Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 53- year pastoral career of Dr. Jimmy E. Jackson, who is set to retire in early June.

I first met Dr. Jackson 38 years ago in 1980. Over those 38 years, I have grown to very much appreciate and admire all that Dr. Jackson has done to improve the physical and spiritual lives of Tennessee Valley residents.

Dr. Jackson has dedicated the last 40 years of his pastoral service to the congregation of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. My colleagues may recall when Dr. Jackson served as a guest chaplain for the House of Representatives in April of 2015.

Dr. Jackson's walk with Christ began on October 26, 1968. That day, Dr. Jackson made the solemn decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and devote his whole life to serving God.

Dr. Jackson has said that he ``knew about Jesus before October 1968, but on that morning when I knew myself to be lost and turned to Jesus Christ in faith, I was converted by the grace of God.''

Through 40 years at Whitesburg Baptist, Dr. Jackson has remained committed to leading people in the Rocket City and Alabama to Christ and has been integral in the spiritual life of the people of the Tennessee Valley.

Under Dr. Jackson's leadership, Whitesburg Baptist Church has grown to 7,100 members, making it one of the largest and most successful churches in the Tennessee Valley.

In Matthew 28, verses 19 and 20, Jesus instructed his disciples to ``therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. . . . '' Dr. Jackson has lived this Great Commission through his long pastoral career at Whitesburg Baptist and in our community and the broader Christian faith.

In addition to presiding over Whitesburg Baptist Church, Dr. Jackson served in a number of distinguished capacities, including but not limited to: the executive committee of the Alabama State Board of Missions, the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and on the board of regents of the University of Mobile.

I commend Dr. Jimmy Jackson on his exceptional career and service to God. I wish Dr. Jackson many years of happiness as he begins this new phase of life with his bride of nearly 58 years, Bobbi; his children; his grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate some of the comments of others here and make it very clear.

We have been warned over the years in writing by the Congressional Budget Office, by the Government Accountability Office, and by Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States, that our current financial path is unsustainable. In accounting language, that means insolvency and bankruptcies.

Back in 2015, by way of example, we as House Republicans had been able to successfully reduce America's annual deficits from the peak of $1.4 trillion under the Obama administration in the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 timeframe, to approximately $438 billion in 2015. However, beginning in 2015, Washington took a wrong turn.

In 2016, the deficit increased to approximately $585 billion. In 2017, the deficit increased to approximately $666 billion. This year, the Congressional Budget Office just this week has warned us that we are looking at a roughly $804 billion deficit this year. Again, wrong direction. Wrong turn.

Next year, almost $1 trillion, and every year thereafter, $1 trillion or more hastening the day that the United States of America suffers from a debilitating, a dangerous insolvency and bankruptcy. Hence, it is very important that we become masters of our own fate. It is very important that we do not become the debtor--as warned in Proverbs 22:7--that becomes a slave to the creditor who becomes the master.

In that vein, let's be clear about who one of our masters is, one of our creditors: China--$1.2 trillion. Perhaps for the long term they will be a geopolitical friend, but there is also a chance that they will be a geopolitical foe. Do we really want them to have control over our fate as a country?

And let's be clear about the situation that we are in right now. Right now, if the Congressional Budget Office's projection of $800 billion is accurate, if, in fact, we are going to spend roughly $1.3 trillion in our discretionary budget that we just got through passing a few weeks ago--in my judgment, irresponsibly, but nonetheless that is in the past. It has happened. If that is going to be the case, if our creditors tomorrow were to simply cut us off, were to say we are not going to loan you any more money--which they have every right to do-- and if that $1.3 trillion was prorated, that $800 billion shortfall out of $1.3 trillion, you are looking at a roughly $400 billion cut to national defense. That would be their share of an $800 billion proration out of $1.3 trillion.

That puts national security at risk. So it is important that we have a balanced budget constitutional amendment that forces Washington, D.C., to act like every family has to act, to act like every city, county, and State government has to act, to act like every business has to act, and that is to act within our financial means, act within our financial resources.

That having been said, I am inclined to vote for this balanced budget constitutional amendment, but I have serious reservations about whether it is ineffective and somehow hollow. It needs to be stronger, and I urge the United States Senate to make it stronger if it passes this body and gets to the Senate.

