All time shall be allocated and no debate shall continue beyond 11 50. Each member shall be limited to five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Kelly, for five minutes. Mr. Kelly i thank the speaker. I rise today to honor one of our football teams back home. This team this is erie cathedral prep, the ramblers from erie cathedral prep. This is an outstanding football teams. When we come here we often talk about things and we tend to talk about whats going around our district and what were proud of. These types of championships that are won, what happened last weekend, this is something that every Single Player will remember for the rest of his life, their parents will remember it, members of the community will remember it. You know, to be able to stand here today and talk about the ramblers is really an opportunity for me and truly an honor. This is the second straight pennsylvania quad a state championship. Cathedral prep beat charter last week by a score of 3828. This years championship makes the ramblers backtoback Pennsylvania State champions, and it is their fourth state football title overall. D by coach mike michler, the ramblers have gone 422, racking up you 28 consecutive wins over the last three seasons. Now, achieving backtoback state titles sets these ramblers apart even in the storied of Pennsylvania StateHigh School Football. And they have a great source of pride for not only the city of erie but all of northwestern pennsylvania. Ts also worth mentioning that Wilmington High School who gave it their all in a loss last pi82a nnsylvanias state title football game. This was the gray hounds third trip under their legendary coach who announced retirement after 40 years on the job right after the game. Amassed 40 years, he 214 wins making him the 15th High School Football coach in pennsylvanias esteemed football history to reach the 300 win plateau. More valuable than any victories are the countless victories he helps his Young Players achieve in their lives off the field and i think sometimes we miss the really the strong point about competition at the scholastic level or any level. I will tell you for both these teams, this erie prep team, for a lot of these young men, this mission started when they were playing little midget football or peewee football and it continued all through their lives. Their parents supporting them as they go along. Their communities supporting them as they go along, and these guys are always one moment, one thought, one memory away from being right back on this field in hershey, pennsylvania, and winning the state title. The same with the greyhounds. Theres no other place in High School Football history when you talk about High School Football. People talk about texas. They talk about pennsylvania. But i got to tell you. The friday night lights story started in pennsylvania. With all due respect to my friends from texas, the keystone state was the first when it came to friday night lights. And the great pride it brought to these communities. The 2017 teams of cathedral prep and Wilmington High School along with pine richland rams which is just outside the Third District and they won a state championship, again, they add to this really storied history of football in western pennsylvania. More importantly, they add to the local lohr and pride of strength in communities like erie and new wilmington, pennsylvania. The hard work, the perseverance, the Hometown Pride that allowed each of these teams to reach a championship is a reflection on the communities, the families, and the people that live in these towns. So, again, i say to the ramblers, the rams, congratulations, great job, guys. Although i am a golden tornado from butler, pennsylvania, i am proud to say go ramblers, go greyhounds, and go, rams. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. By now enough of the harsh reality of the republican tax has been discovered by americans. That is why most are opposed. They oppose a huge transfer of wealth to those who dont need it from the majority of middleclass americans who do need help. Theyre against giving hundreds of billions of dollars to the largest corporations and the richest americans with increased borrowing on our children and grandchildren. Their proposal would cost about 2. 3 trillion increased debt and interest. Theyre raising taxes on almost nine million middleincome people with very high medical bills. The alzheimers tax is a bad idea, and people hate it. People noticed that the huge permanent tax breaks for business and the wealthy, theyve got theirs, but the tax relief for middle americans is temporary and will disappear over time. By 2023, the average american who makes 30,000 a year or ess will see a tax increase. By 2027, all tax brackets under 75,000 are going to see a tax increase. Because the republicans will change the way that tax brackets are adjusted for inflation, were going to see people pulled up into ever higher tax rates, a stealth tax increase. For middleclass americans, their tax relief is a political football while the rich and the powerful are protected. Of course, there are other strange changes that are going to come out things that are ongoing come out on an basis. Its still being massaged behind the scenes. For example, we found this last weekend that some professionals ho make between 500,000 and 650,000 a year are going to pay a marginal tax rate of over 100 . For that extra 100 they make, theyre going to pay 107 in taxes. Absolutely insane. People are noticing that this proposal is triggering spending cuts for medicare, 