Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, after the Mueller report, we now know that President Trump was falsely accused of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with Russia for 22 months. So the question is, what to do now that we are aware of that false accusation?

Democrats believe that the right approach is to tweeze through all the President's reactions to being falsely accused. Republicans believe that we should figure out what the root was of the false accusations in the first place.

As we endeavor upon that work, we see across the rotunda in the Senate that harassment of the First Family continues. Donald Trump, Jr., will be hauled before a Senate committee tomorrow because his prior testimony purportedly conflicts with the testimony of Mr. Gates and Mr. Cohen, people who are either in prison for lying or going to prison for lying.

It is past time to stop the harassment of the President and the First Family, acknowledge those who engaged in false accusations for an extended period of time, and figure out how in the world such an accusation was able to be funded by the DNC, cooked up in the Obama White House, and then polluted by Russians.

We can do a lot better, and we are going to figure out what happened.

Madam Speaker, by expanding American energy, expelling diplomats, and ensuring that the United States takes its position in the world, President Trump has been tougher on Russia than any President in a generation.

But the fact remains that the Russian military attacked the U.S. election. And so it would seem reasonable that, along with the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the CIA, we would want the United States military offering the full suite of capabilities, both offensive and defensive, to combat Russian election interference.

Today, the House Armed Services Committee held a classified briefing on the U.S. military and their participation in this critical mission. I was deeply disappointed in what I learned.

The U.S. military is not sufficiently engaged or informed on critical aspects of the Russian election interference campaign. They don't even know which two Florida counties were hacked.

And when DOD sent 11 people to go work with the Department of Homeland Security to have the full suite of

authorities available to respond to Russia, they were told they weren't needed.

Russia has a whole-of-government approach to this problem, and I would urge us to work in a bipartisan way in the Defense Authorization Act to ensure that we are ready with our full authorities to defeat Russia and their efforts to interfere with our election.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Dr. William Bowen, professor of political science at Pensacola Christian College, for his twenty-six years of exemplary service and investment in Northwest Florida.

Dr. Bowen began his service at Pensacola Christian College in 1992 when he approached the founder and president, Dr. Horton, about the possibility of establishing a political science program at the College. At this time, the College only offered a political science minor.

In 1993, Dr. Bowen officially joined the faculty of Pensacola Christian College and began establishing the curriculum for the foundational courses in PCC's political science concentration. By the fall of 2004, the political science concentration was officially offered under Dr. Bowen's guidance and expertise.

Dr. Bowen singlehandedly developed the entire political science program at Pensacola Christian College. He has been responsible for the curriculum development and teaching of every political science elective offered at the College; moreover, he has also developed two graduate- level courses for PCC's Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction with a History specialization.

Dr. Bowen's biblical worldview, understanding of America's founding, and keen awareness of political trends have helped to shape one of the most successful programs in the Humanities Department of Pensacola Christian College. His faithful service and unrivaled scholarship have earned him a place among the College's most distinguished faculty members.

Dr. Bowen's wisdom and insight have been an inspiration and guide for all his students, many of whom have become influential leaders in Northwest Florida and across America. Some of Dr. Bowen's students have attained the heights of American leadership, becoming influential leaders in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Bowen's commitment to excellence in instruction has challenged his students to reach new heights of scholastic achievement. His exemplary scholarship has made him an invaluable instructor in both national and state issues. Dr. Bowen has a profound influence on the lives of each of the students he instructs.

The strength of America lies in the education of its future leaders, and it is an honor for me to have exceptional professors in our district such as Dr. William Bowen who are faithfully training future American leaders that will one day shape the destiny of our great country.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to congratulate Dr. William Bowen for his twenty-six years of service and the exemplary legacy he leaves for the future leaders of America.

Mr. Speaker, after meeting with President Trump yesterday regarding the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, I rise to praise the Trump administration for its mindful and strategic response to conditions in that country.

