Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 170th Anniversary of the City of Oxford.

A part of Alabama's Third Congressional District, Oxford, is located in Calhoun County. The Muscogee Creek Nation called Choccolocco Valley home for 12,000 years. In 1540, Hernando DeSoto crossed the region on behalf of Spain in search of riches. France claimed the lands in 1699 after successfully establishing settlements at Mobile, New Orleans and Biloxi. Even though France controlled the area that would later become Oxford, it was still inhabited by the Creek Nation. England gained possession after the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Seven Years War. In 1789, the entire northern portion of Alabama was owned by Georgia. The lands were given to the federal government in 1802 as part of the Mississippi Territory.

Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. Benton County was incorporated on December 18, 1832, and included present-day Calhoun, Cleburne and portions of Cherokee and Talladega Counties. At the time of incorporation, the only incorporated towns in Benton County were Jacksonville and White Plains. In the early 1830s, the Snow and Simmons families were two of the first European descent families to settle among the Creek natives. Snow owned the land south of present- day Choccolocco Street, and Simmons owned the land north. An early legend recalls the area south was called ``Skace Grease'' and the area north ``Lick Skillet.'' Local folklore says a traveler was passing through and needed a place for rest and food. As he was visiting, he was directed to ``lick the skillet'' because they were ``skace of grease.''

Oxford was established on February 7, 1852, the bill proposed by Representative Matthew Allen of Benton County. The limits of the town included one square mile from the center at the male academy on Second Street. Elisha S. Simmons, Edmund P. Gains, John A. Turnipseed, Stephen C. Williams, and Woodson Seay were authorized to run on a ballot for the election of three council members and an intendant (mayor). It was decided that on the first Saturday of each March, annual municipal elections would be held for offices of council and mayor.

On February 21, 1860, Oxford was chartered for the second time due to redrawing of boundary lines and the changing of the name of Benton County to Calhoun County. The limits of the town included a half-mile in each direction from the railroad culvert at Spring Street. Elections were to be held on the first Monday of each March annually. In this incorporation, the law called for the election of seven councilmembers and an intendant. The councilmembers and intendant were given the power to elect a marshal, clerk and treasurer. Those who have served as mayor of Oxford, respectively, include Elisha S. Simmons, Dr. Stephen C. Williams, Samuel C. Kelly, James S. Kelly, Edgar H. Hanna, Charles T. Hilton, William J. Borden, John B. McCain, Dr. Thomas C. Hill, Robert P. Thomason, William H. Griffin, John N. Gunnels, Thomas A. Howle, Maj. William A. Orr, George W. Eichelberger, William C. Gray, Dreadzil P. Haynes, Asa C. Allen, William R. Norton, Davis C. Cooper, Robert R. Pope, Dr. Thomas B. Howle, Carl D. Pace, Hemphill G. Whiteside, Alvis A. Hamric, Bester A. Adams, Earl R. Martin, Therman E. Whitmore, Leon Smith, and Alton Craft.

The Oxford Police Department was established at the time of the first incorporation. However, the earliest police force only included one town marshal. The first recorded marshal for Oxford was Francis M. Gardner, who served in the early 1880s. The Oxford Fire Department was organized on May 18, 1884, as a volunteer department. Major William A. Orr served as the first chief.

In 1904, the citizens of Oxford were convinced that the town needed a permanent city hall for the purposes of conducting municipal business. In September of that year, it was decided city hall would be located in a building on Main Street and the fire department would share the building. An armory was established adjacent to the building for the Calhoun Rifles. The calaboose was located several yards south on Spring Street.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Oxford a happy 170th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of Southern Union State Community College.

Southern Union State Community College is the second oldest two-year college in Alabama, and is currently under the leadership of President Todd Shackett.

Southern Union has compiled a rich history throughout the years. Originally chartered by the Southern Christian Convention of Congregational Christian Churches, SUSCC was planned as a feeder school for Elon College in North Carolina. In 1922, 51 students stepped into a single building in Wadley, Alabama, that was then known as Bethlehem College; and the dream of a college in east Alabama was realized.

Southern Union remained church related until 1964, operating as Piedmont Junior College, Southern Union College and The Southern Union College. On October 1, 1964, the college was the first to be deeded to the State of Alabama to become part of the newly-created system of two- year colleges. The name of the college became Southern Union State Junior College, and it achieved accreditation in 1970 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

In response to requests from business and industry, Southern Union expanded its reach to an even wider area in the late 1960s and early 1970s, offering higher education opportunities in Lee and Chambers counties by holding classes at local high schools. The college continued its commitment to the citizens of the area with the construction of campuses in the cities of Opelika and Valley. In 1974, the Valley Campus was completed. And, in 1982, the college purchased land in Opelika and offered a full-range of course offerings at its Opelika Campus. On August 12, 1993, the college merged with the local technical college, thus expanding its technical education offerings. Upon merging, the college became Southern Union State Community College.

