Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. Hou

Of the bill. The clerk h. R. 4533, a bill to better the Health Care System as the lexington v. A. Health care system and to make certain other designations. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 40 , the nays are 0. 0 recording present. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from washington from reichert, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 4979 as amended. On which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. Caller h. R. 4979, to make technical changes to the limitations of the program. The speaker pro tempore the question is on will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended . Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a five hch minute vote. Fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 400. The nays are two. 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the railroads are suspended, the rules are suspended and the bill is passed. Without objection, the motion s laid on the table. The motion to reskr laid on the table to reconsider is laid n the table. The house will be in order. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Burgess mr. Speaker, i send to the desk a privileged report from the committee on rules for filing under the rule. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title. The clerk report to accompany House Resolution 736. Resolution providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 620, to amend the americans with disabilities act of 1990, to promote compliance through education, to clarify the requirements for demand letters , to provide for a notice and cure period before the commencement of a private civil action and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 3299, to amemmed the revised statutes, the home owners loan act, the federal credit union act, and the federal deposit insurance act, to inquire to require the rate of interest on certain loans remain unchanged after transfer of the loan and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 3978. To amend the real estate settlement procedures act of 1974. To modify requirements related to mortgage disclosures and for other purposes. And providing for proceedings during the period from february 16, 2018, through february 23, 2018. The speaker pro tempore referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. The house will be in order. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlelady from florida seek recognition . He house will be in order. Without objection, the gentlelady will be recognized for one minute. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Roslehtinen mr. Speaker, as we observe american heart month, we are reminded of how important diet and lifestyle choices are to our health. Sadly Heart Disease remains the leading cause of death in our country. Making heart healthy choices, knowing your familys heart history, and regular checkups are all integral parts for cardio vague collar health. Organizations like Cardiovascular Health. Organizations like mine in iamidade work alongside clinics. This month it has partnered with familywide, a program that provides access to affordable prescription medications. The university of miamis heart aware has Risk Assessment and its an online Screening Survey offered by uhealth. This Program Helps patients identify their risk for developing cardiovascular disease, learn the next steps based on their risk factors, and promotes Lifestyle Changes to lower their risk of Heart Disease. Let us all take time during american heart month to focus on our hearts and encourage not only ourselves, but our family and friends to live healthier lives. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Will members please take their conversations off the floor. For what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island eek recognition . Mr. Langevin mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Langevin mr. Speaker, as cochair of the bipartisan career and Technical Education caucus, i rise in recognition of national c. T. E. Month. C. T. E. Programs train students of all ages for jobs in highschool, highdemand and highpaying fields. By establishing partnerships between educators and industry leaders, c. T. E. Helps build a welleducated and skilled Work Force Ready to meet local business needs. Roiled, an education center, by way of example, collaborates with electric boat to train pipe fitting students like stephanie and richard to build our nations our nations next generation submarines. And it partners with c. V. S. And Building Futures and anpresentitiesship roiled to train workers rhode island to train workers rhode island to train workers. It narrows that gap between what were teaching in schools and what the needs of businesses really are. And im proud to introduce a resolution celebrating c. T. E. Month with my friend and colleague and caucus cochair, representative g. T. Thompson. I urge my colleagues to join us in celebrating h. Resolution 730 and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Paulsen mr. Speaker, i rise to share my strong support for the Medicare Advantage program. I recently led a bipartisan letter with 298 members of the house to the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services or c. M. S. And urging them to preserve and strengthen Medicare Advantage. Millions of seniors rely on Medicare Advantage. And they need access to the highquality Health Care Plan choices that Medicare Advantage plans provide. C. M. S. Will soon be issuing final policy and payment updates. These changes will have wide implications on Medicare Beneficiaries throughout the country. Our letter calls on c. M. S. To preserve the programs integrity and existing incentives for m. A. Plans that will offer high quality, efficient and patientcentered Coverage Options for consumers. So, mr. Speaker, the Medicare Advantage Program Covers nearly 19 million seniors across the country and provides care coordination, disease management programs, outofpocket spending limits, access to communitybased programs and additional Supplemental Benefits like vision, dental and even Prescription Drug coverage. We need c. M. S. To continue to strengthen and enhance Medicare Advantage for our seniors. