Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, there is no denying that we are a kind and caring Nation. We have always welcomed those who have come to this country in order to make better lives for themselves and their families. In fact, many of the successes we have achieved in the fields of science, business, and art are directly attributable to individuals coming here with their ideas and ambitions.

But we are a Nation of laws.

Granting amnesty to those who have come here illegally not only erodes the rule of law, but it is unfair to the millions of folks who have respected our legal system and are working to gain citizenship in the right way. Further, undocumented immigration poses a threat to our national security. We have no way of tracking whether these individuals who are crossing our borders have ties to criminal enterprises, terrorism, or whether they are even carrying dangerous communicable diseases.

This is why it is critical we secure our borders.

The recent surge of illegal immigration at the border is a direct result of the Obama administration's failed policies. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, over the past year, there has been a 92 percent increase in the number of unaccompanied children crossing over our southwestern border. By usurping the legislative process and changing parts of existing laws while refusing to enforce others, the Obama administration has created an immigration policy that rewards those who have come here illegally.

Now the President has requested $3.7 billion to purportedly combat this immigration crisis. Unfortunately, according to the administration's own proposal, only a small portion of that money-- roughly 9 percent--would be used to actually secure our southern border. Rather, if history has shown us anything, it is that, if we give this President a blank check, he will simply squander it on furthering his far-left

agenda. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to reject the President's request and to, instead, use our resources, including the National Guard, in an effort to strengthen our border security and deport those who have come here illegally.

United States immigration policies are some of the most generous in the world, but we simply cannot condone illegal immigration. To that end, I will continue to support by any means necessary, whether legislative or legal, to ensure our current laws are enforced and to prevent this President from unilaterally implementing policies that circumvent our rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, today, the eleventh day of July 2014, I was unable to cast a vote on rollcall Nos. 403 & 404 due to a personal matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted against rollcall No. 403 and in favor of the underlying legislation of rollcall No. 404, H.R. 4718, Making Bonus Depreciation Permanent, introduced by Representative Pat Tiberi of Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell my colleagues about H. Res. 631, which supports the goals and ideas of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month. PTSD is a condition affecting more than 5.2 million Americans.

Our heroic servicemen and -women face daily atrocities and dangers on the battlefield. When they return home, adjusting to everyday life can be a brutal challenge, and living with PTSD can become a waking nightmare. Without treatment, PTSD can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, flashbacks, depression, and suicide. Sadly, because of the stigma surrounding mental health in our country, less than 40 percent of returning military personnel seek help.

My first job out of medical school was at a VA hospital. I witnessed firsthand the toll PTSD takes on our soldiers and their loved ones.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 631. Show our brave men and women in uniform that we have their backs like they have ours.

Thank you to Bob Mims of Tennessee's Fourth District for his continued efforts on this critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a courageous American and proud son of Tennessee, Sergeant Fayne Haynes.

Mr. Haynes of Murfreesboro was only 20 years old when he entered the Army in 1942 at the height of World War II. He served on the front lines of Europe and was one of the first to land on Omaha Beach.

He also fought in the Battle of St. Lo, the Battle for Brest, and the Battle of the Bulge. He credits the good Lord for saving his life numerous times in combat.

Sergeant Haynes was eventually captured and spent 4 months in a prisoner of war camp, but managed to escape, aided by a German Army field map which hangs in his office today.

After the war, Sergeant Haynes became a successful businessman, operating the Haynes Brothers Candy Company in Murfreesboro. In 2000, Mr. Haynes switched his business to flags. Known as the Flag Man, he sells thousands of American flags each year.

Thank you, Sergeant Haynes, for your service. You truly embody the spirit of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride I rise today to honor the Marine Corps League's Bobby Ray Detachment of McMinnville in the Fourth Congressional District.

For the past 238 years, the Marine Corps has stood as a symbol of America's strength and valor. The level of commitment, honor, discipline, and courage exemplified by the Corps is unparalleled. By banding together both Active Duty and retired marines, the Marine Corps League preserves these same values and proves true the motto, ``Once a Marine, Always a Marine.''