Today, Southern Union has three campus locations in Wadley, Opelika and Valley and boasts an enrollment of approximately 5,000 students. SUSCC serves residents of an eight county area of East and Central Alabama as

well as neighboring Georgia counties. A three-faceted educational emphasis is on academic programs for transferability, technical programs for specialized career competencies and health sciences programs for specialized training in the health field.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Southern Union a happy 100th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our local law enforcement.

Across our country, police officers are under fire. They are being killed, attacked and targeted.

These brave men and women who serve their local communities help keep us safe, but the liberals continue to push to defund the police.

I am sick of it.

President Biden and the left's anti-police policies have led to a crimewave across our nation. Last October; three Alabama police officers were shot in less than 24 hours. Last May, Alabama officers were injured in a shooting. And last week, an Opelika Police officer was hit by a fleeing suspect.

We are a country of law and order and I implore my colleagues to stand up for those who protect us and back the blue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Donoho School Lady Falcons for winning the AHSAA Class 1A state volleyball title.

Donoho beat Bayshore Christian to secure their second title in the past three years. The game was played at Birmingham's Bill Harris Arena on October 28, 2021.

Last year, Bayshore Christian beat Donoho in the state final, so this year's win was even sweeter. Lily Grace Draper was named tournament MVP with 42 kills for the tournament.

This is The Donoho School's 12th Class 1A state volleyball title.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Coach Jamie Clendenin, the volleyball team, students, faculty and all the fans. Go Lady Falcons.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Piedmont High School football team for winning the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A football championship.

Piedmont High School beat Montgomery Academy 35-33 in Birmingham at Protective Stadium on December 2, 2021.

The Bulldogs overcame a 23-point halftime deficit to win. What a comeback.

This is Piedmont High School football team's fifth state championship since 2009.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Coach Steve Smith, the football team, assistant coaches, students, faculty and all the fans. Go Bulldogs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th Anniversary of Alexander City, Alabama.

A part of Alabama's Third Congressional District, Alexander City, is located in Tallapoosa County. In 1698, Captain Thomas Welch marked out the Okfuskee Trail through what became Tallapoosa County. Trading stations near Flint Hill, Young's Ferry, and Kowaliga were established by the English settlers.

Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend secured control of East Central Alabama. Resulting from the 1832 Treaty of Cusseta, on December 18, 1832, the Alabama Legislature created Tallapoosa County.

In 1837, James Young acquired 320 acres, a large portion of present- day Alexander City. Griffin Young opened a post office in his store and eight men and women dubbed ``The Baptist brethren settlers of Youngsville'' organized Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church. For 35 years, Youngsville consisted of scattered farms, a store-post office and a church. One of Griffin Young's goals was to have a railroad constructed on his property, but the Civil War delayed that.

In anticipation of a railroad, Youngsville was incorporated in 1872. In 1873, the town was renamed Alexander City in honor of Edward Porter Alexander. Alexander, originally from Washington, Georgia, finished third in his class at West Point, served in the U.S. Army and later became an accomplished Confederate General. After the war, Alexander became President of the Savannah and Memphis Railroad. His support for locating the railroad in Alexander City literally transformed a small, scattered farm town into an area primed for future growth.

After the railroad was established, a school was built in 1879. Five years later, B.F.C. Russell moved to Alexander City. His youngest son was Ben Russell. In 1889, the Town Mayor B.L. Dean, led a movement to build a courthouse and the following year, J.C. Maxwell and Reuben Herzfeld persuaded ``builders of a cotton mill'' to locate in Alexander City. In 1902, Ben Russell began what became Russell Corporation as an underwear manufacturer. That year, a fire devastated the bulk of downtown Alexander City.

In 1919, the B.B. Comer family purchased Alexander City Cotton Mills. Known as the Avondale Bevelle Plant, the company employed thousands of local textile workers over several decades. In 1926, Lake Martin, the world's largest man-made lake, was completed. The lake has benefited the local area for years. Other area improvements include Benjamin Russell High School and Central Alabama Community College.

