Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 337.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this issue.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 50, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act.

One of the laws of physics states: For every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The same thing happens in our economy.

Well, I can confidently say that, for every action made in Washington, D.C.'s bloated bureaucracy, there is going to be an unfunded mandate for private businesses and State, local, and Tribal businesses to grapple with.

In 1995, Congress passed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act to help stop the burden of these costly Federal unfunded mandates. However, over the last 23 years, many unfunded mandates have slipped through the cracks due to loopholes or failed analyses, costing taxpayers more of their hard-earned money.

As a small-business owner for more than 40 years, I am a strong advocate for scrutinizing every tax dollar spent and holding agencies accountable.

As Dr. Foxx mentioned of her travels in her district and my travels in my district, for the last 500 days since this administration and this President took office, it is like somebody flipped on the light switch. More jobs are being created; wages are rising; and the economy is growing.

Jobs are being created. There are more jobs available today than there are people seeking jobs.

H.R. 50 does this. It closes loopholes in the current law, strengthens analysis requirements to identify harmful Federal mandates, and requires detailed assessments of authorized funding levels.

Mr. Chair, I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 50 today.

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

Mr. Chair, first I would like to thank Chairwoman Granger for her leadership and hard work on this critical legislation.

Voting for the annual Department of Defense Appropriations Act is one of the most important votes I take each year, and the great bipartisan work that the chairwoman and the ranking member have done to ensure that our military is fully funded is truly commendable.

I rise today to talk about the Allen-Raskin amendment to H.R. 6157. This bipartisan amendment allocates $10 million to the defense POW/ Missing Persons Accounting Agency to assist in identifying unclaimed remains missing since the Korean conflict.

As of today, there are almost 7,700 total personnel missing and unaccounted for since the Korean conflict.

One of those still unaccounted for is Private First Class Ivan Roberts, a proud native of Georgia's 12th Congressional District.

On November 5, 1951, Private First Class Roberts and three other men from Alpha Company 5th Calvary Regiment went missing during an attack to secure a Korean hill complex.

Although I never had the opportunity to meet Private First Class Roberts, I was able to meet his family and loved ones at a recent memorial ceremony in his honor, and I know that he was a beloved hero and patriot whose family wants peace and closure.

As you may know, in the recent historic summit between President Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un, President Trump asked North Korea to return the remains of U.S. servicemembers lost in the Korean war, and Kim Jong-un agreed.

There are currently over 200 missing servicemembers in the process of being returned to the United States.

My colleague and I want to ensure that the defense POW/Missing Persons Accounting Agency has the resources it needs to identify the remains and carry out this important mission so

that families can finally find an eternal resting place for their loved ones.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Maryland, Congressman Jamie Raskin, for joining me in introducing this important amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues in the House to support the Allen-Raskin amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, again, I would like to thank the chairwoman and ranking member for their work on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act and for approving an additional $10 million above the President's budget request to adequately fund this important mission. It is important to note that this amendment is offset by reducing other accounts.

Mr. Chair, I urge passage of the Allen-Raskin amendment to ensure that the Defense POW/Missing Persons Accounting Agency has the resources it needs to identify remains since the Korean conflict.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Walden and the entire Energy and Commerce Committee for their work on this important legislation. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act is yet another bipartisan effort aimed at preventing further opioid abuse and assisting those currently dealing with this addiction.

This legislation will strengthen our efforts to advance treatment and recovery initiatives, improve prevention, protect our communities, and bolster the fight against deadly illicit drugs.

We have made meaningful progress in our fight against the opioid epidemic throughout the country by passing more than 50 bills in the House, but our work is far from over.

No community is immune from this crisis. In 2016 alone, more than 1,300 Georgians lost their lives to opioid abuse. Many of them in my community, my closest friends, have had to deal with this.

Our Senate colleagues should take note of this important work that we have done here in the House over the past 2 weeks to combat the opioid crisis, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6.

Mr. Speaker, in America today, in every State, in too many families, there is a profound sense of pain, loss, and suffering caused by the horrendous opioid crisis.

Unfortunately, my home State of Georgia is not immune to this growing epidemic. Many of my closest friends have lost family members or children, and the question is always: Why? How can this happen?