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . To address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Mr. Speaker, on monday President Trump introduced his infrastructure plan and while it covered many conventional infrastructure questions, it also singled out the need to modernize career, technical and Vocational Education programs. Mr. Krishnamoorthi at a time when six million jobs across the country remain vacant because employers cant find workers with the skills they require, it is vital that we expand these programs to meet the needs of students, workers and businesses. The president s plan highlights the importance of modernizing career and technical and Vocational Education programs to guarantee that workers have the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen career. Last month as well the president chose to highlight the importance of career Technical Education to our economy in his state of the union address. Fortunately the house has already passed congressman thompsons and my bill to reauthorize career Technical Education programs. Now with the president s support, i am confident that our Senate Colleagues will act and move this Bipartisan Legislation further without undue delay. Our students need it. Our businesses need it. And our economy needs it right now. I yield back. 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, 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, for more than 50 years weve reserved february as american heart month. Heart disease is the nations number one killer and during this month we reaffirm our commitment to combating Heart Disease and educating all people about the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Mr. Speaker, before i came to congress, i worked for nearly 30 years as a therapist rehab manager and licensed nursing home administrator. I understand the unique challenges facing individuals who have suffered a stroke or other lifechanging injuries. And often it is a long road to recovery. But an active lifestyle can help lower blood pressure, boost levels of good cholesterol and improve blood flow and more. Cardiovascular disease, including Heart Disease and stroke, remain the leading cause of death globally. With more than 17. 9 Million Deaths each year. By making but by making healthy choices, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, individuals can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 80 . I hope that heart month 2018 inspires more americans to take control of their Cardiovascular Health and begin a Healthy Lifestyle journey. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california eek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Eshoo i pay tribute to a very good and great man, Ranking Member balm. He was the staff director of the energy and Commerce Committee and came to washington, d. C. , to take on the senior policy role at the committee and the subcommittee on telecommunications and technology. He was a gentleman. He was scholarly in terms of his understanding of the issues. He served in the oregon state house of house of representatives. He served on the Public Utilities commission on the state of oregon and chairman of that committee and so his deep and Broad Knowledge is something that we all benefited from. I think the house and our country has lost a true patriot. Ray was a man of great faith. He had two great loves in his life, christine, his wife, and together, their six children and their 10 grandchildren. He was only 6 years old. And Public Service. And Public Service. And so he loved his country. He gave Great Service to his country. And i feel very blessed to have served with him at the committee nd to have formed a friendship that will last with me all the days of my life. God bless you, ray. Thank you for your example and the role model that you have been to so many of us. May you rest in peace. And may we will always remember you with love, with affection. Always i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Tonight, i recognize the incredible expansion of hoenixmesa gateway airport. Gateway reopened in 1994 and provides commercial airline rvice to 35 destinations and contributes to 1. 3 p billion sm it sets new records. Last year, it saw a 9 increase making 2017 the second busiest year in the airports history. I expect them to shatter expectations in 2018. It will help fall sill tate trade between United States and mexico and will create thousands f jobs and unleash millions of dollars. Thank you who are committed to gateway airports success. It wouldnt be successful without your dedication. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection the woman is recognized. Ms. Kaptur i call to the bad deals President Trump continues to push onto the American People. As the administration continues to celebrate rewarding the top 1 with its bonansa. He is looking to slash social security, heating assistance for the elderly and food for hungry people. The president s budget is unrealistic and it is cruel. But Congress Holds the power of the purse and we intend to employ it. Now, when you think about it, President Trumps hollow 1. 5 trillion infrastructure plan actually only includes 200 billion in federal investments and expects the states to come up with five times that much. Some would call it a ponzi scheme. And he passes the buck to struggling states and local governments. Maybe some of you represent places that can afford of that. We cant afford in ohio. He short changes his real chance to invest in america. Hether its the deficitbudget busing budget. The people need more solutions ot more hollow promises. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Without objection. Mr. Speaker, on february 9, the Winter Olympics began in south korea. As we celebrate the worldcoming together, im extremely proud and excited to floridas third strict has three young speed skaters that are competing. Brittany, erin and joey are from ocala. Mr. Yoho these athletesville perfected their skills through regular training. Er inspent four months training on ice before earning her spot making her spot as the first africanamerican woman, even more remarkable. They are from floridas third and we are rooting for you and you will make our nation proud. Good luck and go team u. S. A. