Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 32 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses and families are the backbone of small rural communities like the ones I represent in western North Carolina. The fact is that Dodd-Frank has had a crushing impact both on the ability of families and small businesses to access loans and the financial products that they need and deserve.

Half of what community banks did prior to Dodd-Frank was lending to small businesses. Now it is down to 20 percent of what they do. That is as a result of massive regulations that have come about as a result of Dodd-Frank.

For families, the availability of services that they used to commonly think is acceptable, like free checking and mortgage lending, are significantly diminished or altogether gone for them. Since Dodd-Frank became law, nearly three-quarters of community banks have either left or greatly reduced their mortgage businesses. This is problematic for families. The impact of these changes has hit rural communities like the ones I represent in western North Carolina the hardest.

But it doesn't end there. The law's mandates have driven up the cost of borrowing, making it harder and more expensive for families to access credit or save for important life events like saving for your child's college education.

Mr. Speaker, the Financial CHOICE Act changes much of this. It begins to undo the damage caused by Dodd-Frank by removing onerous Washington mandates, very expensive regulations, by cutting off access to financial products that the American people need and desire.

Additionally, the Financial CHOICE Act actually addresses the plight of small businesses by cleaning up these messy regulations that are unclear, that have made the marketplace less safe and secure for lending and small businesses, and encouraging the use of innovative new forms of capital formation that help businesses grow and prosper.

That means jobs. This bill is directed at growing the American economy, getting us back on our feet, and helping expand prosperity not just to urban or rural areas, but to both, to all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this important bill and get on with the business of legislating.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in recognition of National Police Week and in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which was this past Monday. National Police Week was established by President Kennedy in 1962, as a day for Americans to remember police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty over the previous year.

This year's Peace Officers Memorial Day was especially somber in my district in western North Carolina as it was the first time since Shelby police officer Tim Brackeen was killed.

Officer Brackeen was a dedicated law enforcement officer who began his career with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office and later joined the Shelby Police Department where, in 2012, he was honored as the officer of the year.

Last September, Officer Brackeen was working with his canine partner Ciko when he was killed in the line of duty, leaving behind his young wife and his 4-year-old daughter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Officer Brackeen and all of the officers throughout our country who serve us so diligently every day who lost their lives serving our communities. It is really important for us as Americans to thank those who put themselves in harm's way so we may live peaceful lives for our own benefit and for the benefit of our communities.

Our men and women in blue put their lives on the line each and every day to keep us safe. When shots are fired, they run toward the sound of the gun while others are running away. I thank them for their dedicated service, and I pray each day for their continued safety.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 32 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here today, the day after the fifth anniversary of the JOBS Act.

Five years ago, yesterday, in a bipartisan way, this divided House, this divided government that got next to nothing done, in a bipartisan way, was able to achieve a huge bipartisan victory to help small businesses raise capital. In light of that and in that history, in that spirit, we have reached across the aisle, and Representative Velazquez and Ranking Member Waters worked with me to craft a very good bill here today.

This bill is targeted at small businesses across the rest of the country. We know that 78 percent of venture capital goes to just three States. If you are in Austin, Boston, or the Silicon Valley, you have capital flowing to you; you have funds for your idea. The rest of the country, whether you are in an urban area or rural area, is starved for capital.

In light of that problem, we are trying to work for a solution for those small businesses, those innovators with good ideas that maybe don't have the best access to capital. We raised the cap on angel investing, thereby allowing more people to participate at a lower threshold dollar amount while still including important investor protection.

Today is a great victory for small-business folks that need access, that need capital to take their idea to market. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend, constituent, and tremendous public servant in North Carolina, Cleveland County Commissioner Ronnie Hawkins.

Ronnie passed away right before Christmas, after a lengthy illness, but it wasn't one that slowed him. Throughout his illness, Ronnie displayed the same passion for helping others he showed throughout his career of public service.

A native of Cleveland County, Ronnie was an Army veteran and devoted husband to his wife, Libby. He was a respected and compassionate funeral director, comforting families in their time of need and grief. He took the same type of caring and compassionate approach to his service as one of Cleveland County's longest-serving elected officials, serving 16 years on the Cleveland County Commission, as well as 12 years on the Kings Mountain School Board. He never forgot who was actually his boss at home: his constituents.