All options must be on the table, including military force.

My constituents would likely be among the first in that fight. I am incredibly proud of them. If asked, they will successfully execute any mission that they are called to do.

Policymakers have an obligation not to send any of America's sons and daughters into any ill-advised conflict. The Trump administration clearly understands the risks associated with military intervention in Venezuela at this time. They include a few things.

First, if the United States military were to have troops on the ground in Venezuela today, it is very likely that the Maduro regime would scapegoat their own failures.

The people of Venezuela voted their way into socialism, and now it appears they have to fight their way out of it. While this should be a lesson to us all, military intervention should not be presented as an opportunity for the Maduro regime to explain away why people in Venezuela have no medicine, have no food, are starving, and at times see their own countrymen turning tanks and weapons against them.

Those failures belong to the Maduro regime. Those failures belong to the socialist dictatorship.

Were we to intervene in an unwise way, potentially, that would create confusion about the conditions that led to these terrible circumstances.

Second, if the United States military were to intervene at this time, it is my concern that it would allow the Maduro regime to externalize their conflict.

It is no surprise to any in this Chamber or many in the Trump administration that there remains some latent resentment within pockets of Latin America regarding U.S. intervention, regime change, and nation-building.

At a time when we are seeing democratic successes and governments stood up that are beginning to provide for their citizens, it would be deeply unwise to stoke any anti-American resentment with ill-advised conflict.

Right now, Maduro functionally lacks material support from the forward-thinking countries in the Western Hemisphere, and we would not want to create any opportunity for there to be a call to the new Bolivarian alliance.

Ultimately, that is what a lot of these transnational criminal organizations want in Venezuela. They want to erode nation-states and borders. They want to end nationalism in our hemisphere so that they have a more permissive environment for their illicit activities.

Third, the Trump administration clearly understands that, if the United States were deemed to be too involved in the popular uprising in Venezuela, Maduro would potentially have the opportunity to deny the organic desires of Venezuelans to fight for their own freedom.

The reason people are rising up in Venezuela right now is not a consequence of the United States Government. It is a consequence of the failures of their own government and their passionate desire for freedom, one that we should stand with the people of Venezuela to execute.

Despite these conditions and despite the challenges, I remain hopeful that there is a brighter future for Venezuela. As we meet and gather now, Juan Guaido is able to go about the country freely. Despite not having a military, despite not having staff, he is able to rally thousands of his fellow countrymen in public squares and make the argument for freedom.

Meanwhile, the coward Maduro remains huddled up in a military base, unable to move around and unsure who will turn on him next.

If the last quarter century has taught our country anything about the nature of freedom, it is that freedom has to be fought for hardest by those who yearn to live it. Freedom cannot be the gift that America gives other countries, purchased solely with the currency of the blood of U.S. servicemembers.

People have to fight for freedom and earn it. They have to die for it. They have to bury their relatives over it. Then they have to love it and care for it so much that they will never let another strongman take it away from them and so that they will never fall victim to the passions that led Venezuela down this dark path to socialism, dictatorship, starvation, and desperation.

We stand with the people of Venezuela, and they must stand now to fight for a better future for their country.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Dr. Dunn for the work, not only in ripening this issue, but also in crafting disaster response legislation that would work for the people impacted by Hurricane Michael.

I also want to thank the gentleman from Georgia, Austin Scott. Well before others were speaking out on this issue, Dr. Dunn and Mr. Scott were working very hard to ensure that the needs of our constituents were adequately represented.

Madam Speaker, disasters give us time to rise to the occasion as leaders in our community. They give us the chance to inspire people on their worst day, and to ensure that those who carry the disproportionate burden of challenge will be assisted and helped by their fellow countrymen and women in the United States of America.

But sadly, following Hurricane Michael, we have not, as a Congress, risen to the occasion, particularly in the Senate, where there is no movement now on legislation, before a two-week recess, to address the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Michael.

