Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 129.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Antioch Baptist Church in Robeson County, North Carolina.

This year, Antioch Baptist celebrates their 200th anniversary. What an incredible testimony of faithfully spreading God's Word and ministering to the community.

In 1817, the church was founded in the swamps of Robeson County as Burnt Island Baptist, with meetings under a brush arbor on the same spot where the church meets today.

In 1842, the church was renamed Antioch, after the city from which the Apostle Paul launched his three missionary journeys. The name was chosen to signify the church's commitment to missions.

More recently, Antioch Baptist took on the mission of providing a solid education alternative for the people of Robeson County by opening Antioch Christian Academy.

Later this year, I look forward to joining Pastor Mark Meadows and the congregation of Antioch Baptist Church to celebrate their 200th anniversary.

God bless them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of The Robesonian newspaper in Lumberton, North Carolina, and their exceptional public service during the massive floods caused by Hurricane Matthew.

Last October, Lumberton was inundated with rain. The water treatment plant was under 4 feet of water; Interstate 95 was shut down; hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed. The devastation, which I witnessed firsthand, was unbelievable. The Robesonian's own offices were destroyed, and much of the staff suffered personal loss, slept in offices, went without showers; yet the newspaper continued to share vital information online and via social media.

Mr. Speaker, during this emergency, The Robesonian's website and social media were the only way many residents of Robeson County could access updated information on shelters and water distribution.

Thank you to the dedicated staff of The Robesonian for putting the community first and serving with distinction during the Hurricane Matthew floods.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Ruth Samuelson, a long-time leader in the North Carolina House of Representatives and a former member of the Mecklenburg County Commission. Ruth is now in Heaven following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

Ruth infused her faith in God in all aspects of her family, political, personal, and civic life. Because of her vibrant faith and commitment to focusing on what truly matters, Ruth was known as a thoughtful mediator throughout her tenure in the North Carolina House, someone who approached tense, partisan issues with grace, yet never backed away from her convictions.

In 2013, Ruth was in line for a top leadership role, but instead, she walked away, choosing instead to focus on her passions for family, faith, and philanthropy. Ruth's last public statement was: ``I want people to know that God is my good friend.''

May the Lord bring comfort to her husband, Ken; to her children, Bobby, David, Joy, and Alex; her four grandchildren; and the countless lives that she touched.

Madam Speaker, just a few weeks ago, my family was blessed with the arrival of a beautiful baby girl, our 10th grandchild. If you have ever held a newborn, so defenseless and completely dependent on you, you will understand why the idea that some people advocate for the murder of little babies is unconscionable.

Since 1975, the Hyde amendment has saved an estimated 2 million innocent babies by prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions. Unfortunately, ObamaCare ignores the Hyde amendment and uses your tax dollars as subsidies for insurance policies which offer abortion services.

Therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which will make the Hyde amendment governmentwide policy and ensure future government programs don't support abortion with your tax dollars.

God tells us that He knew us in our mother's womb. His gift of life is precious, unalienable, and must be protected.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:

WHEREAS, pollution and contamination prevention are at the heart of national government policy and at all levels of government in communities, businesses and public awareness; and

WHEREAS, filtration, separation and coalescing processes have been developed to meet the changing needs of all concerned parties for a cleaner and healthier environment; and

WHEREAS, the need for a healthier environment is inherent to enrich and shape our way of life and address issues across a broad spectrum of issues in everyday life; and

WHEREAS, the filtration, separations and coalescing industry consists of highly trained and skilled tech-savvy practitioners and professionals who constantly provide solutions to the industry's most critical un-met needs; and

WHEREAS, the industry offers training programs for industry R&D, product development and engineering personnel, it equally seeks to inform and provide insight, access and in-depth training to end-users seeking an improved environment and quality control to satisfy their needs; and

WHEREAS, liquid, air and coalescing industry workers, companies and supporters across America are celebrating National Filtration Week,

Now, I encourage all suppliers and users of filtration, separation and coalescing technologies in the power generation industry to take advantage of opportunities these technologies offer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Harold Eatman of Matthews, North Carolina, who is a 99-year-young brave patriot who volunteered for the 82nd Airborne at the start of World War II because he wanted a tough assignment.

Mr. Eatman is one of the few paratroopers to make all four World War II jumps--into Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Normandy. For his bravery in helping to liberate France from Nazi brutality, the French Government on Tuesday awarded Mr. Eatman the prestigious Legion of Honor medal, an award created by Napoleon.

Mr. Eatman's dedication extends beyond the battlefield. Following his discharge after World War II, he volunteered for another year's Active Duty to help escort the bodies of fallen soldiers as they were returned home.

Please join me in thanking Harold Eatman for his bravery and sacrifice in fighting for freedom--an exemplary example of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 596 to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: If this ObamaCare is so good, then why am I hearing so much from my constituents that they can't keep the insurance plans that they liked?

Many have seen their premiums skyrocket, and too many that need help have fallen through the cracks because of a flawed system where ObamaCare picks winners and losers at the expense of the American taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, today's vote on repeal is an important first step. We will replace ObamaCare with patient-centered reforms, increasing competition and lowering costs by allowing insurance to be sold across State lines, ensuring portability, and safeguarding individuals with preexisting conditions, all by providing freedom of choice, not more fines and taxes.

Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare is a train wreck. I urge my colleagues to support today's repeal and join me in working toward a commonsense replacement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Judge Poe for his great leadership in this very important area. It is so encouraging to see the bipartisan commitment. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Maloney, for your strong support.

When I came to Congress, it was my perception that human trafficking was a concern found in other parts of the world, certainly not in North Carolina. After talking to our law enforcement, I found out that North Carolina was within the top 10 States for human trafficking.