Here are three of the problem areas that I have identified:

Section 2: ``The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.''

Mr. Speaker, three-fifths isn't going to cut it. It needs to be two- thirds or three-fourths or four-fifths, something substantial so that those of us who understand the economic risk of a national insolvency and bankruptcy who only constitute 10, 20, or 30 percent of this body are able to enforce this provision and force the United States Government to be financially responsible.

That is one area, increase that three-fifths to two-thirds or three- fourths or four-fifths.

A second area in section 5: ``The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United

States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority''--a mere majority--``of the whole number of each House.''

So let's be clear. In virtually every year since December 7 of 1941, we have had a military conflict. A sharp lawyer is going to say that it involves national security, which triggers a majority vote to go into deficit spending.

What is the law now? The law in the House is 50 percent plus 1, and you can pass a spending bill. The law in the Senate, though, is 60 percent because of their filibuster rule. So we are moving that 60 percent threshold down to 51 percent, thereby making it easier to pass a deficit-ridden bill.

Finally, this legislation has no express enforcement provision. What good is it to have a balanced budget constitutional amendment if there is no enforcement mechanism? I, as a United States Congressman, or any of my colleagues, 434 other Congressmen, United States Senators, Jane voter, Joe voter, they are not given the power under this constitutional amendment to enforce its terms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate then to change three aspects of this. Number one: increase that 60 percent to two-thirds, three-fourths, or four-fifths.

Number two: make sure that we adjust the problem with the majority vote whenever there is a military conflict--which the United States seems to perpetually be in.

And number three: have an enforcement provision so that we know this is not a hollow shell of a constitutional amendment; rather, it is one that has substance; rather, it is one that will help prevent a debilitating insolvency of a great Nation that it took our ancestors centuries to build.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the great City of Florence, Alabama, as it celebrates its 200th Anniversary. I am honored to serve the people of Florence, which is located in Alabama's 5th District.

By way of background, on March 12, 1818, General John Coffee saw the potential for a settlement on the banks of the Tennessee River, and he founded Florence, Alabama. General Coffee led the Cypress Land Company, and these visionaries established what they envisioned as a bold, new prosperous settlement.

At this time, these founding fathers of Florence commissioned an Italian surveyor named Ferdinand Sannoner. In deciding on a name for the new settlement, he named it Florence after the beautiful and historic city of Florence, Italy.

Through the years, the city grew steadily and many businesses and educational institutions were established in Florence. The city became known for having a legacy of industry, music and the arts, education, and architecture.

Today, Florence stands as a testament to the Tennessee Valley's rich heritage, and I am proud to celebrate Florence today. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Florence on this momentous occasion of its 200th Anniversary and wish the city the best for another 200 years.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the City of Florence, Alabama, as it celebrates its 200th Anniversary. I am honored to serve the people of Florence, which is located in Alabama's 5th District.

By way of background, on March 12, 1818, General John Coffee saw the potential for a settlement on the banks of the Tennessee River, and he founded Florence, Alabama. General Coffee led the Cypress Land Company, and these visionaries established what they saw as a bold, new, and prosperous settlement.

At this time, these founding fathers of Florence commissioned an Italian surveyor named Ferdinand Sannoner to lay out the town. In deciding on a name for the new settlement, he named it Florence after the beautiful and historic city of Florence, Italy.

Through the years, the city's population grew, and many businesses and educational institutions were established in Florence. The city became known for having a legacy of commerce, industry, music and the arts, education, and architecture.

Florence stands as a testament to the Tennessee Valley's rich heritage, and I am proud

to celebrate with the city's residents today. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the City of Florence on this momentous occasion of its 200th Anniversary. I wish the city the best for another 200 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William Tate of Meridianville, Alabama on the occasion of his 90th birthday, and join Mr. Tate's family and friends in congratulating him on this momentous milestone. I sincerely wish Mr. Tate continued good health and contentment.

As so many in our community know, Mr. Tate has led an extraordinary life full of accomplishment and service to others. Through his lifetime, he has shown exemplary dedication to his family, church, and farming community--all of which are undeniably stronger and more prosperous because of him. Mr. Tate transformed his small family farm into a thriving agritourism business visited by more than 60,000 every year, and all four of his sons have chosen careers in farming--a point of pride for Mr. Tate.