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Payne mr. Speaker, i rise school honor a high senior from glen ridge, new jersey for becoming the first africanamerican eagle scott of troop 55. This will young man is a resident of my district along with others in his troop. He led the effort to build an outdoor classroom at the a Child Development center. The Center Serves underprivileged center and focuses on teaching them life skills and social skills as well. He has spent time painting schools, volunteering for nonprofits and serving as treasurer of the youth branch of the month claire naacp and wants to pursue a career in business or law. He is one of the many examples of young people in my district making plaque History Month every day. I ask my colleagues to join me in congrat lating in receiving his eagle scout ranking. And with that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Permission to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to remember dr. James e. Carter of my hometown, who passed away on february 12. For over 50 years, he served generations of families earning the title of doctor of the year by the American Academy of physicians and being named one of the nations top family doctors. He was not only a beloved doctor and a leader of one of kentuckys families. His father also held countless political offices. His uncle was a u. S. Congressman, his father and his ncle held the same circuit judgeship for nearly a century. E was Monroe County g. O. P. Chair. We have lost one of our greatest Health Care System<\/a> as the lexington v. A. Health care system and to make certain other designations. The speaker pro tempore the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States<\/a> house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 40 , the nays are 0. 0 recording present. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business<\/a> is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from washington from reichert, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 4979 as amended. On which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. Caller h. R. 4979, to make technical changes to the limitations of the program. The speaker pro tempore the question is on will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended . Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a five hch minute vote. Fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States<\/a> house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 400. The nays are two. 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the railroads are suspended, the rules are suspended and the bill is passed. Without objection, the motion s laid on the table. The motion to reskr laid on the table to reconsider is laid n the table. The house will be in order. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Burgess mr. Speaker, i send to the desk a privileged report from the committee on rules for filing under the rule. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title. The clerk report to accompany House Resolution<\/a> 736. Resolution providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 620, to amend the americans with disabilities act of 1990, to promote compliance through education, to clarify the requirements for demand letters , to provide for a notice and cure period before the commencement of a private civil action and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 3299, to amemmed the revised statutes, the home owners loan act, the federal credit union act, and the federal deposit insurance act, to inquire to require the rate of interest on certain loans remain unchanged after transfer of the loan and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of the bill, h. R. 3978. To amend the real estate settlement procedures act of 1974. To modify requirements related to mortgage disclosures and for other purposes. And providing for proceedings during the period from february 16, 2018, through february 23, 2018. The speaker pro tempore referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. The house will be in order. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlelady from florida seek recognition . He house will be in order. Without objection, the gentlelady will be recognized for one minute. Ms. Roslehtinen thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Roslehtinen mr. Speaker, as we observe american heart month, we are reminded of how important diet and lifestyle choices are to our health. Sadly Heart Disease<\/a> remains the leading cause of death in our country. Making heart healthy choices, knowing your familys heart history, and regular checkups are all integral parts for cardio vague collar health. Organizations like Cardiovascular Health<\/a>. Organizations like mine in iamidade work alongside clinics. This month it has partnered with familywide, a program that provides access to affordable prescription medications. The university of miamis heart aware has Risk Assessment<\/a> and its an online Screening Survey<\/a> offered by uhealth. This Program Helps<\/a> patients identify their risk for developing cardiovascular disease, learn the next steps based on their risk factors, and promotes Lifestyle Changes<\/a> to lower their risk of Heart Disease<\/a>. Let us all take time during american heart month to focus on our hearts and encourage not only ourselves, but our family and friends to live healthier lives. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Will members please take their conversations off the floor. For what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island eek recognition . Mr. Langevin mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Langevin mr. Speaker, as cochair of the bipartisan career and Technical Education<\/a> caucus, i rise in recognition of national c. T. E. Month. C. T. E. Programs train students of all ages for jobs in highschool, highdemand and highpaying fields. By establishing partnerships between educators and industry leaders, c. T. E. Helps build a welleducated and skilled Work Force Ready<\/a> to meet local business needs. Roiled, an education center, by way of example, collaborates with electric boat to train pipe fitting students like stephanie and richard to build our nations our nations next generation submarines. And it partners with c. V. S. And Building Futures<\/a> and anpresentitiesship roiled to train workers rhode island to train workers rhode island to train workers. It narrows that gap between what were teaching in schools and what the needs of businesses really are. And im proud to introduce a resolution celebrating c. T. E. Month with my friend and colleague and caucus cochair, representative g. T. Thompson. I urge my colleagues to join us in celebrating