Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 619 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), my dear friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by saying that I would offer my thanks and collegial admiration and respect to the members of the Rules Committee who, last night, once again, on an expedited basis, spent time devoted to the duty that they have not only to their party, but also to the House of Representatives acting on behalf of the American people.

The gentlewoman, Ms. Slaughter; the gentleman, Mr. Hastings; the gentleman, Mr. Polis; and certainly our friend from Worcester, Massachusetts, the gentleman, Mr. McGovern, conducted themselves not only in the highest of spirit, but they also produced what I believe was a fair argument, a product that they could be proud of. Each of the witnesses that came before us, including Democratic Members of Congress and Republican Members of Congress, provided, I believe, top-notch testimony and information on behalf of their ideas.

I personally want to thank Judge Hastings for his time last night, which was late into the night, and today. My admiration and respect for his collegial activity is to be respected and appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Last November, the November which was 1 year ago, the American people spoke, and they spoke clearly. I believe they stood up and demanded change and action on our economy. They demanded an increase in understanding about America's lack in GDP growth, and they saw all across the country companies that continue to move overseas. They saw movement in our economy where people moved from one State to another seeking better opportunities.

I believe that the American people have spoken. We not only heard that, but we are trying to make decisions now that would not only help every single area of the country by picking those businesses that might be in the city, in the town and location that they want to be, but by infusing them with the opportunity to stay, to stay because they can not only make a go of it, but they can be competitive in the world market.

Lowering tax rates in this country will help the middle class of this country. It will help jobs and job creation. That is why we are here today. We are here today as a Republican Party where we are trying to work with the President of the United States, the United States Senate, and the House of Representatives to speak clearly about not only what we stand for, but our hopes and dreams for a better opportunity for all Americans tomorrow and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act delivers on those promises that I just spoke of. This is a bold, progrowth bill that will overhaul our Tax Code and unleash the free enterprise system not just in my home State of Texas or in my city of Dallas, but, really, everywhere where business wants to be, it can flourish in an unfettered way because we are now going to be competitive. It lowers tax rates on all businesses of all sizes so job creators can focus on not only their product and sales, but they can hire more people, increasing paychecks and growth.

Growth actually is the key to what we are talking about today. Economic growth brings abundant opportunity: opportunity for people not only to have a job, but to have a career, control their own lives and make sure they can live where they want to live and so they can make their community stronger. That is this Republican viewpoint of what we are trying to get at, Mr. Speaker.

With the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, today's broken Tax Code here in America forces many businesses to move their jobs, research, and headquarters overseas seeking opportunities in a world environment of competition where they can survive and they can become more competitive. A corporate tax rate of 20 percent encourages American companies to bring their jobs back to the United States, opening up opportunity. This decrease is fundamental to making the United States more competitive once again.

The number one reason why America is not competitive in the world is no longer because of energy costs; it is no longer because we have the highest priced employees, no, sir. It is because Uncle Sam, State, and local taxes make it noncompetitive, which creates a higher cost as we compete around the globe.

This legislation will modernize the international Tax Code, also bringing back opportunities for American companies that want to bring their profits back home and encourage U.S. businesses to bring foreign earnings home, unleashing what will be, over some period of time, trillions of dollars that can come back home.

It reduces the tax burden on all passthrough businesses regardless of their structure or their sector. This legislation provides tax relief for job creators and creates capital investments, investments that will drive growth, once again, of paychecks and opportunities for growth. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a direct and immediate boost for middle- income Americans who have been struggling to get by, let alone get ahead.

Mr. Speaker, you will hear today how we are going to have a new tax bracket. All Americans until they, as individuals, earn $12,000 and two working people at home earning $24,000 worth of income will not pay tax on that. It is intended entirely to help the middle class of this country.

H.R. 1 is about the entrepreneur, the family of four, the small- business owner, and the American people. The United States is already the greatest place in the world to live. We are proud to be Americans. But we have to be competitive in the world marketplace.

Mr. Speaker, 70 percent of the tax benefits in this legislation go directly to the middle class. The American people want and need, I believe, to learn not only more about this bill, but how it will incentivize them to Make America Great Again.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's observations. We don't have 4\1/2\ years to work through the process that he talked about. The American people want and need something done right now.

I say to the gentleman that he is right, the economy is roaring--and it has been roaring since the day Donald Trump won the election--with an expectation of performance.

Why are we doing this now? Why at Thanksgiving? Why at the end of the year?

We are going to see that American business, as it makes plans for the future, is going to look up and say: We have got a better shot at keeping jobs here. We have got a better shot at being competitive here.

I think what is going to happen is you are going to see this boom, this big opportunity that is already well underway, to continue. But it is up to us to deliver that. It will be one party. It will be those pesky Republicans that will get it done. We are going to get it done, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), a member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), a member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne), a gentleman who participated for hours in the Rules Committee debate last night and is one of our most valuable young Members.

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

Mr. Speaker, what a delight it is for me to stand up and say that, the work we are going to do today, the President of the United States will sign. He is encouraging what we are doing today.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from the National Federation of Independent Business--that is ``The Voice of Small Business'' in America--and also what is called a Statement of Administration Policy from the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

National Federation of

Independent Business,

Washington, DC, November 14, 2017.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Federation

of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's leading small

business advocacy organization, I am writing in support of

H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This legislation will

provide much needed tax relief to America's job-creating

small businesses. H.R. 1 will be considered an NFIB Key Vote

for the 115th Congress.

Small business is the engine of the economy, and tax reform

should provide substantial relief to all small businesses so

they can reinvest their money, grow, and create jobs. Ninety-

nine percent of all American businesses are small businesses;

the average NFIB member has just 10 employees. Taken in sum,

however, small businesses create half of all private-sector

jobs in the U.S. and contribute half the nation's gross

domestic product.

