Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Benjamin Duncan. Benjamin is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Benjamin has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Benjamin has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Benjamin has served as the Senior Patrol Leader, become a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow, and earned the rank of Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Benjamin has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Benjamin designed and completed 15 wooden benches for an outdoor worship area for the Antioch Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Benjamin Duncan for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacen Haefner. Jacen is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 264, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jacen has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacen has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Jacen has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacen Haefner for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Cade Osmonson. Cade is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 96, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Cade has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Cade has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Cade has served as his troop's Senior Patrol Leader. Cade has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Cade refurbished a church in McFall, Missouri, replacing the roof of the portico, repainting the doors and windows, and power washing the outside of the church.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Cade Osmonson for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Levi Parnacott. Levi is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1376, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Levi has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Levi has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Levi has served as the Senior Patrol Leader, become a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow, and earned the rank of Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Levi has also contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. Levi installed an entry door into the garage of Immacolata Manor in Liberty, Missouri, and also refinished the entry room by hanging new drywall, mudding, taping, sanding and then painting the room.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Levi Parnacott for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Joel Priest. Joel is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 495, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Joel has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Joel has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Joel has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Joel Priest for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Chauncey Lee Wagner. Chance is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1096, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Chance has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Chance has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Chance has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Chauncey Lee Wagner for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize John Gibson. John is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 96, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

John has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years John has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, John has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project. John organized and led a blood drive at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Gallatin, Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending John Gibson for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Robert Partridge. Robert is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1096, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Robert has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Robert has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. Most notably, Robert has contributed to his community through his Eagle Scout project.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Robert Partridge for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 4 of rule XVI, I move that when the House adjourns this legislative day, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, for morning- hour debate and 10 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1393) to streamline the process by which active duty military, reservists, and veterans receive commercial driver's licenses.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1393.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

S. 1393 would exempt current members of the armed services or reserve components from certain testing requirements for commercial driver's licenses if they had qualifying experience while serving in the armed services or reserve components.

This bill also expands the types of medical professionals at the Department of Veterans Affairs who could certify that veterans meet the physical standards required to operate a commercial vehicle.

These commonsense changes will help remove barriers to employment for the men and women who have served our country in uniform.

This bill is a combination of H.R. 2547, the Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act of 2017, sponsored by Representative Rob Woodall, and H.R. 2258, the ADVANCE Act, which is sponsored by Representative Pete Aguilar. The House passed both bills under suspension on June 26, 2017. The bill we are considering today passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 14, which means this will head to the President's desk once the House approves it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Mr. Woodall and Mr. Aguilar for their leadership on the House bills and Senator Cornyn for his work in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1393, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1532) to disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony involving human trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 1532.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, human trafficking is a terrible crime with an estimated 20 million victims worldwide. It is incumbent upon Congress to take the steps necessary to combat this crime whenever possible.

Just this past summer there was a case in San Antonio in which 10 people died while being illegally trafficked in a commercial motor vehicle. Drivers have been the first line of defense in helping identify and report these sorts of activities within the trucking community. We need these drivers to stay vigilant and we need to weed out the bad actors.

In addition to the criminal penalties, drivers who knowingly take part in human trafficking should never again be able to drive commercially. Current law prohibits an individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle if they are convicted of one of nine different crimes, including alcohol abuse, negligent manslaughter, and drug trafficking.

S. 1532 disqualifies individuals from operating a commercial vehicle for their lifetime if they ever use that commercial vehicle to commit a felony involving human trafficking.

This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent, and I would like to commend Mr. Katko for his leadership on the House version of this bill, and I would urge my colleagues to support S. 1532.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko).

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1536) to designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and to expand the scope of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's outreach and education program to include human trafficking prevention activities, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 1536.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1536 empowers the Department of Transportation to play an important role in combating human trafficking. Specifically what this bill does is it directs the Secretary of Transportation to designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator from within the Department; it expands the scope of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's outreach and education program and under the Commercial Driver's License program implementation grants to include human trafficking prevention activities; and it requires the Secretary to establish an advisory committee on human trafficking.

S. 1536 is supported by Members on both sides of the aisle, and it passed the Senate with unanimous consent.

I would like to commend Ms. Esty for her leadership on the House version of this bill. Because of her work and her partnership on this with Mr. Katko, the House version passed through committee unanimously.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1536, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on November 29, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on No. 640 and 641.

Mr. Speaker, on November 13, 2017 I missed a series of Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Nos. 623 and 624. I would have voted ``NAY'' on No. 625.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize a special member of my staff. After almost seventeen years of service, Alicia Jayne Endicott will be leaving her post in my Kansas City District Office.

Alicia was one of the first members of my staff, joining the team soon after I took office in 2001. She has been an integral member of my constituent services team that entire time. Alicia was tireless in making sure the people of the Sixth Congressional District were treated fairly by federal agencies and that their concerns were heard and justly resolved. Whether helping families with last-minute passport needs, protecting my constituents from overbearing agencies or making sure our veterans received the care and recognitions they earned, her outstanding work and immense knowledge of the issues was incomparable and I am honored to have had her on my staff and my constituents were incredibly served by her efforts.

I have received many kind words from constituents praising the outstanding service Alicia has provided. Her professionalism and dedication to this office and my constituents was a great example of how government should work. She would often work nights and weekends, all without complaint. While I am losing a valuable member of my team, I am excited for Alicia to begin the next chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in thanking Alicia Jayne Endicott for her many years of service to the people of the Sixth Congressional District. I know Alicia's colleagues, family and friends join with me in thanking her for her commitment to others and wishing her the best of luck in all her endeavors and many years of success to come.