25 billion scheduled for next year, and medicaid cuts for the elderly and disabled are on the horizon. There are more reasons to oppose this proposal than i have time to list here this morning, but perhaps the most fundamental flaw has not been given nearly enough attention. The republicans would change taxation based on how you make your money, not how much you make. The very highest taxes will be on the way that 80 of americans make their income, w2 salary and wages are going to pay the highest rate. Its going to be collected on each paycheck and very hard to cut corners. This is going to open a whole new industry. When people find that a c. P. A. Who works for a corporation making exactly the same money as somebody who is a professional doing exactly the same job but pays far more in taxes, people are going to cash in on a whole new industry in terms of how people can change ow their income is characterized. There will be a professional corporation, a passthrough business, partnerships, closely held corporations, they will all be treated differently based on ownership, the daytoday level of involvement and the organizational structure. In short, all the people who employ lobbyists are going to be able to find a way to pay a lower tax rate than people who just get a paycheck for salary and wages. Since when does reform of the tax system take this perverted form . In fact, those people who are going to be changing the form to those other structures will be able to deduct as corporations will their state and local property taxes, but individuals will not. Its unfair, its unwise. This massive transfer of wealth to the people who need it the least financed by our children and grandchildren with higher debt and creating a different class of taxpayer based not on how much you make but how clever you are to be able to utilize differences that are created by the army of lobbyists that are at work here on capitol hill. It should be rejected. The speaker pro tempore the chair now recognizes the gentleman from kansas, mr. Marshall, for five minutes. Mr. Marshall mr. Speaker, i rise today to say thanks to our active duty military men and women who serve our country and protect our freedoms and a special thanks to my soldiers from fort riley who represent the big red one, the first infantry division, whos lapel pen i proudly wear today, and and women at Mcconnell Air force base who proudly serve this country. As we approach the Holiday Season, many will be surrounded by loved ones but and women at forget the loved ones who sacrifice their time for the safety of our nation. Keeping our troops in our thoughts is not enough, however. Congress must move past the brinksmanship and procrastination that moves our government funded moving from one continuing resolution to the next. Failing to provide funding for a full fiscal year not only creates crises but it robs our National Defense agencies of the ability to plan, make smart funding decisions and ensure our war fighters are being sent to battle with every advantage at their disposal. This budgetary uncertainty has eroded the readiness of our military. Defense secretary mattis stated that the sequestration has done more to harm our troops readiness than any enemy abroad. As threats continue to expand across the globe, its important that our troops have the resources needed to complete their missions successfully and return home safely. As the Holiday Season approaches, i want to urge those at home to remember the sacrifices being made by our soldiers to ensure we celebrate the holidays safely. I also urge my colleagues to address this crises by fulling a full Year Spending bill for the military, to raise the defense spending caps, and to give our troops the raise they deserve. While our troops have performed exceptionally under uncertain budget and limited resources, its past Time Congress does its part. And with that, mr. Speaker, i ield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair now recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, for five minutes. Mr. Green thank you, mr. Speaker, and members. I rise for the thousands of hurricane disaster victims in our district in houston and hairs county, texas, along the texas gulf coast who are suffering this Holiday Season due to the federal governments inaction and Congress Delay in passing an adequate disaster supplemental bill. Texas, louisiana, puerto rico, Virgin Islands are all u. S. Citizens. Hurricane harvey destruction was beyond anything witnessed in living memory in texas. Houston area typically gets 49 inches of rain throughout the year. A record 52 inches of rain fell in houston and the texas gulf coast, causing catastrophic flooding in the nations fourth largest city. Harvey damaged over 300,000 homes and apartments in the city of houston alone. Statewide nearly 600,000 homes have been inspected by fema for flood and wind damage. Most tragically 88 texans lost their lives in harveys wrath. Texans are a proud and independent people. We take our pride in our selfreliance and cando attitude. This was best seen in the actions in our brave First Responders and countless volunteers from all over the country who rescued their neighbors during the worst flooding. Unfortunately, many Harvey Victims and especially our seniors and lowincome families continue to be in great need and must rely on others for help. A report released last week by the Kaiser Family foundation found that africanamerican and hispanic texans and texans with lower incomes were most likely to suffer Property Damage or loss of income due to