Americans we mourn with gold star families, but we cannot feel their pain. Theres nothing anyone can say or do to really comfort families suffering the loss of a loved one, but there is a lot people can say or do to cause grieving families additional pain as weve seen over this past week. As members of congress we are there for our constituents. They are our family. It is our obligation to speak up when they are hurt. The loss of an American Service member should be should not be politicized. Our Fallen Heroes should be honored. Sergeant la David Johnson is an american hero. Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson is an american hero. Staff Sergeant Brian black is an american hero. And Staff SergeantDustin Wright is an american hero. The 28 men and women who have lost lost their lives in service to our country this year are all american heroes. Let us honor their sacrifices and comfort their families, as has been the tradition in this country, until the last week. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize bat week. Which is an annual weeklong event highlighting the important ecological and economic benefits of bats. With more than 1,300 different species worldwide, bats are both diverse in appearance and how they keep ecosystems balanced. Bats play an essential role with insect control, pollination and seed dispersal. One bat can eat 2,000 to 6,000 insects each night, including beetles, flies, mosquitoes and more. Because of their incredible appetites, farmers can use fewer pesticides to control insects. This helps our nations farmers and saves billions of dollars each year. Mr. Speaker, bats also play other roles outside of our ecosystems, including in medical research. Scientists studying vampire bats have created anticlotting medication to help stroke victims. These are just a small portion of the ways a bats ways bats positively impact our daily lives. Im pleased to see these wonderful creatures recognized during bat week. I appreciate the great work being performed by private conservation organizations, fish and wildlife service, forest service, u. S. Geological survey, and many other state partners such as the pennsylvania game commission, on bat week, 2017. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom new york seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in honor of Buffalo Police officer craig lainer who lost his life in the line of duty this past week. On october 13, tragedy struck. Officer lainer went missing while performing underwater Recovery Training in the niagara river. For five days state, local, federal and canadian agencies heroically assisted in the search and recovery. Mr. Higgins officer lainer lived a life of service to his country and to his community. A resident of south buffalo, lainer was a nineyear veteran of the Buffalo Police department, a 16year National Guardsman who served in iraq, and a member of the k9 unit. Those who knew officer lainer knew how much he loved his job and the people of buffalo. Buffalo is the hardest working city in america. The city of good neighbors. In the past several days, theres been an outpouring of support for officer lainers family and the Buffalo Police department. I want to extend thanks to the many brave First Responders who worked around the clock in recovery efforts. Officer lainer, thank you for your service and may you rest in peace. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I seek one minute to address the house to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Every year middle class seniors are forced to pay billions in taxes on their Social Security benefits. This tax is fundamentally not fair and penalizes folks who have paid into the system their entire lives. There is a better way. We should give these seniors a tax cut, let them keep more of their benefits, and create a better, fairer system for all americans. Mr. Messer in 1984, when Congress Passed this tax on seniors, it was designed to only impact high income seniors. About 14 . But the tax was never adjusted for inflation and today fully half of seniors are paying this onerous tax. 280,000 there are over hoosiers making less than 35,000 per year who are subject to this 75,000 per year who are subject to this tax. I introduced the Social Security tax fairness act to give these seniors the tax break they deserve. This bill cuts taxes for seniors and singled and married seniors and ends the marriage penalty on Social Security benefits too. Under this bill, a retired married couple with 70,000 in income would see 2,000 in tax cuts. Its time to deliver tax cuts for every american and this legislation would ensure hoosier seniors arent left behind either. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. I yield thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee citing from the new york times, outside Rachel Roberts house, a skeleton sits on a chair next to a driveway. A skeleton child oints lap. And an empty cup in its hand. And the sign at its feet says, waiting on fema. I want to acknowledge that fema workers from around the country have worked without ceasing. But weve got to do a better job. My constituents in houston, harris county, texas, after harvey are waiting for those inspectors. That is the only way, mr. Speaker, that they can begin the repair of their homes. Many people are there without coverage and truly need to have their homes repaired. Ive given suggestions. I am sorry that we didnt stand up enough federal fema inspectors. But what about College Students . People who are unemployed . Using a fema app, dividing the area in sectors, finishing one sector, then going to another sector. This includes the state of florida as well. People are on hold for hours at a time. I have spoken to those who are now looking at it. I want them to know that i appreciate them taking my call and reviewing this. But reach out for help. We have got to have more inspectacularrers. If we do not have inspectors inspectors. If we do not have inspectors they wont be able to repair their homes. If they cannot repair their homes, theyre living in dangerous conditions. If theyre living in dangerous conditions, the quality of life deteriorates. Help us in texas. We need more fema inspectors, we need them now. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Mr. Olson mr. Speaker, we look at the heavens tonight, you may otice a new bright star. Texans from sugar land and fort ben have seen that star for years. Its our john hancock. John enjoyed life with us for 89 years. John is a native texan. Houston proud. Born on february 13 of 1928. He is a korean army veteran. 33 years with mobile oil. And investment advisor. John loved many things. He loved university of texas football. Hook em horns. He loved his astros, our baseball team. He loved his hometown of sugar land. E loved going to church. He loved to bowl. Bowled 297 when he turned 80. But most of all, he loved his amazing wife, linda. John and linda are in heaven together right now. Lindas there saying, roll tide, for her beloved alabama crimson tide playing their football games. Beat beside her saying, l. A. which is exactly what his beloved astros will do in a few hours. Thank you, john. May the peace of christ be with you and linda forever. