Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize the Talladega High School boys basketball team for winning the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 4A basketball state championship.

The Tigers defeated West Limestone 60-48 in the championship game on March 1st at Birmingham's Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. The Tigers brought home the program's first ever state title.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the students and faculty of Talladega High School, the coaches, the players and all the Tiger fans on this exciting achievement. Go Tigers.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Admiral Dennis Matthew Brooks.

Admiral Brooks was born on November 23, 1934 in Fairfield, Alabama. He married the love of his life Dolores (Lorrie) Gober following his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1957. They had three children, Mark, Amy and Allison and two grandchildren, James and Mary Katherine.

He served his country for 35 years until his retirement in 1992. His assignments included fighter pilot, test pilot and teacher at the Naval Academy. His command assignments included fighter squadrons VF-51 ``Screaming Eagles'' and VF-121 ``Pacemakers'', USS Kansas City and USS Constellation, Carrier Group Seven and Battle Force and Carrier Strike Forces of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. In 1988, he was assigned as the initial commander of the Combined Joint Task Force, Middle East, involving all U.S. Forces in the Persian Gulf. Ashore Admiral Brooks' major assignments included Director, Navy Space Command and Military Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

The USS Constellation (Connie) under the command of then Captain Brooks was visited by Ronald Reagan shortly after the President's recovery from wounds received in an assassination attempt. Following his inspection, the President declared ``Connie'' to be ``America's Flagship'', presented the crew a presidential flag and announced: ``Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words, and ships like this and men like you are that muscle.'' Later the Connie gained her motto, ``Go Ahead Make My Day'', which was painted on the ship's island.

Following his Navy career, the Admiral and Lorrie retired to Pell City where he continued his service as Rotary District Governor for District 6860. His philanthropic efforts included Pell City's Habitat for Humanity, the Board of the Eastern Health Foundation and the Pell City Library Guild. He was an Eagle Scout and continued throughout his life to be involved in Scouting. Posthumously, the Greater Alabama Scout Council presented the ``Heart of an Eagle'' Award to his family.

Admiral Dennis Matthew Brooks, United States Navy (Ret), of Pell City, Alabama, passed away November 12, 2018. Admiral Brooks lived an exemplary life and brought out the very best in those who were fortunate to serve with him in the Navy and those who were fortunate enough to know him in civilian life.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the life of Admiral Brooks.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50-year career of Deborah R. McBride, better known as Debby.

Debby was born to Clarence and Miriam McBride in Washington, D.C. After graduating high school, she moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend Birmingham-Southern.

During her senior year in college, she came to Capitol Hill and lined up a job with former Democratic Congressman Bill Nichols and worked as a caseworker until his death in 1988.

She stayed on with the office of Alabama's Third Congressional District until Dr. Glen Browder, also a Democrat, was elected in a special election in April of 1989. She continued her work as a caseworker, as well as scheduling and office manager.

In 1996, Bob Riley was elected. Although a Democrat, Debby continued to work for him through his three terms doing casework, serving as office manager and taking on coordinating tours and flags.

I was elected in 2002 and, like before, Debby stayed on to work for me, continuing in her roles and her service to east Alabama. Debby has been with me since day one. If you polled the Third Congressional District, she would certainly be more popular than me.

She has institutional knowledge that cannot be replaced, and I know I will miss her very much. Debby has a heart of gold and has touched many lives. The Third District of Alabama will not be the same without her.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Debby for her unwavering service to the people of Alabama and our country.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Today I rise in strong support of securing our borders. There is a crisis at the southwest border that can no longer be denied.

Changing demographics have created unprecedented challenges for Border Patrol agents. Today, record large groups of women and children from Central American countries are overwhelming Border Patrol facilities and undermining the safety of migrants and staff.

Family apprehensions for fiscal year 2019 are already 800 percent higher than fiscal year 2013.

Customs and Border Protection statistics indicate that border apprehensions are on pace to hit a 10-year high.

Human smugglers are exploiting loopholes in our broken immigration system and using children as visas to gain entry into the U.S.

Further, drugs are pouring through our porous borders. As you just heard the gentleman mention, in fiscal year 2018, Customs and Border Protection seized almost 900,000 pounds of drugs at the border, the majority of which were seized between the ports of entry. That includes approximately 2,000 pounds of fentanyl, which equals a lethal dose for the entire United States population.

To address this crisis, we need an all-of-the-above solution to border security that includes manpower, 21st century technology, and a barrier. With this approach, we will stem the flow of drugs that are devastating our communities. We will stop human smugglers and others from crossing hundreds of miles of open desert with innocent children.

Border security used to be a bipartisan issue. I have been on the Homeland Security Committee since it was established as a select committee after 9/11.

Not one time in the history of that committee has there been any partisan dispute about the need for a barrier, the wall, until Donald Trump became President, and now it is a toxic issue.

