Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, today's debate on H.R. 3905, Minnesota's Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act, also known as the MINER Act, is not just important to the great State of Minnesota. This legislation is critically important to the United States.

The MINER Act will reverse the misguided, last-minute actions of the Obama administration to stop any exploration of one of the most valuable precious metal deposits in the world.

The MINER Act will ensure that the people of Minnesota have the opportunity for jobs and economic prosperity that would come if the deposit can ever be mined in an environmentally safe and responsible manner.

The MINER Act will renew the Federal Government's commitment and promise to the citizens of Minnesota. When the Superior National Forest was created in 1909 and, later, when the Boundary Waters Canoe Area was established in 1978, there was an express agreement between the Federal Government and the State of Minnesota that mining and logging could continue in the Superior National Forest. In fact, according to the most recent Superior National Forest land use management plan, mining and logging are considered a desired condition in the forest.

This is about more than just the 10,000-plus jobs which are now at risk because of the lameduck actions of the Obama administration. This is about billions of dollars in revenue for Minnesota's economy and billions more in potential education funding for Minnesota's schools that are now on the line. This is about strategically important metals and minerals which are used by Americans every day. This is about undoing a last-ditch effort to further a political agenda at the expense of the livelihoods that Minnesotans have relied on for generations.

The MINER Act, again, is about protecting Minnesota's right to explore and, if environmentally appropriate, mine valuable and important precious metals, precious metals that are not only necessary to our everyday technology, but which are critically important to our Nation's national defense.

There are some who would like to deny Minnesota the right to explore and potentially mine these precious metals. They argue that any mining activity could negatively impact our beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This concern, however, ignores the fact that, if a mine is ever proposed, and to date there has been no mine proposed, if one is ever proposed in the Superior National Forest, it would have to satisfy all current local, State, and Federal environmental review and permitting requirements before it could ever be approved to proceed.

We can and we will protect the Boundary Waters. I have no doubt that we can find a way to preserve Minnesota's pristine landscape without permanently destroying any future job creation or economic development in Minnesota. By passing the MINER Act, we protect thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue and education funding while leaving an extensive process intact to protect and preserve the environment and our State.

In conclusion, I encourage all my colleagues to support the MINER Act because we know someday someone might find a way to mine these important precious metals in a safe and environmentally responsible way, and if that happens, Minnesota deserves the opportunity and the jobs and economic prosperity that will ensue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the additional time, and I recognize my esteemed colleague, the Representative from Minnesota, for his love of the Boundary Waters that we both share.

Mr. Speaker, I want to address the Representative from California first on the claim that H.R. 3905 solely benefits a foreign mining company.

I think you should ask the people of our State. You should ask a gentleman by the name of Dan Forsman, who, as a Minnesotan, has a family heritage of benefiting by mining in our State. He was recently ridiculed by environmentalists in The New York Times because, while he loves the place where he lives, he also wants to make a living in the place where he lives. There are several other companies exploring the area.

Teck has nonferrous mineral holdings within the proposed withdrawal, the potential development of which would be greatly impacted by the withdrawal.

Encampment Minerals, Inc., also has a nonferrous mineral holding within the withdrawal area and is awaiting Federal agency action on a submitted preference right lease application.

Future expansion of the Northshore Mining taconite mine could extend into the withdrawal area and, thus, be impacted by the withdrawal.

PolyMet has invested hundreds of millions on projects that will be negatively impacted by the proposed mineral withdrawal, one of which we voted on here last night.

Further, the withdrawal proposal will seriously hinder the State's ability to seek mineral development of more than 90,000 acres of State school trust fund lands within the withdrawal area.

Twin Metals is a Minnesota company and has been part of the northeastern Minnesota community for 10 years. The company has invested more than $400 million in project development activities, investing in new facilities in the city of Ely, providing local employment opportunities and supporting hundreds of local jobs in the construction, consulting, and contracting sectors. By the way, they also support all the outfitters, the wonderful businesses of tourism. Twin Metals has also contributed more than $320,000 to local philanthropic needs and organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I would add that nothing in this bill alters any current environmental law or protection. The Antiquities Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, NEPA, and all the other laws still apply to Minnesota.

At the end of the day, we are protecting the Boundary Waters, we are protecting the Superior National Forest, and we believe both the economy and tourism, the environment, can coexist in northern Minnesota.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 21st Century Flood Reform Act, which will reauthorize and reform our National Flood Insurance Program.

The NFIP provides important relief. Millions of Americans rely on this program to provide coverage when disaster strikes. The nearly 50- year-old NFIP program, however, is in desperate need of reform.

Today's legislation will not only reauthorize the program for 5 years, it will take steps to better align premium rates to risk, improve FEMA's mapping and appeals process, and begin to correct the way the NFIP manages what are known as repetitive loss properties.

