Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Business High Point--Chamber of Commerce on their 100th year anniversary.

In 1919, a small group of volunteers founded the High Point Chamber of Commerce to improve the community and foster long-term economic growth.

As High Point has grown and changed, so has its Chamber of Commerce. Today, its membership includes over 950 businesses representing a plethora of economic industries across Guilford County and beyond. Additionally, there are now hundreds of volunteers and nine staff members eager to create positive change for their community.

Daily, this Chamber works in honor of its mission to, ``initiate, inspire, and accelerate the kind of change that propels its members to success and its community to prominence.'' I applaud the Chamber, its members, volunteers and staff for working hard to improve our community and strengthen partnerships.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring the 100th anniversary of Business High Point--Chamber of Commerce.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Representative Rena Turner for her years of service to North Carolina and in honor of her retirement from the North Carolina General Assembly.

Since 2013, Representative Turner has been a tireless and effective advocate for Iredell County in the State legislature.

Rena has been effective as vice chair of the Appropriations Committee and also served on the Agriculture, Education, and Judiciary Committees.

In my view, she has been a champion for many economic sectors of our State but, in particular, agriculture, which she cared so much about.

Her constituents and I hate to see her go, but we take comfort in knowing that her family will get to spend some more time with her.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Rena Turner for her many years of service to Iredell County and to our State, and I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and honor firefighters from my district in Davie County, North Carolina, who battled an early morning fire caused by a lightning strike earlier this week. Thanks to their efforts and heroism, Mr. Speaker, a church building was spared.

Around 3:30 a.m. this Tuesday, Davie County firefighters responded to a fire at Smith Grove United Methodist Church along U.S. Highway 158 in Mocksville. When the firefighters arrived on the scene, flames were bursting out of the roof and immediate action was needed to stop the flames, according to Smith Grove Fire Chief Don Howard.

Even though the lightning strike caused the steeple to fall off the roof of the church, the firefighters pressed on to fight the flames and save the majority of the building.

I am grateful for the service of these men and women, many of whom are volunteers, who every day put themselves in danger to keep our families and our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the departments that responded, which included Smith Grove, Farmington, Cornatzer-Dulin, Mocksville, the Cooleemee Fire Departments; Davie EMS; Davie County Fire Marshal's Office; and the Davie County Sheriff's Office.

I thank these heroes and others like them in our country.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to immediately schedule this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I have noticed a trend lately with the bills that we are voting on. They all have attractive names: the Save the Internet Act, the Equality Act, and now the thing that we are voting on this week, the American Dream and Promise Act.

I rise in opposition to this bill because great titles don't equal great policies. H.R. 6 doesn't really provide a legal pathway for the DACA population. Instead, it gives green cards to, potentially, millions of illegal aliens. There is no age limit, and the bill is so broad that it prohibits DHS from using evidence found in Federal or State gang databases as the reason to deny an application.

The bill also does nothing to address the humanitarian crisis at our southern border, absolutely nothing.

Madam Speaker, I visited the southern border earlier this year and I saw the crisis firsthand. I talked with our Border Patrol agents, who need Congress' help.

Many things are needed to fix our immigration system, but what isn't needed is a political messaging bill that has no chance of passing the Senate or being signed into law.

Madam Speaker, clever bill titles don't equal good policy, and good intentions don't always lead to good outcomes. I swore an oath to defend the rule of law, and that is what I will continue to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the state of the economy and how progrowth policies are helping my district.

A headline last month on CNBC read: ``Jobs Surge in April, Unemployment Rate Falls to the Lowest Since 1969.'' The U.S. added 263,000 new hires last month, including over 13,000 jobs in North Carolina. On top of that, the labor participation rate increased. Many people are coming off the sidelines and into the workforce, and the manufacturing output continues to go up.

Mr. Speaker, when we cut taxes, slash red tape, and give employers more certainty, they are able to employ more people. This just isn't rocket science.

Just a few days ago, my district received great news. Honda Aircraft announced plans to expand its global headquarters in Greensboro by investing $15.5 million in a new facility on its campus. This will be a huge boost for Guilford County, and that is why we cannot afford to go backwards.