I stand by President Trump's actions to keep Americans safe, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Vote against the effort to override the President's veto.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50-year career and upcoming retirement of Ms. Deborah ``Debby'' R. McBride.

Debby was born in Washington, D.C. to Miriam and Clarence McBride who moved to Washington, D.C. from Evanston, Illinois shortly before Debby was born. Her father was a tax attorney with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and both her father and mother worked as teachers at Evanston Township High School. Debby attended Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda and then attended Birmingham Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama.

Debby had two late sisters: Marcia, who was 18 years older and developmentally disabled and Gail, who was 10 years older but very close with Debby.

At Birmingham Southern, Debby majored in Elementary Education. Over spring break of her senior year in college, she went to Capitol Hill to look for a job. She met the personal secretary for Bill Nichols, Mary Elva Rice and was hired as a caseworker. She began working in 1969 and continued working as a caseworker until Congressman Nichols died on December 13, 1988. Everyone in Nichols' office found other jobs, but Debby stayed with the Third District of Alabama office. Congressman Glen Browder replaced Nichols in a special election on April 5, 1989 and she continued working for the Third District. Debby handled scheduling, office manager duties and continued with casework. Congressman Browder stayed for the remainder of that term and two other terms before running for the U.S. Senate. When Bob Riley was elected in 1996, Debby stayed on to work with him also picking up coordinating tours and flags. After three terms, Riley successfully ran for Governor of Alabama and I was elected in 2002. Debby continued doing tours and flags, office management and casework.

During her time on the Hill, Debby was involved for about 20 years with the Capitol Hill Equestrian Society, which began while she was working for Congressman Nichols. They had meetings once a month and published a monthly newsletter.

Debby received awards from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Debby has been with me since day one. If you polled the Third District, she is probably way more popular than me. She has institutional knowledge that cannot be replaced and we will miss her so much. Debby has a heart of gold and has touched so many lives. The Third District of Alabama won't be the same without her.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Debby for her unwavering service to the people of Alabama.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the lives of the 23 victims who died in the severe weather and tornadoes that ravaged Lee County on March 3, 2019.

Of the 23 who died, their ages range from 6 years old to 89 years old. Four of the victims were children, four victims were two sets of couples engaged to be married and 10 victims were part of one family. The following names are those who lost their lives:

Ryan Pence, 22; Felicia Woodall, 22; Eric Jamal Stenson, 38; Florel Tate Stenson, 63; Henry Lewis Stenson, 65; James Henry Tate, 86; Maggie Delight Robinson, 57; Raymond Robinson, Jr., 63; Tresia Robinson, 62; Emmanuel Jones, 53; Jimmy Lee Jones, 89; Mary Louise Jones, 83.

Jonathan Marquez Bowen, 9; Mykhala Waldon, 8; Taylor Thornton, 10; Shelia Creech, 59; Marshal Lynn Grimes, 59; Armando ``A.J.'' Hernandez, 6; Vicki Braswell, 69; David Wayne Dean, 53; Mamie Roberts Koon, 68; Charlotte Ann Miller, 59; Irma Gomez Moran, 41.

Madam Speaker, please join me in remembering these 23 victims and praying for the families and friends they left behind and recognizing the brave First Responders across the area. It has been amazing to see Alabamians come together to support Lee County after this tragedy.

Madam Speaker, I would ask to draw the House's attention to a terrible disaster that occurred in Alabama and Georgia on Sunday, March 3.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, we had an F-4 tornado with winds exceeding 170 miles per hour touch down in Alabama and stay on the ground a mile wide. For the next 70 miles, it plowed through Alabama and into Georgia.

This tornado took the lives of 23 innocent Alabamians and injured 90 people. It destroyed, just in Alabama alone, more than 120 homes, and then went into Georgia and did enormous property damage.

It is my hope that we, first of all, take note of the fact that the first responders in both of our States did an exemplary job in the search and rescue during the first 2 days following the storm trying to find all those who had been lost and, since then, in the recovery mode.

The money and attention that this country and this Congress have invested in our first responders having the training and equipment they need to deal with these disasters, whether they are man-made or natural, was demonstrated again in this horrible disaster.

At this time, Madam Speaker, I would like to ask a moment of silence for us to ask God's grace and blessings on these families as they try to recover from this horrible disaster.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Colonel Joel Warhurst's Change of Command.

Colonel Warhurst was commissioned in the Transportation Branch in 1994. Upon completion of the Transportation Officer Basic Course, he began his initial tour of duty at Fort Campbell, KY, where he served as a Platoon Leader in the 594th Transportation Company (Medium Truck) with the 129th Corps Support Battalion, 101st Corps Support Group; the Executive Officer and Arrival Departure Airfield Control Group OIC for the 372nd Transportation Company (Cargo Transfer); and the 129th CSB Operations Officer (S-3).