It is unfathomable to me that every other major storm that has hit our country, named, has received a disaster supplemental. And I guess the constituents that I serve, that Dr. Dunn, that Mr. Scott serve wonder, What is so special about us? What is so different about the people of South Georgia, South Alabama, North Florida, that we would be left out?

Is it that Hurricane Michael blew at less of a rate of wind? No. Is it that it dumped less rain?

I guess it's just that the people impacted by Michael are unique victims of a broken system in Washington that careens from disaster to disaster itself, rather than focusing on the disasters impacting our constituents.

And, Madam Speaker, what is so deeply tragic about this is that as folks

are trying to put their lives, and their schools, and their families, and their churches back together, we are moving into the summer lightning storm season in my community, and they are going to be victimized all over again, because we have got 72 million cubic tons of fuel on the ground in North Florida and South Georgia, and South Alabama, and with the first lightning storm that is going to ignite.

And so, as my Democrat colleagues, in a matter of a day or so, prepare for their retreat, my constituents prepare, not for a retreat, but for the advance of fires that will take their homes, their lives, their farms, their livelihoods, and their hope for a brighter future.

So I beg, I plead, I implore my colleagues, let's look past the politics of this moment. Let's realize that it could be any of our districts uniquely impacted by a storm, or a fire, or an earthquake or some other terrible disaster; and that, while on most days, we wear our jerseys and suit up and compete against one another in the marketplace of ideas, let's come together as one team, as one country, and do right by those who are suffering from these terrible tragedies.

Again, I thank my colleague from Florida for yielding time, and I thank him for his leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise to raise the concerns of Floridians and Georgians who still await a supplemental appropriation from the Congress.

Every other major storm and disaster received a supplemental appropriation, but for some reason, victims of Hurricane Michael remain waiting.

The Air Force, expecting an appropriation, began the process of rebuilding Tyndall Air Force Base. This morning, the Air Force put out news that they have run out of O&M funds.

What does this mean? It means that, as of this morning, we have deferred 61 required facility projects at bases in 18 States across our country.

It means that, on May 1, we will stop work on Tyndall Air Force Base, failing to meet our obligations to rebuild.

It means that, on May 15, the Air Force will cut aircraft repairs, potentially endangering our pilots' safety when flying and limiting their training capacity.

Ultimately, it means that, on September 1, we will cut 18,000 training flying hours.

This is unacceptable in the current global environment. We must act now to ensure that the men and women serving in the Air Force are furnished with the tools to accomplish their missions.

This is our job as the Congress, and we need to do it immediately, since there are very few legislative days remaining before the Easter break.

Will the gentleman yield?

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

With all due respect to the gentleman from Arizona, he is very weird in that he runs his congressional office like a think tank where people contemplate the ways that technology can improve healthcare and the environment in a nonpartisan way, because these are not issues that have anything to do with whether someone is a Republican or a Democrat.

But so many of these ideas that the gentleman and I have discussed for years fail to make their way into the most dynamic economy and marketplace in the world, which is the United States of America.

So my question for the gentleman is: How do we go from the innovative space of great Americans coming up with sensor technology to action in the Congress or within our government that is worthy of the great people we serve?

I will.

Was it a refundable tax credit or was it an upfront credit?

So it is a production tax credit?

I would ask the gentleman, as we try to take these good ideas that seem to not be emerging from the Federal Government but from several States and from local communities that are doing some of their own great work, I feel at times like you have got one party here that thinks that Big Government is always the answer, and you have another party who thinks that big business is always the answer, and at times these technological solutions come from neither. They come from the creative class, the innovative class.

So what is the get-out-of-jail-free card so that we can liberate ourselves from a policymaking climate that seems to be more robust in virtue signaling than in actually following data?

I appreciate the gentleman mentioning our oceans. As someone from a coastal State that means a great deal to me.

Based on the current rate of climate change you may get your wish.

