Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright, who was killed in action on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 while defending our nation as part of the 3rd Special Forces Group in Africa. SSG Wright was a true American hero and our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family as they mourn the loss of this great man.

Enlisting in the United States Army in July of 2012, SSG Wright's list of accomplishments runs long. After attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection program, he earned his Green Beret and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Men and women like SSG Wright represent the best our nation has to offer. As a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant, he had undergone some of the most intense training our military has and emerged as a leader and role model. His selflessness allows us to enjoy the blessings of liberty that have persevered for well over 200 years. When his country needed him most, he stood ready to answer the call to serve our great nation.

Our country can never repay the debt we owe to SSG Wright. He was a model citizen and soldier whose legacy will live on forever. He will always be remembered and I will do everything in my power to honor his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the life of Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright for his service to God and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant La David T. Johnson, who was killed in action on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 while defending our nation as part of the 3rd Special Forces Group in Africa. SGT Johnson was a true American hero and our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family as they mourn the loss of this great man.

Enlisting in the United States Army in January of 2014, SGT Johnson's list of accomplishments runs long. After completion of Advanced Individual Training, earning the Military occupational specialty 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Men and women like SGT Johnson represent the best our nation has to offer. His selflessness allows us to enjoy the blessings of liberty that have persevered for well over 200 years. When his country needed him most, he stood ready to answer the call to serve our great nation.

Survived by a loving family, our country can never repay the debt we owe to SGT Johnson. He was a model citizen and soldier whose legacy will live on forever. He will always be remembered and I will do everything in my power to honor his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the life of Sergeant La David T. Johnson for his service to God and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, who was killed in action on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 while defending our nation as part of the 3rd Special Forces Group in Africa. SSG Black was a true American hero and our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family as they mourn the loss of this great man.

Enlisting in the United States Army in September of 2009, SSG Black's list of accomplishments runs long. After attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection program, he earned his Green Beret and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Men and women like SSG Black represent the best our nation has to offer. As a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, he had undergone some of the most intense training our military has and emerged as a leader and role model. His selflessness allows us to enjoy the blessings of liberty that have persevered for well over 200 years. When his country needed him most, he stood ready to answer the call to serve our great nation.

Leaving behind a wife and two sons, our country can never repay the debt we owe to SSG Black. He was a model citizen and soldier whose legacy will live on forever. He will always be remembered and I will do everything in my power to honor his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the life of Staff Sergeant Bryan C. Black for his service to God and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant First Class Jeremiah Johnson, who was killed in action on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 while defending our nation as part of the 3rd Special Forces Group in Africa. SFC Johnson was a true American hero and our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family as they mourn the loss of this great man.

Enlisting in the United States Army in October of 2007, SFC Johnson's list of accomplishments runs long. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Men and women like SFC Johnson represent the best our nation has to offer. As a Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Specialist, he had undergone some of the most specialized training in our military and emerged as a leader and role model. His selflessness allows us to enjoy the blessings of liberty that have persevered for well over 200 years. When his country needed him most, he stood ready to answer the call to serve our great nation.

Leaving behind a wife and two girls, our country can never repay the debt we owe to SFC Johnson. He was a model citizen and soldier whose legacy will live on forever. He will always be remembered and I will do everything in my power to honor his sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the life of Sergeant First Class Jeremiah Johnson for his service to God and country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 304) to amend the Controlled Substances Act with regard to the provision of emergency medical services, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Konni McMurray for receiving the Moore County Woman of the Year Award.

This award is presented by the Moore County Community Foundation to an individual who has exhibited selflessness and a humble desire to serve their community. Mrs. McMurray earned this award by putting others before herself and for her decades of service to Moore County.

Originally from a suburb of Kansas City, Konni moved to Moore County in 1989 with her husband, Brian. Currently she is the Vice President of McMurray Fabrics in Aberdeen and Atex Technologies in Pinebluff. Mr. and Mrs. McMurray have provided hundreds of good-paying jobs to the community over the years, but despite her business success, Konni still finds time to support numerous local service organizations. She has served on the Boards of The O'Neal School, the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills, and Sandhills Community College, just to name a few. Konni has also been a tireless advocate for the less fortunate animals in Moore County through her leadership with the Moore County Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)--when she can't find a foster home for a pet in need, she's been known to foster the animals personally.

Konni and her husband, Brian, have four amazing children, and she's instilled the same servant's heart in all of them. I am extremely grateful to count Konni McMurray as a friend, and I know everyone in Moore County is even more grateful for her service and leadership to our community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Konni McMurray for being named the Moore County Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Earl Wright for receiving the Moore County Man of the Year Award in North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District.