Most importantly, H.R. 2874 lays the groundwork for a private flood insurance marketplace to take hold, which will improve the fiscal stability and solvency of the NFIP for future generations to come. This bill is a good start, but these reforms must continue to be built upon in the years ahead.

I am thankful for the hard work of Chairman Hensarling, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Duffy, and the entire Financial Services Committee staff for working to get this bill to the floor today.

As many continue to rebuild their lives following the devastation of Harvey, Irma, Sandy, and others, we need a National Flood Insurance Program that stimulates choice and encourages proactive behaviors to better protect our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, again, this legislation is a good start. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, while government isn't meant to create jobs, with the help of the President, Congress can set Federal policies that establish a pro-worker, pro-business environment that lifts people out of poverty, helps families, and drives our country forward.

One problem today that is impeding job growth is access to capital for small businesses. American businessmen and -women are often unable to get the loans they need to start a new enterprise or to grow an existing one.

Additionally, if a firm would like to publicly sell stock to raise money, it must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which costs $2.5 million, on average; an amount most small businesses simply cannot afford.

Small and emerging businesses are a key to the economic engine in America. The Small Business Administration found that these businesses create over half of the new jobs on an annual basis in this country. More importantly, today's small businesses are tomorrow's success story.

Just think of all the great businesses in this country that started with a dream in a garage: Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Disney, Harley- Davidson, and Minnesota's own Medtronic. We want to empower the entrepreneurs in this country to dream, innovate, and create jobs that grow our economy.

That is why I introduced the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act. This bill will make it easier for entrepreneurs and

small businesses to raise money from family, friends, and their personal network without running afoul of the vague and undefined ``private offering'' safe harbor provisions in the Securities Act of 1933.

Thus, the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act helps bring clarity to existing law so that our current and future job creators can easily raise capital within the confines of an easy-to-understand provision without the help of an expert.

This legislation requires three specific criteria to be met simultaneously in order to trigger a safe harbor exemption for a security offering instead of just one or more. These criteria ensure that: one, each purchaser has a substantive preexisting relationship with an owner; two, there are no more than 35 purchasers of securities from the issuer that are sold in reliance on the exemption during the 12 months proceeding; and, three, the aggregate amount of all securities sold by the issuers does not exceed $500,000 during the 12- month period preceding the offering. The bill also exempts any of the aforementioned security offerings from blue-sky laws, while maintaining antifraud provisions at the Federal and State level.

These provisions protect Americans from criminals trying to swindle them out of their hard-earned money, while making capital more accessible to businesses by investors from around the country.

In fact, I will be offering an amendment to enhance these antifraud provisions. This amendment, which incorporates the suggestions made by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle during a legislative hearing in the last Congress, will ensure that individuals who have been disqualified under the ``bad actor'' disqualification standard, as is listed under current law, are prohibited from using the exemption provided under H.R. 2201, establishing yet an additional layer of investor protection.

Entrepreneurs and small-business owners need access to capital in order to achieve the American Dream. Although small businesses accounted for 99.7 percent of all the businesses in the United States last year, only half of them will survive longer than 5 years, according to our Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lack of capital or difficulty accessing capital is one of the main causes of failure for many of these small businesses. A 2015 survey conducted by BlueVine found that 75 percent of small and emerging businessowners reported their primary source of funding comes from their own personal finances, followed by banks at 16 percent and family and friends at 6 percent.

While banks and credit unions do their best to offer the funding these businesses need to grow and thrive, there are still 3 million fewer small business loans made annually, today, than there were before the 2008 financial crisis. H.R. 2201 seeks to build off the success of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, better known as the JOBS Act, and will continue to spur capital formation for the true job creators and drivers of our country's economy.

The Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act helps small and emerging companies add another tool to the toolkit, enabling them to confidently find alternative ways of raising these funds without having to pay for costly securities experts and without the fear of lawsuits if they operate within these easy-to-understand parameters.

That is why the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act is endorsed by the National Small Business Association; the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council; the National Federation of Independent Business; the Chamber of Commerce; Heritage Action; and Engine, ``The Voice of Startups in Government.''

The House approved an identical version of this legislation during the 114th Congress as part of the Accelerating Access to Capital Act, and language similar to H.R. 2201 was included in the Financial CHOICE Act, which was adopted by this Chamber in June.

Mr. Speaker, the time has come for Congress to come together and help small businesses help themselves by making this important update and improvement to the Securities Act of 1933.

I want to thank Chairman Hensarling; Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment Subcommittee Chairman Huizenga; and all of the staff on the Financial Services Committee for their hard work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and hope that both parties will use H.R. 2201 as a way to show their support for more opportunities and better lives for our job creators.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from the National Small Business Association, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, the United States Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Action for America, and Engine.