It doesn't strike me as an enviable outcome. I do thank the gentleman again for yielding for this discussion.

It is my sincere hope that this is a discussion that we can have with Members of Congress from urban districts, rural districts, liberal Members, and conservative Members, because as the gentleman correctly points out, these are actually solutions that do not lend themselves to a partisan tilt.

I am sincerely hopeful that the gentleman will continue to lead on this subject, and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, as I deliver these remarks, the people of Venezuela are without food, water, medicine, and now even electricity.

The organizing principle of American policy seems to be the need to drive Maduro from power. What if Maduro is not really in power right now? What if the people who are really calling the shots in Venezuela are a group of transnational criminal organizations that merely maintain Maduro as a figurehead? And what if their entire purpose is to draw the United States into an ill-advised war to create a massive migration of people throughout Latin America, eroding borders, jeopardizing nation-states, and ultimately leading to a permissive environment for more illicit activity to occur?

These are important questions we have to ask. My constituents have to go to Central and South America and fight these wars. And certainly, as a Congress, we need to be very critical in our thinking to not get our Nation in another ill-advised war.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I fully associate myself with the comments of the gentleman from New York condemning anti-Semitism, full stop, an entirely appropriate thing to do.

I just think it is curious how we ended up here. We are having this debate right now because Democrats had an objection to something said by a Democrat. So they launch off on this drafting project, and then lo and behold, I hear all of the remarks on the floor, and a lot of the substance in the resolution is about President Trump, and criticizing him and trying to open wounds.

This is, unfortunately, becoming the new mantra of the left in the Congress. When they have got a problem that they can't solve, it must be President Trump's fault.

It is a lot of the sentiment that we see echoed out of the Judiciary Committee where there is no Russian collusion. The Mueller report is about to drop and Democrats know it is not going to allege Russian collusion, so they have to launch an 81-pronged investigation to harass our President.

They can't get their own House in order, so everything has to be the fault of a President who is creating more economic opportunity, reducing unemployment, ending wars, and doing a heck of a job for the country.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Caroline Buechner as the Teacher of the Year for Santa Rosa County, Florida.

Ms. Buechner is the Choral Music Educator at Navarre High School. She has served the Santa Rosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

It is recognized that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult yet rewarding professions in existence. Ms. Buechner has continued to exceed all expectations and proves her devotion to her profession in a multitude of ways.

During Ms. Buechner's 9 years at Navarre High School, she has impressively grown the choral program from 80 members, to over 200 members.

Ms. Buechner exhibits her passion every day in her actions. Her unmistakable love for her job provides a strong foundation for her ability to successfully engage and encourage her students.

Ms. Buechner instills a love of music in each and every one of her students. She sets high expectations yet provides the necessary tools and support for her students to successfully meet those expectations. She encourages students to challenge themselves and enables them to attain their fullest potential.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Caroline Buechner for her accomplishments and her profound commitment to the Santa Rosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for her service and wish her all the best for continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to remember my good friend and our late colleague Representative Walter Jones.

Walter Jones was someone who deeply cared about this institution and the constitutional principles that undergird our service. He was a respected member of the Armed Services Committee, where he was a passionate advocate for military families and against endless, senseless wars that seem, too often, to have a small percentage of Americans bear a disproportionate burden for the decisions that are made by this body and others.

Walter was a deeply caring individual. He was an encourager. When he saw Members on the floor, regardless of your seniority or your status within the institution, he referred to everyone as ``chairman.'' He thought that was a distinction that should be shared and one he used to revere those with whom he served in this body.

He had friends on the right, on the left, and in the middle, because Walter treated everyone with respect and was the ultimate southern gentleman.

I will miss his friendship, his guidance, his mentorship, and this institution and this country will miss the principle with which Walter Jones served our great Nation.

