Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to take a moment to recognize a special group of veterans from Hays County in the 25th District of Texas that will all board an Honor Flight to our Nation's Capital today.

For those who don't know, the purpose of an Honor Flight is to transport American veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their service and their sacrifices.

On this particular flight, we will have 6 World War II veterans, 18 Korean war veterans, and 17 Vietnam war veterans from central Texas. The flight is named in honor of Bill Kolbe, who was a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps.

As the representative of the veterans on this Honor Flight, I would like to take this opportunity to simply say we thank them, and we love them. We thank them for so selflessly serving this great Nation and for being the heroes we so desperately need today.

Being able to serve these warfighters in Congress is one of my greatest honors, and I will continue to do everything I can to support our veterans in Hays County and around the Nation.

God bless our veterans, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I take this time to speak about a piece of legislation on the floor tomorrow, H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018.

This is the third and final bill of the tax reform 2.0 package that Republicans have been working so hard on. As the constituents of Texas' 25th District know, I have been fighting for a commonsense business owners' perspective on tax reform since day one.

Less than a year ago, we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Since then, there are more jobs; Americans are seeing higher wages; and Main Street can finally breathe again.

While all this is great, there has always been the uncertainty of knowing that these cuts would expire in 2025, something I have been fighting to change.

I am happy to report that with tax reform 2.0, tax cuts will be made permanent for families, workers, and small-business owners across this country.

Regrettably, Mr. Speaker, I will be unable to cast my vote in favor for tax reform 2.0 tomorrow. My youngest daughter, Sabrina, is getting married. While I have a duty as a United States Congressman, I first have a duty as a father and would not miss her wedding day for anything in the world. I hope everyone understands my decision back home and here.

This vote is historic, and I am excited to watch this economy flourish to grow because of it.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to take a moment to recognize the Tarleton State University Rodeo Team located in Stephenville, Texas.

Now, if you have never been to a Texas rodeo, I can promise you, it isn't like anything you have ever seen before. There is nothing quite like it and, frankly, there is nothing more Texan.

Day in and day out, the young men and women on the Tarleton State Rodeo Team are dedicated and give 100 percent, no matter what. In fact, this summer, because of their hard work, the men's team finished second at the College National Finals Rodeo.

However, this was not an isolated accomplishment. The Tarleton Rodeo Association has been part of a winning tradition since 1947. They have won seven national championship titles and 27 individual national championships.

Mr. Speaker, because of all of this, the Tarleton State Rodeo Team is the best in Texas and one of the best in the Nation.

I am proud to represent these champions in the 25th Congressional District, and I look forward to watching them continue to dominate the competition.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to take a moment to recognize the Lake Travis Fire Department and the Bee Cave Police Department that are in the great 25th District of Texas.

As we all know, yesterday marked 17 years since our country was attacked on September 11, 2001. We lost thousands of lives when terrorists wreaked havoc on the United States.

While we can never forget the anger and heartbreak we all felt, we must also never forget the heroic actions by our first responders. While people were running down the stairs to escape, men and women were running up 110 flights of stairs toward danger to save lives.

That day, we lost 343 New York firefighters, 37 Port Authority officers, and 23 New York P.D. officers.

While we can never truly thank them for their sacrifice, we can honor them for their courage and valor.

Yesterday, the Lake Travis Fire Department and the Bee Cave Police Department put on full gear and climbed 110 flights of stairs to commemorate those who never made it out while climbing those steps.

Mr. Speaker, our first responders are vital to the safety of Americans, and we must never forget to thank them for all they do. We must continue to pray for all those affected, and thank those who selflessly gave their lives for our Nation.

God bless our first responders, and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men and the third leading cause of cancer death behind lung and colon cancer.

While I am a survivor of this potentially deadly disease, not everyone is so fortunate. In my home state of Texas, an estimated 12,600 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, and an estimated 1,830 deaths will occur in 2018. Nationally, 164,690 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and, tragically, one man every 18 minutes, or roughly 29,430 men will die this year due to the disease.

While 1 in 9 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, certain groups are at higher risk for developing the disease: Men with family history are twice as likely to develop the disease, African Americans are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed in their lives, and Veterans who are exposed to herbicides such as Agent Orange are at an increased risk for developing an aggressive form of the disease.