Mr. Speaker, parenthetically, my own children and grandchildren have all enjoyed family and school field trips to Tate Farms.

Mr. Tate's record of service to our community is exceptional. He has served in numerous civic and industry positions including on the Farm Service Agency Community Committee, Madison County Farmers Federation Board of Directors, Alabama Farmers Federation Cotton Committee, U.S. Department of Agriculture Cotton Board, Alabama Cotton Commission, and Madison County YMCA Board of Directors, just to name a few. As a member of Flint River Baptist Church, Mr. Tate has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Trustee, and Deacon Emeritus, among others. Mr. Tate has set a fine example for others in our community to follow.

In closing, I would like to thank Mr. Tate for his contributions to our community, and wish him a very happy 90th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, America cannot afford to be the world's orphanage because we simply do not have the money. America's 2015 deficit was $438 billion. America's 2016 deficit deteriorated to $585 billion. America's 2017 deficit deteriorated yet again to $666 billion.

Now, thanks to last week's debt junkie spending bill, America faces a trillion-dollar deficit this year. By every account, America's deficit threatens a dangerous insolvency and bankruptcy that will destroy the America it took our ancestors centuries to build. Let there be no mistake about it, illegal aliens are a large part of America's debt problem. Per a recent Federation for American Immigration Reform study, illegal aliens are a $116 billion per year net tax loss to American taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. America tried amnesty in 1986, and it failed miserably, turning a 1 to 2 million illegal alien problem into today's 15 million illegal alien disaster. Why? Because amnesty does not stop illegal conduct; rather, it encourages illegal conduct.

It baffles me that Washington's ``Surrender Caucus'' refuses to learn from history and anxiously seeks to repeat 1986's bad mistake, at great cost to America. And the cost is great.

A 2015 Center for Immigration Studies report disclosed that more than 60 percent of households that have an illegal alien in them are on welfare, compared to only 30 percent of households

with no immigrants in them. Consistent with that data, the Congressional Budget Office determined that the Democrats' Dream Act that gives amnesty to illegal aliens and that Democrats recently shut down the government over costs Federal taxpayers $26 billion. And that $26 billion net tax loss to Federal taxpayers does not include even larger State and local tax losses.

By any measure, any amnesty, including amnesty for DACA illegal aliens, makes the illegal alien problem worse and, over the long haul, costs American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars America does not have, has to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back. Of course, the leftist mainstream media rarely shares these facts with Americans because it undermines their fake news narrative that Dreamer amnesty pays for itself.

Mr. Speaker, the executive branch must do its job. The executive branch must catch and evict illegal aliens. It is that simple. Further, the executive branch must enforce section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which states that no person may seek admission to the United States or become a permanent resident if the individual, ``at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge.''

If the executive branch will simply enforce America's immigration laws, there will be no illegal alien problem and taxpayers will, over the long haul, save hundreds of billions of dollars that could be better spent on debt reduction or American citizens. Unfortunately, instead of insisting that the executive branch enforce the law, Washington's ``Surrender Caucus'' wants to give up and grant amnesty to illegal aliens, thereby, again, naively rewarding illegal conduct at great cost to American taxpayers.

In so doing, Washington's ``Surrender Caucus'' betrays American families and taxpayers who must foot the bill for yet another bad mistake by Washington that is motivated by election-year politics, not America's best interests.

Mr. Speaker, Congress faces a debt junkie spending bill that risks an American bankruptcy that threatens the dissolution of our military.

That is why a past Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and current Secretary of Defense have both identified America's debt as our greatest national security threat.

America must learn from Puerto Rico, which suffered a debt default in 2016 that destroyed its economy and forced it to fire public sector workers, raise sales taxes to a record 11.5 percent, and close over 100 schools.

Worse yet, Puerto Rico's insolvency meant it lacked the resources to protect itself from known hurricane risks like that of Hurricane Maria.

Mr. Speaker, debt junkies don't care one twit about America's bankruptcy risk. I do. That is why today I will vote against their financially irresponsible spending bill that will likely trigger a $1 trillion deficit this year.

Madam Speaker, Republicans won the House in 2010 in part because of the danger posed by America's 4-year string of trillion-dollar deficits.