At Russell Corporation's peak, there were over 7,000 employees. NAFTA and other agreements contributed to the demise of textiles, including Russell, which was purchased by Fruit of the Loom. Although the community has struggled to recapture its footing, concerted efforts by the community to reinvent Alexander City have begun to pay dividends with more diverse employment opportunities, partnership with the lake, a bustling Highway 280, and the revitalization of downtown.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Alexander City a happy 150th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 90th birthday of Mr. Eugene McAvoy Champion.

Eugene was born on February 20, 1932, in Crenshaw County, Alabama. He was the youngest son born to Leon and Carol Newton Champion. He graduated from Crenshaw County High School and joined the United States Air Force. Eugene served during the Korean Conflict at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Eugene married his high school sweetheart, Bobbie Royal, on June 15, 1952, and was blessed with five children. He graduated from the University of Alabama and worked in public accounting. He later worked in the Medicaid Division for the State of Alabama. After retiring from the state, he opened a CPA firm in Prattville and worked there until just a few years ago.

After Bobbie passed away in 1976, Eugene and his children moved to Prattville, Alabama. He became an active member of First Baptist Church and married Margaret Wells Scott in 1979. Their marriage added three more children to the family.

He is an active member and past president of the Lion's Club. He has also been an active member of the Gideons.

Eugene is a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

His birthday will be celebrated in Prattville with his family on Sunday, February 20th.

Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Eugene a very happy birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 44th anniversary of the Kopper Kettle explosion in downtown Auburn, Alabama.

Below is the 1978 sermon by Rev. Rod Sinclair at the Episcopal College Center after the explosion occurred:

The explosion at the Kopper Kettle has consumed the time

and attention of many of us this week, especially Sunday when

it occurred Monday and Tuesday when we were fixing ourselves

up and getting heat back into the building and into the

Steven's House. There have been many expressions of

gratefulness that no one in town was injured or killed and we

have all told each other where we were when we hear of or

felt the blast. We have even told each other about other

explosions, other calamities and what our reaction was to

them. And some of us have gone off into the world of metaphor

and analogy and compared the explosion at the Kopper Kettle

to what happens to a human being who gets poison in his or

her system, poison from unacknowledged anger or poison from

unexpressed resentment, and how the pressure can build up an

explosion.

There's another type of explosion occurred to me, as it

should, being the preacher, which I like to look at this

morning. It is the explosion of the spirit and it can be more

devastating than what happened last Sunday at Magnolia and

Gay.

The explosion of the spirit is what happens when all the

things we thought we believed in collapses, when the world of

meaning collapses, when the truths that we always thought

were true seem untrue, when doubt attacks every item of faith

and prevails, and faith seems counterfeit, and trust wanders

aimlessly hunting for a place to rest, and when other

people's piety bring charges of hypocrisy to our lips. The

explosion of the spirit can hit with the force of last

Sunday's blast or it can strike in a slow-motion version.

Decay is an explosion developing slowly. We can rebuild

stores and replace smashed windows, but persons who are

smashed by an earthquake under their house of faith have no

certainty that they can pick up the pieces, nor may they want

to, for their structure no longer has meaning. All that was

dear and cherished is splintered and smoking. Their faith is

gone, their dreams are smashed, and they have no basis for

hope.

What do you do if the explosion of the spirit strikes you?

First, I believe you must go to your most trusted friend, not

to talk, but to sit in silence--in the presence of the

other--in the presence of another human being. And the truth

of the presence may be the only truth that is verifiable.

Next, you must allow your friend to care for you. This is

more difficult than silence. Nor can it come too quickly.

This requires that you give permission to the other to enter

your shattered world. And with the entry may come judgment

(but surely not!) and may come abject embarrassment (Yes,

possibly that) or the painful admission that you are lost in

the woods and do not know the way home. (Yes, that too!) Your

trusted friend is there to listen, is not therapist,

counselor or father confessor (at least not then) and listens

to you talk, listens to the starkness of your confession that

your religious house of cards proved to be just that, listens

to the pain of your isolation--for you are in an empty, flat

land by yourself with not so much as four pegs to pitch a

tent for shelter. He listens to the description of your

futureless future. And the echo of the question ``What is

there now?'' continues to sound in your empty room.

But your friend does not answer your questions; eventually

you do. Yet no one can tell you when the eventuality will

happen. First, there may be nothing more than the

establishing of a routine; but even routine requires a degree

of faith. Later, there may be divine word, certainly not

acknowledged then as such. From deep within, from the center

of your center, may come the word: ``Life shall go on.'' And

you know the words are true and your house of meaning

receives another plank.