National Small Business Association.

Hon. Tom Emmer,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Emmer: On behalf of the National Small

Business Association (NSBA), the nation's first small-

business advocacy organization, with more than 65,000 small-

business members representing every state and every industry

across the country, I commend your leadership for introducing

the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act (H.R. 2201) as it will

have an immediate and direct impact on small businesses

looking to raise capital. NSBA has long supported the kind of

simplification this legislation would bring for small

businesses.

Capital is the lifeblood of any small business, and often

small-business owners need capital at various stages; some at

their startup and others later when they are looking to

expand. Despite this ongoing need, small-business lending

from banks has decreased over the last decade and many small

businesses have few options for obtaining capital. According

to NSBA's 2016 Year-End Economic Report, small-business

access to capital remains stubbornly unchanged since the

previous year, with just 69 percent of small firms reporting

they are able to get adequate financing. This drop has real-

world implications: 41 percent said lack of capital is

hindering their ability to grow their business or expand

operations, and 20 percent said they had to reduce the number

of employees as a result of tight credit.

Therefore, raising capital though securities is an

attractive alternative option for many small-business owners.

However, the current regulatory requirements are quite

onerous for small businesses, often requiring expensive

specialized counsel for even very small securities offerings.

NSBA supports this targeted legislation that creates a safe

harbor for small securities offerings which meet requirements

clearly identified in the legislation. Under the legislation,

these exemptions include offerings in which each purchaser

has a substantive pre-existing relationship with the owners,

where the issuer has less than 35 purchasers utilizing the

exemption in the preceding 12 month period, or where the

total amount raised during the preceding 12 month period is

less than $500,000. By creating three safe harbor exemptions

for ``non-public offerings,'' businesses can operate with

clarity and a clear conscience knowing that they would be

exempted from registering with the Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC). Additionally, the legislation also exempts

transactions meeting the specified requirements from state

registration requirements, commonly referred to as ``blue sky

laws.''

Raising capital for small businesses from friends and

family already takes place on a regular basis, except those

transactions often lack the legal protections and structure

of securities law. In addition to expanding access to capital

for small businesses, this legislation will bring those

transactions under a recognized legal framework, and make

resolving disputes that arise much more efficient. Finally,

bringing these existing transactions under an existing legal

framework will provide a sound legal basis for subsequent

larger offerings requiring registration with the SEC.

Access to capital continues to be one of the most pressing

issues facing the small-business community. All small

businesses need an injection of capital at one point or

another, unfortunately in the past several years it has

become difficult for small businesses to get the funds they

need to grow and expand. NSBA is pleased to support the Micro

Offering Safe Harbor Act as it will help small businesses

around the country expand and create new jobs in their

communities.

Sincerely,

Todd McCracken,

President & CEO.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, the amendment I am offering today will enhance antifraud and consumer protections for small businesses and startups seeking to take advantage of the micro offering exemption outlined in the underlying bill.

While the legislation itself requires three specific criteria to be met simultaneously in order to trigger a safe harbor exemption for a security offering, my amendment adds an additional layer of protection to further safeguard investors from bad actors.

Specifically, my amendment prohibits the exemption from being available for those who have been disqualified under the bad actor disqualification standard established by the SEC. This language was included with the support of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle during consideration in committee in the 114th Congress, and I am hopeful they will support its inclusion again in the 115th.

I want to reiterate that nothing in the base text of this bill erodes or limits the ability of Federal or State regulators to prosecute fraud, nor would it prevent private common law causes of action for fraud or breach of contract between the interested parties.

This amendment builds upon these existing protections and drives home the point that the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act is purely focused on helping our small businesses and entrepreneurs access the tools they need to grow and create jobs in an orderly and legal manner.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will close at this point.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for her encouragement and her compliments, and I want to just point out that the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act was actually improved as a direct result of the ranking member's suggestions.

So, again, I want to thank her for her compliments here today, her encouragement in helping us make this an even better bill for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country. At this point, I would encourage support for the amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, obtaining accessible and reliable forms of capital is one of the biggest challenges that small businesses and entrepreneurs face today. I will say that again. We are not talking about large corporations. We are talking about small businesses and entrepreneurs.

According to the 2016 Year-End Economic Report from the National Small Business Association, 41 percent of all small businesses surveyed said that ``lack of capital is hindering their ability to grow their business or expand their operations, and 20 percent said they had to reduce the number of employees as a result of tight credit.''

That is why I introduced the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act. This bill does not create a new securities registration exemption under the Securities Act; rather, it defines what constitutes a permissible nonpublic offering, and it provides small businesses with the clarity and confidence to know that their offering is not a violation of the Securities Act.