We can lower these numbers--education regarding early detection strategies is critical to saving lives and preserving and protecting our families. If caught early, prostate cancer has a five-year survival rate of nearly 100 percent. However, for late stage prostate cancer the five year survival rate is 29 percent.

All men are at risk for prostate cancer and I encourage the men of this nation to participate in routine prostate cancer screenings. Your life is too valuable to avoid them.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to take a moment to talk about something very dear and near to my heart.

This year, over 160,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States. That is one man every 3.2 minutes.

Many of my colleagues here today may not know this, but 3 years ago, I was one of those men. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early, and I was able to survive the diagnosis. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say this, this is not the case for roughly 30,000 men every year.

Mr. Speaker, the month of September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and we need to talk about this. It is the most common cancer among American men, and over 12,000 will be diagnosed this year in just Texas alone.

Education and early detection is critical to stopping prostate cancer in its tracks, and, therefore, we need to better educate our fathers, brothers, sons, and friends. All men are at risk, and as a survivor, I encourage the men of Texas District 25 to participate in regular screenings. Together, we can beat prostate cancer.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the famed Bluebonnet Belle C-47 Skytrain in Burnet, Texas, that I represent.

The Bluebonnet Belle was designed and built in 1944. It flew more than 75 missions during World War II to carry cargo, passengers, and evacuate casualties.

The Highland Lakes Squadron Commemorative Air Force purchased the Belle in 2002 where it then made its way to Burnet, Texas, and has called the Lone Star State home ever since.

As recently as last year, this aircraft was used to transport food and supplies to the good people of Texas who suffered from Hurricane Harvey. It logged 13.6 flight hours going back and forth, which is incredible for a plane of this age.

Unfortunately, on Saturday, June 21, as the plane headed for the Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin, it crashed upon takeoff before catching fire and eventually exploding.

By the grace of God, all 13 crew members and passengers aboard the aircraft survived and are now in good spirits and safe.

I am thankful for the first responders who tended the aircrew and to those who helped contain the fire. I am sad to say that the Bluebonnet Belle will not be able to be restored. It is a huge loss for Burnet and for Texas 25. We will always remember this plane and all it accomplished across the United States and the world. It was a treasure that cannot be replaced.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018, which is comprised of 32 pieces of legislation that have passed the committee or the House this Congress with wide bipartisan support.

As a small business owner, I know how suffocating Big Government can be for the little guy. The fact is small businesses makes up 90 percent of American companies and employ almost half of our workforce. We need to fight for them.

In order for the United States to compete with the global market, we must continue to sustain long-term economic growth, and that starts with the passage of the JOBS and Investors Confidence Act of 2018.

I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of this bipartisan legislation, and I am looking forward to the Senate passing this package quickly. Quite simply, business is good.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the selfless work that the Austin Habitat for Humanity is doing in the 25th District of Texas that I proudly represent.

Over the past 30 years, they have built more than 425 homes, repaired another 280, and provided financial advice to over 10,000 Texans. Just last month, I had the opportunity to visit this organization and meet with the great folks who operate it. The work they do here is so important, and I was inspired by their spirits and selfless attitudes.

Hearing about the remarkable work they do day in and day out was extraordinary. They put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes and communities and to give hope to those who need it the most.

Those who work and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity are superb people. They are compassionate and kind, and, frankly, we need more Americans just like them.

Every single person deserves a decent and affordable place to live, and this organization is there to help those who are less fortunate. I encourage each and every person listening to get out there and do something for your local community. Together, we can really make this world a better place.

With that being said, God bless Texas, God bless Habitat for Humanity, and God bless the United States of America.

``In God We Trust.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to reflect on the past 6 months in this country.

On December 20, 2017, Republicans in Congress passed the most historic tax reform in three decades, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That day will long be remembered as a time when American families and businesses were once again made a priority.

As a small-business owner myself, I have spent my time in Congress fighting for tax cuts that would allow Main Street to breathe again.

Small business optimism is at an all-time high across Texas' 25th District. Employers are increasing their workforce and raising wages.