Members of the Marine Corps League play an important role in our communities. Whether offering assistant service to members, commemorating historical occasions, or organizing fundraisers for local charities, these individuals embody the principle of ``ductus exemplo,'' or ``lead by example.''

Next month, the Bobby Ray Detachment will host the Marine Corps League State Convention. It is an honor to recognize these patriots as they bond together to promote the ideals of freedom and democracy.

I, along with the grateful citizens of Tennessee's Fourth District, extend to these marines a heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices made and the services rendered to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Run Now Relay team of Cleveland, Tennessee. Run Now Relay ran more than 1,000 miles--from Cleveland to Boston--to support and raise money for the victims of the Boston bombings.

These extraordinary men and women ran nonstop through eight States in just over a week. Together, they surpassed their goal of $50,000, raising more than $63,000 for those impacted by the tragedy in Boston last year.

The Run Now Relay team pledged 100 percent of the funds to the One Step Ahead Foundation, which aids the children who underwent amputation because of the bombing; and Dream Big, a nonprofit dedicated to helping underprivileged girls through sports.

The team stopped in Washington last week, and my office had the pleasure of meeting with these remarkable folks. Thank you for sharing your mission with us.

Run Now Relay truly exemplifies the great volunteer tradition that defines the State of Tennessee, and I commend the group on their spirit and commitment to honor the victims of the Boston bombings.

They certainly illustrate the best of our great country. We are one Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my findings from last week's tour of TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear facility located in Tennessee's Fourth District in Rhea County.

The Watts Bar facility is constructing a second nuclear unit, which will be completed late next year. It will be the 21st century's first new reactor to go online, doubling the facility's capacity and then creating reliable energy for nearly 1.3 million homes and businesses.

This project has contributed significantly to the local economy by providing more than 3,300 high-paying jobs. TVA makes safety and security its top priority. During the construction of Unit 2, the workers have achieved a milestone of 22.8 million work-hours without a lost-time incident.

I would like to extend a special thanks to TVA's senior vice president of operations and construction, Mike Skaggs, and his team for making my visit so educational and productive.

Madam Speaker, it is imperative that we continue to support the safe, affordable, and reliable energy that nuclear provides in order to attract industry and create jobs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituents who work at the Frito-Lay manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Tennessee, for helping to win the C.E. Doolin Award for Operations Excellence for an unprecedented fifth time.

This annual nationwide award, named for Frito-Lay's cofounder, is the most prestigious award given by the company for operations and is a testament to the value we place on honest, hard work in Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District.

I have had an opportunity to meet and visit with numerous workers, and I always leave with an admiration for their sincere dedication to not only their jobs, but to the community in which they work. It is no wonder that Tennessee continues to attract some of the best businesses in the world, as we have some of the best workers in the world.

Congratulations to the outstanding, hard-working individuals who received this tremendous honor and who continue to make the great State of Tennessee proud.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Blackman High School boys' and girls' basketball teams for winning State championships last week.

The boys' team defeated Oak Ridge by a score of 60-58 by making an exciting comeback in the final minutes. In doing so, they captured their first State title and the first boys' basketball championship for a Rutherford County team since 1965.

The girls' team, the Lady Blazes, had captured the school's first State championship in any team sport a week earlier.

I especially want to acknowledge the Lady Blazes' Crystal Dangerfield for her work both on and off the court. Named the No. 7 college prospect for 2016 by ESPN, Dangerfield was also awarded this year's Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. This prestigious accomplishment recognizes a student's athletic achievement, as well as academic success and overall character. Ms. Dangerfield certainly fits the bill, with volunteer work with her church and active involvement in the local literacy outreach program.

I know the city of Murfreesboro is so incredibly proud of these young men and women, and I wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the passage and signing of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) on April 10, 1979. I would also like to congratulate and welcome Mr. Lyushun Shen as the incoming Representative for Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States.

The TRA has molded our relations with Taiwan and has provided the backbone for a productive and constructive partnership between our two countries.