House Republicans sliced America's deficit to $438 billion in 2015, but then our finances took a dramatic turn for the worse. America's deficit surged to $585 billion in 2016 and $666 billion in 2017. Congress is expected to soon vote on a debt junkie spending bill that blows America's deficit sky-high by hundreds of billions of dollars in 2018 alone.

Madam Speaker, there is a narrow path between adequate national security funding and avoiding a national insolvency that decimates our military and risks American lives. That path is as narrow as Zion National Park's Angels Landing Trail. One misstep left or right and you fall hundreds of feet to your death.

The Senate spending bill is a debt junkie's dream, a nightmare, and a misstep that plunges America into disaster. It must not pass.

Mr. Speaker, roughly 4 years ago, Steve Mayfield was a respected high school football coach at Central High School in Lauderdale County, Alabama, who, in October 2014, was diagnosed with ALS.

Steve Mayfield bravely fought his terminal disease and kept a smile on his face throughout his lengthy 3-year battle and ordeal.

In a land of freedom and liberty, Steve Mayfield would have had two choices. On the one hand, he could abide by Food and Drug Administration regulations and recommendations and die; or on the other hand, Steve Mayfield could try experimental treatments that gave some hope of beating ALS and extending Steve Mayfield's life.

Unfortunately, when it comes to terminal illnesses in America, there is no freedom or liberty. Steve Mayfield not only had to fight ALS, he also had to fight the Food and Drug Administration before he could try experimental but potentially lifesaving treatments.

Sadly, Steve Mayfield lost both fights. Steve Mayfield was barred by the Federal Government from trying possibly lifesaving treatments and, not long ago, passed away. Steve Mayfield's son, Brooks Mayfield, from Florence, Alabama, was with his father when he passed away.

It is in that vein, Mr. Speaker, that I call on the House to have a floor vote on Senate bill S. 204, the Right to Try Act, which passed the Senate last year, that restores the right of terminally ill patients to try experimental treatments that may save their lives. Brooks Mayfield's father might be alive today if the Right to Try Act had been the law of the land.

Mr. Speaker, we must remember who we are as Americans. Our ancestors fought the Revolutionary War over liberty and freedom, yet, today in America, patients who are 100 percent certain to die are denied the freedom, the liberty, the right to decide for themselves whether to try experimental treatments that may save their lives. Every day in America, terminally ill patients and their families are told there are no options but death.

By way of background, fewer than 3 percent of terminally ill patients in America have access to investigational treatments through clinical trials. While the Food and Drug Administration grants compassionate use waivers meant to allow terminal patients access to experimental drugs, only about 1,500 waivers were granted in 2016.

What are other terminally ill Americans to do? Nothing? Just waste away and die without a fight?

Patients shouldn't have to give up their liberty, their freedom, their fight against terminal illness merely because the Food and Drug Administration says so. Terminally ill patients shouldn't have to beg the FDA for a waiver, forcing patients to fight the Federal bureaucracy, when they are already fighting for their lives.

The Right to Try Act gives terminally ill patients access to treatments that have successfully completed the FDA's phase one approval requirement but not yet completed the FDA's lengthy and complex full approval process that can take decades.

Sadly, sometimes when treatments and drugs reach final approval, it is too late for too many patients and their families because the terminally ill patient has already died.

Mr. Speaker, given the stark contrasts between life and death, between freedom and Federal dictates, between hope and hopelessness, the House should take up and pass the Right to Try Act, thereby giving a chance for life to terminally ill patients and their families.

The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed Right to Try legislation last year. It is time for the House to do the same, thereby restoring freedom, liberty, and hope, and giving terminally ill patients across America a better chance to live.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very difficult speech for me to give.

God works in mysterious ways.

When you are an elected official, missed votes require an explanation. That is why I disclose this otherwise very personal, very private, and very humbling matter.

On Halloween night, after votes, as I stood on the Capitol steps, my doctor called and said: Congressman Brooks, bad news. You have high- risk prostate cancer. I felt an adrenaline rush as a chill went up and down my spine.

By way of background, prostate cancer kills almost 27,000 American men each year and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths behind only lung and colorectal cancers. Seventy-one percent of prostate cancer patients die in less than 5 years if the prostate cancer has spread beyond the abdominal cavity. In stark contrast, almost all prostate cancer patients live longer than 5 years if the cancer is discovered early and killed before it spreads.