In 1998, he completed the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course and Combined Arms Services and Staff School and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, G-4. As a multifunctional logistician, he served as the Plans Officer and later the Operations Officer. Next, he served as Commander of the 546th Transportation Company Light/Medium Truck (Airborne), 1st Corps Support Command. Afterward, he completed a one-year assignment, Training with Industry with the Army Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas, Texas. Then, he served in the Combined Arms Support Command--CSS Battle Lab as a principle action officer. He attended the resident Command and General Staff School and was assigned to Army Sustainment Command as the Brigade Logistics Support Team Chief for 1st BCT-101st at Fort Campbell, KY. Later, he served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team (Bastogne), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Afterward, he was selected as the Secretary General Staff, Headquarters Army Materiel Command followed by selection as the Assistant Executive Officer, Commanding General, and Army Materiel Command.

He served as Commander, DLA Distribution Red River, Texas; Deputy Commander and Commander of the 82nd Sustainment Brigade (Provisional), Fort Bragg, NC.

Prior to his arrival at Anniston Army Depot, he served as the ACOS J4/G4, Chief of Logistics at NATO Rapid Deployable Corps--Turkey and recently completed an assignment in the Army G-4 as a Readiness Officer.

On July 27, 2017, he became Anniston Army Depot's 35th commander.

His military education includes the Strategic Deployability Course (SDS), Strategic Unit Movements Planners Course, Hazardous Materials Preparer Course, Combat Developers Course, Air Assault School, Airborne School, and Jumpmaster Course. He is a graduate of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at Fort McNair, VA.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology from the Technological University in Cookeville, TN and a Master of Science Degree from Florida Institute of Technology in Logistics Management, and National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

Among his awards and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Unit Citation (AAFES and 1st BCT, 101st), National Defense Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Oversees Service Ribbon.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Colonel Warhurst for his service to our country.

Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize Christian Knop.

A senior at Alexandria High School in Alexandria, Alabama, won his 235th consecutive wrestling match this month to win the 195-pound weight class in Class 1A-5A.

Christian is the first wrestler to go undefeated and win four straight championships in the history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).

Christian is ranked third in the nation for wrestling and has not lost a match since he was in the 8th grade. Knop plans to attend and wrestle at N.C. State.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Christian Knop on such an awesome achievement and wish him the best of luck in North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, without a doubt, there is a crisis at the border. Changing demographics have created unprecedented challenges for the Border Patrol.

In the early 2000s, most illegal border crossers were young Mexican men and our laws allowed us to quickly return them back to Mexico. But today, that flow of Mexican men has been replaced with a mix of men, women, and children from Central American countries.

Human traffickers are exploiting the loopholes in our laws and understand how our immigration system is broken. These smugglers tell vulnerable families that their child is like their ``visa'' to stay in the U.S., if they can just get themselves turned in to the border patrol. And these smugglers and their propaganda are effective.

Family apprehensions for fiscal year 2019 are already 572 percent higher than fiscal year 2013. And these traffickers don't care about the people they smuggle. The result is that immigrants of all ages are arriving on our doorstep in terrible health.

Border Patrol projects a 133 percent increase over last year in migrants needing medical treatment after crossing the border. These changing migrant flows force our law enforcement officers to act as paramedics, rather than enforcing the laws that Congress has passed.

We need an ``all-of-the-above'' approach to border security, and that includes manpower, 21st century technology, and barriers. With this approach, we will deter human smugglers and others crossing hundreds of miles of open desert with innocent children.

We know this approach works. In areas where we have built a wall system, such as Yuma, illegal traffic has plummeted by 95 percent. Let's build on this success.

I encourage my colleagues to stand by President Trump's decision to use executive authority to carry out this approach and keep America safe.

Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize Pamela C. Robertson as she retires after years of civil service.

A native of Anniston, Alabama, Robertson graduated high school in 1976 and attended Ayers State Technical College with a certificate of completion in Business and immediately entered the workforce at AOD Federal Credit Union in 1978.

She began her civilian government service at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in 1979 as GSO4 Secretary-Steno. She served as Administrative Assistant in the Foreign Student Allied Liaison Office, Budget Assistant and Budget Analyst in the U.S. Army Chemical School and Accounting Technician with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Talladega, Alabama. From 1988 until 1999, she worked as a Budget Analyst at Fort McClellan. After Fort McClellan closed due to BRAC, she transferred to the Anniston Army Depot in the same capacity and become the Budget Officer in 2007. She will retire as Director of Resource Management, a position she's held since 2013.

Robertson has won several awards including: The Superior Civilian Service Award (Louis Dellamonica AMC outstanding person of the year), AMC Commander's coin, Army Achievement Medal, several special acts and performance awards.

