upon the New York State Legislature's passage of a bill that would significantly loosen restrictions on late-term abortions.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, the Democratic Governor recently threw his support behind similar legislation and made comments that served as a horrific defense of born-alive abortions.

For the purpose of tonight's discussion, we have got to call born- alive abortion what it is, and it is infanticide.

Here in Congress, part of our job is to debate the issues. Our dialogue surrounding legislation is a critically important component of the democratic process in this country.

Still, no matter how our stances on abortion may vary, I hope we can all agree that, if an abortion fails and a child is born alive, the child must be given the same medical care that any other living, breathing infant would otherwise be given.

I want to take this opportunity to reassure the people I represent in Alabama that I remain unapologetically pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception, and I am opposed to abortion at any stage.

I am severely disturbed that this country now requires written legal provision to protect living babies. But, sadly, in the aftermath of this news coming out of New York and Virginia, it is clear that this step is immediately necessary.

That is why I am proud that the House of Representatives has wasted no time in acting, and I especially appreciate my colleagues, Mr. Scalise and Mrs. Wagner, who have been working tirelessly to force a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill I cosponsored that would protect babies who are born alive during failed abortion procedures.

Again, to my colleague, I thank her so much for organizing and having this special hour tonight. This is a critically important issue, and I hope that we will continue to have these discussions not just tonight but in the days moving forward.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 52; ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 53; and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 54.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the hardworking men and women I represent in Elmore County, Alabama, who, this past Saturday, experienced a devastating loss, as a tornado ripped through the city of Wetumpka. By the grace of God, no lives were lost and only minor injuries have been reported at this point. Still, the damage is severe and the road to recovery is long.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, I spent time on the ground with those impacted, and I had the opportunity to see firsthand the damage to several churches, the police station, dozens of homes, and businesses. I appreciate the tireless work of the local leaders and first responders who immediately jumped to action to begin putting the pieces back together for the people who have lost so much.

During this challenging time, it has been so encouraging to see the community united like a family. They have come together to begin the rebuilding process. Merely hours after the devastating storm, the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency heard from nearly 1,000 individuals who signed up to volunteer their time and resources in the cleanup efforts.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to speak directly to the people impacted by this weekend's tornado:

My office stands ready to assist you in whatever ways we are able. My staff and I work for you, and we want to be a resource for you during this very challenging time. The rebuilding process won't be easy, but if we work together and help each other whenever possible, we will get through this together. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to pray for those impacted by this devastating event.

Mr. Speaker, 45 years ago this month, the Supreme Court of the United States offered its infamous Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand in this country. While many abortion activists celebrate this anniversary as a victory for so-called women's health, it represents a particularly somber occasion for those of us who advocate for life.

Since that 1973 ruling, more than 60 million unborn children in this country have had their lives terminated by abortion. To say this is a tragedy is an understatement--60 million.

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that I am unapologetically pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception and that we should work harder to build a culture that values life at every stage.

While not everyone shares my convictions about life or on certain policies surrounding rights of unborn children, our pro-life momentum is still strong. This Friday, thousands of Americans will gather just outside of this building at The National Mall to participate in this year's March for Life, an annual event where the pro-life community comes together to advocate for the lives and rights of unborn children. Some of the activists gathered here on Friday will have traveled from Alabama's Second District, as far as 900 miles, to stand up for life.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to send a message to the thousands of pro-life marchers, especially those from southeast Alabama I have the privilege of representing in Congress:

Thank you. Thank you for your dedication to this most worthy cause. It is our responsibility to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am deeply grateful for your commitment to this incredibly important duty, and I, along with my pro-life colleagues here in Congress, stand with you.

My promise to you is that I will continue to use this seat in Congress that I have been given to be a vocal advocate for the unborn. I will continue to join you in defending the defenseless. Our momentum is strong, especially during this time each year, but our work is far from being complete. I won't stop fighting until our laws and policies protect life at every stage, and I hope you won't either.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and my friend as well for holding this Special Order tonight. I agree with the comments my colleagues have made here on the floor this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to underscore the severity of the situation at our southern border. We are in the midst of a real crisis, and we must act now.

According to Homeland Security, in the last 2 months, our Border Patrol has apprehended roughly 140,000 illegal immigrants at the southern border. This is an increase of 86 percent over the same period last year. Additionally, there were more than 25,000 families apprehended last November. This is the highest monthly number ever recorded by Border Patrol.

Mr. Speaker, here in Congress, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are talking about this issue as though it is something new. This is not a new issue. For the past decade, the people who I represent in southeast Alabama have consistently expressed to me their frustrations with our country's illegal immigration problem.

I believe now is the time that we must use every tool available to enhance border security. And we must do it now. We cannot wait another decade.

I really appreciate the gentlewoman taking this time, her leadership on this issue tonight, and her giving me the opportunity to speak.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 474, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 475 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 476.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my former Chief of Staff Mr. Stephen E. Boyd, for his years of service to the State of Alabama and Alabama's Second District.

Stephen grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Stephen continued his education at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Prior to joining my staff in 2011, Stephen served for more than six years on the staff of former United States Senator Jeff Sessions as a senior advisor and Communications Director. Stephen also served as Communications Director for the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. After leaving my office, Stephen served as the Chief of Staff of the Office of Legal Policy at the United States Department of Justice.

Stephen currently serves as the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Legislative Affairs at the United States Department of Justice. There is no one better suited to serve our country in this key role than Stephen Boyd. I know that he will continue to have great success in this role as the head of the Department of Justice's Office of Legislative Affairs.

During his time on Team Roby, Stephen proved himself to be a gracious leader time and time again. He possesses a keen intellect, conducts himself with the utmost professionalism and decorum, and demonstrates remarkable work ethic. I am thankful for Stephen's time on my staff, and I am grateful to call him and his wife Brecke, dear friends.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to join Stephen's colleagues, family, and friends in honoring his successful career in Congress. I wish him all the best as he continues to serve our country. Congratulations, Stephen.