Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6398) to authorize the Department of Energy to conduct collaborative research with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to improve healthcare services for veterans in the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 6398, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6398, the Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act.

This legislation authorizes the Department of Energy, DOE, to conduct collaborative research with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, in order to solve complex, big data challenges in order to improve veterans' healthcare and basic research in advanced computing and data analytics.

The VA hosts one of the world's largest and most valuable health datasets. Through its voluntary data collection program entitled the Million Veterans Program, MVP, the VA has collected detailed health information and

genomic data volunteered by over 600,000 veterans.

In order to better use this data to provide better healthcare for our veterans, the VA needs more advanced computing capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise than it has in-house.

As a world leader in high performance computing, DOE is well suited to meet this need. In its national laboratory system, DOE possesses a unique set of cutting-edge research capabilities.

It hosts six of the world's top 10 fastest supercomputers, including the Summit computer in Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is the world's fastest supercomputer. DOE also funds robust research in computational sciences and data analytics, which can be used to solve a range of complex big data challenges in the physical sciences.

The interagency partnership authorized in my bill combines the VA's clinical and population science expertise with DOE's big data science in advanced computing expertise in order to solve critical health challenges for our veterans while creating another path forward for the advancement of big data science tools for the American researchers.

This partnership, called the Million Veterans Program-Computational Health Analytics for Medical Precision to Improve Outcomes Now, or the MVP-CHAMPION program, will use DOE supercomputers to analyze VA health data and look for patterns that will help inform and improve medical treatment for heart disease, traumatic brain injury, and cancer.

Ultimately, the goal of this legislation is for the DOE national laboratories to provide the VA with information it can use to improve healthcare services for veterans.

The bill also requires the Department to establish data storage facilities to securely transmit and store data that the VA provides. This will make certain that privacy and security are maintained for veterans who volunteer for the program.

In addition, this legislation establishes a pilot program within DOE to create a cross-cutting research initiative in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and computational research.

This program will help American scientists stay on the cutting-edge as the computing landscape changes and international competition increases, and will promote the development of the computing tools needed to address big data challenges.

These tools will both help improve the existing MVP-CHAMPION partnership and will advance key DOE mission goals in nuclear security, energy technology, and innovative science research.

Our veterans should have access to better healthcare services and our scientists should remain leaders in advanced computing. The Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act promises to deliver on both fronts.

Once again, I would like to thank Chairman Smith and the 15 other Science, Space, and Technology Committee members who cosponsored this legislation for supporting my bill.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC, September 20, 2018.

Hon. Lamar Smith,

Chairman, Committee on Space, Science, and Technology,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R.

6398, as amended, the ``Department of Energy Veterans' Health

Initiative Act.'' As you know, there are provisions in the

legislation that fall within the jurisdiction of the

Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed

expeditiously to floor consideration of this legislation, I

am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential

referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving

consideration of the bill, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the

subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its

jurisdiction. I also request that you urge the Speaker to

name members of this committee to any conference committee

which is named to consider such provisions.

Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R.

6398, as amended, and into the Congressional Record during

consideration of this legislation on the House floor.

Sincerely,

David P. Roe, M.D.,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith, Representative Dunn, Representative Higgins, Representative Lucas, Representative Weber, Representative Knight, Representative Rohrabacher, Representative Hultgren, Representative Babin, Representative Comstock, Representative Abraham, Representative Biggs, Representative Marshall, Representative Lesko, Representative Lipinski, Representative Rosen, Representative Bilirakis, Representative Gallagher, Representative Bill Johnson, and Representative Walter Jones for their continued leadership in providing support for our veterans and enabling critical science research.

I would also like to thank the stakeholders and researchers who have provided valuable feedback as we develop this legislation.

H.R. 6398 supports a program that will encourage innovation in basic science and big data research at DOE, and ensure that we as a Nation are doing everything we can to improve healthcare for our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this commonsense legislation and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the birthday and the life of Nora Mae Pierce Gaulden, born August 27, 1930, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Nora Mae originally grew up in Cullowhee, North Carolina, in part of what is known as the Nantahala National Forest.

She would grow up on a rural farm during the Depression and experience all the hardships associated with that era. ``If you didn't farm, you didn't eat,'' she would say, and the family would often barter and trade for their needs as they navigated life.