Three-quarters of small employers are structured as pass-

through entities, meaning their owners are taxed at the

individual rate as opposed to the corporate rate. Crucially,

H.R. 1 reduces the tax rate on the smallest pass-through

businesses to 9 percent over five years, without industry

exclusions or restrictions.

NFIB supports passage of H.R. 1 and will consider it an

NFIB Key Vote for the 115th Congress.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to

working with you to protect small business.

Sincerely,

Juanita D. Duggan,

President & CEO, NFIB.

Statement of Administration Policy

H.R. 1--Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--Rep. Brady, R-TX, and 24 cosponsors

The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R.

1, the Tax Cuts and

Jobs Act. Passing the bill is an important first step in

achieving comprehensive tax reform that cuts taxes for hard-

working families and puts the Nation's economy on a path of

higher economic growth. The President's priorities for tax

reform have been consistent from day one: (1) cut taxes for

middle-income families; (2) simplify the Nation's complicated

tax system; and (3) reduce business taxes so that American

employers can create jobs, raise wages for their workers, and

better compete with foreign businesses.

H.R. 1 would deliver meaningful tax cuts for middle-income

families by nearly doubling the standard deduction, lowering

tax rates, increasing the child tax credit, and creating a

new Family Flexibility credit. It would simplify tax filing

so that the large majority of Americans could file their

taxes on a single page. The bill would also cut the corporate

tax rate to 20 percent--below the average tax rate in the

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Finally, H.R. 1 would lower taxes for millions of S

corporations, sole proprietors, and partnerships that pay

taxes at individual rates.

Based on a review of more than 100 academic papers, the

White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) estimates that

the corporate provisions in H.R. 1 would grow the economy by

between 3 and 5 percent over the next 10 years, which if

applied to 2027 Gross Domestic Product projections, would

result in an additional $700 billion to $1.2 trillion in

economic output per year. CEA also found that the same

provisions would increase average household income by at

least $4,000 annually.

If H.R. 1 were presented to the President, his advisors

would recommend that he sign the bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, the President's priorities and tax reforms are consistent and have been from day one.

Tax cuts for middle class families, simplifying the Nation's complicated tax system, and reducing the burden of taxes so that American employers can create jobs, raise wages, and better compete with foreign businesses, that is what we are going to do.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am waiting for a speaker, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), a gentleman who serves on the Financial Services Committee and a distinguished young Member of our majority.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), from the Ways and Means Committee. At this time, we are putting the A-team up.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman has closed.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, Judge Hastings, for his exemplary work and the work of his colleagues on the Rules Committee and my colleagues also on the Republican side.

Mr. Speaker, our previous speaker, the gentleman from Butler, Pennsylvania, Mike Kelly, had it best when he said: `` . . . an economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance our budget, just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits. Only full employment can balance the budget, and tax reduction can pave the way to that employment.''

What he did not say is--that will be in the record--is that John F. Kennedy said this on December 14, 1962, 55 years ago, in an address to the Economic Club of New York.

Mr. Speaker, in fact, there have been a lot of people here who have given testimony, I think testimony that they intended to sway the voters and those listening in this country that the Tax Code that we have works just fine, but then they spoke about the frailties of that and they talked about jobs going offshore, they talked about jobs and economic activity going somewhere else.

I, being from Dallas, Texas, hear stories every day about people who are coming to Texas, coming to north Texas, coming because of the economic climate that will allow them and their companies to have a better shot at not only being competitive, but, as Mike Kelly said, to be winners in this economy, at the very top of the heap rather than at the bottom of the heap.

What this common denominator is, is that my State of Texas does do the things that this bill does also. It keeps taxes low, it creates opportunity.

By the way, how many poor people create jobs?

I don't know.

How many of those who really have incentive and entrepreneurship create jobs?

A ton of them.

We are going to grow entrepreneurs out of today. We are going to grow young people getting out of college, veterans leaving the military coming back and seeing where they can make a go of it. Instead of it being a 95 percent failure rate of new business--which is what it is, it is a heavy bar because of rules, regulations, and taxes--we are going to make it easier.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers based their review, as they provided the economic outlook to us, on more than 100 academic papers, estimates that corporate provisions in this tax bill alone will grow our economy, not leave us in 23rd place, as Mike Kelly said.

Who wants to be in 23rd place?

If you want to be in the top 25 and you are comfortable, sorry.

We want to be at the top. We want to Make America Great Again. We want to be able to say that businesses all over the United States stand a chance, and that is what this does.

The Council of Economic Advisers says that this will grow the economy between 3 and 5 percent.

Whoops. They got comfortable with 1.2 over 8 years. I am not comfortable and the American people aren't comfortable either.

We are going to add some $700 billion to the economy this next 10 years. That is the guess, that is what Republicans want to do, but it is based on a lot of factors, it is based on hard work.

America has the best, most innovative workers in the world. We want to put this together with an opportunity, because we have a great place to be: the United States of America, any of our States. We have the best energy policies in the world and we have the best price. We have the best workers. We have tool kits with our universities. Our industry will grow back and reinvest in themselves.

We are going to take our Tax Code and take what is $5.6 trillion worth of tax areas and move that where it will boost our economy. We will become pro growth again. Yes, we heard that it was John F. Kennedy, it was Ronald Reagan, and it is going to be making America great again.

Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation in order to boost middle class Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 26 minutes a.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until today, Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a poem, on behalf of Albert Carey Caswell, to honor the men and women and families of The Armed Forces, for their selfless service to our Nation on this upcoming Veteran's Day.