The ability of the people of Taiwan to defend themselves has been the hallmark of the TRA's success and has led to a sustained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the Western Pacific. In an ever evolving geo-political environment, we must recognize the continuing importance of Taiwan's self-defense needs going forward to ensure that peace continues to prevail.

In addition, with our commitment to Taiwan under the TRA, Taiwan has developed into a democracy with a flourishing economy and free market system. In 2012, the bilateral trade volume reached $63 billion, making Taiwan the United States' 11th largest trading partner. Taiwan's commitment to free market principles, demonstrative economic power, and role as a global supply chain hub make it an important partner in international trade.

The security and stability in the region, along with Taiwan's commitment to free market policies, have resulted in unprecedented economic growth. Taiwan's commitment and participation in international free trade should not only be lauded, but should be bolstered around the globe. I look forward to Taiwan's

continued growth as a trade partner and celebrate its relationship with the United States.

Mr. Speaker, today, the fourth day of March 2014, I was unable to cast votes on the following recorded votes. My flight from Chattanooga, Tennessee was delayed due to mechanical issues. Had I been present, on rollcall vote No. 91, H.R. 3370, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall vote No. 92, H. Res. 488, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, last week, I had the honor of attending the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting, where Mrs. Margaret Schenck and Mr. Bob Card Both received awards for their devotion to free market values and dedication to our community.

I want to thank these individuals, along with the entire Cleveland/ Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, for their ongoing fight to grow and support local businesses.

Organizations like this Chamber of Commerce show that American small business owners and entrepreneurs are doing their part in growing jobs and strengthening our economy.

Now it is time for Washington to live up to its end of the bargain. We must eliminate the numerous regulatory roadblocks that are being imposed upon businesses and holding them back from reaching their full potential. We know the path to prosperity will not be paved by Washington bureaucrats. Rather, a brighter future will be secured by groups like the Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce who seek to foster innovation and empower local businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to commend Magness Library on its 100 years of service to the people of McMinnville in the Fourth District of Tennessee.

Magness Library began as a service project in July 1913 by Mrs. Mary Cunningham and the McMinnville Women's Civic League, with benefactors Colonel Gentry Moffitt and W.H. Magness, to provide a rest stop for families coming into town to sell and trade. In 1917, the library moved to its current location on the corner of Chancery and Main Street, and in 1946, Magness Library joined the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Thanks to generous donations from thousands of patrons, the Magness Library flourished into one of the longest running libraries in our State over the years. The library provides invaluable services to McMinnville, including a strong summer reading program for children and genealogy research for adults.

Congratulations to the Magness Library on their centennial, and I look forward to seeing their successful future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor Corporal Matthew Hampton, an outstanding citizen of our community and a true American patriot.

In recognition of his service to this country, Matthew was recently awarded the 28th Palmer Veterans Appreciation Award.

Following his graduation from Grundy County High School, Matthew volunteered for the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq, where he served as a Huey and Cobra helicopter crew chief and gunner.

Corporal Hampton's exemplary service as a ``devil dog'' is reflected in the numerous commendations and military decorations he received, including the Naval Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and National Defense Medal.

Mr. Speaker, this recognition is a testament to the heroism and dedication to duty that marked Corporal Hampton's exemplary service in the United States Marine Corps. I, along with a grateful Nation, congratulate him on receiving the Palmer Veterans Appreciation Award and thank him for his outstanding service to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend an exceptional young leader from Rutherford County in Tennessee's Fourth District. Elizabeth Ethridge recently received the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for leadership, a testament to her strong work ethic and dedication to her Junior ROTC battalion.

An honor student at Smyrna High School, Elizabeth is exceptionally well-rounded. She is ranked in the top 10 percent of her class as well as of her JROTC grade. In addition to her service through JROTC, Elizabeth volunteers to give back to the community. Elizabeth is one of six Bronze Cross recipients, competing against cadets from more than 200 schools for this great honor. Last month, Elizabeth was presented with the award at the Rutherford County Board of Education meeting.

Elizabeth hopes to attend Vanderbilt University to study medicine and to one day join Doctors without Borders. I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, and I know she will continue to make our Fourth District proud.