If and when the house is completed, that is, if and when

there is a day when you can say: ``I believe that the

following truths

gives me meaning, and makes sense out of existence, and are

the grounds on which I will stake my life,'' if there is a

day when this can be said again, after an explosion of the

spirit my hope is that your statement of what you believe

would include the following:

First, a trust in God, trust in God as personal and loving,

God who loves you, who understands and who cares for you.

Believing that God understands and loves us is the life force

that prevents us from dying.

Secondly, a realization that Jesus of Nazareth reveals God

to us. We are not blocked or stumped in our search for the

knowledge of God. Jesus' love and forgiveness is the

indicator of God's love and forgiveness. Believing that Jesus

reveals God to us is the life force that guards our spirits

from collapsing.

Thirdly, a trust that God is present with and in us, and

that his spirit, his power, and his love are with us and in

us, his people. We are not left derelict or abandoned,

wondering if we shall ever be called for. Believing that

God's presence is with us and in us is the life force that

builds us up as a community of people seeking to be faithful

and prevents us from despairing.

To be able to base your life on those three assertions and

know they are true is to return from the land of shadow and

mist into the sunlight of a new day.

The person who experiences the bankruptcy of spirit that we

have spoken of and who later reclaims and rebuilds, who

begins again and whose faith grows from infancy to maturity,

has a lot to tell us. My guess is that such a person would

share with us such thoughts as:

No one else can say what's true for you. All truth is self-

validating.

Much truth, that is not yet perceived as truth, can remain

on the shelf: it may be claimed later on. Having swallowed

too much once before and exploded, it's best not to bite off

more than you can chew. Courage to rebuild is an act of

faith.

The process of discovering meaning is an element of meaning

itself.

My further guess is that as we met such a person, who had

believed again after being crushed by doubt, we could say

such words to him or her as:

When you speak, your words are genuine and true. We feel

accepted and respected by you.

Your faith is clearly shown in your behavior.

You will be a threat to those whose houses of faith are

held together by tape and wire and string and who pretend to

believe and who make a great show, but who on the inside are

full of emptiness and staleness, brittle-ness and dust.

You will cause a light to shine on sham religion and there

will be some who will be vindictive.

The explosion at the corner last Sunday can cause us to

look at the explosion that can come at our centers, the

collapsing of our spirit, if we have carelessly claimed to

believe, or mimicked the belief of others, and have no faith

that is our own. The admission of our doubt, painful though

it is, can be the first step to regaining a life of faith and

can return us to authentic living in God's presence. God's

love is real and His commandments are sure and the community

of persons seeking to know what it is to be fruitful is a

rich place to set yourself. May He shed his grace on each one

of us as we seek truth and walk in faith. Amen.

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

I rise in strong support of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. And I want to start off by saying Chairman Smith has been a real leader on this effort. He has had obstacle after obstacle thrown in his way for months and has continued to be a real advocate for the legislation, but also trying to make sure we get in a good place. And I couldn't ask for a better partner to lead this committee with.

The bill before us has strong bipartisan, bicameral support.

Over the last year, we have seen the best of our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardians. They have performed in the toughest environments with the greatest level of skill and professionalism. Many gave their lives so others would have a chance at a better life.

Without a doubt, our military is the greatest force for good the world has ever seen. Providing the authorities and resources our servicemembers need to defend our Nation and defeat adversaries is the greatest responsibility we have here in Congress.

We accomplish that responsibility with the bill before us today. It provides an additional $25 billion over the President's request, reversing irresponsible cuts to procurement and readiness.

This bill ensures our warfighters are the best equipped and trained in the world. It puts our servicemembers first, providing a 2.7 percent pay raise and expanding benefits to their families.

It puts American workers first with historic investments in our industrial base.

It also begins divesting in legacy systems that will not help us deter future

threats. Instead, it invests in new technologies like artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and quantum computing that will help us stay ahead of our adversaries. That is important because Russia and China are rapidly modernizing their militaries.

China is outpacing us with advancements in emerging technologies and weapons systems. In recent years, we have seen China use its military to push out its borders, threaten our allies, and gain footholds on new continents.

This bill is laser focused on preparing our military to prevail in a conflict with China. It makes critical investments in new systems capable of surviving in contested environments. It includes provisions that will remove China from our defense supply chain. And it reaffirms our support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan.

In Eastern Europe, Russia is on the march again. Putin is threatening NATO allies and amassing an invasion force on the Ukrainian border.

This bill makes historic investments in the European Defense Initiative and provides $300 million for Ukraine, $75 million of which is lethal aid.