Ronnie was a dear friend, and I extend my thoughts and prayers to his wife, Libby, his family, and his friends.

Mr. Speaker, this week Americans from all 50 States will gather at over 11,000 events nationwide to celebrate National School Choice Week. These are not partisan gatherings focused on a particular piece of legislation, nor are the attendees advocating for one type of school over another; rather, these gatherings will highlight the importance of providing parents with diverse choices when it comes to the education of their children.

Far too often America's children are given educational opportunities dictated by what best serves someone else's economic interest or is focused on their own economic status or where they live. This is inappropriate. We need a better way.

I have supported legislation to expand charter schools. That is a bipartisanship thing that we can all agree on. That empowers parents. At the State level, Republican legislators and Governors have passed open enrollment laws and funding portability for education.

National School Choice Week is a great reminder that we must continue to pursue these vital reforms, ensuring all parents have freedom when deciding how to educate their children.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to commend Chairman Hensarling for bringing this bipartisan agreement and construct to the House floor. It extends a very important Federal backstop against the risk of terror on the American people, small businesses, and substantial businesses as well. As I have said in the past, it is very important that we reauthorize the TRIA program, and the chairman incorporated diverse opinions, including those from across the aisle.

I also want to commend our colleagues from New York, Congressman Grimm and Congressman King, for the important work that they did to bring this about today.

As amended, the bill will ensure that terrorism risk protection is available for the next 6 years, while lessening the taxpayer burden.

Since September 11, the TRIA program has provided an important Federal backstop for businesses that must insure against the devastation of a future attack.

Congressman Hensarling has worked with our friends across the aisle to make commonsense changes to this program while ensuring that both businesses and taxpayers are not exposed to the risk of future terrorism attacks.

In addition, as amended, this bill will make some very important technical changes to the Dodd-Frank Act by protecting manufacturers, ranchers, and small businesses that need to hedge against business risk.

While this legislation will become law--and I expect a substantial number of my Democratic colleagues to cross the aisle and vote with almost all of the House Republicans and the Democrat Senate to pass this, and a Democrat President to sign this--I urge my other colleagues on the other side of the aisle to come on over. It is a good reform, a necessary reform, and it is going to be a fantastic strong vote that we are going to have in the House of Representatives to do the right thing, both for the taxpayer, the American people, and small businesses, while at the same time protecting against the devastation of a future attack.

I thank the chairman and I also thank subcommittee chair, Mr. Neugebauer, for their work on this very important program. It has been a long process, but it shows that the Financial Services Committee can get the deal done.

I thank the secretary of the Republican Conference, my colleague and classmate from North Carolina, Virginia Foxx.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in tribute with the fine threads of a man named Howard Coble. Congressman, State representative, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Revenue, captain of the United States Coast Guard, school bus driver--that is where it all began, in high school. That was his first public service.

John Howard Coble has held a variety of titles during his time and during his years, but to me, he has always been known as the dean, the dean of the North Carolina delegation, which he has been, for the last 15 years, the longest-serving Republican Member of this body in the history of the State of North Carolina, and my friend.

I am here to pay tribute and to thank him for his time in public service. He is what a Member of Congress should be, and that is concerned for his constituents and being their voice here in Washington and having an impact.

You certainly, my dean, have had a huge impact on my life, those that are paying tribute to say thank you tonight, but also your constituents and the American people, and we thank you.

Now, there are a number of stories about the dean, a number of them I would like to tell over the years, and most of them are, in fact, true.

This one story I want to tell tonight--actually, two, if I may. It goes back to the first time Howard ran for Congress in 1984. The campaign committee for the Republicans brought up folks in tough, challenging races to have some video and film shot with President Ronald Reagan. He helped with his popularity to help get some folks across the finish line in 1984.

Howard was so nervous that he forget to shake the Gipper's hand, so one of the campaign committee staff, they were coming to Coble's district, and Howard said, ``Where were you?'' And he said, ``Well, I was just in Alabama with President Reagan.''

``Oh, really?''

He says, ``Yeah. I told him I was going to Greensboro, and President Reagan looked at me and said, 'Well, tell that son of a gun that didn't shake my hand I said hello.'''

So Howard got a little flustered and was a little embarrassed and everything else until everybody started laughing, but Howard has had a great sense of humor, and that shows the real testament to Howard's integrity.