Around the time of her 18th birthday, times began to change, and the family heard about a large company that would be hiring to fill shift work and laborers for a large facility being built down at the Piedmont. That company would be known as Celanese, and it was this turn of events in her life that brought her to her present hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The family would uproot and set out across the mountain to see what this new place could bring.

As a new employee, employee number 47, Nora was tasked with learning the job and then training others to fill shifts. She remembers sleeping on a bench while others worked and trained during these times, sometimes staying all night while work was ramping up.

She would work there for 21 years, marry, grow a family, and eventually set on a direction leading her to today.

Celanese was going to place her on shift work, so she decided to take a package instead and went to the unemployment office. There, she ran into Woodrow Byrum. ``He told me not to even sign the papers, and come with him. I didn't even get to draw my first check.'' He needed someone to do food for the workers, so of course she went straight to work.

That path led her to M. Lowenstein Corporation's Rock Hill Printing and Finishing plant located in downtown Rock Hill.

She would begin working there in 1959 and would stay on through the many changes, from the height of the textile boom to its slow demise within the Carolinas.

Many role changes and job requirements would come and go. The Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company would eventually be sold to Springs Industries, and she would see even more changes in her life up until her expected retirement in 1993.

However, one large change was looming on the horizon. That retirement would be postponed due to the loss of her husband, Rufus, who suffered an unfortunate drowning accident 6 months before their retirement. Several friends and family close to her advised her to continue working, so that is exactly what she decided to do.

``I told Rufus to build me a porch, so we could sit and rock and look out once we both retired.'' She would go on to say, ``He never got to enjoy that.''

She stayed on with Springs continuing to do the things she had done all of her life: love work, love family, love God, and never treat any one person better than another. That is her defining legacy.

``God made all people,'' she would say, ``and He didn't make one better than the other,'' with her trademark finger pointing and one eye closed.

Years would come and go. Time marched on, and part of Springs Industries-Springs Creative would be born out of that time in 2007. Many things changed during those days, but Nora Mae did not. ``I just stayed with the building.''

She has continued to work with Springs and each year mulls over retirement. ``Maybe this summer,'' has been repeated over the last several years, ``maybe not.'' She keeps working hard, calls everyone her children, stays true to God, never changes, and reaches a milestone 88th birthday this year.

For 70 years, she has been a part of the Rock Hill community, sharing herself with her love to everyone she meets and making this world a better place than when she found it. She would say, ``God doesn't change. Why should I?''

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to say what a great life this lady has lived. She is a great American, and she represents all that is good with this great country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, July 25, 2018, in our Nation's Capitol to formally memorialize the history of the First Baptist Church located in Blacksburg, South Carolina.

First Baptist Church of Blacksburg was originally called the Berea Baptist Church, organized over 146 years ago, on December 4, 1876. The original structure was located near the corner of Highway 29 and Mountain Street, near the old Berea cemetery. This building was used as a church, schoolhouse, and community meeting hall. The first people to be baptized in the original building were Mrs. Sally Little and Mattie Bridges.

The first mention of building a new church facility was the years 1906 through 1909, under the pastorate of the Reverend B.L. Hoke. A committee was formed to search for land to build the new church.

During the pastorate of Reverend C.W. Payseur, property located on the corner of Cherokee and Rutherford Streets was purchased from Mr. D.D. Gaston for $500; and in the spring of 1912, construction began on the new building. The records indicate that W.A. Blalock and A.M. Bridges broke the first dirt, and D.A. Gold placed the first brick, with Miss Emma Cornwell placing the first mortar for the bricks.

The first service in the new church facility was held over 105 years ago in June 1913, and the name of the church was officially changed from the Berea Baptist Church to the First Baptist Church of Blacksburg. The first person to be baptized in the new building was Mr. Ben Ramseur.

In 1922, over 96 years ago, a house and 6 acres of land owned by Mr. Tracy Hardin was donated for the purposes of building a church parsonage, and in June of 1929, the church began construction on the first Sunday school rooms at a cost of $2,300.

The property behind the existing educational building as it sits today was purchased during the years between 1941 and 1950, and a new building fund was started. The church broke ground on the new building at a cost of $87,500; and on Sunday, June 24, 1956, which was over 62 years ago, the church celebrated homecoming, with ``Dinner on the Grounds'' in the new social hall downstairs.