Threats from near-peer rivals like China and Russia are not the only ones we face. Terrorists continue to plot to destroy our way of life, so we must continue to take the fight to them. With strong investments in new capabilities and readiness, this bill enables our warfighters to do just that.

Finally, I think we were all horrified by the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. This bill includes important provisions to provide accountability and ensure that we honor the 2,500 Americans who gave their lives in Afghanistan to keep our Nation safe.

Again, Madam Speaker, this is a carefully drafted bipartisan, bicameral agreement. I urge all Members to support our servicemembers and their families by voting in favor of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), who is not only the ranking member on Strategic Forces Subcommittee, but has spent years leading the effort for us to get to meaningful ways to deal with sexual assault in the military, which this bill does.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), an outstanding freshman member of our committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to again thank Chairman Smith, Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Inhofe, and all the members of HASC and SASC for their tremendous work this year. I also want to thank our committee staff on both sides of the aisle, as well as staff from leadership, legislative counsel, and CBO, for their hard work and dedication. Enormous numbers of hours were put into this endeavor over the course of this year, and I can't overstate how much I appreciate the staff work.

Finally, Madam Speaker, today is the day we honor the brave 3,500 American servicemembers killed or wounded in Pearl Harbor. On that day and again on September 11, our Nation came together and vowed to defend our homeland and protect our freedom from all enemies. Each year, Congress comes together in an effort to fulfill that vow by passing the National Defense Authorization Act.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to do that again this year and pass the NDAA, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable life of Bishop Dr. Macy Carr who passed away on November 5, 2021.

Macy Carr was born in Anniston, Alabama, on May 14, 1942 to Joseph and Mattie Carr. He was the second of eight children. He graduated from Cobb High School in 1962. He attended Alabama State University prior to enlisting in the United States Army in 1963. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with one device, the Overseas Bar, the Army good conduct medal and qualified as a sharpshooter twice on the M-16 and M-14 rifles.

After serving in the Army, Carr returned home and devoted his life to Christ. He began as a member of Miracle Revival Temple (MRT) under the leadership of Pastor Ruby K. Blackwell and Elder Paul Blackwell, Sr. He became head Deacon and a member of the evangelistic team.

Not only did Bishop Carr find the Lord and a church home at MRT, but he also found his wife, Sister Lana T. Carr.

He united with the Back to the Bible Ministry under Bishop Raymond Moss, Sr. It all began in the basement of Carr's house. His family made the weekly trek to Marietta, Georgia, for seven years. This established the Alabama Back to the Bible Miracle Revival Fellowship Church in September of 1987.

In 2010, The Alabama Back to the Bible Church entered the family of Full Gospel Holy Temple Church Inc. under the late Apostle Lobias Murray and the late Evangelist Dr. Shirley Murray. Bishop Carr was blessed to see his son and daughter-in-law, Elder Christopher D. Carr, Sr. and Lady LaShunda S. Carr elevated to Pastor and First Lady of Anniston Full Gospel Holy Temple Church Inc. just before his transition.

He was blessed with four wonderful children, 16 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Madam Speaker, please join me in remembering Bishop Carr and his life of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Mary Ina Jones Hendley.

Ina was born November 25, 1921, to Fisher and Mary Griffin Jones, a farming family in South Georgia. One of 14 children, her family depended on her to help with childcare and their farm. Her father was a carpenter and businessman, so she also helped in the family store. Ina graduated high school the top of her class in Nashville, Georgia.

Like her father, she was proficient in mathematics. She worked for a local agricultural manufacturer until marrying her high school sweetheart, Willard Hendley. Willard served proudly in the United States Navy during World War II, in the Pacific theater. They lived in several port areas during the war. Later they returned to raise their two daughters in Nashville.

Ina and Willard assumed leadership roles, in the community and their church. Accounting was Ina's interest and she completed courses that led to work as a finance officer at Moody AFB, Valdosta, Georgia. She continued her education through off-campus courses offered by Troy University and attained a BS in Business. She also earned an MBA from Valdosta State University. After her daughters left home, Ina accepted a position as Payroll Supervisor at Patrick AFB, in Satellite Beach, Florida.

They witnessed rocket launches near Cape Canaveral and enjoyed having their grandchildren observe these historic events. When she retired at 70, her coworkers gave her a signed photo of the space shuttle. After retiring, Ina was a caregiver for Willard. During this time, Ina worked towards a Religious Education degree, including time as an extension student with New Orleans Baptist Seminary. She completed several mission trips with her church teaching English as a Second Language.