This award is presented by the Moore County Community Foundation to an individual who has exhibited selflessness and a humble desire to serve their community. Mr. Wright earned this award by starting Project Santa, which refurbishes bicycles to distribute to thousands of children on Christmas Day each year. Project Santa started out 22 years ago as a small side-project with only 17 bikes, and has now grown exponentially into a military-sized operation that will distribute some 1,600 bikes this Christmas. As you can see, much like the real Saint Nick, Mr. Wright works year-round to deliver joy to children each Christmas.

Mr. Wright has shown the recipients of these bikes--and the community at large--what it means to truly serve and give to those who need it most. My hope is people will see what Mr. Wright has done for his community and replicate his ambition to help their fellow man. I am extremely grateful for Mr. Wright's service to our community and I wish him continued success.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Earl Wright for his service to our community and being named the Moore County Man of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ben Rose on nearly a decade of service to North Carolina's 8th District as Cabarrus County Department of Social Services Director.

Originally from Raleigh, Ben received his undergraduate degree in biology at Campbell University and went on to finish his Master's in social work at Tulane University. Since finishing school, he has applied his education to community service and helping those who need it most. Ben has been an integral part of helping me assist our shared constituents and provide them with the best services possible.

Over the years, Ben has dedicated his life to furthering the state of North Carolina. He has served on the boards of the North Carolina Association of County Social Services Directors, Cabarrus County Mental Health Advisory, Cabarrus County Transportation Advisory, Cabarrus County Conflict Resolution and Teen Court, Cabarrus Literacy Council, and on the Advisory Board of the State Employees Credit Union. As you can see, Ben's servant heart never stops, no matter the day or time.

Residing in North Carolina, he and his wife, Brenda, have one daughter. Ben has shown immense dedication to his career and his family over the years. I am extremely grateful for Ben's service to our community and I wish him continued success.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Ben Rose for his service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 540.

Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained and missed a vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 491.

Amendment No. 77 Offered by Mr. Norman

Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to Chairman Frelinghuysen and Interior Subcommittee Chairman Calvert for their strong leadership and good work on this legislation and to thank them for this opportunity to speak today.

I rise to advocate on behalf of the U.S. national forests and their upkeep, specifically through the capital improvements and maintenance program. This program provides funding to pave our national forest roads, such as those within the Uwharrie National Forest located in my district.

Each year, the U.S. Forest Service is given funding to maintain roadways across our Nation. While they do their best to sustain roadways and trail access points, they can only do so much with the resources they are given. These roadways are an integral part of ensuring critical public access to our U.S. forestlands.

Unfortunately, many of our national forest roadways have become severely eroded from travel, age, and the elements. The erosion has created problems for those who visit the Uwharrie National Forest as well as those who access these roads to travel to and from their homes. First responders have also not been able to reach residents in emergencies due to road conditions in recent years, causing major safety risks for people who live along these roads.

I emphasize this is more than just a headache for these residents, it is a real safety issue. I have seen roads firsthand after storms, and there is no way fire trucks and ambulances can access these roads in their current condition, and I believe it is completely unacceptable.

I have been advocating on behalf of the Uwharrie National Forest since my first term in Congress, and I will continue to engage with local, State, and Federal stakeholders on this issue.

I appreciate Chairman Calvert's attention to this issue and his support for

the Capital Improvement and Maintenance program. I look forward to working together with the chairman to find a long-term solution to this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Eric Sossoman for his 28 years of service with the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Department in North Carolina's Eighth Congressional District.

Growing up in Cabarrus County, Sergeant Sossoman always had a profound sense of duty to his hometown. In 1989, he began his career at the Sheriff's Department, starting in communications the very day Hurricane Hugo ripped through our state. Since then, Sergeant Sossoman has held many positions with the Sheriff's Department, including the Civil Division where he became the Department's first Social Services officer, the Crime Prevention Division, Recruitment and Retention Division and as a member of the SWAT team.

Throughout his career, Sergeant Sossoman has exhibited unwavering commitment to our community and we are fortunate to have had him as a leader for all these years. Some of the many notable accomplishments during his career include bringing back the Crime Stoppers program, which was so successful that he was named the President of the North Carolina Association of Crime Stoppers, and coordinating the county's annual Law Day, which honors fallen officers from Cabarrus County, the state and nationwide.

It is my hope that Sergeant Sossoman will enjoy his retirement and remain a role model for all those he helped over the years.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the career of Sergeant Eric Sossoman for his service to our community. We all wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marjorie ``Margie'' Benbow on her recent appointment to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and the North Carolina Community College Board of Trustees.

I've known Margie for many years, and believe she will make an excellent addition to these boards. Educated in North Carolina, Ms. Benbow graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and went on to receive both her Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from Wake Forest University. Since finishing school, she has applied her education to community service and helping those who need it most.