And over the many years

All in our Nation clear,

Has been one constant here

The men and women of The Armed Forces who hold our Nation

dear

Whose valor, honor, courage, faith, selflessness, and

sacrifice perseveres

While, in the darkest of days of night they all stood without

fear

Who at a moment's notice into the face of hell would so

appear,

All so we can all he here

This Veteran's Day stand for something, because they stood

for you

The ones who fought and bled for all that's true

And stand for that old Red, White, and Blue

All in what they would do

Ready to die for their brothers and sisters in arms to their

left and right so true

And remember what all of their families must go through

On this Veteran's Day, please remember our Nation's real

who's who

Stand for something because they stand for you

When, in the darkness of war comes into view

Teaching us all how men and women of honor behave so true

Who came home without arms, legs, and scars upon their face

But, for the greater good they gave

Stand,

Stand for something noble,

Because they all stood so you can live the American Dream

While, over the generations so rose to the top America's

Dream

Honor all those who fight the fight,

Who today still stand at the ready on this very night,

Who turn the dark into the light

Stand, for those on the battlefields of honor who watched

their Brothers and Sisters die,

And had to bury them all with tears in their eyes,

Stand, on this Veteran's Day and every day,

For The Armed Forces, their families, and the ones who gave

Stand, because where would we all be?

If it were but not for the likes of all of these who stood

for you and me

Stand, because freedom is not free

But, only bought and paid for by all of he defenders of the

free

Stand, because they live and they die for you,

They bleed and they cry for you

All so you can turn your back on them,

And they don't ask you how you caught your disease

Stand for our Veteran's on this Veteran's Day and everyday

For what they give and gave

Because, it's all they ask.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the Department of Justice to impose a moratorium on its practice of using the False Claims Act to demand settlements from America's mortgage brokers for perceived violations in the loans these lenders made under the Federal Housing Authority's mortgage insurance program.

Simply put, intentional efforts to defraud the Federal Government should be prosecuted and pursued to the fullest extent of the law. However, as the FHA has worked to provide further clarification on the law, the Department of Justice has, unfortunately, focused their efforts on attacking honest mortgage brokers, lenders, and first-time home buyers for infractions as small as a clerical error or a small technical mistake.

The FHA, in conjunction with HUD, is close to finalizing a taxonomy that would allow for a specific and transparent penalty to be imposed for a specific violation of the FHA application loan process. But as Brian Montgomery, the nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Housing, told the Senate Banking Committee last week, the Department of Justice has stepped in front of the FHA. We should correct this circumstance.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to say, ladies and gentlemen who are here, thank you for being here. I am from Dallas, Texas, and I stand in sorrow for my fellow Texans and the country, for those from Sutherland Springs, Texas, outside of San Antonio, who suffered the mass shooting of this weekend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today also to highlight an issue that is impacting first-time home buyers in America. Over the past 8 years, the Department of Justice has penalized many mortgage lenders who participated in the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program, a program that provides access to mortgages for some of America's first-time home buyers.

Unfortunately, the Department of Justice still continues, even today, to use the False Claims Act to impose penalties on mortgage lenders, many of whom were guilty of only material deficiencies in the loan applications, minor issues that, years later, people came back and tried to find a mistake so that they could pin the tail, pin a fine on some mortgage lender.

My colleagues and I have objected to these actions by the Department of Justice because many of the shortcomings in these loan applications were never intended as efforts to defraud anyone, but merely technical oversights, perhaps facts that might have not been completely known at the time of the loan application.

Many long-time mortgage lenders have exited this program because they cannot risk opening themselves to the penalties that have been imposed, I think, unwisely, by the Department of Justice for mere technical shortcomings of these loans.

So I have been a part of Members who are asking the Department of Justice to impose a moratorium to review what they are doing on the use of the False Claims Act to pursue such violations until the FHA can complete its own taxonomy, which is a set of standards that would impose penalties commensurate with the severity of the offense.

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, would ask the American people for their express blessings upon those who gave their life this weekend in Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the distinguished gentleman from Lewisville, Texas, Dr. Michael Burgess, who serves several roles in this House of Representatives. First of all, he is chairman of the Subcommittee on Health for the Energy and Commerce Committee--actually, his favorite committee--and then his duties at the Rules Committee, and Mike has spent a good number of years in service to the entire body. I want to thank Dr. Burgess for his personally handling not only this matter, but bringing to Congress a really strong attitude that he has about children.

Dr. Burgess, for a number of years since his early days in Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, as a resident and then becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist who served not only the Dallas area, thousands of people, but he brought to that a love of children, women, and families to give precious life to the United States of America, I want to thank him for his healthy child bill that he brought to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, let me say this. The gentlewoman from New York, the ranking member of the Rules Committee, and the entire committee yesterday spent a great deal of time not only looking at this particular bill, but other very germane issues related to healthcare. My colleagues, including

the gentlewoman from New York, really have the best heart in this. I believe this is an issue where we agree. We agree that children's health is not only an important part of what Congress should be involved in but, actually, resolving the issues.

She is very correct. Several weeks ago it was brought up in the Rules Committee the timeliness of this issue, the appropriateness of the Rules Committee handling this bill to get it to the floor so that we would allow not only the American people to understand what we were doing, but, really, to put it in play so that this could be handled by the United States Senate and the President.

I want to congratulate my colleagues. I think that my colleagues, to a person, understand the importance of this--and certainly Mike Burgess' leadership at Energy and Commerce Committee--but also the Rules Committee. So reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, as it is known, is vitally important. It is important because there are some 400,000 children in Texas, alone, where Chairman Burgess and I live.

We see not only families, but we see the healthcare community. We see other elected officials and just normal people at home who expect us to get our work done. We are today. In fact, we are not only getting it done, but, as Chairman Burgess has talked about and even as the gentlewoman, Ms. Slaughter, has talked about, there will be States at the end of November that will be running on fumes, be running on empty, and a good number of States are funded until probably February or March. But that is not a reason for us to delay.

So we are here, respectfully, to ask the entire body, Republicans and Democrats, and also to let the American people know that the Children's Health Insurance Program, through the efforts of Mike Burgess and through the efforts of Greg Walden as chairman of the committee, who have worked very diligently to make sure that it not only comes to the floor, but that the new nuances of the bill that will include many, many good bipartisan ideas will be offset, and it will be offset. We are going to have to make sure as we move forward that those are careful instructions that we all understand.