The other thing about Howard is fiscal conservatism. It goes back to what he said in his first campaign, he is going to bring a sharp pencil to the Washington budget, and he, in fact, has.

In fact, it wasn't very well-appreciated during his early service in Congress. There was a Member of Congress who was furious, who said, ``That sharp pencil might actually get your ticket written out of Congress.'' And Howard told him that he thought, ``Well, I believe there is life after Congress,'' and let the guy go on his way.

Well, that guy was not reelected, and Howard has been reelected 14 times during his time here, so true proof that fiscal conservatism can still win.

There are a number of other stories that we will talk about over perhaps a drink afterwards, but the one thing is everybody from his district knows and those of us from North Carolina know that he knows every high school mascot in the State of North Carolina.

Every child that I see that comes through Congress is simply amazed that their dean knows where they are from and knows their high school and their high school mascot.

It is because he cares. So we are grateful tonight, and we want to say ``thank you'' to our friend, our dean, our leader--John Howard Coble.

Madam Speaker, the statistics associated with human trafficking are nothing short of staggering. Studies have estimated that it is a nearly $10 billion industry in the United States, and it affects over 300,000 young men and women that are victims of human trafficking. The human toll is real and significant. The SAVE Act changes the idea that the Internet can be used as a marketplace for those purposes.

The SAVE Act does what 47 State attorneys general have done and asked us to do. The SAVE Act makes it a Federal crime to knowingly advertise for the sexual exploitation of minors and trafficking victims.

While this is not the end of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors, it is a necessary and long overdue step.

I want to commend my colleague, Mrs. Wagner, for her leadership on this very important issue and for constructing a very thoughtful piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Charter Schools Week. In preparation for National Charter Schools Week, I visited a lot of charter schools that are in my district that I had not yet visited, and I took some time to understand what exactly they do that is unique and different from other charter schools.

What I found is that a school, a curriculum, and a student body that was fitting in one place was very different in another charter. What I learned is that diversity actually delivers a better result for those student populations.

There was Pinnacle Classical Academy in Shelby, North Carolina, a charter that utilizes a classical learning model focused on providing their students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century.

Then there was Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville. Evergreen employs a holistic education model with a goal of teaching their students the importance of environmental stewardship and community service.

Finally, this past week, I visited Mountain Island Charter School in Mount Holly. Mountain Island has a traditional curriculum focused on building the character of students and instilling a spirit for community within them.

Each one of those three charter schools, as well as the others that are in my district and, I think, across America, have a unique learning environment. What I have found in these schools is that these students flourish in that right environment, and there is a unique environment for every student to find success. One student's successful environment is so different than another.

While each school was different, their similarities highlight the benefits of charters. Each school utilizes a challenging curriculum that encourages not just the students, but their parents as well, to stay involved. That parental involvement is such an important part of the educational process.

After each of these visits, it is clear that our educational system would hugely benefit by expanding access to charter schools. I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 10.

I look forward to voting for it this week, in the hopes of giving all American children greater access to quality charter schools and educational opportunities of their choice and their parents' choice, so that we have a better-educated workforce and a stronger America.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleagues for their leadership on this important legislation.

I rise in support of it to bring some balance to an otherwise unaccountable bureaucratic agency, perhaps the most powerful agency in government with the least amount of public accountability. It has no accountability to the administration, very little to Congress, and even less to the American people. As a result, it should come as no surprise that this Bureau has operated with less transparency and less concern for fiscal discipline than even a very low bar and low standard we hold for our Federal tax dollars.

Due to this lack of accountability, certain expenditures have been called into question; in fact, their building expenditures, which is a beautiful release of a $150 million plan to renovate a building that they are leasing. Now, it is a very rare thing and pretty silly in real estate to do an enormous upfit for a building that costs $153 million-- that is the appraised value--and to put $150 million at $461 a square foot into that building. It makes no sense unless you understand that these are your tax dollars at work to build luxury a couple of blocks from the White House.

These buildings are just another example of why this agency needs to be held accountable to not just the American people and the taxpayers, but to the taxpaying public and those of us who care about having access to good financial products while protecting.

So that is why I support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, last month was a big one for North Carolina football. You probably are well aware of the exploits of Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers having clinched a playoff berth, but it was actually in my district, the Tenth District of North Carolina, in western North Carolina that was really the epicenter of football in North Carolina in the month of December.