From 1999 to 2014, prescription opioid deaths increased tenfold in Georgia. We saw over 500 deaths in 2015 as a result of opioid abuse.

Over the next few weeks, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives are bringing opioid addiction out of the shadows and voting on over 50 pieces of legislation to prevent further opioid abuse and assist those currently dealing with addiction. We must take proactive steps to fight opioid addiction and focus on treating the mind, the body, and, most important in my view, the spirit.

The road to recovery may be long and hard-fought, but the American will is as strong as ever and shall prevail. We are at war with drugs, and we must defeat this enemy.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting the nearly 40 opioid-related bills before this House this week. America needs us.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support of this important bill that I am providing here to the House today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a great gentleman, one who fought for his community and who is so deserving to have the Statesboro VA clinic named after him, as was stated, Sergeant Major Ray Hendrix.

For those of you who are not aware of the life and legacy of Ray Hendrix, I would like to take some time here today to recognize the impact he had on so many lives in the State of Georgia and nationwide.

Ray Hendrix spent his entire life serving this great country. After 42 years of putting his life on the line in the U.S. Army, where he fought in the Korean war, his service was long from over.

As an active member of the American Legion, Ray continued to find ways to help his country and community, serving in several leadership posts at local, State, and national levels.

While working with the American Legion, Ray handed out wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and flags to public schools in his community. He also organized an efficient bus system in Augusta and Dublin, both located in Georgia's 12th District, that would transport veterans to the Charlie Norwood VA and Carl Vinson VA to receive needed treatment.

Continuing his work, Ray saw a need for a VA clinic right in his hometown of Statesboro. He worked diligently to collect 5,000 signatures from folks in his community to demonstrate the need for a VA clinic close to home.

Ray then took his actions a step further by advocating for this cause to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs right here in Washington, D.C. He was also appointed to the Veterans Service Board by three consecutive Georgia Governors: Governor Roy Barnes in 2001, Governor Sonny Perdue in 2008, and Governor Nathan Deal in 2015. He served three terms as the board chairman and is survived by his wife, Mary, three children, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

As a veteran, public servant, and Bulloch County native for over 75 years, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting the effort to rename the VA clinic in Statesboro, Georgia, after a man who is truly deserving.

With the support of Georgia Senators and Representatives, as well as the Georgia Southern Student Veterans Association, and many others, I cannot think of a better or more worthy man to have his service to our Nation and his community honored at the top of the VA clinic in Statesboro, Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing my bill, H.R. 3946, to rename the Statesboro VA the Ray Hendrix Veterans Clinic.

General Leave

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.

I have the great honor of representing Georgia's 12th District where agriculture is the number one industry. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, my colleagues and I have worked diligently to craft a farm bill that works for our farmers and provides them the ability to provide a safe, secure, and economic food supply to this Nation.

H.R. 2 improves the current farm safety net structure and offers farmers the choice between PLC and ARC for each covered commodity under title I to combat the downturn in the farm economy. It also makes strides in getting Americans back to work by helping those on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.

I am the son of a farmer. I spent 35 years in the business community creating jobs. The greatest joy of my life is to give folks the dignity and respect they deserve to have a good job.

How could we deny folks this opportunity?

This bill gives them that opportunity.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' for this important bill. Our farmers and our people need us.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her work in organizing this Special Order this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of workforce development in America.

Over the past 1\1/2\ years, this Congress has been working diligently to turn this economy around and get Americans across the country back to work.

After passing the most comprehensive tax overhaul in 30 years and rolling back Obama-era rules and regulations, our economy is beginning to thrive, and the need for a developed and established workforce is more crucial right now than ever before.

The simple fact is our workforce is aging and there are not enough people who currently have the skills to take the positions of retirees nor the thousands of private sector jobs being created every day in this new economy. And with over 6 million jobs available in this country as we speak, we have to ensure that our young people today are equipped for the job market of tomorrow.

In fact, I enjoy meeting with young people and talking about this era in which, when they are educated, they have the greatest opportunity of any generation that I am aware of to find a job in an upward economy in just about every field that they desire.