If enacted, this will make it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses--again, not large corporations--to raise money from family, friends, and their personal network without running afoul of the vague and undefined private offering safe harbor provisions in the Securities Act of 1933.

More specifically, this legislation requires the following three criteria be met simultaneously in order to trigger a safe harbor exemption for a security offering: each purchaser must have a substantive preexisting relationship with an owner; there can be no more than 35 purchasers of securities from the issuer that are sold in reliance on the exemption during the 12-month period preceding; and, lastly, the aggregate amount of all securities sold by the issuer cannot exceed $500,000 during the 12 months preceding the offering.

The Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act helps bring clarity to existing law so that our current and future job creators can easily raise capital within the confines of an easy-to-understand provision without the help of an ever increasingly expensive expert.

Furthermore, the legislation preserves all Federal and State antifraud protections. Ultimately, this bill will scale existing Federal rules and regulatory compliance for small businesses, thus providing another practical option for entrepreneurs to raise the capital they need to start and grow their business.

The timing for this legislation could not be better, as the House continues to promote job creation and economic growth through this once-in-a-generation effort to reform our Tax Code.

As our small businesses and startups continue to provide for over half of all current jobs and over 65 percent of all net new jobs since the 1970s, we must provide the tools they need to succeed, and this legislation does just that.

I thank Chairman Hensarling, Chairman Sessions, and Chairman Huizenga for working to bring this important bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the previous question, adopt the rule for H.R. 2201, and vote in favor of the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act when it comes to the floor for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an outstanding educator in my district.

Ayan Omar of St. Cloud recently was honored as one of seven recipients of the Outstanding Refugee award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. This award honors refugees or their children who are making innovative contributions to their community, and Ayan is well deserving of this commendation. She earned this honor as the result of her civic leadership efforts as a language arts teacher at St. Cloud Technical High School.

But for Ayan, her work extends beyond the classroom and into the community. She often speaks on panels or at events, and she was recently a featured speaker at St. Cloud's TEDx event, where she spoke about interpersonal communication.

We are lucky to have educators like Ayan who take their work into the communities they serve. Thank you, Ayan, for your commitment to education, and congratulations on this well-deserved award.

A Commitment to Safety and Customers

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding constituent from my district, Andy Thiele of Monticello.

Andy recently competed in the 2017 International Foodservice Distributors Association Truck Driving Championship in Orlando, Florida. This competition highlights the best drivers in the food industry. This competition honors drivers from all over the country and their commitment to safety and excellent customer service.

Andy's devotion to safety is clear, as he has been accident free for 11 years and counting.

IFDA members, like the Twin Cities division of Reinhart Foodservice where Andy is employed, supply food to professional kitchens, hospitals, care facilities, colleges, and hotels.

We need truck drivers like Andy who deliver our Nation's food efficiently and safely across the country every day. I commend Andy and all those who competed in the competition this year for their dedication to professionalism and safety. I am glad my district, the State of Minnesota, and our Nation have dedicated truck drivers like Andy Thiele.

Lifesavers in St. Cloud

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize five outstanding constituents in my district for an act of heroism that saved a fellow Minnesotan.

Police officer Curt Grosz, firefighters Adam Imholte and Dennis Ertl, and high school students Abigail Trelfa and Madison DeMarais worked hand in hand to save the life of Daniel Fleigle.

Daniel was on a bridge in Sartell, Minnesota, this summer when he accidentally touched a live wire and was electrocuted, sending him to the ground. Thankfully, his friends Abigail and Madison reacted immediately, calling 911 and beginning CPR. First responders Curt, Adam, and Dennis all responded to this scene shortly thereafter, and together they saved Daniel's life.

The quick response of these heroes ensured Daniel's full recovery. Without them, Daniel would likely not be with us today. I am lucky to represent such selfless and heroic people who run to their fellow citizens in times of need.

Thank you Curt, Adam, Dennis, Abigail, and Madison for saving Daniel's life and showing our community what a true hero looks like.

Elk River's Outstanding Volunteers

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible members of the Elk River Chamber of Commerce. Communities in my district like Elk River are successful because the members support and encourage one another.

Recently, the Elk River Chamber of Commerce, which represents 360 local businesses, honored some of its most active members as this year's outstanding volunteers. One was Pam Artmann of Edina Realty Elk River. In just 2 years with the chamber, she was named Ambassador of the Year for bringing positivity to her role.

The chamber also honored Tamara Ackerman of Avalon Salon for her work chairing and growing the Shiver Elk River 5K/10K Run. For this, she received the PACEsetter award, which highlights her dedication to service on the chamber board.