Madam Speaker, I guess tomorrow we will find out if there is anyone that Michael Cohen hasn't lied to. We already know he lied to Congress. We already know he lied to law enforcement, lied to the IRS, lied to three banks, and he is going to prison for his lies. So I guess it will be relevant for us to determine: Does he lie to his own family? Does he lie to his financiers? Does he lie to his financiers who are members of his family?

It will be one heck of an inquiry for us because this is someone who has tangled such a web of lies that he is not to be believed. I think it is entirely appropriate for any Member of this body to challenge the truthfulness, veracity, and character of people who have a history of lying and have a future that undoubtedly contains nothing but lies. That is the story of Michael Cohen.

We will see it play out tomorrow, and I for one can't wait to get to the bottom of things and can't wait to get to the truth.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Thomas Ballard as the Educational Support Professional of the Year for Okaloosa County, Florida.

Mr. Ballard is a P.E. Classroom Assistant at Mary Esther Elementary School. For many years, Mr. Ballard has served the Okaloosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Prior to his service with the school district, he served as a full- time firefighter with the City of Mary Esther from 1981 to 2009. Mr. Ballard's exemplary contributions earned him numerous awards; such as the ``City of Mary Esther Life Saving Medal'' and the ``Military Order of World Wars Award of Appreciation''.

Sharing his invaluable experience gained as a firefighter, Mr. Ballard graciously assisted in the creation of his school's Crisis Plan.

He continually demonstrates his dedication to his school and community by participating in additional duties such as acting as a member of the school safety committee and serving as a volunteer firefighter at Florosa Fire Department.

Mr. Ballard displays incredible devotion to helping students and children in his community feel safe and happy. He generously donates his time to proactively address needs identified in the community as evidenced by his organization of the first official Volunteer Umpires for the Mary Esther Little League.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Thomas C. Ballard for his many contributions and for his profound impact in the Okaloosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for his service and wish him all the best for continued success.

Mr. Speaker, what do we think would happen in this country if we said we were only going to lock up 1,000 people, total, for murder? Well, probably, after the thousandth person was arrested and locked up, you would have a lot more murders, not less, because people would think they could get away with it.

The caravans that are forming in Central and South America and coming toward our southern border aren't shrinking; they are growing. That is why Democrats don't want us to be able to lock up all the people who commit the crime of unlawful entry into the country, because they want to induce that illegal immigration.

Well, Mr. Speaker, we want to stop it, and our negotiators are operating in good faith, but now Democrats are adding new issues.

Here is my challenge to Speaker Pelosi: If she has got a bill that can pass with Democratic votes to secure the border, put it on the floor, because we are tired of negotiating when the goalposts keep moving, when the terms keep changing, and when Democrats do not appear sincere about securing our border.

It is like we are negotiating against a ghost. We are tired of it, and the American people are tired of it.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Angela Hritz as the Teacher of the Year for Okaloosa County, Florida.

Ms. Hritz teaches World History at Davidson Middle School, where she has spent her twenty-year teaching career.

Ms. Hritz has served the Okaloosa County School District with exceptional passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

It is recognized that the teaching profession is one of the most difficult yet rewarding professions in existence. Ms. Hritz has continued to exceed all expectations and proves her devotion to her profession in a multitude of ways.

Ms. Hritz possesses the dynamic capability to encompass many different facets in her lessons. She is specifically known for incorporating ELA standards within her social studies activities.

She immerses her students in the content by using Socratic Seminars to deepen their understanding and develop communication skills in a respectful environment.

Ms. Hritz exhibits her passion for education every day in her actions. Her unmistakable love for her job provides a strong foundation for her ability to successfully engage and encourage her students.

Ms. Hritz also effectively draws from her own experiences to compliment her instruction. Having traveled to some of the very places of which she teaches, enables her to better instill a sense of wonder about the world in her students and to encourage them to embrace other cultures.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize Angela Hritz for her accomplishments and her profound commitment to the Okaloosa County School District. I offer my gratitude for her service and wish her all the best for continued success.