On June 11, 1961, all debt was paid off and a note burning service was held to celebrate this accomplishment.

On July 5, 1962, the church voted to begin construction on the present sanctuary to replace the old one which, at the time, had been destroyed. The committee overseeing the construction was comprised of 10 members representing each of the resident families.

The new sanctuary was completed in 1963 at a total cost of $74,735, and the debt was paid off on May 2, 1979.

The building of the new parsonage located at 108 Lenzer Circle began in the 1970s and was completed in February of 1972. The debt was paid off, and the official burning service was held on February 23, 1975, to celebrate this accomplishment of paying off the debt.

In October of 1976, the church voted to sell the old parsonage and purchase the entire land located inside Lenzer Circle for a future recreational facility.

On December 1, 1993, the church purchased the property and buildings immediately next to the existing church sanctuary at a cost of $35,000, with the debt paid in full on January 16, 1998.

The next major renovation and building came in 1995, where the church reaffirmed the idea of seeking to build a recreational facility beside the existing church sanctuary; and in June of 1996, the old grocery store known as the Sara Wilkins property was demolished to make way for the new construction.

In 1997, renovations and repairs were made to the existing educational building and exterior of the sanctuary, along with a new Allen organ for the sanctuary.

The construction of the new Family Life Center began in August of 1999, for a total cost of $520,000, with the church only borrowing $60,000. The building was completed and the dedication held in May of 2000, and the remaining debt was paid off in 2001.

In July of 2001, the church purchased the old library building located behind the existing sanctuary and education building where the church offices exist today.

The last renovations to the present sanctuary were renovated in 2014.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to memorialize the 142-year history of the First Baptist Church of Blacksburg, which was organized on December 4, 1876, as we worship today in 2018, with the core mission being, then and now, service to Jesus Christ and the faithful teachings of the Christian Gospel.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to recognize a true American, David Alexander Hogue. David is the son of Grady and Dovie Hogue, born in 1946 in Blacksburg, South Carolina. He attended Blacksburg public schools and was elected president of his high school senior class.

He then enrolled at the University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy, where he graduated in 1970. After working in a drugstore in York, South Carolina, and Cherokee drug store in Gaffney, South Carolina, he returned to Blacksburg, where he became the owner of Iron City Pharmacy, which was a 75-year-old business.

Among his many accomplishments, he formed the Iron City Band where he played piano and toured the entire Southeast with his band. As a member of the Blacksburg First Baptist Church, he was a member of the choir; he was a deacon; he was a trustee; and he was chairman of his Sunday school class.

In 1989, David entered the political arena, where he was elected to the Blacksburg City Council, where he was appointed mayor pro tempore. He was then appointed mayor by then-Governor Carroll Campbell after his predecessor was removed from office, and he won a special election for mayor in June of 1990, where he has served honorably for the last 28 years.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize, in the 115th session of Congress, a true American, David Alexander Hogue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share that in 6 short months, tax reform has transformed lives and businesses in South Carolina.

I recently sent out two postcard surveys to over 50,000 of my constituents asking them how tax reform has affected them. I have received great feedback, with over 70 percent saying they saw increased pay or benefits.

One example I received in the Fifth District is from the Mattox family, a self-employed couple in Clover. They said that, due to their tax cuts this year, they are going to finally be able to buy new equipment for their business. The Mattox family also believes these tax cuts should remain permanent for all middle class families because of the benefits they personally see occurring in their community.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, South Carolinians are now seeing opportunities and confidence coming back to their families and small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the great news that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act continues to deliver for the people and small businesses of the Fifth District of South Carolina.

It has been almost 7 months since tax reform, and our economy is booming. People have a renewed hope and sense of security in their futures again.

Firsthand, I see small businesses in my district expanding and creating more jobs. New hires are at the highest level in 17 years. Small-business optimism is the highest in decades. Consumer confidence is at its highest in 2 decades.

I have directly heard from families who are seeing more hard-earned dollars remaining in their pockets. Because of our pro-growth policies, our economy, our families, and our businesses in my district and across the Nation will have strong futures.