She is involved in the Supervisory Committee of a local federal credit union and a volunteer in the pre-school department of her church. She's also an active member of the Chemical Corps Regimental Association, Order of the Dragon.

In August 2019, Pamela Robertson will retire with 40 years of primarily Army service.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Pamela on her retirement and thanking her for her service to our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 424, the Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act.

President Trump has directed a major security clearance and background information overhaul across the executive branch. This effort is underway, and significant progress has been made to reduce the backlog and improve the quality of background investigations. The bill we are considering today complements this initiative.

H.R. 424 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct an inventory of the department's positions that require security clearances, which currently number over 100,000, and determine what positions may be duplicative or are no longer necessary. It is just good government to periodically review the positions that require a ``need to know'' and to ensure DHS is not allocating funds for unnecessary background investigations. Security clearances are costly to investigate, adjudicate, and maintain.

The bill would ensure that DHS conducts a thorough accounting of its workforce needs and reduces the number of positions with security clearances if determined appropriate. The bill would also require additional transparency on how security clearances are adjudicated, including when there are reasons to suspend or deny a security clearance.

Chairman Thompson's legislation is an example of the accounting that each Federal department should be conducting today and would lead to a leaner and more secure Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, the bill is identical to the version the House passed last Congress, and I would just reiterate this is good government, bipartisan legislation. I urge its support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 495, the Office of State and Local Law Enforcement Information Sharing Review Act, introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

The Office for State and Local Law Enforcement is part of the Department of Homeland Security and currently resides in the Office of Partnership and Engagement. The Office provides information on DHS' resources that are available to State and local law enforcement agency partners and a point of contact for questions regarding DHS' policies and programs.

This bill requires the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement to provide a report on the efforts of the Office to improve information sharing between DHS and law enforcement agencies, an overview of the performance metrics used to measure success and any feedback provided by the State and local stakeholders, and an overview of ongoing activities of the Office.

This reporting requirement is intended to assist the Office in identifying areas of improvement in the Department's information- sharing efforts and coordinating with the relevant DHS components to close any identified gaps.

I am pleased the bill includes a sunset on the reporting requirement after 5 years. While the information gathered through the report will be valuable for congressional oversight, it is important that we do not overburden the Department with never-ending reporting requirements.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reiterate, this is good government policy, and I fully support and urge its passage.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Rev. Everett B. Kelley as he retires after 31 years as a pastor.

Everett, a native of Goodwater, Alabama, rededicated his life to Christ and united with the Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama in 1982. In 1985, he accepted his call into the ministry and preached his first sermon in December. He was called to pastor at St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in August 1987.

Rev. Kelley enlisted in the United States Army and served three years. He established B & K Cabinets and K & G Cabinets in Oxford, Alabama. He is a retired employee of Anniston Army Depot. From 2002 to 2016, he served as President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1945 and Chaplain for Alabama State Councils of AFGE. From 2011 to 2018, he served as National Vice President of AFGE District 5 and in August of 2018, was elected as National Secretary Treasurer of AFGE.

He is married to Elizabeth Kelley and has been blessed with four children and six grandchildren. His education includes: Hannah J. Mallory Elementary, Sylacauga High School, Central Alabama Community College, Selma University, Birmingham Baptist Bible College and Rushing Spring School of Theology where he has earned his Bachelor and Master's of Theology. In 2014, he earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Christian Counseling, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity at St. Thomas Christian University.

Rev. Kelley is the former instructor at Rushing Springs School of Theology and former instructor of Christian Education and Evangelism at the Birmingham Estonian Bible College at the Anniston campus. In July 2005, he was certified in the E. K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference and in 2011, received his advanced certification in the E. K. Bailey Exposition Preaching Conference.

He serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity CBTU, and a member of the Labor Roundtable. He has served on Supervisory Committee of the AOD Federal Credit Union board, Calhoun County Economic Development Council, former board member of AUSA and member of East Alabama Planning Board. He is President and founder of ``Cruzin for Jesus Motor Club, Inc.'', and President/CEO of E. B. Kelley Ministries, LLC, Kelley's Photography, and President of Project Hope Outreach Ministries

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 88th Anniversary of The American Legion--Fletcher McCollister Post 135.

The American Legion Post--Fletcher McCollister 135 in Phenix City, Alabama was chartered on April 3, 1931. It was named for Robert Fletcher and Theodore McCollister, both of Phenix City, who were killed in action during World War I.

In September of 1919, Congress chartered The American Legion. The organization celebrates is 100th Anniversary this year.

On March 16, 2019, The American Legion--Fletcher McCollister Post 135 will host an event to commemorate their 88th Anniversary.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating The American Legion Post--Fletcher McCollister Post 135 on their 88th Anniversary.