harvey. The same report found that 50 of all Harvey Disaster victims in texas had been denied assistance from the federal government or still waiting for a final answer. To date, the federal government has provided just 10 billion in aid for Harvey Victims. Much more federal aid is needed to rebuild houston, harris county, and the texas gulf coast. After Hurricane Katrina hit louisiana and mississippi, Congress Responded by passing a disaster bill that provided 120 billion to rebuild new orleans and surrounding areas. The governor of texas has equested 60 billionplus. Three months after sandy made landfall, Congress Passed a 50,000 Disaster Relief bill to help new york and new jersey house leadership is delaying supplemental aid that ravaged us for another month after christmas or new years. December 25, Christmas Day will mark the fourmonth anniversary of harveys land fall. The people of texas deserve better. The people in our districts are living in tents and flooded and moldy houses. America can do better than this. During this season of giving, Congress Must act and help these disaster victims in need or texas will suffer a second manmade disaster by the United States congress. And i yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Rothfus, for five minutes. Mr. Rothfus mr. Speaker, not only was western pennsylvania hit by a entrepreneury of snow this past weekend but by great pride in High School Football, this past saturday, Quaker ValleyHigh School Football team won the state championship trophy in the Athletic Association class aa with two rankings that would merit them as underdogs. With a new coach, the quakers tackled their way into history. They defeated their opponent by 17 points. These state champions are to be commended for their grit and their perseverance. It was an great game. Congratulations to the coach and the entire Coaching Staff and the players who are exceling in this western pennsylvania tradition. Mr. Speaker, on saturday, in front of a crowd exceeding 2,000 people at snow covered hershey park stadium, western pennsylvania pine land rams with a 4121 victory, they won the state championship in the pennsylvania Athletic Association class 6a class. It was an unforgettable win that cemented their state championship season. Congratulations to the coach, the entire Coaching Staff and the players ex selling in this Great Western pennsylvania tradition. Well done, rams. Your dedication and hard work has made the high school and all of western pennsylvania proud. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from district of columbia, ms. Norton, for five minutes. Ms. Norton mr. Speaker, 44 years ago this month, Congress Passed the home rule act, a republican president signed a Democratic Congress together with the president freed the Nations Capital from government by three unelected commissioners. The irony is that the selfgovernment that the democratic that the district of columbia enjoys today is a virt tall replica of what a Republican Congress and a republican president granted to the district of columbia right after the civil war. It was a home rule act and a delegate to congress. But with construction and democratic control, democrats took back what republicans had granted and once again, democrats denied the district of columbia selfgovernment. Then 44 years ago, with bipartisan support, after 100 years of struggle, the district of columbia finally won what we call home rule. My colleagues should respect their own history. It was Richard Nixon who signed the home rule act acting on the most reveered as far as we are told of republican principles, local control a local resident should always have a democratically elected local government controlled entirely by that government. The district has become one of the most successful jurisdictions in the united 3tes since home rule with a billion federal budget and before and after home rule. District of columbia residents have always paid federal income taxes. Today d. C. Residents rank number ne, thats first per capita in taxes paid to support the government of the United States. It is signing bill for the home rule act, president nixon wrote one of the major goals is to place responsibility for local functions under local control and to provide local government with authority and resources they need to serve the communities to serve their communities effectively. Since Congress Granted the home rule act, it has shown no interest in governing the district of columbia but requires the d. C. Budget to actually be passed again here by congress for the sole purpose of seeking to overturn local laws that members of congress dont support. The basis for our federation of states is that each has his own laws and must be respected. And yet there are eight different laws pending here to be overturned by the congress of the United States. I intend and i believe i will be to get to retain most of those laws, but why should i have to spend any of my time protecting local laws passed by my local jurisdiction . They range from trying to get rid of all the districts gun laws and making the district pay for private schools out of local funds, medical aid and dying law that six states have, we would not be allowed to have, although two Republican Leaders have bills in their states. Budget autonomy law, no discriminations, based on reproductive choices, no marijuana spending, local funds on marijuana commercialization, although that is done by seven states and the prohibition on spending for abortion for lowincome women. Thats done by 11 states. This is a sampli