For example, my father discovered his prostate cancer early. He lived four decades after his prostatectomy. My grandfather discovered his prostate cancer too late. He died not long thereafter.

After my doctor's diagnosis, I called my wife, Martha, who was back home in Huntsville welcoming trick-or-treaters and shared the bad news. That night was one of the loneliest nights apart in our 41-year marriage. I kept thinking about my wonderful family: What do I do next? How do I beat this cancer?

Overnight, I formed a plan and began implementing it.

In an emotional meeting, I informed my Washington staff of my cancer, that I was immediately flying to Huntsville after a CT scan that afternoon, and that, for medical reasons, I would be in Alabama the rest of the week.

Based on advice from friends and doctors, I chose Dr. Scott Tully as my treating physician. Dr. Tully is widely respected and has performed more than 3,000 prostatectomies. On Thursday, Martha and I drove to Birmingham to obtain Dr. Tully's insight about treatment options and risks. He advised a radical prostatectomy.

At Dr. Tully's direction, I undertook a heart stress test and a nuclear bone scan. Finally, I got some good news. My CT scan and nuclear bone scan revealed no cancer beyond the prostate. My heart stress test confirmed that I am strong enough to undergo the 2- to 3- hour surgery.

Prostate cancer mortality data is compelling. Speed is critical in the fight against prostate cancer. In compliance with the 2017 House calendar that set end-of-year votes on December 14, and at some risk to myself, Dr. Tully and I delayed my surgery until December 15--this Friday--and set a postsurgery medical procedure for December 20. My plan was to recuperate at home during the holidays with my family and return to Washington for a full workload when Congress reconvenes on January 3.

Unfortunately, last week the House Speaker abruptly changed the House voting calendar that I relied on to set my surgery. As a result, next week I will miss House floor votes unless I am unexpectedly medically cleared to travel.

There are three insights from my experience that I wish to share with the public. First, don't ever, ever take your health or family for granted. During the holidays, enjoy your family because no one--no one--is promised tomorrow.

Second, I encourage age-appropriate men to have regular PSA tests. While PSA tests do not diagnose cancer, my PSA spike persuaded me to have the prostate biopsy that revealed my high-risk prostate cancer early enough for me to enjoy a very good cure prognosis.

Third, I ran for the Senate in 2017. I finished third out of nine candidates in the Republican primary. Had I won, I would not have had time for my physical and PSA test. I would not have had a prostate biopsy. I would not now know about my high-risk prostate cancer that requires immediate surgery.

In retrospect, and paradoxically, losing the Senate race may have saved my life. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Robert C. Harrison of Huntsville, Alabama in my district. He passed this life on October 25, 2017 at age 74 and leaves behind a wife, two children, their spouses, and four grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Mr. Harrison exemplified hard work, commitment, and service. He established and owned multiple local business efforts, including the Bob Harrison Ford & Lincoln Mercury Dealership and USA Land Development & Consulting. Mr. Harrison was also a steadfast community volunteer, civil rights activist, and member of many civic and charitable organizations. He served as Vice President of the National Association of Black County Officials, Subcommittee Vice Chair of the National Association of County Officials Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee, and a lifelong member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

To North Alabama's lasting benefit, Mr. Harrison was also elected to three terms as County Commissioner of Madison County, Alabama between 2004 and 2012. From that position, Mr. Harrison worked to bring economic improvement to the northwest area of Huntsville. A few examples of his legacy there include the Northwest Huntsville Community Service Organization, the Northwest Community Learning Center, and the Robert ``Bob'' Harrison Senior Wellness and Advocacy Center.

I am confident that the 5th Congressional District of Alabama is better today for Commissioner Harrison's dedicated service. Today, I join with all of those touched by his life in offering my condolences and prayers to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Organization for Women Educators on sixty-nine years of dedicated service, and proclaim October 2016 as Alpha Delta Kappa Month. Established in 1947, Alpha Delta Kappa's goals are to institute high standards of education, recognize outstanding educators, build a fraternal fellowship among educators and promote educational and charitable projects, enriching the lives of individuals everywhere.