But the bottom line to this is, Mr. Speaker, this Congress, because of the bipartisanship, because of the ability, because of the importance of CHIP, is handling this today.

We are going to ask all Members if they did not have a chance to see what I thought was a robust, distinguished panel that came to us yesterday to talk about this, but also the thoughtful ideas from our Members about the importance of this, I think we can convince this body--this body, Republicans and Democrats--that the underlying legislation helps secure for 5 more years--which is what the goal was, 5 more years--to make sure that we can move forward; and it gives States the authority and the responsibility, gives the American people confidence that what we are doing to take care of this issue has not only been done, but presented in such a way that it will be successful.

That is our job, Mr. Speaker. Our job is to take the work that comes from the committee of jurisdiction--in this case, the Energy and Commerce Committee--and move that through, look at it, vet it, and make sure the best ideas happen. I am pleased and proud to be here today.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of Veterans Day, I rise today to recognize three World War II veterans who have honorably and faithfully served their country.

Milledge A. ``Mitch'' Hart, III, graduate of the US Naval Academy Class of 1956, served for 5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. His final rank was 1st Lieutenant, selected for Captain, USMC.

William ``Bill'' James Sloan, graduate of SMU Class of 1949, served in the U.S. Navy from October 1942 to May 1946.

Raymond Earl Sloan, graduate of SMU Class of 1949, served in the US Army from 1944 to 1946.

These gentlemen served with honor and distinction and I thank them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my neighbors in South Texas who continue to experience the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of those families for their lost loved ones and those who have been displaced by the storm. We stand with Texas this day and every day. I include in the Record this poem penned in their honor by Albert Carey Caswell.

The Hearts of Texas are upon us

All here to so remind us

All in our hearts to so find us

All in what we do in our time this

As their faith and hope,

and compassion come into view

Reminding us what is true

All in this land of that old Red, White, and. Blue

For in this our country tis a thee

There has and will always be

Such men and women of great faith as these

Who bond together all in their darkest times of need

Who built The West all in this creed

While, against all odds helping this Nation to succeed

And that's what Texas has always been agreed

So means to me

Neighbor helping neighbor continually

Who are color blind and can not see

Brothers and Sisters reaching out a hand in their time of

need

With smiles upon the faces in what their love begins to breed

Built on the bedrock of God, Country, and cherished Family

Shining throughout this day across our country tis of thee

Teaching us what we need

Catching on from sea to sea

Like The Cajun Navy who they helped in the midst of their

tragedy

Showing us that giving is better than taking

As this giant heart we call Texas has so awakened

With another heroic chapter written in their history

Whether, remembering The Alamo,

in times of war Texas has always battled for victory

And that's why everything is bigger in Texas you see

As Hearts of Texas are upon you and me

So clearly on this day for the world to see

Teach your children about them and what a real American can

be

All in their most patriotic hearts which bleed

Red, White, and Blue

For what is true

In Texas today you're watching some of America's real Who's

Who

As TEXAS STRONG comes into view

Yea, The Hearts of Texas are upon us

To teach us all and to so remind us

About faith and courage, and how not to be discouraged and

make it through

All in this wonderful nexus that we call Texas True Of God,

Family, and Country in all they do

And yes there will be many dark days ahead

For all those who have died and bled

With homes and lives ripped apart let it be said

But in America,

Texas Faith and their pioneer spirit has always led

With their hearts to get through the storms

Take a knee now and say a prayer for them all so very warm

And remember all the courage and faith and humanity which

will live on

And what the human spirit can accomplish in hearts so worn

All in their most heroic Texan hue

All in their lessons they have taught to me and you

Bringing our Nation together,

all in this beautiful song of Texas Strong they do

Because, on this day we understand what is True,

as The Hearts of Texas are upon us for all to view.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 538 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the ranking member, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying legislation. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3823, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, the whole world is aware of a series of storms that have hit not only America's shores but those shores of so many of our territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

A series of these hurricanes over the past few weeks has caused great devastation in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and, of course, again, the U.S. Virgin Islands. These are people who are American citizens, and they are in these territories, and they are suffering from loss and devastation, and we have never seen an occurrence like this with two storms in succession.

While there remains much to be done and evaluated, this legislation takes important steps, I believe, that are necessary to begin providing relief to those individuals. We have had a lot of debate not only on this floor and not only at the Rules Committee, but certainly in the U.S. House of Representatives and the public media about what steps need to be taken, who needs to be there first, what FEMA's responsibility is, what the responsibility is for HUD, what the responsibility is for States, and what the responsibility is for citizens and their local communities. But the bottom line is that much of the evaluation, the undertaking of saving of lives, trying to work to save more property and to be there in support of people, is an ongoing project that will take a long period of time.

Specifically, this underlying legislation helps to address five targeted and meaningful tax provisions that provide relief and make it easier for people to recover and to return to their homes and to make long-term decisions from a money and tax perspective.

It will allow hurricane victims to keep more of their paychecks, deduct more of the cost of their expensive property damage, and provide more affordable and immediate access to retirement savings should people decide that they would choose to go that direction at this difficult time in their life.

This legislation also encourages more Americans--Americans who see what is happening--and companies to be able to donate, to donate to those who are in need by temporarily suspending limitations on the deductions for charitable contributions for hurricane relief efforts this year. This is an important step, and it removes obstacles that might be in the way for the public to get involved and to help their fellow citizens.

Taken together, these five tax provisions go a long way, we believe, in helping these people recover from these storms.

The rule also makes clarifications to ensure Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are treated equitably in all tax sections of this bill.

I spent time this week speaking with the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) in talking about not only their immediate needs, but also the long-term needs. Both were vigorous in not only their request for help, but also, equally, I think, balanced in their request for the legislation that would take place today.

They represent so many hardworking people, people who are proud people in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and they are looking for a way to work through not only where they are, but, in looking forward over the long term, about how they are going to put their islands back together.