In her early 80's, Ina returned to her hometown of Nashville and sang in church choir, helped at the food bank and served as a ``Pink Lady'' at the hospital and nursing home.

In 2013, she moved to be near her second daughter and resides in Alexander City, Alabama. Ina attributes her health to being active; loving to walk, exercise and read.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Ina and wishing her a very happy 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Katie Fordham.

Katie has lived with Parkinson's Disease for the past two years, but she has not let it slow her down.

This weekend, she has planned a community walk to raise money to beat Parkinson's.

On top of that, Katie is the wife of Pastor Sam Fordham of Oak Bowery Baptist Church. This year, Oak Bowery Baptist and the surrounding communities were devasted by tornadoes on March 25th.

Katie worked tirelessly to organize volunteers, coordinate meals, source furniture and find tradesmen from Ohatchee to Wellington to Pleasant Valley. She spent countless hours helping victims and ensuring people had what they needed.

She established a Facebook page so folks could post their needs and collected gift cards from major businesses to distribute to tornado victims. Seven months later, she is still coordinating and helping victims connect with resources.

Katie home schools her three children. Their family enjoys camping. She is known for baking her huge cinnamon rolls.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Katie Fordham for her commitment to her church, her community and to beating Parkinson's. We are behind Katie.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize this article by James Patterson that originally appeared in The Montgomery Advertiser, September 9, 2016:

[From the Montgomery Advertiser, September 9, 2016]

Alabamian Recalls Sept. 11, 2001

(By Jim Patterson, Alabama Voices)

Sept. 11, 2001, began like many busy mornings for me. I was

in my Washington office and ready to leave for an appointment

with a colleague near Georgetown University. Later, I had a

meeting on Capitol Hill and after that, I planned to take

Amtrak to Penn Station in New York.

Moments before I left the office, a radio news presenter

said a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. This

news astonished me! I stopped to hear more. While I waited

for news, I reasoned a small aircraft with an amateur pilot

could have hit one of the Twin Towers.

As a longtime traveler to New York, colleagues had told me

stories of pilots in small planes that had hit tall apartment

buildings. This happens in New York. I proceeded to leave for

my appointment.

The radio presenter then said a commercial jet had flown

into the World Trade Center. This boggled my mind as I knew

jets did not fly so low as to hit the World Trade Center. It

had to be a hoax, I assumed.

When the radio presenter said the image was on the network

news, I had to see it for myself. I was stunned to see

billowing black smoke from the North Tower. An incredible

pilot error, I thought. I thought perhaps the pilot died in

the cockpit and lost control of the airliner causing it to

crash into the tower. Still, I had doubts as I stood

speechless watching the horrible images.

Within a few minutes, I witnessed a second airliner crash

in the South Tower. It was a day of unspeakable events and

lost friends. Shortly after 9:30 that morning, the windows in

my office, situated near the John F. Kennedy Center for the

Performing Arts, rattled. I looked out the window and saw

black smoke billowing in the distance from Virginia. Nearly

200 people died at the Pentagon that morning.

President George W. Bush was in Florida that morning with

Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House. Members of

Congress were evacuated to safety. Cheney decided to stay in

The White House and issued military orders to shoot down any

plane out of its flight path. Washington DC was a war zone!

Federal employees were ordered home. Military and National

Guard troops quickly appeared to safeguard property and

citizens. In a short time, the highways leaving Washington DC

became clogged with cars. Many vehicles ran out of gas.

Stranded motorists walked away from their cars. Washington's

Metrorail was closed in several directions. Washington's

mayor ordered businesses closed and residents to stay

indoors.

Being a brave Alabama sort, I decided to go for a walk down

a deserted Pennsylvania Avenue at around 10:30 a.m. I saw no

cars and no people. A military vehicle with troops passed me

by. Relieved they did not arrest me, I awkwardly waved at

them. Two troops awkwardly waved in response.

In an episode of the 1960s TV program The Twilight Zone

called ``Time Enough at Last'' a middle-aged bank teller

longs for a life where he can read without the distraction of

work. When he accidentally gets locked overnight in a bank

vault and exits the next morning to find his town destroyed

by terrorists, he is alone in the world.

As I disobeyed U.S. government orders to stay inside my

office, I casually walked down a deserted Pennsylvania

Avenue. I felt I was alone in the world. Perhaps this was the

last walk I would ever make if more terrorism by commercial

airliner took me away.

I stopped at a neighborhood restaurant to see a sign on the

door. ``Closed. Go home,'' it read. I walked to a barbershop

and saw men inside fearful to wave back at me.