With a membership of more than 33,000 educators representing all fifty U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and Australia, Alpha Delta Kappa is committed to educational excellence, personal and professional growth, and collectively channeling their energies toward the good of their schools, communities, the teaching profession, and the world.

Women in education constitute a great portion of America's workforce and are constantly striving to serve their communities and America in educational, cultural, and charitable programs leading to harmony, happiness, and peace among all people.

Since 2014, members of Alpha Delta Kappa have altruistically given to the communities they serve by raising nearly $12 million dollars and volunteering more than two million service hours. Alpha Delta Kappa members biennially award more than a quarter million dollars through eleven scholarship programs and have contributed more than $1 million dollars to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

I congratulate Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Organization for Women Educators on their many years of unparalleled success and wish them well as they continue to educate our children.

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

Mr. Chairman, America suffered four consecutive trillion-dollar-per-year deficits during the Obama and Bush administrations. The election of a Republican House in 2010 brought progress. The trillion-dollar-per-year deficits were cut to a low of $439 billion in fiscal year 2015. A $439 billion deficit is still horrible, but it is a whole lot better than a trillion-dollar deficit.

Unfortunately, America's solvency has deteriorated since 2015. In fiscal year 2016, America's deficit exploded to $587 billion, $148 billion worse than the previous year. In fiscal year 2017, this fiscal year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the deficit will again explode to $693 billion, $145 billion worse this year than last year, and that is before the bill comes due for the Hurricane Harvey destruction in Louisiana and Texas.

Congress will soon raise America's debt ceiling as a result, and within days thereafter, America's debt will blow through the $20 trillion mark.

As a result of America's $20 trillion debt, we pay over $250 billion per year in debt service. How much is $250 billion? It is roughly five times what we spend on transportation for things like highways, bridges, and interstates each year. That debt service money is gone, no longer able to provide services to Americans; rather, it is spent to make amends for past government excesses and irresponsible spending.

Worse yet, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that America's debt service costs will increase by another $600 billion within a decade to more than $800 billion per year. The question is then asked: Where is that money going to come from? What is going to be cut? Will it be Social Security, will it be Medicare, Medicaid, national defense? What?

The CBO, America's Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, and the Government Accountability Office have all warned Congress and the President in writing that America's deficits and debt past are: ``Unsustainable.''

To be clear, in the accounting field, the word ``unsustainable'' is bad, really bad. It is the equivalent of a bankruptcy warning. It is a warning that America is headed to a debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy if we don't do better.

In sum, Washington's financial irresponsibility is a betrayal of the American people, it is pushing America into a debilitating bankruptcy and insolvency that will destroy the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.

It is in this setting that I have beseeched the House of Representatives to be financially responsible. Please support my amendment that eliminates Federal Government operating subsidies of Amtrak, thus forcing Amtrak passengers to pay their actual costs of riding on Amtrak trains.

Stated differently, what policy justification is there for forcing Americans who don't use Amtrak to subsidize the travel of Americans who do use Amtrak? I know of none.

How bad is the Amtrak subsidy problem? The Congressional Research Service reports that, from 1971 to 2015, Federal Amtrak subsidies totaled $78 billion in constant 2015 dollars.

In fiscal year 2014, Amtrak had a net loss of $1.1 billion. Who will pay for that loss? America's children and grandchildren, that is who, because that is money we don't have, have to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back.

Instead of allowing Amtrak to continue to run up debts and add to our national debt, we should force Amtrak to be self-sufficient, we should force Amtrak passengers to pay their own travel costs, and we must cut Amtrak from the government dole. We don't give these kind of subsidies to people who ride on airplanes, and we don't give these kind of subsidies in a lot of other means of transportation.

Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``yes'' vote. Be financially responsible. Make Amtrak pay its own way.

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

Mr. Chairman, only in the Halls of Congress does a $1.1 billion cut in subsidies for a mode of transportation allegedly result in higher costs to taxpayers.

I would submit that there is zero evidence that Amtrak passengers cannot absorb higher fares to pay their own way.

Mr. Chair, we are talking about $1.1 billion out of a $700 billion deficit for this fiscal year. We have to be responsible, we have to protect the future of our children and our grandchildren, and I urge the adoption of my amendment to do just that.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize Velma Lee Sebring for her service over the last 74 years as a Sunday school teacher at Centerpoint Baptist Church in Scottsboro, Alabama.