As someone who has worked in the construction industry for my entire career, I know firsthand how difficult it is to find skilled workers. And as a member of House Education and the Workforce Committee, this is why I was proud of supporting the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act and the PROSPER Act, both pieces of legislation that bridge the gap between the business community and our education efforts.

Make no mistake, getting an education is essential, but it is equally important that our education efforts are aligned with the in-demand jobs in our communities.

In order to cultivate a qualified workforce for the future, our education and business communities must work together so our kids and grandkids have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As I said, I believe that opportunity is the best today that it has ever been.

Back home in Georgia's 12th District, I have visited small business after small business. And one question I always ask is: What is your biggest challenge? And the answer to that question almost every single time is: Workers.

As a business owner, the greatest joy in my life was creating jobs. I look back, and I look at the buildings we built in the construction industry, and we got pretty good at it. But I will tell you, the one thing, when I look back, and the greatest joy that I had in life, was giving folks a good job, allowing them the dignity and respect that they deserve, to empower them to fulfill their God-given right to provide for their families, to provide for their communities, and yes, provide for this Nation; an opportunity I believe should be available to all Americans.

One of the top factors in where a business decides to locate is based on workforce, and with Georgia being named as the number one State to locate your business for the past 5 years in a row, our workforce needs in Georgia are growing each and every day.

I will continue to work with my colleagues in this body on the House Education and the Workforce Committee to ensure that we have an available workforce equipped with the skills necessary to jump directly into that workforce.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Chairwoman Foxx for her leadership work here and her work here this evening in bringing attention to this critical matter.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I understand the importance of enacting critical reforms to our nuclear waste management strategy, reforms that are long overdue.

Mr. Chairman, I have the great honor of representing Georgia's 12th Congressional District, which is home to every nuclear reactor in our State, and we are leading the way in the new nuclear.

At Plant Vogtle, in my district, there are thousands of spent fuel rods being held in spent fuel pools and dry cask storage containers, and in the next few years we are going to double the number of nuclear reactors online at Vogtle.

H.R. 3053 would help pave the way to quickly establish a permanent geological repository to dispose of the waste that currently sits in 121 communities across America, including those in Georgia-12. This process has gone on far too long, and now it is time for Congress to act and pass this commonsense legislation.

I want to thank Subcommittee Chair Shimkus for his work and diligence on this matter, and I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting ``yes'' for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Carter for putting together this Special Order to honor someone who probably everybody in Georgia has been touched by in some way or another.

Of course, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of what we all consider a true legend in the State of Georgia, former Governor Zell Miller. He was known for his quick wit, and he had a deep love for the State of Georgia and, of course, obviously from the mountain area in north Georgia. He was always willing to do what was right for our State, the State that we all love to call home.

Zell Miller's service to our country began at a young age and, as was mentioned, he served in the United States Marine Corps, where he later attained the rank of Sergeant.

Upon returning home from his military service, Zell received degrees, as has been said, in history from the University of Georgia, and would eventually use that education to teach college at his hometown in Young Harris, Georgia. I did not know that he was the baseball coach, but I was glad to learn that.

After only a few years of teaching, Zell was called to run for public office, as was said, as Mayor, State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, and later Governor, then U.S. Senator. It is hard to imagine who has had a greater impact on the lives of Georgians.

Zell was one of those true conservatives. As Governor, Zell Miller will be remembered for his great accomplishments, as we mentioned, of the HOPE Scholarship program, and funding it with the Georgia Lottery, which has surpassed $10 billion in total financial aid assistance to Georgia students. Let me repeat that: $10 billion in total financial aid assistance to Georgia students.

Because of the HOPE Scholarship, Georgia higher education is now a national leader in entry requirements and graduation rates.

A quick story about the University of Georgia. On visiting that campus, we learned--and this was when we were doing our higher education bill, and we were told that graduation rates were 55 to 60 percent across the country. Well, in visiting the University of Georgia now, that has been under the HOPE Scholarship since Governor Miller served his term, we learned that the entry requirement, Buddy, was 1,300 on the SAT, and you had to be at the top of your class to get into the University of Georgia. And the student body is 80 percent of Georgians. They only accept 20 percent from out of State, so you can imagine how much more difficult it is to get into the University of Georgia out of State.