Finally, the chamber recognized Mark and Deb Urista of Edina Realty Elk River with the Keystone award, which recognizes their longstanding commitment and work with and on behalf of the chamber.

I am honored to represent servant leaders and entrepreneurs like Mark, Deb, Pam, and Tamara.

Congratulations to all of you on your well-deserved awards.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a leader in our community who has received a great honor. Skip Dolan, the head boys basketball coach for the Annandale Cardinals, was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in October. I am not going to go through all of his statistics, although they are quite impressive.

I think it is important that we note that a good coach can have a major impact on a kid's life. Coaches don't just teach a game to our kids, they ingrain important life skills in their minds. They teach our kids how to work with others and how to act as a team. They teach our children the value of practice and perseverance, and they teach our kids how to compete with honor, dignity, and how to win with grace.

A good coach guides our kids along the road to success, which is why I am so happy that we have a coach like Skip Dolan in our community. We can never thank him enough for working with and teaching our kids, and we congratulate him on this incredible honor.

A Retiring Public Servant

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Monticello Public Schools Superintendent Jim Johnson for his work and dedication to Minnesota's children.

After 18 years serving Monticello, 12 of them spent as superintendent, Jim is heading into a well-deserved retirement.

Under Jim's close supervision, schools within his district have produced outstanding test scores, increased graduation rates, and higher enrollment in AP classes. He also played an important role improving his district's athletic facilities.

Not only did Jim help better academics at the schools under his careful watch, he also helped ensure that his district's students had everything they needed to succeed in life.

Jim, we can't thank you enough for the work you have done to educate our kids. Our kids are our future, and because of you, our future is very bright.

The Newest Sauk Rapids Ambassadors

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate three young women in my district who have earned an exciting leadership role in the community.

Bethlehem Kobluk, Brooklyn Harren, and Madeline Bell have all been named 2017 Sauk Rapids Community Ambassadors.

As community ambassadors, Bethlehem, Brooklyn, and Madeline will participate in a 9-week program that will help them develop their leadership skills by participating in activities that engage the community.

The people who end up making the most difference in this world are the ones who show up for others.

We want to congratulate these young women on their new roles and thank them for their interest in making life better for those around them.

Thank you, Bethlehem, Brooklyn, and Madeline, for showing up for Sauk Rapids. I know you all have bright futures ahead, and we look forward to seeing what you will accomplish next.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and service of Major General Richard C. Nash. Major General Nash recently retired after serving as adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard for 7 years.

In his role as adjutant general, Nash had the important responsibility of overseeing Minnesota's Army and Air National Guard units, an important role where he saw great success. Having served in the Army National Guard since 1976, General Nash was selected for the job of general because of his experience and strong leadership during the conflict in Bosnia and the Iraq war.

During his time in the National Guard, as a testament to his hard work and commitment to our great Nation, General Nash has received many awards like the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal.

General Richard Nash is a true patriot whose service to our Nation has been a blessing to us all. I speak for all Minnesotans when I thank him for his dedication and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Minnesota's Honorary Caregiver

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Carlene Johnston and the beautiful partnership she shared with her loving husband, Dan Johnston.

Originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, Carlene passed away in 2016, after a long and hard fight. Carlene's devoted husband, Dan, stood by his wife's side through every moment, keeping his marriage vow to love his wife in health and in sickness.

On the day that Carlene passed, Dan shared in a post that caring for his wife in her final days was easy, writing: When you're helping someone you love, it's not a burden.

As tribute to Dan's and Carlene's strong marriage and Dan's commitment to caring for his sick wife, Dan was awarded the Waconia Relay for Life's 2017 Honorary Caregiver Award.

Our most sincere condolences go out to the Johnston family, and we thank Dan for epitomizing love in its truest form. You are an amazing role model.

Bringing the World Expo to Minnesota

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support Minnesota's bid to host the 2023 World Expo. I was proud to cosponsor and see both Chambers of Congress unanimously pass the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act earlier this year to give Minnesota and the United States a chance to showcase the best we have to offer.

The President signed the Expo Act into law in May, and since then, the State Department, the Expo 2023 coalition, and the entire Minnesota delegation have been working hard to bring this prestigious international event back to the United States.

Now, as we near the November 15 announcement from the Bureau of International Expositions, Minnesota is one of the three finalists in the running to host the 2023 event with a proposed theme of ``Healthy People, Healthy Planet.''

I can think of no better place to hold such an event, as Minnesota is one of the healthiest States in the country, a hub for medical innovation and a world-class location to host the first Expo in the United States in more than 30 years.

I am grateful for the support of my colleagues in Congress and the President to make this opportunity a reality, and I look forward to putting the United States and the State of Minnesota back on the world stage as the host of the 2023 World Expo.