Over the years, Ms. Benbow has dedicated her life to furthering the state of North Carolina. Currently practicing law at Moretz & Skufca, Ms. Benbow focuses on technology transfer, licensing, corporate matters and distillery & brewery law while simultaneously serving on the Rowan- Cabarrus College Board of Trustees. Prior to her legal work, she served as Science and Technology Officer for the state's fourth-largest hospital system and as the Executive Director for the region's North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Ms. Benbow has served in nearly every leadership role imaginable. She served on the boards of the NC School of Science and Math, NC Sustainable Energy Association, Charlotte Ventureprise, NC Motorsports Foundation, Institute of Political Leadership, Charlotte Area Science Network and Leadership North Carolina.

Ms. Benbow is an excellent nomination to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Her dedication to North Carolina earned her a spot as one of Charlotte's 50 Most Influential Women and one of Charlotte USA's 20 Most Dynamic Women. I am extremely grateful for Ms. Benbow's service to our community and I wish her continued success.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in congratulating Marjorie Benbow on her appointment to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and the North Carolina Community College Board of Trustees.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tad Davis for his years of service to our community upon his appointment as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment at the Department of Defense.

Mr. Davis has admirably and faithfully served citizens across North Carolina's 8th Congressional District for decades. I had the privilege of working hand-in-hand with Mr. Davis when he was Garrison Commander of Fort Bragg, the epicenter of the universe and the nation's largest military installation. During those years, he was a fantastic steward of Fort Bragg's resources and helped lead the charge for much-needed modernization and expansion at the base.

Over the last two years, Mr. Davis has served as the Town Manager of the town of Spring Lake, North Carolina. During his tenure, Mr. Davis assisted the Board of Alderman and Mayor Chris Rey in reestablishing sound financial management procedures, led the Town's preparation for and response to several natural disasters, most notably Hurricane Matthew, and worked closely with a multitude of state and local organizations, local businesses, Fort Bragg/Pope Army Air Field, non- profits, churches and the citizens of Spring, Lake to make the town truly a great place to live, work, play and worship.

Tad is also known as a pillar of the community. Despite the long hours he put in as Town Manager, he was still heavily engaged with a host of local community organizations, including the Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation Board of Directors; the Regional Land Use Advisory Commission Board of Directors, the Sustainable Sandhills Board of Directors, FAMPO, the Cape Fear Regional Theater, the Fayetteville Symphony, the Sandhills Family Heritage Association, the Arts Council, Cumberland County Schools, the Sons of the American Revolution, AUSA, MOAA, and American Legion Post 230.

Tad Davis has amassed an outstanding military and professional career serving people without seeking personal acclaim or recognition--I think it's only fitting that we honor Mr. Davis from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. Tad's leadership will be missed in Cumberland County and the 8th District, but our country will benefit from his new role at the Pentagon under Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the nomination of Tad Davis for his years of service to Spring Lake and our community, and his appointment to the Pentagon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the airborne forces as they celebrate National Airborne Day.

El Paso, Texas--on August 16, 1940, the Army conducted their first test platoon jump. The idea of dropping paratroopers in combat zones behind enemy lines was first conceived by Brigadier General William Mitchell. With his guidance and leadership the first combat jump was conducted by members of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1942 during WWII in North Africa. Since this successful drop, our airborne forces have become a critical component of our military.

Our airborne forces have dropped into the most intense combat the world has ever seen. Some of their most notable engagements have been the D-Day invasion at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, the invasion of Southern France. Without the invention of the airborne, our armed forces would have been at a disadvantage during many of our major conflicts.

The 82nd Airborne Division is headquartered right here in North Carolina at Fort Bragg. The Division was incorporated in the National Army on August 5, 1917, to support the entry of the United States into World War I. The 82nd Airborne Division was nicknamed the ``All American Division'' as a result of the spirit and diverse group of soldiers from all across the United States. The 82nd Airborne was the first division to be designated as an Airborne Division.

Part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division is the Nation's Global Response Force and can mobilize, load, and land anywhere in the world in less than 36 hours to perform combat operations, assist United States allies, and provide humanitarian aid. The 82nd Airborne has participated in nearly every major United States conflict around the world since its inception. Some of the most notable engagements have been the Battle of Lorraine in World War I, Operation Overlord in Normandy, France in World War II, responding to the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War, liberating Kuwait as one of the first units to engage in Operation Desert Storm, and supporting relief efforts after the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

The continued success of our airborne forces has allowed the United States to become the global fighting force it is today. Our men and women in uniform represent the best our nation has to offer and I am proud to represent a district that has a strong military presence and is home to some of the bravest patriots in the country.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the soldiers of our airborne forces for their service and commitment to protecting the United States.