I have had many phone conversations with both of them over the last 48 hours. They have asked for our prayers, they have asked for our help, and I have pledged to do both. But I told them that I believe this House of Representatives would very carefully understand their special request at this time because the islands are under increased pressure simply to get planes that would land to allow not only the bringing in of emergency supplies, but also taking out people who would need to come ashore, for those that might be children, elderly people, or the sick.

In addition to the tax provisions of H.R. 3823, which addresses some of the frailties of the Flood Insurance Program, we have included important reform pieces that are pro-consumer and increase competition at a very difficult time now that these hurricanes have landed on our shores. This provides options for all Americans.

The language that passed out of the Financial Services Committee 58-0 and on the floor of the House last year 419-0 has now been placed in this bill, also. We believe it is another example of bipartisan support, not only by the gentleman from the Financial Services Committee, Jeb Hensarling, but also his ranking member, Maxine Waters, who very carefully, last year, in preparation probably for what would lie ahead in the future, to provide a free market opportunity for more people to receive flood insurance. It is part of this package. It passed here last year 419-0. It is an integral part of what might be an answer maybe only for a few people, but it is an option and an opportunity, and I appreciate Chairman Hensarling and Maxine Waters for being a part of passing that last year out of the Financial Services Committee 58-0.

This bill also reauthorizes the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, for 6 months, their funding levels, which would, I believe, be most important to all areas of the country. This is a bipartisan bill.

This is an opportunity for people who live in rural areas and people who live in urban areas to note that the FAA, day in and day out, 24 hours a day, is a vital part of the important transportation component of landing planes, bringing people to and from work and back safely. It also is a part of our families who travel the system, and the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, needs this money and needs the operational capacity to move forward.

It also comes at a critical time when the radar system that is in Puerto Rico has failed, and it is necessary that we continue to fund the programs at the FAA so that they can get these systems back up and online to increase traffic to meet the needs of the islands and to make sure that this is done safely.

Now is not a time to play games with an essential program, and I believe that this is very important for each of the Members to understand. This is a vital part of this package.

Finally, the underlying legislation extends several expiring health programs that would be finishing at the end of the year, including the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program and the Special Diabetes Program for Native Americans.

I do want to note that this package is focused on health programs that are expiring, and Chairman Greg Walden from Hood River, Oregon, who is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, has every intent to make sure that he will move legislation extending funding for CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, because we know that it expires soon. The chairman has looked into this and certified back to me that the money that is necessary to keep this program going is not in jeopardy and that he looks forward to a time when he can move CHIP not only to where it is considered on the floor, but to the Rules Committee, where it can be equally and fairly debated.

Before concluding my opening statements, I just want to affirm to the people in my home State of Texas and other areas affected by these disasters that this is the second of a series of responses to these natural disasters. On September 8, this body, the United States House of Representatives, passed initial emergency response legislation, providing $15.3 billion in aid.

To provide some historical context, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the United States in August, followed by Hurricanes Rita and Wilma in September and October. The House responded by passing an initial response in September to provide immediate emergency relief; then, after some evaluation, determined the actual needs on the ground, that is, by an analysis that took place, and that is when the House passed a more comprehensive package that included many of the provisions that are in here that we are doing, but they did that in December.

There was some debate yesterday at the Rules Committee about the timing,

about delay, and I assured the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), who is a distinguished member of our committee, that, while I did not know the exact timing or delay, what might be a delay in that timing, that I believe that that is forthcoming; that, as there is a broader evaluation, as time moves on, as we go from saving people, trying to do recovery, to where we then move to the next phases of this opportunity, we will then know more specifically the needs of programs, the work that needs to be done by this Congress, and the help that we can provide to these areas.

I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) not only for his vigorous, what I believe, support of making sure that people-- albeit they might be in Florida, but where they were a part of these storms, I felt Mr. Hastings' care and concern for them, to make sure that what the House of Representatives did was well managed, and I appreciate his feedback.

This body has every intention of providing further relief to our fellow Americans. We also understand that the Federal Government, while it has responsibilities, it does so by working with the States. It is done through FEMA.

I have been personally very pleased not only with the actions of President Trump and this administration, but I want to add that I am proud of the House of Representatives. I believe the leadership that Paul Ryan has provided not only by being on the ground and looking at these areas, but also staying up to date on a day-to-day basis means that the House is nimble and able to move forward as we need to.

What we are talking about today is targeted tax relief for those in need, ensuring the FAA can continue its functions allowing planes to land in Puerto Rico, and continuing our emergency responses.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the honorable and distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), my friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would advise the gentlewoman, my colleague, that I have one more speaker left, so she may run down the time as she chooses.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

I appreciate the distinguished gentlewoman bringing this up. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, she was not in the body on the floor earlier when I brought up

what I believe is an answer to this CHIP--Children's Health Insurance Program--reauthorization.

I talked specifically with the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Greg Walden, who is very excited about the opportunity to move the CHIP bill. The opportunity to do this is not dire or urgent. As a matter of fact, there is money in the bucket right now to fund, as it has been, the program to continue.

Chairman Walden indicated that, while he does understand that the program is scheduled to run through September 30, that the analysis from the nonpartisan Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission shows that States have enough funds remaining in their accounts through the end of this year.

Chairman Walden is interested in looking at it again and gaining information about it to see what sorts of changes, additions, or updates that we choose to do. He intends to do that in and through the committee providing information on a bipartisan basis. I trust not only what Greg Walden said, but I also know of his desire to deal effectively in this manner.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for bringing up this important question, and I want to provide a timely answer to her, and I appreciate her very much.

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

Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. Speaker, responding to the gentlewoman, I do not, but I will talk to Chairman Walden immediately, and I will come and find you during the vote, or as we end here, and I will let you know.

I appreciate, once again, Mr. Speaker, that the gentlewoman is very concerned, as is her committee, about children's programs, women's programs, and she would expect me to respond accordingly, and I will talk to Chairman Walden and get back to her with an answer.