A Top Honor for Sherburne County

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office for receiving accreditation from the American Correctional Association. Sherburne County received this accreditation because of the quality of the county jail and the high standards the staff maintains.

The accreditation was actually earned by the 116 correctional officers who operate the jail and the strong leadership of Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott.

This is quite an accomplishment. In fact, out of Minnesota's 87 counties, only one other county jail in Minnesota received this accreditation. Congratulations to Sheriff Brott and his officers. We are proud to represent you and to work for you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize seven students from my district who have received 2017 National Merit Scholarships.

The criteria that must be met to receive one of these scholarships is quite difficult. In fact, of the 15,000 finalists selected, only half will actually receive scholarships.

The recipients of this prestigious scholarship are Connor Schmidt of Ham Lake, Benjamin Caswell of Shoreview, Raffi Toghramadijan of Blaine, Rachel Cho of Blaine, Piper Christenson of Spring Lake Park, Catherine Lewis of Blaine, and Kenneth Truong of Coon Rapids.

Each one of these students has big plans for their future, which include careers in medicine, science, and engineering--all fields that are critically important to the success of our nation.

I congratulate each of these students on receiving this scholarship, and I look forward to watching them achieve great success in their respective careers.

Good work and good luck.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the renowned historian Dennis E. Frye for his dedication to preserving our nation's history and for his passion on sharing our history with anyone lucky enough to meet him.

Dennis Frye serves as the Chief Historian at Harper's Ferry National Historical Park. Dennis has authored several books on the Civil War and has lectured on the topic throughout the nation.

Recently, my staff had the good fortune of taking a tour of Harper's Ferry, led by Dennis. He not only gave them great insight into the battle that took place at Harper's Ferry, but he also gave them a wider understanding of one of the most tumultuous times in our nation's history.

As Dennis so aptly pointed out on their tour, while our nation's history has not always been pleasant, it is critical that we never try to forget or erase it. If we do, then we have not learned from our history and we are more likely to repeat mistakes of the past.

I thank Dennis for sharing his knowledge and wisdom with my staff. They will never forget him

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 106th national day of Taiwan. The United States and Taiwan have enjoyed a fruitful partnership for decades, and I would like to wish the people of Taiwan a very Happy National Day.

Our two countries' partnership has flourished thanks to a mutual commitment to democratic values and constitutional government. Through its many successful elections and commitment to an open election process, Taiwan serves as a strong example of democracy for not only the Asia-Pacific region, but also the world. Yet it is not just our commitment to democratic and constitutional values that ties our two countries together.

In 2016, Taiwan ranked as the United States' 10th largest trading partner and 8th largest export market for U.S. agricultural products. In fact, Taiwan is Minnesota's 5th largest export market, with over $450 million in exports sent to our friends in 2016. This is a relationship I am proud to support and urge my colleagues to find areas where our two countries can partner to our mutual benefit.

The framework for the United States' relationship with Taiwan, the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, were crafted almost four decades ago, but our belief in their principles remains resolute. With continued commitment to this important relationship, I would like to again wish the people of Taiwan a Happy National Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the city of St. Cloud for taking care of our community's drinking water.

St. Cloud's safe drinking water comes from the mighty Mississippi, and its pure form is thanks to projects like the Northwest Regional Treatment System, the Northeast Sump Manholes, as well as the Northeast St. Cloud Water Quality Project, the city's newest water purifying project. To put the effectiveness of these projects in perspective, the Northeast St. Cloud Water Quality Project stops 10,200 pounds of sediment and 20 pounds of phosphorus from entering the Mississippi every year.

Because of the commitment to the health and safety of the city's water supply, last month St. Cloud was awarded the Source Water Protection Award. It is an honor to represent a city that takes the health of its citizens so seriously. Congratulations to the city of St. Cloud and everyone responsible for the city's water supply.

A National Award for a Local Bus Driver

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate St. Cloud Metro Bus driver Todd DeZurik for his first place finish at the 2017 National Community Transit Roadeo, which was recently held in Detroit, Michigan. This competition gives drivers from all over the Nation the chance to take part in a little healthy competition and exhibit their talent by driving through a timed obstacle course that imitates real-life situations and difficult scenarios that can occur on the road.

Todd has participated in this competition before, taking third place last year and second place in 2012. This year was Todd's year, as he took first place against 82 other drivers.

Congratulations, Todd. I am glad to know we have skilled drivers like you on our roads safely transporting the members of our community. Keep up the great work.

A Minnesota Soldier, Returning Home

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of Minnesota's finest military families who fought during our Nation's darkest hour. I would especially like to remember one family member who made the ultimate sacrifice and who, after more than a half century, will finally be returned and laid to rest in his beloved home State.