I saw fear on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I saw

confusion. I wondered when it would be over. Fifteen years

on, the threat of terrorism is not over. It is, sadly, a fact

of life for all Americans everywhere in the world.

James Patterson, a former U.S. diplomat, is a writer and

speaker based in Washington, D.C., and a life member of the

Auburn University Alumni Association.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this article by James Patterson.

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

Madam Speaker, this is an en bloc that was put together in close consultation with the minority. I urge all Members to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), one of our outstanding freshmen.

Madam Speaker, I have some more speakers who aren't ready to speak right now, so at this time I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack), who is another outstanding freshman Member.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of the amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

I fully support our law enforcement community, and particularly those in small and rural communities like those that pepper my entire congressional district. Those are the ones that benefit the most from the 1033 program.

Limiting military equipment transfers would significantly impede their ability to do their jobs to keep us safe. We need to be supporting our law enforcement community, not making their missions more difficult.

For that reason I oppose this amendment and urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin), my friend and colleague, and a great member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), my good friend and a former sheriff.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls), another outstanding freshman.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I want people to understand what the gentleman is proposing because it is naive and reckless.

When we get the budget proposal from the administration, it is just that. It is a proposal. But it is also from the executive branch. It is not coming directly from the combatant commanders, who are the individuals that we charge with the responsibility for executing the U.S. missions around the world.

This amendment would prohibit them giving us the items that were not funded by the President's budget proposal. Keep in mind, both this President and the last President have given us budget proposals that were grossly inadequate. We were able to remedy it under the last President; we were able to remedy it in this one with this President. And we depend heavily on what the combatant commanders tell us they need.

It is critical that Congress knows what the commanders need to keep our servicemembers safe and ensure the success of their missions.

Here is an example. In the fiscal year 2022 unfunded priority, the CENTCOM commander sent us a $106 million request to operate and maintain the Patriot batteries deployed in Iraq to keep our troops safe from missiles fired from Iran and the proxies in Syria.

That money was not in the Biden budget. We found out about it and funded it because of that critical need, and it is now in the bill because General McKenzie told us about it in his unfunded requirement list. We wouldn't have known about that otherwise. That is just one example of why this amendment is misguided.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman means well, but I am not misguided, and I don't misunderstand anything.

I know exactly what the unfunded requirements request list is, it is a vital piece of information for our committee to do its oversight, and I urge the Members of this body to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a terrible and reckless amendment, and I urge all the Members of this body to reject it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, this amendment will strip $79 billion out of the bill. That would have catastrophic effects on our training and readiness.

I need to remind Members, we have been at war for two decades, we have worn out everything we have got. We have got to start replacing and modernizing for the future to be able to take on the threats from China and other adversaries. This will set us back on clean-up and environmental remediation of PFAS and other contaminated items.

It would put off construction of new military housing, schools, and childcare facilities, and the list goes on.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill does everything the gentlewoman just talked about. We are investing in those items that she has talked about, and we are divesting ourselves of those $78 billion worth of legacy platforms that will not be useful in the future, and we are applying that money toward future platforms.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), my friend and colleague, and an outstanding member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I would point out that achieving or meeting the objectives that the gentlewoman just outlined and defense are not mutually exclusive, we can do both and should do both.

And I would point out that the $3.5 trillion that the other side is proposing doesn't spend a dime on defense. Also, we are in the process of auditing. The gentlewoman is exactly right, the Defense Department has never passed an audit. This bill continues the pressure on them to get that complete. We have had many agencies that passed, not all have, and we are not going to let up until they pass an audit.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee, and an outstanding leader.

Mr. Speaker, this amendment guts our bill which is, I am certain, the gentlewoman's intention. It is recklessly irresponsible. It would harm our servicemembers and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again. This time they are stripping $25 billion in funding added by Republicans and Democrats on the committee.

The gentlewoman argues that the Biden budget is sufficient for our national defense. I strongly disagree. The Biden budget constitutes a cut of about $4 billion in real spending from last year. The budget cuts the number of Navy ships. It cuts the number of Navy ships and destabilizes the industrial base. It slashes procurement across the board. It guts missile defense. It leaves unfunded $25 billion in combatant commander priorities, and it cuts the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. At least they left the Space Corps alone.

It does all this while our adversaries, especially China, are investing in military modernization. China increased its defense spending by 75 percent over the last decade--6 percent this year alone. They are leapfrogging this into capabilities like AI and hypersonics, and they are stepping up malign operations against America and our allies.

What is the President's response to this?