But the amazing statistic is that the graduation rate is 95 percent; and those students either get a job upon graduation, or go on to higher education; an amazing accomplishment for the University of Georgia, and largely because of the opportunities presented to Georgians through the HOPE Scholarship.

Because of the HOPE Scholarship, like I said, Georgia is now a national leader in education. Zell Miller will always be known as the ``Education Governor,'' and he helped build a foundation that, of course, our State enjoys today.

During his tenure, he also played a pivotal role in bringing the Children's Medical Center to the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. We have a special attachment, our family does, as many families across the State of Georgia do, to the Medical College of Georgia.

Our 12th grandchild was born 8 weeks premature. Her first year of life she spent in that Medical Center, off and on, to deal with being born premature. Our family, among many families in the State of Georgia, thank Zell Miller for his foresight in bringing the Children's Medical Center of Georgia to the 12th District. It means so much to the health and welfare of families in that area.

Zell Miller established Georgia as a State to watch, and his hard work paid off. Georgia has been named, for 5 years running, as the number one State to do business. You don't attain that rating unless you have one of the top education systems in the country.

Zell Miller was the Governor who gave Georgia hope. He will be dearly missed, and his legacy will live on forever. I am one person that is glad that I knew him, and I thank him for what he has done for my family and for fellow Georgians.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.J. Res. 2, the balanced budget amendment.

As a businessowner for over 40 years, I am well aware of what it takes to balance a budget, make a payroll, and operate within my means--a practice that Washington abandoned long ago, and everyone in this Chamber is responsible for it.

You know, in business, I had tools like a balance sheet, like an income statement, like a cash flow analysis, and a business plan to make decisions on how to spend money and generate revenues. I have never seen a body that operates in a manner where we vote to spend money and we have none of those tools available to us.

In fact, we can't even run ratios on this Federal Government to know if we should even borrow money. In fact, we don't even know if this government is solvent, other than we know that we can continue to borrow money. And we know, for every quarter of a percent--that happened 2 weeks ago--that we borrow, it creates another $50 billion in mandatory spending. That is what I do know. Let me tell you something else that I know.

I have been out in the district the last 2 weeks, and I have never seen optimism like I have seen since I have been in office, and I have been in office for a very short time. This administration and this Congress' efforts to reduce regulation and tax reform has created tremendous expansion and opportunity, particularly for our small business community. It is growing the economy. We see the effects of it. It is growing jobs and giving Americans the opportunities they deserve.

We know that for every percent this economy grows, it adds $2 trillion to revenues over 10 years. Yes, we have a spending problem, but don't we want to grow revenues? There are two parts of the balance sheet here.

Mr. Speaker, I have never been part of a body where you spend the money first and then you have to vote to increase the debt after you spent the money. You know, there may be a reason for that in that I don't know that anybody would vote to increase the debt if you did it before you spent the money. You don't do that in business. You know, who has ever heard, in business, of spending the money first, and then going to the bank to borrow the money? It will not happen, and it should not happen here.

The legislation we are voting on today is simple. It requires Congress--and we need this discipline--to not spend more than it receives in revenue. Facing over $20 trillion in debt in this country, Congress must make a change to address Washington's out-of-control spending habits. This legislation is long past due, and I am proud to vote to finally hold Washington to the same standards that we hold the American people to.

It is common sense to balance our budgets. I would like to thank the House Judiciary Committee for all their hard work in getting this legislation to the House floor, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, last week, in Augusta, Georgia, we celebrated a tradition that is truly unlike any other. The first full week of April is always one filled with excitement and stellar competition as we watch the most talented golfers in the world take on the famed Augusta National Golf Course.

For 1 week each year, the world gets a glimpse into Georgia 12 and the wonderful people who live and work there, the district I have the great honor of representing. From the world famous azaleas to the delicious pimento cheese sandwiches, the tradition that encompasses the Masters is truly something special.

We also heard a historic announcement from Chairman Fred Ridley that the final round of a new competition, the Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament, will be played at the Augusta National, furthering the Masters tradition and the future of golf.