Quentin, Earl, and Harold Gifford all bravely served our Nation during World War II. While Earl and Harold made it home safely, Quentin, who served on the USS Oklahoma, died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

For 75 years, Quentin remained in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, until this year, when his remains were finally identified. The identification of Quentin has brought relief and closure to his family, who never forgot the brother they lost. The Giffords are happy to have the chance to give Quentin the memorial he deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I speak for all Minnesotans when I say we are happy to finally welcome home a hero like Quentin.

2017 Minnesota Farm Families

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the hardworking folks from my district who have been selected as this year's Minnesota Farm Families.

The Minnesota Farm Families program is a longstanding tradition in our State, having taken place for the past 30 years. This program honors the families who have dedicated their lives to agriculture. They are chosen because of their exceptional contribution to advance Minnesota's agriculture industry.

This year, five families from my district were selected for their agricultural contributions to our State. They include Jim and Sally Myers from Anoka County, Rick and Marlene Schlichting from Benton County, Curt and Joni Hedtke from Carver County, the Bahnemann Family Stock Farm in Washington County, and the Kreitlow and Ford family from Wright County.

Farming is not just a profession for these families, it is a way of life. Their hard work and the hard work of families like them make agriculture one of the primary drivers of Minnesota's economy.

Congratulations to the 2017 Minnesota Farm Families. Thank you so much for everything you do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an educator in my district whose dedication to her students has earned her an important award.

Jolene Herfel, who serves as the assistant principal at St. Michael- Albertville High School, was recently named the Vice Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals.

Jolene has served as assistant principal at St. Michael-Albertville High School for 9 years. She is known for her strong leadership and commitment to providing students with a great environment in which to learn and a top-notch education.

She has shown her commitment by consistently improving curriculum and implementing many different programs designed to assist her students. One program she created is called Freshman Connections which helps build relationships between incoming freshman students and their upperclassmen peers.

Successful students are the key to our future, so it is important that we recognize educators like Jolene who are guiding our students on the path to success. Congratulations, Jolene, on being named the Vice Principal of the Year. You deserve it.

St. Cloud Hospital is Recognized as one of the Most Wired Hospitals

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the St. Cloud Hospital for being recognized as one of the most digitally connected hospitals in the Nation. This is not St. Cloud Hospital's first major award. In fact, just last year, they were named one of the top 100 hospitals in the country.

As technology continues to develop and advance, our Nation's hospitals are better suited to provide their patients with the very best care possible, which is exactly what the St. Cloud Hospital does each and every day.

We are proud that the St. Cloud Hospital is a leader in this healthcare industry and in utilizing useful technology, allowing patients to stay in touch with their doctors and nurses, renew prescriptions, gain access to their records, and even take part in virtual physician exams.

This high distinction is the result of the healthcare providers and the information systems staff working for CentraCare Health and the St. Cloud Hospital. Thank you for your service, and thank you for making the St. Cloud Hospital a leader in 21st century healthcare.

The Hubins are Named the Pizza Ranch Franchisees of the Year

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Randall and Sheryl Hubin, the owners of the Pizza Ranch in Andover, on being recognized as the Pizza Ranch Franchisee of the Year.

The Hubins received this award not just because of their dedication to the Pizza Ranch brand but also because of their commitment to the Andover community.

Randall and Sheryl have owned the Pizza Ranch for the past 4 years, and, as a direct result of its success, not only have they been named Franchisee

of the Year, but they were also awarded the Community Impact Award last year.

Opening and operating a franchise business is not an easy job. We appreciate the jobs that people like Randall and Sheryl Hubin create and the commerce they bring to our communities.

Congratulations, Randall and Sheryl, on your award, and thank you for your contribution to Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District and the Andover community.

Recognizing POW/MIA Day

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize National POW/MIA Day and to remember the brave Americans who became prisoners of war during their service and those still missing in action.

Since America's founding, hundreds of thousands of Americans have been held as prisoners of war. To this day, more than 80,000 Americans remain missing in action.

These patriots answered the call of duty during some of our Nation's darkest times. Their service and enormous sacrifice must never be forgotten or taken for granted. So I stand here today reaffirming our Nation's commitment to these Americans.

They deserve to return home, and their families deserve answers. That is why every third Friday in September we not only honor these Americans, but we recommit to our promise to search until every missing soldier is accounted for.

Today, I ask that we all pause for a moment to remember these Americans.

Remember their sacrifice, and if they are still missing, pray for their homecoming.

I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support this en bloc amendment because it contains language I offered to support the hardworking people of Minnesota.

Our amendment halts a last-minute effort by the previous administration that would restrict all leasing, exploration, and potential development of approximately 234,000 acres of Federal land in northeast Minnesota.