Tax reform has created more than 1 million jobs, which has brought unemployment down to 3.8 percent. That is incredible.

Mr. Speaker, all of this is great, but I want the American people to know that we are not done yet. Congress is not done yet. I am continuing to work to strengthen the economy and make tax cuts permanent.

We will fight year after year to make America more competitive, keep our Tax Code simpler, flatter, and fairer. Business is simply good.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support last month.

This important legislation stems from years of consideration, hearings, markups, and floor votes in the House, coupled with a bicameral commitment with the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to deliver relief for the American people.

More than half of the 53 provisions included in S. 2155 originated in the House Financial Services Committee, and I applaud the work of the chairman throughout this lengthy process.

Right now, small community banks cannot keep up with oppressive regulations that are reluctantly forcing so many to close their doors. As I have said time and time again, the practice of one-size-fits-all does not and should not apply to financial institutions. In order to unleash our economic potential, Congress must act now to repeal unnecessary regulations while properly tailoring those we need.

Mr. Speaker, S. 2155 will finally provide the relief for our community banks by cutting through red tape. In turn, small businesses and the American consumer will now have better access to credit and encourage more economic growth and consumption.

Make no mistake about it: this economy is roaring. I have been in business 47 years, and I know what I am talking about.

I am proud to join colleagues in support of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation and look forward to President Trump's signature as soon as possible.

In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to recognize National Police Week, as well as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

This week allows us to take the time to honor local, State, and Federal officers who have died or have been disabled in the line of duty. This week is an opportunity to pay tribute to the important men and women who have served our country and put our lives in front of their own.

In 2017, 129 officers made the ultimate sacrifice. Of that, one of them lived in the 25th District of Texas that I represent.

Mr. Speaker, I would like everyone to know the name of Deputy Mark Gregory Deibold of the Tarrant County Constable's Office, Precinct 5. Mark's watch ended on Thursday, September 7, 2017. This hero served his community, State, and country well, and he is more than deserving of our praise and recognition.

Thank you for your service, Mark.

May God bless this hero's family.

God bless the United States of America.

In God We Trust.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to speak about and reflect on the wonderful life of our former First Lady Barbara Bush.

To those who knew her, they knew the amount of love and kindness she exemplified every single day on this Earth.

She was a caring and compassionate wife, mother, and grandmother who displayed true devotion to her country in all phases of her life.

I had the great honor of knowing Mrs. Bush and her family. I have many fond memories of summertime with her and President Bush that my family and I will cherish forever.

On April 21, the day she was laid to rest in Houston, Texas, the congregation in that church and people all around the Nation remembered her with great fondness and admiration.

Our country is better because of Mrs. Bush. She will always be missed, but she will never be forgotten.

I hope all of you in this Chamber will join me for a moment of silence to remember the life and legacy of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

May God bless the Bush family and may God bless this great Nation that is better because of her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4790, the Volcker Rule Regulatory Harmonization Act. I appreciate the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) for his leadership on this issue.

At over 930 pages, section 619 of Dodd-Frank, otherwise known as the Volcker rule, is as lengthy as it is complex and confusing. The Volcker rule is framed as a solution to a problem that never existed in the first place. Right now there are five different agencies responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Volcker rule. These five agencies all have different legal mandates and regulatory missions, which have led to duplicate and concurrent reviews into U.S. banks.

In the 25th District of Texas, community banks are struggling to get by and wonder why they have five different regulators knocking on their doors about the same issue. Only in Washington would that kind of backwards thinking be rewarded.

H.R. 4790 would streamline regulatory authority over the Volcker rule by giving the Federal Reserve exclusive rulemaking authority. In other words, banks won't have five different regulators coming to them about the same regulation. As a result, Main Street will be able to breathe again.

Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is this: This is a commonsense way of governing that we should see more of in this Chamber. I am proud to support this piece of legislation that passed the committee with wide bipartisan support just last month, and I encourage the whole House to vote in favor of it today.

Now, we have had a lot of quotes. I have a quote. ``Business is good and business is getting better. H.R. 4790 moves our economy to new levels like we have never seen in years. Roger Williams, small business owner. Thank you very much.''