Tax cuts work.

Progrowth policies work.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry), the ranking member, for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1500. It is deceptively, and yet cleverly, named the Consumer First Act.

Let's talk some facts.

House Financial Services Committee Republicans have been trying for years to increase transparency and accountability at the CFPB. We have tried to create an Office of the Inspector General for that purpose. We have also tried to bring accountability by subjecting the CFPB to the appropriations process. Yet, despite our attempts, we have been met with opposition every single time to what used to be a bipartisan goal.

Now, today, we see a bill that my friends on the other side of the aisle are pushing that would undermine our previous efforts to shine some daylight on this agency. Rather than working with us to reform the agency and its authorities, and rather than working with us to avoid constant partisan policy shifts from Director to Director, rather than working with us in a bipartisan manner, the majority is choosing to move legislation today that simply advances their own political agenda.

Mr. Chair, I oppose this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon. He was killed in the line of duty during a routine traffic stop recently. Mr. Sheldon honorably served the Mooresville Police Department for 6 years as a K-9 officer.

I know that the Mooresville Police Department and the community are heartbroken by this news, as am I. Our men and women in blue put on the uniform every day not knowing what their fate could be, yet they continue to serve their communities without question.

Madam Speaker, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to represent a place like Mooresville in the U.S. Congress, and I know that I speak for the good folks of Mooresville when I say that Officer Sheldon will not be forgotten.

I ask Members to join me in praying for Officer Sheldon's family, the Mooresville Police Department, and the community during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon, who was killed in the line of duty during a routine traffic stop. Mr. Sheldon honorably served the Mooresville Police Department for six years as a K-9 officer.

I know that the Mooresville Police Department and the community are heartbroken by this news, as am I. Our men and women in blue put on the uniform every day not knowing what their fate could be, yet they continue to serve their communities without question.

Madam Speaker, I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to represent a place like Mooresville in the United States Congress. I know I speak for the good folks in Mooresville when I say that Officer Sheldon won't be forgotten.

I'd ask you to join me in praying for Officer Sheldon, his family, the Mooresville Police Department, and the community during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dwight Sparks, who retired from the Davie County Enterprise and Clemmons Courier on June 1, 2018.

Mr. Sparks began his journalism career in 1985, helping turn the Davie County Enterprise into a traditional newspaper. At one point, the Enterprise delivered roughly 10,000 copies a week to subscribers. This may not seem like a large number, but perhaps the next fact will highlight how successful Mr. Sparks was in growing the Davie County Enterprise.

During the 1980s, the Davie County Enterprise had the second largest paid circulation in North Carolina among the weeklies. For a small, rural county like Davie, this is a big deal.

He initially worked for the Salisbury Post. And after years in Salisbury, he moved over to the Winston-Salem Journal where he eventually became editor and remained for seven years. Not only was Mr. Sparks a very talented journalist, but I think that his Davie County roots helped him tell important stories in a unique way.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in celebrating Dwight Sparks and wishing him a wonderful retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Conrad and Hinkle in downtown Lexington for their 100th year of business.

Founded in 1919 by Walter Conrad and E. Odell Hinkle, this local business has remained in the same location in Davidson County since the beginning. If folks want locally grown produce, cut to order meat, or friendly service, Conrad and Hinkle is the place to go.

When you walk into Conrad and Hinkle, it's a step back into time. From the tin-ceilinged rooms to the display signs, the store is truly reminiscent of simpler times.

In Davidson County, residents know Conrad and Hinkle for their rich and creamy pimento cheese, which is a southern food staple. The store began making pimento cheese in 1940 using Hinkle's grandmother's recipe. It's so popular that folks have ordered it from as far away as Alaska and Germany. Furthermore, they produce roughly 1,500 pounds a week and 2,000 pounds a week during the holidays.