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

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

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

A good bit of the dialogue that is occurring today has been an active discussion for a long period of time in the Financial Services Committee--Jeb Hensarling from Dallas, Texas, the chairman of that committee.

One of our bright young stars is from Tampa, Florida, and his name is Dennis Ross. And Mr. Ross has heard the debate going on and came down here. He has been an active part of not only understanding the needs of communities, but, more importantly, how we are going to have a fix and answer in a long-term way to look at this flooding problem and the Federal flood program.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross).

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

Mr. Speaker, this discussion that we are having here on point that we have now had two speakers from my side, Mr. Ross and Mr. Graves, who have come down to talk about the debate that has been well alive across the country, about how we deal with emergencies, how we deal with flooding, how we deal with the opportunity for States, and communities, and citizens, the free enterprise system, and what I would say FEMA, or the Federal Government, to get closer in understanding the needs of communities, and the answers to long-term decisions that take place.

What you heard Mr. Ross talk about was a bill that he worked on with the gentlewoman, a Democratic colleague from Tampa, and they worked on this piece of legislation, got it passed 58-0 out of the Financial Services Committee, 419-0 on this vote. We need to pass--we need to include this. We need to put this as part of the options, an option that would be available for people back home, no matter where that is, to have a chance to have more control of their own lives, to work in their own communities.

I really appreciate the gentleman, Mr. Ross, coming to talk to us today. The hard work that he and Kathy Castor, the gentlewoman from Tampa, did on a bipartisan basis comes to play. Even though they did it a year ago, it would be in play today, and it will be in play 1 year from now, when storms come back, as an option and opportunity. Instead of us searching for answers, it would be one of the answers available.

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

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

They say that success has many fathers, and you could say many mothers. Success is, many times, in the eye of the beholder. But when lots of people see it, they can get better prepared, and then people see that as a model.

I would like to take just a minute, if I can, and talk about a model of success that I use. Back home, I have an opportunity to meet with a number of subject matter experts on issues and ideas. One of them is a man named Bill Dewey. Bill Dewey is an air traffic controller at DFW Airport in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Dewey and I take time to sit down and understand the intricacies of his job, the FAA air traffic controller-- safety, planes.

DFW is home to American Airlines. Mr. Dewey handles traffic that goes to Dallas Love Field, home for Southwest Airlines.

What Mr. Dewey has done with me is given me, from a working professional relationship that he has as not only a former member of the United States military as an air traffic controller but real live in the tower at DFW Airport, day after day, seeing how important the FAA is.

We should remember, Mr. Speaker, that it is not just money and time that we are doing here. We are patting the employees of these agencies. The FAA has so many dedicated employees--just like Bill Dewey, my dear friend, who is at DFW Airport. This also is a support for those employees to let them know that we are going to fund their programs and we are going to take care of them. So we should, at the same time we do that, say ``thank you'' to the men and women who are there 24 hours around the clock to provide safety.

We have now been a number of years where we have not had a plane crash with a fatality, and we are lucky. Part of it goes to the safety of the system at the FAA.

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

Mr. Speaker, what a shock it is to see the President attacked when he is the one who is going to make sure, by challenging Congress, that we get this issue done.

Mr. Speaker, there was a question the gentlewoman, my dear colleague, Ms. Slaughter, asked. The question is timely and important, and I would like to respond back to her. She asked about the health center program, and the answer I have gotten back from the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Walden, the gentleman from Hood River, Oregon, who is a phenomenal leader to this conference, is that it will not have to access mandatory appropriations until early December, and that Chairman Walden understands and appreciates that the gentlewoman, the ranking member of the Rules Committee, Ms. Slaughter, has asked a question, and he thanks you for asking that. He understands that we do have a timing issue and is preparing quickly to address this issue. He wanted me to thank the gentlewoman for bringing that up at this time.

I want to thank Chairman Walden for that message.

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

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

I want to thank my colleague not only for this long week that we have had at the Rules Committee, but I also want to thank her other members, the gentleman from Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), for not only their vigorous debate and conversations that we have had, but actually trying to prepare us at the Rules Committee for that which we believe would lie ahead.

Today, you heard the gentlewoman ask about several important issues. Part of our job is to kind of pitch and catch, and that is to catch the things that come our way. But she is using her vision to look ahead, and I admire that. I do owe her answers, and her background and experience would tell her, let's get moving on these things if we are going to get them done. I hope that I have provided her with feedback from the gentleman, Mr. Walden, saying exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, as the hurricane was still over Houston, Texas, dumping 50 inches of rain, I received a conference call from a number of people in Houston as they were preparing to reestablish not only their own communities within Houston, but also the livelihood of the business community, and to be prepared.

I got a conference call from a group of gentlemen, Mr. Tom Singletary, Mr. Kevin Hedges, Mr. Steve Kessling, Mr. Wallace B. Livesay, and Mr. Steve Raben from Houston. They called me and said: We need, as quickly as we can, to get information about taxes, about people pulling money out of their IRAs, and what the rules and regulations would be for that.

Mr. Speaker, part of my job is to respond to people, to listen to them, and to listen to their needs. I will tell you that the Houston delegation, on a bipartisan basis, up and down the coast, going down to Blake Farenthold in Corpus Christi, all the way up to Garret Graves who is in Louisiana, felt the fury of Mother Nature. But it didn't mean that it had to divide us or to defeat us.

I have seen nothing but resolve that has come from not only those in Texas but also those in Florida, our two colleagues, Jenniffer Gonzalez who is located in Puerto Rico, and Stacey Plaskett who is a fine young Delegate out of the Virgin Islands. They have asked for help. They have asked for the things that would be necessary.

But our ability to effectively listen and turn around in the form of legislation, our ability to be able to schedule meetings and, on a bipartisan basis, be able to talk and sometimes agree and sometimes disagree but to get our work done is an amazing part of this experiment that we are engaged in.

