Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Police Week. I rise today to honor the brave men and women in blue who sacrifice their safety every day to keep our families and communities safe.

Each day these Americans go to work willing to put their lives on the line for the security of their fellow Americans.

We often hear the remarkable stories of our law enforcement officers. These men and women work long hours and late shifts, often being called into work and called away from their families. These are the people who risk their lives to protect our very neighborhoods, schools, communities, while asking nothing in return.

These professionals exhibit the greatest love of all, and that is to offer their lives to protect another.

I pray for those who have lost their lives, like Sergeant Greg Meagher, a 33-year veteran of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office who lost his life earlier this year in the line of duty. We will never forget his ultimate sacrifice.

Our safety depends on these amazing people, and I am proud to honor them here today.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1108, the Working Families Flexibility Act.

Many Americans can relate to the difficulties of balancing work duties with family obligations. It is not always easy to attend a parent-teacher conference, care for an aging parent, or stay home with a newborn when outdated Federal laws create constant barriers to workplace flexibility.

H.R. 1180 will amend the outdated Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and bring much-needed reform to the workplace. It will give employers the freedom to offer employees a choice between cash wages and comp time for overtime hours worked.

I emphasize this is a voluntary option, which means that employees who want to receive cash wages can continue to do so; and if they choose to accept comp time and change their mind, it allows workers to withdraw and receive cash wages whenever they choose.

By passing this bill, American workers will gain more flexibility in the workplace, allowing them to have more time to spend with the people they love.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that supports our American workers.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, I have the honor of representing the 12th Congressional District of Georgia and the good people who live and work there.

This week, thousands will gather in Augusta to take part in a tradition unlike any other.

Beginning in 1934, the Masters, hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club, has become the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. Known for its lightning-fast greens and gorgeous azaleas, this tournament captivates the world for both the talent of those playing and its beauty. Since its inception, many legends have conquered the greens to prove their skill and earn the coveted green jacket.

This year will be a little somber, as we will deeply miss another of the great legends, four-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer. His presence will certainly be missed on that first tee as an honorary starter and throughout this great week.

I wish the best to all those competing in this truly remarkable event and invite those who are traveling from far and wide to experience and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the 12th Congressional District of Georgia and my home, Augusta.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership on this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1101, the Small Business Health Fairness Act.

Since 2008, the number of small businesses offering health insurance to its employees has dwindled nearly 36 percent. The culprit? Well, ObamaCare.

You know, the American people deserve choice. I have lived this reality. I owned and operated a small business for over 40 years back home in Georgia. I know how ObamaCare premium increases hurt and, in some cases, affect a business' ability to provide health care for its employees.

I believe the greatest gift God gave me as a small-business owner was the ability to give others a good job along with the dignity and respect they deserve to provide for their family, their community, their church, and, yes, this Nation.

All hardworking American small-business owners should be able to give their employees these same opportunities. For this reason, I am a strong supporter of the Small Business Health Fairness Act legislation, which would allow small businesses to band together and purchase health care for workers and their families at a lower cost.

Folks, this is innovation. This is what the small business community does. Small businesses are the backbone of America. I will fight for their strength and their survival.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 176.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the VA Accountability First Act. This legislation provides the VA's Secretary with increased ability to remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee for poor performance or misconduct.

Why it takes legislation to enforce common sense is beyond me. Just like in the business world, the VA and its employees must be held accountable for their actions.

Three weeks ago, I hosted a veterans townhall in Swainsboro, Georgia. Many of the complaints and concerns shared with me were about wait times. One thing no one has enough of is time, especially our veterans. For far too long, veterans have waited for care at their own expense. This is unacceptable.

It is our responsibility to not only take care of, but provide the best possible care to our servicemen and -women. Getting rid of bad and incompetent actors is a great place to start.

I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. It is truly the least we can do for those who have done so much for us.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 130.

Stated against:

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act, or the SCRUB Act.

This legislation establishes a commission to review existing Federal regulations and report to Congress those that should be repealed to reduce unnecessary costs to the economy--kind of like a regulation report card.

Federal rules and regulations have sucked the life out of our small businesses for the last 8 years. Unlike some lawmakers, I have the unique experience of having operated a business under Obama-era rules and regulations. Let me tell you that it was very difficult. Our struggles were not an isolated event. Georgians and Americans across the country bore those same burdens.

We are ready for growth and innovation and an environment that encourages an economy like we have never seen before. The SCRUB Act is a solid step forward in restoring life to the American small-business community.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, waters of the United States, or WOTUS, has been a thorn in the side of Americans, especially our farmers, since its introduction. WOTUS is a rule issued under the Clean Water Act by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers designed to redefine the scope of waters protected and regulated by the Federal Government.