Mrs. Sebring began teaching Sunday school at Centerpoint Baptist Church in 1942. Having taught at the same location for approximately 74 years, she has surpassed the known Guinness World Record for the longest serving Sunday school teacher at one church. Mrs. Sebring began teaching Sunday school at Randall's Chapel United Methodist Church in 1938, meaning she has taught for a combined 78 years.

I believe the education of our young people is of the utmost importance. As a son, husband, and father of educators, I have seen

firsthand the sacrifices they make to invest in the future of our children. I appreciate and commend the work Mrs. Sebring has done on behalf of the North Alabama community, and I am confident that her work to support the spiritual needs of countless children over the years has made a lasting, positive impact on numerous generations.

Mrs. Sebring was married to the late Bill Sebring of Scottsboro, and she has three children: Billie Ann Wallace of Northport, Nora Sebring of Scottsboro, and Robert Sebring of Scottsboro.

I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring and thanking Mrs. Sebring for her dedication and mentorship across North Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, our Republican Senate majority is killing our conservative agenda, our Republican agenda, and President Trump's agenda. The murder weapon is the Senate filibuster rule, an archaic accident of history created during the days of horse-and-buggy and slavery.

The filibuster rule destroys the basic democratic principle of majority rule and obstructs passage of legislation unless a 60 percent supermajority of Senators agree. While today's 52-Senator Republican majority can abolish the filibuster rule anytime it wants, so long as the filibuster rule is in place, Republicans can pass nothing without the consent of Chuck Schumer and the Democrats.

Think about it. Our Republican Senate majority has abdicated control and empowered Chuck Schumer and the Democrat minority to obstruct the will of the Republican House, obstruct the will of the Republican Senate majority, obstruct the will of President Trump, and obstruct the will of the tens of millions of American voters who send us to Washington.

That is political suicide and an abject betrayal of the millions of American voters who sent us here.

There will be no border wall because our Republican Senators empower Democrats to kill it. There will be no ObamaCare repeal because our Republican Senators empower Democrats to stop us. America's out-of- control deficits and debts will cause a debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy that destroys an America it took generations of our ancestors to build because our Republican Senators empower Democrats to spend money we don't have, have to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back.

During 2015 and 2016, the House worked hard to address America's challenges. Over 500 of our bills never got so much as a single Senate floor vote. All that work wasted.

The Senate filibuster rule is not in the Constitution. It is not a Federal law or statute. It exists solely at the discretion of the Senate majority.

President Trump understands the filibuster rule and that it threatens the President's entire legislative agenda. On May 2, President Trump urged our Republican Senators to end the filibuster rule, stating: ``Change the rules now to 51 percent.''

On May 30, President Trump reiterated: ``The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes immediately and get healthcare and tax cuts approved fast and easy. Dems would do it, no doubt.''

President Trump's pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Exhibit A in this murder trial is an April 7 letter to Chuck Schumer, of all people, and Mitch McConnell that lists the accomplices, those deaf ears, who are killing the conservative agenda, the Republican agenda, and President Trump's agenda.

The letter states: ``We . . . urge you to . . . preserve existing rules, practices, and traditions as they pertain to the right of Members to engage in extended debate on legislation before the United States Senate. . . . We are united in our determination to preserve the ability of Members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor.''

Each Senator on exhibit A empowers Chuck Schumer and the Democrats to kill President Trump's agenda. Remarkably, even an Alabama Senator supports killing President Trump's agenda.

Mr. Speaker, Republican Senators claim we need the filibuster to play defense when Democrats control the Senate. I submit that claim is myopic and shortsighted. In the past 90 years, Republicans have not had a single filibuster-proof Senate, while Democrats enjoyed filibuster- proof Senates in the 1930s, the 1960s, and in 2009. In those years, Democrats passed ObamaCare and forced great society welfare programs on us that busted our budgets, destroyed the work ethic, broke up American families, and threatened America with a national insolvency.

Over the long haul and because of the filibuster, Democrats force their leftist, socialist policies down America's throats, while Republicans never have the power to reverse the damage done.

That is the Senate filibuster legacy.

Mr. Speaker, time is running out. America's future is at stake. Now is not the time to play procedural games. I agree with President Trump.

Senate: End the filibuster.