As such, I realized that we needed to take care of our own in our own region and hosted a meeting for public officials, church leaders at the Billy Graham Center. We brought in wonderful organizations, Compassion to Act, Justice & Mercy, Neet's Sweets, and others who have been there on behalf of these women.

There are so many important ways that we can provide safety, security, a safe haven for these precious young girls that have been brought into slavery.

Human trafficking is one of the most tragic issues plaguing our world today. Nearly 21 million human beings are living in modern-day slavery, including domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex work. As a nation, we have both a moral and a constitutional obligation to protect the most vulnerable in our society from this horrific exploitation.

I therefore urge all my colleagues today to join in supporting the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 presented by Congressman Poe. We need to ensure that we can provide to these young, domestic human trafficking victims the support that they need.

This week, yes, we in the House will devote ourselves to raising awareness of this heinous crime and passing legislation to take significant steps toward the eradication of trafficking, both domestically and abroad.

However, even as Human Trafficking Awareness Month draws to a close, our dedication must not waver. I thank the chairman for his leadership, and I thank my colleagues for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and respect of the thousands of people who will come to our

city to rally to give support to the life of the unborn. Twenty-five years ago while in London I saw a video that depicted the life, as they described it, of the baby. It wasn't anything less than a baby.

Mr. Speaker, I am a father, and I am a grandfather. I have got nine grandchildren. Every life is precious. Who is to know, Mr. Speaker, that that unborn baby might be the curer for cancer or might be the curer for Alzheimer's? Only God knows.

I thank the leadership for bringing forth this legislation tomorrow. I respect them for doing it. We need to rally in support to show our commitment to the life of the unborn.

I thank the gentleman from Texas, Chairman Carter, for his tremendous leadership, this important legislation, and for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, tonight I am reminded of Thomas Jefferson, who once said: ``Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it.''

Mr. Chairman, we have heard repeatedly from our leader, our President, that he has said he is not king, he is not emperor, and that his powers, as President, are restricted. But his actions speak louder than words. Republicans are committed to holding the President accountable for his overreaching executive actions.

We have achieved remarkable success in this country because we are a Nation governed by the rule of law, not by the decrees of monarchs.

As recent events around the world have tragically reminded us, there are those who are still committed to destroying our way of life.

The Homeland Security Appropriations bill we are debating tonight supports the needs of the brave men and women who protect us each day and meets the requirements to keep us safe.

The amendments accompanying this legislation ensure we continue to be a Nation governed by laws and prevents any funds from being used to implement the President's unconstitutional decrees of amnesty while it prevents further implementation of DACA, which led to the crisis at the border last summer.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to protect our great Nation and supporting the amendments to protect the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership and Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Today, I rise in support of H.R. 37, the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act. We are here, once again, debating simple measures aimed at growing the economy and relieving some of the unnecessary burdens imposed by the Dodd-Frank legislation.

Even Tim Geithner, the former Secretary of the Treasury, stated that the Volcker rule and implications of it being regulated were not material in the demise and harm due to major institutions, rather as a result of extended credit.

This legislation included in this bill is bipartisan, which is why so many of my colleagues already voted in support of it in the 113th Congress and again last week.

This is a jobs bill. The relief we can give to small business today directly impacts their ability to create jobs. For instance, although small companies are at the forefront of technological innovation and job creation, they often face significant obstacles in obtaining capital in the financial markets.

These obstacles are often due to the largest burden that securities regulations, which are typically written for large public companies, place on small companies when they seek to go public.

We need competitive markets that encourage innovation, and we need to a develop regulatory environment that acknowledges the differences between small, private, and start-up companies and well-established public companies.

Section 3:

``This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization, known as TRIA.

I would like to commend Chairman Hensarling and Congressman Neugebauer.

TRIA does not curtail terrorism, but this legislation does protect taxpayers, promotes stable markets, and enhances economic certainty in the face of terrorism.

Another important provision included in this legislation is the bipartisan legislation known as the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act, which the House has passed by 411-12. This is a basic but very important clarification to the highly regulatory Dodd- Frank Act. This reform will ensure that end users, such as manufacturers, ranchers, and small companies, are not subject to the burdensome margin and capital surcharge requirements imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act.

Even the creators of Dodd-Frank have argued in favor of exempting these end users from margin requirements.

Without this essential clarification, small Main Street businesses will have to post additional margins against trades that they enter into for the sole purpose of managing commercial risk.

These transactions do not pose a systemic risk to our financial systems, and they did not cause the 2008 financial crisis. A failure to address this issue will cause serious harm to the Main Street economy.

Instead of investing and expanding their business to create jobs, small business owners are being forced to direct resources to comply with more burdensome and unnecessary regulations coming out of Washington.

This is not a controversial issue. This is a bipartisan provision that 181 Democrats in Congress have already voted for in support. We must not play politics with something as important as TRIA, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5759, the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act, of which I am a cosponsor.

President Obama's decision to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is an unconstitutional abuse of power which flaunts the rule of law and opens the door for an exponential influx of illegal immigrants.

Our Founding Fathers risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor against such acts of a monarch, and neither President Obama nor any future President should trample upon their sacrifice.

H.R. 5759 wisely deals with our current crisis while also blocking future Presidents from this egregious abuse. Every American should be concerned by the President's unconstitutional grab of power. If the President can change this law, what prevents him from this abuse of power in other policies?

I urge all of my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, to join me in supporting and passing this legislation. I also urge the Senate to stand up for the Constitution and swiftly pass this legislation.

This is not the only action the House will take to restrict the overreach of the President, and I am committed to continuing our efforts in the coming weeks and into the next session of Congress.