Thanks to tax reform, South Carolinians and Americans are better off now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring your attention to yet another success story from tax reform.

A constituent of mine who is the founder and owner of All Pro Solutions, a small business in South Carolina, has benefited greatly from tax reform.

Tibi contacted my office with his recent success story, and he cannot downplay the positive impact he has seen.

All Pro Solutions is a digital archiving company of 10 employees, so they are in no way a big corporation. As a result of tax reform being signed into law, All Pro Solutions has been able to buy extra and newer equipment. They have already seen an increase in sales. They are now expanding their archiving work, and they will soon be hiring two more employees due to these wonderful circumstances.

His story proves that these tax cuts were for everyone. They are working on a local level, and these tax cuts are beneficial to all and working on a national level.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of my hometown's finest. The founder and owner of Rock Hill, South Carolina's iconic PW's Ice Cream, Mr. Philip W. Holmes, Jr. has passed away at the age of 82.

For 25 years, PW's has served our community proudly. Following his service in the Marine Corps and his experience in the hospitality industry, Mr. Holmes took the risk every business owner does and opened PW's in 1993. It was named after his two sons, Philip III and Wayne. He believed that ice cream was one of the greatest ways to bring families together.

After his passing, both of his sons continue his legacy at PW's. You can now find the phrase, ``Dad got his wings'' on the store's sign.

Philip Holmes, Jr. will be remembered by our community for giving every scoop with a smile. He was a great South Carolinian, and he was a great American.

Mr. Speaker, due to inclement weather, my flight was cancelled on Tuesday, the 19th resulting in me missing votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 269, YEA on Roll Call No. 270, and YEA on Roll Call No. 271.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell this body about a tremendous success story with healthcare in my district: the story of our free medical clinics and their membership in and longtime association with the South Carolina Free Clinic Association.

Founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Free Clinic Association is an independent, nonprofit membership organization that provides training, research, resource development, and advocacy to member free clinics.

Additionally, the South Carolina Free Clinic Association was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in January of 2008.

The South Carolina Free Clinic Association represents and supports our State's network of 40 free clinics in 25 counties across South Carolina. The member free clinics provide comprehensive care to economically disadvantaged individuals all across our great State, including those individuals who are both uninsured and/or underinsured.

The South Carolina Free Clinic Association is the only statewide organization that supports and advocates for South Carolina's free clinic network and for the various and truly diverse populations they serve.

South Carolina Free Clinic Association is improving the quality and access of healthcare to South Carolina's medically underserved individuals and communities. The South Carolina Free Clinic Association does this by assisting their members to be valued and engaged partners in their communities' systems of care.

Through financial support from foundations, fundraisers, and individual donations and through the efficient use of donated supplies and volunteer provider services, South Carolina's free clinics were responsible for the following activities and achievements in 2017: $108,839,801 total value of services provided; 363,369 prescriptions which were filled; 40,062 patients were treated; 4,442 volunteers; and 40 member clinics in 65 sites across South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, free clinics are truly vital, safety net healthcare organizations that utilize a volunteer and staff model to provide a range of healthcare services, which may include medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals.

Such clinics are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or operate as a program component or affiliate of a 501(c)(3) organization. Entities that otherwise meet the above definition but charge a nominal or sliding fee to patients may still be considered free clinics provided essential services are delivered regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

Free clinics limit eligibility for their services to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, and/or have limited access or no access to primary, specialty, or prescription healthcare.

Every free clinic is unique. Each clinic has its own qualification guidelines. But they all serve low-income and no-income patients without health insurance who do not qualify for government assistance.

In addition to general medical and prescription services, free clinics may offer such services as oral health, specialty services and referrals, lab testing, diagnostic procedures, and health education and prevention, as well as prescription medications.

Free clinics are independent, community-based, nonprofit organizations that rely on grants and donations from their communities for support. Clinics have a varied base of community support, which includes but is not limited

to individuals, businesses, churches, foundations, and government.

I would like to recognize and applaud the efforts of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and its executive director, Virginia Ann Mullikin, for their support of more than 40,000 South Carolina families.

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

Mr. Chairman, with the passage of the bipartisan budget agreement back in February, Congress essentially gave themselves a blank check to spend billions and billions more of taxpayers' dollars over the next two fiscal years.