First, there was Crest High School in Cleveland County representing the Boiling Springs and Shelby area. Crest is a perennial powerhouse in North Carolina high school football. This year's Charger team was under the guidance of Coach Mark Barnes. They rode a 14-game winning streak on their way to winning the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3AA West title. While they were upset in the State championship game, it was another very impressive season for Coach Barnes and his great team.

While the Crest defeat was disappointing, all was not lost for Cleveland County, as another traditional power, Shelby High School, also played for a State championship. The Golden Lions went 12-4 this year, and capped the season with a 29-7 victory to win the North Carolina 2A State football championship. Coach Lance Ware and his team continued the proud tradition at Shelby as this marked the school's 12th State championship--pretty incredible, considering my high school has had a hard time just getting one or two.

Finally, the football success in North Carolina 10 continued in Catawba County, where Lenoir-Rhyne University, their football team enjoyed their best season in school history. The Bears, coached by Mike Houston, won a school record 13 games on their way to earning a spot in the NCAA Division II championship game in Florence, Alabama. While they lost the championship game, this year's Bears team finished the season ranked second in the Nation and provided a thrilling ride for the Lenoir-Rhyne campus and Hickory, as a whole. Both the faculty and alumni were very excited, and they had a great rally before that game. And it actually brought Lenoir-Rhyne onto the national stage for some attention as well. It is a great university.

So I want to congratulate Crest, Shelby, and Lenoir-Rhyne on their great successes this last football season. Now it is up to Cam and Luke to keep it going for North Carolina football. And, hopefully, the Panthers will win.

Go Panthers.

Mr. Speaker, I speak today to recognize and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). It was seventy-five years ago when the Wagner-O'Day Act originally helped spur the creation of NIB, whose mission is to enhance economic and personal independence for the blind and visually impaired. Each day NIB upholds its mission by relentlessly creating, sustaining, and improving employment opportunities for those who it serves.

To best meet its objectives, the NIB collaborates with over ninety- one associated nonprofit agencies--based in thirty-five states and home to more than two hundred and fifty locations--which includes the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, IFB, located in North Carolina.

In August of this year, I had the pleasure of being invited to visit the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind in Asheville, NC. During my tour, I was fortunate to learn that the facility's state-of-the-art cutting and ultra-sonic welding capabilities enable workers to compete for new, complex commercial and government opportunities. More impressive was the confidence and independence that Asheville's first- rate facility brought to its workforce--comprised of more than fifty individuals who are either blind or visually impaired--that has earned competitive contracts with our U.S. military and internationally- recognized achievements in quality control.

In the last few years, IFB has employed over three hundred blind and visually impaired workers at manufacturing facilities located in Asheville and Winston Salem. Both facilities manufacture a significant number of quality products that are utilized to protect everyday Americans such as you and me. Altogether, IFB positively impacts our visually impaired community in seventy-seven counties throughout North Carolina, and it will continue to enhance its economic presence in our region through the introduction of a new mobile eye clinic.

Through the endeavors of IFB, many members of our community who are visually impaired or blind are afforded the opportunity to gain the confidence and financial independence--which many of us take for granted--by achieving their goal of a commendable career. As an advocate of IFB, I appreciate its proactive efforts to improve the livelihoods of our blind and visually impaired community, and I will continue to support IFB's efforts as it continually extends valuable opportunities and services in my home state of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, since the Affordable Care Act was first introduced, President Obama claimed time and time again, if you like your insurance, you can keep it. Yet, over the last six weeks, I have heard from numerous constituents across western North Carolina that that, in fact, was not what they were experiencing; that, unfortunately, they had canceled policies because of ObamaCare.

Steve, a pastor in Hickory, received notice his plan with a premium of $695 was being canceled. His new plan's premium? $1,500.

Marsha in Claremont had her current plan canceled. The replacement plan was 133 percent more in cost.

Milton, a retiree from Denver, had his policy canceled. The replacement not only has higher deductibles and copays, but it also precludes him from seeing his current doctor.

I heard from Terri, a self-employed woman in Newton, whose premiums were $359 a month until ObamaCare canceled these plans, and her new premium is $759 a month.

I ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join with us in passing the Keep Your Health Care Plan to hold the President to his word that, if you like your plan, you can keep it.