Whether you prefer pimento cheese on a slice of bread, on a biscuit, or on a country tomato, there's no doubt that Conrad and Hinkle is a reputable supplier of pimento cheese in Davidson County.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in celebrating Conrad and Hinkle's 100th year of business.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the High Point Police Department, which has honorably served the Guilford County community for 160 years. Additionally, I would like to share the stories of five High Point police officers that died in the line of service, protecting their community. These

men and women were heroes and it is my honor to recognize their service.

Officer James Witcher passed away on September 13, 1913 while responding to a disturbance call at a moving picture show in High Point. Officer Witcher, and others, attempted to arrest a subject for fighting. During the arrest a crowd gathered, and a shot was fired. Officer Witcher was shot in the abdomen and died two days later.

Officers Carey James Reaves and Fred Claywell were both shot during a raid on a liquor house on June 9, 1925. Officer Reaves died the following day. Officer Claywell died nine days later.

Captain Allen Jerome Morris arrested a subject for being drunk and disorderly on the afternoon of September 16, 1928. While escorting him toward the jail, the subject attempted to escape. During the scuffle, Captain Morris was kicked in the stomach and died within minutes of the blow.

Master Officer Shelia Twyman was on a routine patrol on December 20, 2001, when a tractor trailer ran a red light and struck her patrol car at the intersection of South Centennial Street and East Russell Avenue. She was severely injured and died three days later.

These individuals all died while protecting the citizens of High Point and I think it is critical that we remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. They will never be forgotten, and their legacy lives on.

Additionally, I would like to recognize High Point Chief of Police Kenneth Shultz and all the officers that have served with the department over the past 160 years. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the work they do each day.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring these five officers and the 160th anniversary of the High Point Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, later today, we are going to be voting on H.R. 1, and I would like to make a few points for the Record.

To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, before you vote this afternoon, I would like you to remember one thing. This bill is nearly 600 pages, and it has been referred to 10 different committees, yet it has been subject to only one markup.

I want the supporters of this bill to think about how that really looks. You are bringing up the bill that is intended to expand the ability of Americans to participate in the political process by using a process that restricted the participation of their elected officials.

The second thing I want to point out is the section of this bill that creates a voucher program to allow people to use public funds for campaign donations. Mr. Speaker, instead of using taxpayer dollars for critical needs like border security or fixing our roads, we would be sending these dollars to political campaigns. That would be a complete disaster.

One last thing that I am going to point out about this bill is the fact that it would weaponize the FEC to favor the ruling political party.

Under current law, the Federal Election Commission is made up of six members, consisting of three Republicans and three Democrats. Four votes are needed to move forward with any kind of prosecution. The bill says that the new commission must consist of two Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent. By this logic, Bernie Sanders is technically an independent and would count, even though we all know he is a socialist and caucuses, though, with the Democrats.

I would say much more about this bill, Mr. Speaker, and in the coming weeks I plan to. But for now, I want my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to know that we have a real chance to put politics aside and pass some serious reform that would make our system work even better, but the more time we focus on partisan games like this, the less time we actually focus on draining the swamp.

Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for allowing me the time.

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8 and want to lay out a couple of reasons for my opposition.

Before I do, I think it is important to acknowledge how polarizing this debate has become over the last several years. More specifically, I want this body to know that, as a human being, as an American, as a father, when I see the heartbreaking news of a mass shooting like the one we saw just 54 weeks ago in Parkland, it just breaks my heart.

With that being said, this bill that we are voting on today would not have done anything to stop that tragedy from happening, nor would it have prevented any of those recent mass shootings.

The 19-year-old murderer in Parkland passed a background check.

The man who murdered 26 innocent people at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs also passed a background check, although he wouldn't have if the Air Force had passed along his criminal information like they were supposed to have done.

And the evil that took place in Sandy Hook wouldn't have been stopped by this bill either. The killer used his mother's guns to kill her and 26 others. They were bought legally.

Mr. Chairman, the simple fact is that criminals don't abide by the law, and this would only create traps for law-abiding gun owners.

However, there are actions that we can take, actions that we can do, that would make meaningful strides in combating the violence that we see today.

One example of something we could do, improve information sharing between law enforcement officials across this country.

Mr. Chair, to close, I disagree with the policy of this bill.