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, on october 15, the world celebrated International Day of rural women. And the invaluable global contribution of Women Farmers and small holders. To do our part in expressing solidarity, i rise to introduce this resolution, to commemorate this very important day. According to the united nations, rural women make up over 1 4 of the globes total population and represent 43 of the agricultural work force. They play a Critical Role in agricultural production, food security, and economic stability. Women serve as the bedrock of society. They feed the worlds families, they feed our neighbors and our country men and women. They are admirable role models for younger generations and unfortunately despite this, they still face many societal and economic limitations, both here and abroad. This resolution shines a light on Women Farmers and seeks to empower them to succeed as entrepreneurs. It calls on the people of the United States and the world to recognize their critical contributions and to recommit to reducing barriers and limitations that heretofor have stunted their progress. Let us plant the seeds of home i urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Mr. Poe mr. Speaker, Hurricane Harvey ravaged the coast of texas. Hammering it with 50 inches of rain, massive flooding and massive damage. After the rains stopped, the cision to release water from reservoirs and a lake has left many questions in the houston area. The release of thwart caused even more flooding down stream. Why did the core of engineers open the reservoirs for 15 days . Why werent the communities of humble and kingwood given proper notice of the historic releafs flood water from lake con row . And there are more questions conrow . And there are more questions. So ive introduced the texas flood accountability act. This legislation requires the army corps of engineers to evaluate the cause of the floods and what can be done for longterm plans to prevent flooding in the future. They must produce this plan within 90 days after enactment. We must move from paying for disasters to preventing them. We need a plan, mr. Speaker. And thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the president and Congressional Republicans claim they want to, quote, put more money in the pockets of average americans. Well, the Nonpartisan Tax Policy Center analyzed their plan and they found out what it really does. Mr. Boyle put billionaires first. They found that 80 of the republican tax cuts will go to the richest 1 . But thats not all. Also under their plan, 50 million americans will see a tax increase. Many of them happen to be constituents of mine. Middle class families and working families in pennsylvania. It is wrong to raise the taxes of my constituents to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. That is wrong, it is bad economics. And it will crush our economy. We need an economy that works for everyone. Lets focus tax relief where it counts. And thats on the middle class. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom new york seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, earlier today close to 100 women in wedding gowns from all over our country came to washington, d. C. They came here to give a face and a voice to victims of Domestic Violence. I was also floord by the courage of my colleagues, other members of congress, whose loved ones have been victims and have even been killed because of Domestic Violence. Mr. Espaillat Domestic Violence is something that can impact anybody on any day, even on your wedding day. The brides march honors the memory and tragedy of gladys ricar who on september 26, 1999, lost her life on her wedding day at the hands of her abusive exboyfriend. This march has now spread beyond new york to massachusetts, wisconsin, florida, washington, d. C. , and even other countries, like the dominican republic, mexico, brazil and spain. That is why, mr. Speaker, today i am gladys ricar. We are all gladys ricar. The brides march and the advocacy of new york latinas against Domestic Violence is a thundering statement against Domestic Violence and a remind that are Domestic Violence remains a pressing issue in our communities and sometimes in our families. Mr. Speaker, Domestic Violence and violence against women is unacceptable. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Its been eight years. For eight years from the day barack obama was sworn in until the day he left office, i heard my republican colleagues tell me we werent paying enough attention to the national debt, we were mortgaging our childrens future, we needed to to more to get our debt and deficit under control. To be honest with you, i agreed with what they were saying. Mr. Schrader but now theyre in power, control the presidency, both chambers, what are they doing . Totally ignoring the debt and deficit is what theyre doing. Worse yet, actually, the budget of theirs that has just come out adds 1. 5 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. This is their stated strategy in the budget. Its 1. 5 trillion our children and grandchildren need to pay back. I just cant believe it. The hypocrisy is beyond belief. Apparently my republican colleagues are only fiscally conservative when the democrats are in control. Lets reject this unconscionable budget, work across the aisle for tax reform that actually improves our childrens future. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore does any other member seek recognition . Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2017, the gentleman from california, mr. Garamendi is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Garamendi thank you, mr. Speaker. An interesting week out ahead. As we begin this week, as we look at the budget for the United States of america, as we look and prepare to deal with the tax cut issue, we really ought to start that discussion with a clear understanding of what our goal is. I often use this when i talk to you on the floor because its foundational. Its foundational to what i believe we should use to test the various pieces of legislation that come before us. This would certainly be applicable as we look at the question of the republican budget, which will be on the floor in the next couple of days. Perhaps as early as tomorrow. And of course the tax cuts beyond. And here it is. This is from Franklin Delano roosevelt, f. D. R. This is actually etched into the marble at the memorial for Franklin Delano roosevelt, i came across it one day and i think its a very, very good criteria. To Franklin Delano roosevelt said, the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is rather whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Using this as the criteria to judge the republican budget and the upcoming tax reform or tax cut, we would have to judge both s a miserable failure. Were looking at a situation in which somewhere between 2. 5 trillion to 5 trillion of revenue will be removed from the federal government. Thats about somewhere 250 llion a year to 500 billion of revenue. Doesnt mean a thing until you translate that into real programs. Keep in mind that to reduce the revenue of the federal government somewhere around 500 billion a year, you would have to remove 80 of the total money spent by the dotcht defense in all of the wars and all of the programs that they do in order to make up for that lost revenue. Alternatively, you would have to reduce almost all of the other discretionary funding. No, we wouldnt build a wall, and in fact wed have to fire all the immigration authorities, t. S. A. Would no longer be at our airports. There would no longer be any educational programs. There would be no programs dealing with all of the coast guard. There would be no programs for e department of Homeland Security, department of transportation. 500 billion. Of reduced revenue is possible as a result of both the budget as well as the tax proposals that are coming before the house and the senate in the days ahead. It may be just half that. So we dont have to reduce all those programs. This is a monumental, critical issue. Upon which if we were to use this as the criteria to judge it, we would say, wait a minute, what about national defense. What about all those programs that are necessary for our children, like