I, myself, Mr. Speaker, want to thank you for not only your hard work of being here today but being a part of this process. As all of us work together, we can make this process work and give confidence to the American people. That confidence is expressed with what we do today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 509 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule, and I believe the entire country understands why we have the underlying legislation that we have before us today.

The rule provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 601, the Hurricane Supplemental, Debt Limit, Continuing Appropriations, and Flood Insurance Package.

Mr. Speaker, what this means is that the United States Congress, the House of Representatives, first acted in response to the hurricane that hit Texas and Louisiana and caused flooding across the United States. We then passed that directly to the United States Senate, in working with the President of the United States and the administration, and the Senate has provided back the necessary agreement that they passed. That is why we are here today.

We are here today because this great Nation is finding itself in a desperate plight of fighting with, for, and against Mother Nature, in an effort to provide the citizens of the United States of America with the assurances that, at a time when FEMA is engaged in over 30 different efforts across the country, the United States Congress is nimble enough and able enough to see the need of the people of the United States and to respond appropriately.

It is a private-public partnership that takes place not just with the Federal Government, but it is a government-to-government relationship that takes place also with the United States FEMA organization representing the administration and the American people of the States in which those people reside.

I must tell you that I have been impressed with not only the actions that the Federal Government has taken, but I am proud each morning that I stand up and see FEMA and its representatives discussing, preparing, and providing the American people with the necessary information, the cause and the backup to be prepared for what lies ahead.

This legislation directly addresses the critical responses that are needed by this Nation and meets the funding obligations of the Nation. My fellow Texans, several of whom will be speaking this morning on the rule, are men

who were directly in the face of the storm; and the people whom they represent and the people who have confidence in them are asking them for the necessary proper help that the United States Government would wish to give. These men and women of the Texas delegation have seen this problem together, and they are addressing it as a team.

We come together not just as Republican and Democrat, men and women, but we come together as a nation. And quite honestly, Mr. Speaker, Texans are overwhelmed with the response that we have seen not just from our colleagues, but the wishes, hopes, and prayers of this Nation, those who have come to Texas and are helping us out.

We now turn our thoughts and ideas and prayers to others who are in harm's way. We are well aware that it has come across our territories, it is entering the United States soon, perhaps as early as this morning, and we have done our work here today and will get that work done as we finalize the vote.

We appreciate and respect and thank the Nation for its support.

Please know that this legislation provides us, today, essential emergency disaster relief for those areas devastated by storms. A $15.25 billion emergency supplemental package is contained within this legislation. What we intend to do is to provide this and make it available to the States, where our elected officials will be administering the things that will make them available, along with FEMA, to the American people and to the people who were affected.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I received a call from a gentleman, George P. Bush, who is our land commissioner in Texas. Commissioner Bush asked me to not only thank the United States Congress, but also the American people. He asked me, along with Governor Greg Abbott from the State of Texas, to thank the American people for standing with us.

We may have been in harm's way, we may have seen over 50 inches of rain, we may have tens of thousands of people who are still in harm's way, but we are not too proud to say thank you, thank you to this great Nation for hearing our call, seeing our need, and, today, providing the necessary resources to help us rebuild our lives.

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

Mr. Speaker, over the next few speakers, you will have an opportunity to hear from members of the Texas delegation who were not only in harm's way, but who represent many brave people who have responded to the call of others.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Corpus Christi, Texas (Mr. Farenthold).

Mr. Speaker, this rule and the underlying legislation is specifically answering a question of national emergency, and that is as it relates to hurricane and hurricanes that are nearing the United States.

I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), one of the Members of Congress who was in the direct bull's-eye of this, in the district and the people that he represents.

Yes, I appreciate the gentlewoman engaging me.

I had understood that I had several other speakers, so what I would say to the gentlewoman is, if she would like to move on, I have none that I see right now. As we know, our Conference is in a meeting, so I would allow the gentlewoman to move forward. I will do the same.

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

I would like to publicly thank the Democratic members of the Rules Committee. The gentlewoman, Mrs. Slaughter, has recognized from the first moment when we came back the genuine desire and need for us to work together. Her entire team, including the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) and their staff, has worked diligently to ensure that this piece of legislation would become ready for Members of Congress to vote on it.

I would like to thank my staff and also our members, our members of the Rules Committee who spent a great deal of time this week.

Mr. Speaker, we are public servants and we are expected to do what we are doing. But it should also be noted that my colleague went out of her way to ensure that the discussion, the debate, and the delivery of this package is done.

Mr. Speaker, last night I received information from Dr. Shelley Hall and Dr. Rick Snyder from Dallas, Texas, speaking most directly about the people who they have come in contact with as volunteers from the Dallas County Medical Society at the convention center in Dallas, Texas.

As people have filled our city from outside these storm areas, I hope that they have met also Texans who cared about them. We have a history of this because we had to do this 12 or 13 years ago with Katrina, as we took people, young babies, little babies, who were flown in to Dallas and other areas in Texas; Fort Worth, Texas, opening up its doors; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas. This is an effort that is more than just a State's effort, however, today. This is the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Texas delegation, I want to thank Members of Congress, and, in particular, Ms. Slaughter and her team, for expeditiously providing this information of us working together.

Lastly, we will hand this to Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, from the Appropriations Committee, and Nita Lowey, who is that ranking member. I have seen all four of us work together on an important effort.

Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying measure to provide FEMA with this emergency downpayment, as the agency is running out of funds and bracing for Irma's impact, and perhaps two other storms that may be headed to the United States of America or our territories.

We are one Nation under God. I give thanks for that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for yielding me this time, and I rise to applaud him for the hard work and the responsible actions that the chairman has taken, not only to ensure this piece of legislation is prepared, but bettered and ready to go back to the Senate.

I think we have a forceful sanctions bill that is before the House today, and one that targets not only Iran and Russia, but also the North Korean regime.