I would like to congratulate Chairman Ridley for his leadership in making this important decision. I would also like to congratulate this year's Masters champion and Augusta University graduate, Patrick Reed, for his outstanding performance under the greatest pressure experienced in any competition: the back nine at Augusta.

It is my great privilege to welcome people from around the globe to the world's greatest sporting event as we count down the days until Masters 2019.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5247, the Right to Try Act, and I thank Dr. Burgess and the Energy and Commerce Committee for bringing this important legislation to the floor of this House.

In certain States across our Nation, patients who are diagnosed as terminally ill are being told by doctors that all of the treatment options have been exhausted because they do not have access to experimental drugs. This type of overregulation by the Federal Government is creating hopeless situations for thousands of Americans whom we hold dearest to our hearts.

This right-to-try legislation allows terminal patients to have a choice on whether or not an experimental approach is the path for them, as sometimes, and many times, this is their only option.

Should this bill become Federal law, our terminally ill patients will have increased access, nationwide, to unapproved drugs, leading to more scientific breakthroughs that will benefit all Americans and, in lots of cases, will save a life.

Now is the time for Congress to take action and give terminally ill patients a fighting chance for their God-given right to life. How in God's name can this Congress deny an American the right to life?

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me today in supporting this bill on this floor.

Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman for doing this tonight and for giving me the opportunity just to give you some news from the other side of the State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the significant impact that comprehensive tax reform has had on Georgia's 12th District.

As a businessman, I bring a different perspective to the Halls of Congress. During my tenure in Congress, I have been focused on three goals: grow the economy, get folks back to work, and reduce the size and scope of the Federal Government.

Like me, President Trump is a businessman; and under his leadership, we are getting our economy back on track. Nothing can compare to the effect that tax reform is having on jump-starting our economy and expanding small businesses and creating jobs.

Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to meet with several small businesses as I have traveled across Georgia 12 to discuss how tax reform is making real changes for them and their employees.

I would like to share the story of Georgia Tire Company, a 72-year- old business located in Vidalia, Georgia.

In 1946, two brothers, after World War II, decided to buy a small gas station.

One of their sons, Rusty, began working alongside his father and uncle during the summer of 1965, and then began working full time at the family business in 1972, with a third generation of workers not far behind. Now they are known as a reputable business selling tires across the district and providing automotive repairs in Toombs County.

The Moses family has built their business through hard work; treating customers fairly; a little bit of luck; and, most importantly, through their employees, who are treated like part of their family.

When I had the opportunity to speak with Rusty Moses about the success of his family business, he told me that his employees are hardworking, honest, law-abiding people, but high taxes and complex laws continued to stifle their income. Mr. Moses promised his employees that if the tax laws were changed, they would share in the business tax savings through performance bonuses and salary increases. Thanks to tax reform, this promise has become a reality.

Georgia Tire Company has seen an increase in take-home pay, and it plans to issue employee bonuses at the end of this fiscal year.

There are so many family businesses like Georgia Tire Company that are truly the lifeblood of our communities. Before tax reform, these businesses were struggling to make ends meet and unable to provide their employees with well-earned benefits.

Don't just take my word for it. There are more than 4 million Americans who have already seen the positive impacts of tax reform, just like at this tire company.

With Congress and the President working hand-in-hand, we have made great strides. I can't tell you how happy I am to see our local businesses thriving in the new American economy, growing this economy, and giving all Americans the opportunity to have a good job.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my fellow colleagues and President Trump for their support of comprehensive tax reform for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Right to Try Act.

When those we hold dearest are diagnosed as terminally ill, the last thing we want to hear is that all treatment options have been exhausted. This is why I have been a longtime supporter of the Right to Try Act. Currently, 38 States have already passed right-to-try legislation to assist vulnerable patients, including my home State of Georgia.

By allowing terminally ill patients the access to unapproved drugs and therapies, we are giving them a fighting chance for their God-given right to life. Although these drugs cannot guarantee a road to recovery, they can provide a better alternative in many hopeless situations and pave the way for more scientific breakthroughs.

Congress should keep breaking down regulatory barriers. Like the bill's name says, patients have a right to try. All Americans should have the right to choose.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for passing this important legislation out of committee, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill on the House floor.

How in the world could anyone oppose the right to choose life?