WOTUS would grant the Federal Government regulatory power over virtually any place where water flows in the United States; that includes ditches, puddles, streams, or any manmade constructions, you name it. If enacted, it would undermine the rights of States, local governments and landowners, and create more red tape, preventing economic growth and jobs, particularly in the agriculture industry. If it sounds ridiculous, that is because it is.

WOTUS was flawed from the beginning. It has been held up in the courts since 2015.

To ensure WOTUS never sees the light of day and completely eliminate the potential of it becoming a reality, I introduced legislation to repeal this harmful rule.

I look forward to working with President Trump and my colleagues on this very important issue.

Mr. Speaker, back in 2015, Congress passed one of the most significant education reform legislation in decades. Even more impressive than repealing No Child Left Behind, scaling back the role of the Secretary of Education and restoring authority back to the States and local school districts was the fact that this legislation was bipartisan, bicameral, and signed into law by President Obama.

But even so, this couldn't exempt our States and schools from the watchful eyes of Washington. President Obama's Department of Education unsurprisingly went over the line by expanding his authority, a role that Congress clearly did not allow for in the law.

That is why today I am delighted to see the House pass H.J. Res. 57 because we have to make the Department of Education follow the law as it was intended by Congress. The Every Student Succeeds Act was written to stop Federal micromanagement of our schools, and Congress is ensuring that that happens. For the last time, Washington bureaucrats do not belong in the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Augusta community mourned the loss of a legend in the business community--Dessey Landrum Kuhlke.

Dessey was the most caring and selfless leader I had ever known. As a longtime resident of the area, Dessey graduated from Georgia Southern University and served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1965.

I was fortunate enough to work for him and with him during my 35-year career in construction and the development industry. I had the opportunity to serve alongside him in the Augusta Exchange Club and sit in front of him on Sundays at Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church.

Dessey was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, and a mentor to many in our community. He and his wife, Barbara, lost two of their children at a young age, and Dessey was the rock that held that family together.

Mr. Speaker, I have recently lost two of my heroes: Arnold Palmer in September and Dessey Kuhlke last week. But through the loss, I can't help but smile when I think about the possibility of those two getting together with family in Heaven and playing a round of golf. Augusta is a better place because of Dessey Kuhlke. We will remember him often.

Madam Speaker, for the last 8 years, Americans have felt the burden of excessive and intense regulatory overreach having to comply with time-consuming rules and regulations. But that ends now. For the first time in 8 years, the legislative branch and the executive branch are on the same page. We must get the government out of the way.

Last week, I joined my colleagues on the One In, One Out Act, which requires Federal agencies to repeal or revise a rule before they can issue a new one, and any new rule must be of equal or lesser cost to Americans.

And in true Trump fashion this week, the President announced his own version, the one in, two out executive order.

These measures are commonsense at their core. To begin growing our economy and creating jobs, we have got to reduce the size and scope of the Federal Government and tackle the mountain of red tape surrounding our Nation's job creators. Americans are ready for growth and innovation, and, for the first time in a long time, the President is on our side.

Mr. Speaker, at the heart of our American values is the belief that each of us, no matter our circumstance, can pursue our own success through hard work. That is how a small town boy like me wound up a businessman in Augusta and now a Member of Congress.

The value of education cannot be underestimated on the path to achieve the American Dream. That is why I proudly support school choice.

Support for school choice is growing. Evidence shows that 70 percent of Americans are in favor.

A great success story is in Dublin, Georgia, located in my district. Parents can choose an elementary school with learning tracks based on a student's individual needs and interest. And those tracks continue through their childhood education.

I am very proud to say that Dublin High School has a 96.3 percent graduation rate.

God created every child to be unique, each with special gifts and ideas that only he or she may have.

Families should have the opportunity to select a K-12 education and environment that is best suited for their children.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud Governor Deal's plan to begin construction on the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Georgia.

Cyber is the new frontier in warfare. In order to field the threats of today and tomorrow, a 21st century military is essential. Our community back home in Georgia is proving to be a major influencer and champion in the cyber arena. With the U.S. Army Cyber Command's transition to Fort Gordon, numerous tech companies and jobs investing in our area, the creation of local cyber institutes substitutes, and now the establishment of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, Georgia's 12th District has the potential to become the security, technology, and innovation hub of the southeast.

Because of the work that will be done here, we will be leading the charge in creating the cyber workforce and leading our Nation. The battlefields don't look like they used to. We have got to adapt fast. I am thankful to Governor Deal for his efforts to not only create jobs, but to strengthen our national security and invest in our community.

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