As you know, the bill that was passed by the Senate risked giving Russian energy firms a competitive advantage across the globe by inadvertently denying American companies access to neutral third-party energy markets where there would simply be a small or de minimis Russian presence.

The bill before us today prevents Russia from being able to weaponize these sanctions against U.S. energy firms. I want to thank Chairman Royce for his hard work on this issue.

I also want to ensure that we have an understanding of the definition of the word ``controlling'' in section 223(d) of H.R. 3364. For purposes of clarification and legislative intent, the term ``controlling'' means the power to direct, determine, or resolve fundamental, operational, and financial decisions of an oil project through the ownership of a majority of the voting interests of the oil project.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the gentleman, the young chairman, if he agrees with that definition.

I yield to the gentleman from California.

I want to thank the gentleman for not only this clarification, but making sure that we are most specific in what we are undertaking.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to note that the Shah Deniz Pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor projects will continue to be able to bring gas from the Caspian Sea, which is a huge find, to our European allies, reducing their dependency on Russian energy.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman, and I would thank him for his time on this colloquy.

Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee issued announcements outlining the amendment process for three measures that likely will be before the Rules Committee next week.

An amendment deadline has been set for Tuesday, July 18, at 10 a.m., for H.R. 218, the King Cove Road Land Exchange Act; H.R. 2910, the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act; and H.R. 2883, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act.

The text of these measures is available on the Rules Committee website. Feel free to contact me or a member of the Rules Committee if Members have any questions.

Mr. Speaker, in 2009, I was proud to co-sponsor with my then-House colleague the Honorable Tammy Baldwin the successfully passed H. Res. 366, which designated 2010 through 2020 as ``The Decade of Vision.'' Accompanied by the Senate's successfully passed companion legislation S. Res. 209, these resolutions recognized the challenges to the vision health of our nation's citizens as the population ages and the incidence of chronic diseases--such as diabetes--grows, causing eye disease and visual impairment.

In the spirit of those resolutions, I am pleased to recognize July as Dry Eye Awareness Month. Dry eye, a growing global problem that affects more than 30 million people in the United States alone, occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly or they are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. It can range from discomfort to a painful chronic and progressive condition that leads to blurred vision or even vision loss. Dry eye impacts our nation's healthcare policy, as it is one of the most frequent causes of patient visits to eye care providers.

Although past research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Eye Institute (NEI) on the causes of and treatments for the condition has identified age, sex, and gender as factors, it has now discovered ethnic and racial differences, and that dry eye impacts younger patients. This ``equal opportunity'' disease can have many causes, including environmental exposure; side-effects from medications; eye surgery; eye lid disorders; immune system diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis; contact lens wear; cosmetic use; aesthetic procedures; and an increasingly common cause--staring at computer or video screens for too long without blinking. Many are calling dry eye the ``Disease of the Millennials'' due to its increased incidence in that population.

Dry eye has also been a major issue for our brave soldiers who were engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Veterans Administration reports that upwards of 70 percent of Traumatic Brain Injury-exposed veterans have dry eye symptoms.

During the 2017 Dry Eye Awareness Month, the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society's Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) Report will be published in The Ocular Surface Journal, updating the definition of dry eye and addressing its greater impact on vision health--the first such re-examination since 2007. Report highlights will be presented at a July 12 Congressional Briefing, accompanied by a ``Test

Your Tears'' Screening and presentation of research posters.

The vision community and its coalition partners are uniting to recognize this growing threat to vision health, and I stand in support of these awareness and educational efforts.

Mr. Speaker, this morning the Rules Committee issued announcements outlining the amendment processes for two measures that will likely be before the Rules Committee next week.

An amendment deadline has been set for Monday, July 17, at 10 a.m., for H.R. 806, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017; and Monday, July 17, at noon, for H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act.

The text of these measures is presently available on the Rules Committee website.

Feel free to contact me or my staff if we may provide any additional information.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation.

I want to thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Walden from Hood River, Oregon, as well as the Health Subcommittee chairman, Michael Burgess from Lewisville, Texas. I appreciate Dr. Burgess for yielding me time on this bill that is mine, that I presented several years ago, Mr. Speaker, that we are finally getting a chance to support today.

I wish to express my full support for H.R. 1492, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017. This legislation represents commonsense reforms that will ensure certainty and regulatory clarity, while recognizing the needs of doctors, patients, and law enforcement alike. I hope Members on both sides recognize the need for not only this legislation, but will be in support.

Currently, physicians and other DEA-licensed medical practitioners are barred from transporting controlled substances from one practice setting to another. This is particularly strenuous on physicians who travel for their jobs. For example, team physicians at both the college and professional level have been particularly affected by the lack of clarity in the current law.

Physicians who travel with teams to away games carefully practiced transporting medicines--and they have done so for decades--in a manner that they believed to be in compliance with DEA regulations. Recently, however, there has been uncertainty surrounding this issue, as a number of teams have found themselves being challenged by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Those physicians who had, for years, been in compliance, or felt like they were in compliance, were unable to provide players with proper medical care after many injuries while they were at an away game.

H.R. 1492 will allow physicians to obtain a separate mobile registration with the DEA for the ability to transport these very specific substances for medically relevant reasons directly related to the care of patients between practice settings. This registration allows for physician transport, up to 72 hours, while maintaining updated records of transport and the administration of these controlled substances. Such allowances would ensure that physicians whose practices are inherently dynamic have the necessary provisions to provide care to their patients regardless of the setting.

I would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration for working with me and my office for the last 5 years on this important issue. I would also like to thank Dr. Dan Cooper, who is the lead physician for the Dallas Cowboys. I would like to thank the gentleman who owns the Dallas Cowboys, Mr. Jerry Jones, for standing up on behalf of professional teams and their players to ensure that we work together for a commonsense answer. I want to thank the gentleman, Dr. Burgess, for yielding me the time.