If this ban were to take effect, it would have a devastating impact on the economy of my State, as well as our Nation as a whole.

Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources has estimated there are roughly $500 billion worth of minerals in the area proposed for withdrawal, in addition to nearly $3 billion in royalty revenues for Minnesota's Permanent School Trust Fund, which would support almost 900,000 K-12 students statewide.

Through this amendment, we have a real opportunity to get the Federal Government out of the way so this land can remain available for future development to bring much-needed jobs and revenue to the great State of Minnesota.

These efforts have garnered the support of more than 60 members of the Minnesota Legislature, from both parties I might add. We also have the backing of Chairman Bishop of the House Natural Resources Committee, as well as the chairman of the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Representative Paul Gosar.

The National Mining Association, Mining Minnesota, and the Congressional Western Caucus are in favor of the amendment, and it could not be more in line with the current administration's priorities to create jobs and reinvigorate the American economy.

Because we know that somehow, somewhere, someone will find a way to mine the precious metals in this area in a safe and environmentally responsible way----

Mr. Chairman, when that happens, Minnesota deserves to have that opportunity and the jobs and economic prosperity that will ensue.

Again, I thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak in support of my amendment, and I encourage everyone to support the en bloc package.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding athlete from my district who was recently named Minnesota's Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year by Gatorade.

Anna Keefer, a 2017 graduate of St. Michael-Albertville High School, was chosen for this award due to her impressive ability on the track and the excellence she exudes in every aspect of her life.

Anna is a sprinter and jumper. Her accolades include three individual State titles at the Minnesota State High School League AA State Championship meet. She holds the all-time State record in the long jump. Anna also helped bring home the track team championship title to St. Michael-Albertville at the 2017 State meet.

In addition to recognizing Anna with this award, Gatorade also donated a $1,000 grant in Anna's name to a nonprofit of her choice. It gave the grant to the STMA Stallions, a local Special Olympics team, because of her friendships with some of the members on the team.

Anna is attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall and plans to compete on the track team. We can't wait to see what she accomplishes next.

Anna, all of us in Minnesota are so proud of you, and we wish you all the best in your future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission's recent 70th anniversary.

The Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission was created or established in 1915, when a private citizen started Elk River Power and Light. The business was eventually purchased by the village of Elk River and operated by the city council.

Later on, when their responsibilities expanded to include water, the council created the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission.

Throughout the years, this organization has not only seen their responsibilities expand, but their jurisdiction expand as well. In fact, today, the commission covers Otsego, Dayton, and Big Lake, in addition to the Elk River area, providing services to more than 11,000 Minnesota customers.

Thank you to everyone that makes the Elk River Municipal Utilities work, and congratulations on 70 years of great service to our communities.

An Incredible Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Anoka-Champlin Fire Department. Since 1857, this fire department has been dedicated to protecting lives and property in our communities.

To give a little perspective on the history of the organization, the Anoka-Champlin Fire Department has been serving the great State of Minnesota since it was still a territory and before the Civil War.

Due to their hard work and often lifesaving efforts, Anoka and Champlin have been allowed to grow into thriving communities.

I want to thank the cities of Anoka and Champlin for continuing to support this important organization. Thank you for your service and commitment to our communities and their citizens.

Congratulations on your anniversary and upcoming celebration. It is well deserved.

Two Lives Honored for Saving Another

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two men from my State whose quick thinking saved the life of another earlier this year.

Dr. Bob Schwegler and Dr. Tom Cress were both golfing with Steve Blattner at the Albany Golf Course when Steve began to suffer a cardiac event. Instead of panicking, both doctors successfully performed lifesaving measures on Steve, and with the assistance of the Albany Fire Department, their efforts were successful in saving Steve's life.

As a result of their heroic actions, Dr. Schwegler and Dr. Cress were recently presented with lifesaving awards by Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson and Lieutenant Vic Weiss at the Stearns County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Thank you, Bob Schwegler, Tom Cress, and the Albany Fire Department, for your heroic actions. We appreciate your service.

A Perfect Score

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a student in my district for an incredible academic achievement. Tyler Wilson of Andover, Minnesota, received a perfect score on his ACT this year, making him, no doubt, a valuable candidate for most colleges and universities across this country.

To give an idea on how extraordinary that achievement is, only 0.1 percent of all individuals who take the ACT receive a perfect score.

Tyler is going into his senior year at Andover High School. He hopes to attend either Drake University or the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, with the goal of pursuing a career as a pharmacist.

We wish Tyler the best of luck on his senior year in high school, and we are excited to see what this scholar will accomplish in the future.

Congratulations again, Tyler. We are all so proud of you.