Our national debt stands at over $21 trillion and we decided to spend more. How does that make any sense? People back home continuously ask me why our government keeps spending and spending. You know what I tell them? I have no idea. I have no idea why Members of Congress willingly go along with this abysmal continued spending. I have no idea why we would cut taxes for millions of Americans, grow our economy exponentially, and then decide to spend more.

If anything, now is the time to get spending under control. Now is the time to rein in reckless spending habits. My amendment should not even be controversial. It simply cuts spending back to what they were last year. $1.5 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to our national debt. We need to start somewhere.

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

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to announce to the 115th session of Congress that Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile was named the 2018 Sheriff of the Year by the South Carolina Sheriffs Association. This honor was bestowed on Sheriff Faile by his peers representing 46 counties.

He began his career in law enforcement 29 years ago where he began as a patrol deputy in 1989 and moved through the ranks of every department until 2009 when he was elected sheriff.

Under the leadership of Sheriff Faile, the accomplishments include: national accreditation of his office; implementation of body cameras; Neighborhood Crime Watch programs grown from 12 neighborhoods to 37 in 2 years; and creation of the first Crowd Control Unit in 2017.

In 2011, Sheriff Faile led the agency through a gang investigation resulting in one of the first grand jury indictments by the State Attorney's office of 15 local gang members, along with the arrest of local members of the Hells Angels as part of a statewide crackdown.

His commitment to the local Lancaster community includes serving as a board member of Springs Memorial Hospital, the Rotary Breakfast Club, and the USC Lancaster Educational Foundation.

He is currently the president of the South Carolina Sheriffs Association. Sheriff Faile is only the third person in our area to win this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor today to recognize the 93rd birthday of a true American hero, Lieutenant Colonel ``Buz'' Stebbins.

Just after Lieutenant Colonel Stebbins turned 20 years old, he graduated from West Point in 1945. He served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force for 28 years.

During that time, Buz piloted scores of military aircraft, including the honor of taking delivery from Lockheed of one of the first C5A Galaxy cargo aircraft, the largest cargo aircraft in the world. He flew 70 missions to Vietnam in support of our troops engaged in that war. While stationed in Germany, he became a member of the Caterpillar Club, whose membership is restricted to those who have had to bail out of a disabled aircraft.

During his military career, Colonel Stebbins also served as a professor of physics at both West Point and the United States Air Force Academy.

Retiring in 1973, Colonel Stebbins chose to reside in the great city of Tega Cay, South Carolina, which is in my Fifth Congressional District. He became very active in the community, and was instrumental in Tega Cay being incorporated as a city in 1982. He has been honored by a number of organizations in the community, including Citizen of the Year, grand marshal of the Independence Day parade, and many more.

Colonel Stebbins exemplifies the motto of the great school of West Point: Duty, Honor, Country.

Buz, happy 93rd birthday on May 31. We look forward to many more years of you doing what you continue to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. John Wilkerson, Jr., who died on May 9, 2018. He was born in Hickory Grove, South Carolina, and remained a South Carolina local throughout his life.

As a young man, he served in the United States Navy and graduated from Clemson College with a degree in physics. After graduation, Mr. Wilkerson went on to lead a very successful business career. He was the owner of Wilkerson Oil Company, along with his brother, Merritt, and he later became the owner of River Hills Realty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2017. In today's increasingly cyber world, information technology is vital for small businesses. It equips them with the necessary tools and allows them to remain competitive in the global economy.

However, the same tools that allow small businesses to stay on the cutting edge of technology have also caused them to be increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. And, unfortunately, a simple cyber attack can destroy a small business.

According to the National Small Business Association, the average cost of a cyber attack on a small business is $32,000. Many small businesses fear such an attack but lack the resources or the technical knowledge to prevent one. That is where H.R. 3170 comes into play.

This legislation would equip lead small business development centers with a cyber counseling certification program to educate small businesses and help them to implement a cybersecurity plan to protect their business. Due to the high cost of hiring cyber experts, many small businesses could not otherwise afford to take such precautions.

H.R. 3170 would offer cyber assistance at no or low cost to small businesses. This bipartisan bill would help America's nearly 30 million small businesses stay ahead of cyber attacks so that they are not forced to react once it is too late. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.