He responds with a budget that would cut funding programs that we need to deter China. It doesn't make sense, especially when he is proposing to swell nondefense spending by a massive 16 percent this year. This bill corrects that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), who is a real leader on the Armed Services Committee and ranking member on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Alabama (Mr. Carl), who is one of our outstanding freshmen on the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill before this body, the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act, would increase spending by 3 percent over inflation, which is a modest increase. And it passed our committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote.

This amendment guts the bill. I urge all Members to oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. Speaker, this en bloc package was put together in close consultation with the minority. I urge all Members to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), my longtime friend and colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), an outstanding freshman member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia), an outstanding freshman member of our Conference.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my friend and an outstanding leader on the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller), an outstanding member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), my friend and colleague, and also the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne), one of our great new freshman members of the Republican Conference.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry), an outstanding member of the Republican Conference and a retired general officer.

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

Mr. Speaker, this en bloc was put together in close consultation by the majority with the minority. I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney),

an outstanding member of our Conference.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), my friend and colleague and a real leader on the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to state this en bloc package was reached in close coordination between the majority and minority. I urge its favorable support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 4350, the fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act.

H.R. 4350 represents a truly bipartisan bill, and I want to thank Chairman Smith for his tremendous leadership and cooperation in helping fashion it. This has been a truly bipartisan endeavor.

Over the last few months, we have seen the best of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians. They have performed in the toughest of environments with the greatest level of skill and professionalism. Many gave their lives so others would have a chance for a better life. Without a doubt, our military is the greatest force the world has ever seen.

Providing the authorities and resources for our service that our servicemembers need to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries is the greatest responsibility we have here in Congress. We accomplished that responsibility with the bill before us today. H.R. 4350 ensures our warfighters are the best equipped and trained in the world.

The bill puts our servicemembers first, providing a 2.7 percent pay increase and expanding benefits for their families. It also puts American workers first with historic investments in our defense industrial base. It also begins divesting legacy systems that will not help us deter future threats. Instead, it invests in new technologies like AI, hypersonics, and quantum computing that will help us stay ahead of our adversaries.

That is important because Russia and China are rapidly modernizing their militaries. China is outpacing us with advancements in emerging technologies and weapons systems, and we know China isn't building these capabilities purely for defense. In recent years, we have seen China use its military to push out its borders, threaten our allies, and gain footholds on new continents.

H.R. 4350 is laser-focused on preparing our military to prevail in a conflict with China. It makes critical investments in new systems capable of surviving in a contested environment. It includes provisions that will remove China from our defense supply chain, and it reaffirms our support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan. Unfortunately, threats from near peer adversaries like China and Russia are not the only ones we face. Terrorists continue their plots to destroy our way of life, and we must continue to take the fight to them anywhere and anytime they threaten us. With strong investments in new capabilities and readiness, this bill enables our warfighters to do just that.

Finally, regardless of how you feel about the war in Afghanistan, Madam Speaker, I think we are all horrified by its disastrous withdrawal. This bill includes over 20 provisions to provide accountability to get us answers to questions we have been asking for here for months.

This is a strong, bipartisan bill that will enhance our oversight of the DOD and ensure our military is properly resourced and equipped to defend our Nation and our allies.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), who is the ranking member of the Readiness Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), the ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), the ranking member of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), a great member of the Armed Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), one of our outstanding freshman Members.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice), an outstanding member of our Armed Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), another fine member of the Armed Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz), another fine member of the Armed Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, as I have made clear, I feel very strongly that this is a really strong, bipartisan bill. I urge all Members of the House to support it.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, this is a fine piece of legislation in a stand-alone fashion. In fact, I voted for the gentleman's stand-alone bill. I think what he is trying to accomplish is admirable and should be accomplished, but not in the National Defense Authorization Act.

He knows that I am not picking on his bill. I feel this way about anything that is not in our jurisdiction.

But having said that, the language is not related to the NDAA, and I urge opposition.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction is opposed. Therefore, I must be opposed.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, the amendment allows some of the most hardened terrorists in U.S. custody a platform to publicly broadcast their message. Letting these vicious terrorists know there is a public audience for their hate will do far more harm than good.

It is important to note that Federal courts have consistently stuck to their guns against broadcasting major terrorism cases, such as the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. I see no reason to make an exception for terrorists at Guantanamo.

DOD has informed us they share these serious concerns and strongly oppose this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have a right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am concerned that adoption of this amendment would create a major recruiting platform for terrorists and create security risks.

The Biden administration is opposed to this amendment. I oppose this amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no.'' I yield back the balance of my time.