h. Resolution 730 and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Paulsen mr. Speaker, i rise to share my strong support for the Medicare Advantage<\/a> program. I recently led a bipartisan letter with 298 members of the house to the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services<\/a> or c. M. S. And urging them to preserve and strengthen Medicare Advantage<\/a>. Millions of seniors rely on Medicare Advantage<\/a>. And they need access to the highquality Health Care Plan<\/a> choices that Medicare Advantage<\/a> plans provide. C. M. S. Will soon be issuing final policy and payment updates. These changes will have wide implications on Medicare Beneficiaries<\/a> throughout the country. Our letter calls on c. M. S. To preserve the programs integrity and existing incentives for m. A. Plans that will offer high quality, efficient and patientcentered Coverage Options<\/a> for consumers. So, mr. Speaker, the Medicare Advantage<\/a> Program Covers<\/a> nearly 19 million seniors across the country and provides care coordination, disease management programs, outofpocket spending limits, access to communitybased programs and additional Supplemental Benefits<\/a> like vision, dental and even Prescription Drug<\/a> coverage. We need c. M. S. To continue to strengthen and enhance Medicare Advantage<\/a> for our seniors. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . To address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one inute. Mr. Speaker, on monday President Trump<\/a> introduced his infrastructure plan and while it covered many conventional infrastructure questions, it also singled out the need to modernize career, technical and Vocational Education<\/a> programs. Mr. Krishnamoorthi at a time when six million jobs across the country remain vacant because employers cant find workers with the skills they require, it is vital that we expand these programs to meet the needs of students, workers and businesses. The president s plan highlights the importance of modernizing career and technical and Vocational Education<\/a> programs to guarantee that workers have the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen career. Last month as well the president chose to highlight the importance of career Technical Education<\/a> to our economy in his state of the union address. Fortunately the house has already passed congressman thompsons and my bill to reauthorize career Technical Education<\/a> programs. Now with the president s support, i am confident that our Senate Colleagues<\/a> will act and move this Bipartisan Legislation<\/a> further without undue delay. Our students need it. Our businesses need it. And our economy needs it right now. I yield back. 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, 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, for more than 50 years weve reserved february as american heart month. Heart disease is the nations number one killer and during this month we reaffirm our commitment to combating Heart Disease<\/a> and educating all people about the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Mr. Speaker, before i came to congress, i worked for nearly 30 years as a therapist rehab manager and licensed nursing home administrator. I understand the unique challenges facing individuals who have suffered a stroke or other lifechanging injuries. And often it is a long road to recovery. But an active lifestyle can help lower blood pressure, boost levels of good cholesterol and improve blood flow and more. Cardiovascular disease, including Heart Disease<\/a> and stroke, remain the leading cause of death globally. With more than 17. 9 Million Deaths<\/a> each year. By making but by making healthy choices, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, individuals can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 80 . I hope that heart month 2018 inspires more americans to take control of their Cardiovascular Health<\/a> and begin a Healthy Lifestyle<\/a> journey. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california eek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Eshoo i pay tribute to a very good and great man, Ranking Member<\/a> balm. He was the staff director of the energy and Commerce Committee<\/a> and came to washington, d. C. , to take on the senior policy role at the committee and the subcommittee on telecommunications and technology. He was a gentleman. He was scholarly in terms of his understanding of the issues. He served in the oregon state house of house of representatives. He served on the Public Utilities<\/a> commission on the state of oregon and chairman of that committee and so his deep and Broad Knowledge<\/a> is something that we all benefited from. I think the house and our country has lost a true patriot. Ray was a man of great faith. He had two great loves in his life, christine, his wife, and together, their six children and their 10 grandchildren. He was only 6 years old. And Public Service<\/a>. And Public Service<\/a>. And so he loved his country. He gave Great Service<\/a> to his country. And i feel very blessed to have served with him at the committee nd to have formed a friendship that will last with me all the days of my life. God bless you, ray. Thank you for your example and the role model that you have been to so many of us. May you rest in peace. And may we will always remember you with love, with affection. Always i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Tonight, i recognize the incredible expansion of hoenixmesa gateway airport. Gateway reopened in 1994 and provides commercial airline rvice to 35 destinations and contributes to 1. 3 p billion sm it sets new records. Last year, it saw a 9 increase making 2017 the second busiest year in the airports history. I expect them to shatter expectations in 2018. It will help fall sill tate trade between United States<\/a> and mexico and will create thousands f jobs and unleash millions of dollars. Thank you who are committed to gateway airports success. It wouldnt be successful without your dedication. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection the woman is recognized. Ms. Kaptur i call to the bad deals President Trump<\/a> continues to push onto the American People<\/a>. As the administration continues to celebrate rewarding the top 1 with its bonansa. He is looking to slash social security, heating assistance for the elderly and food for hungry people. The president s budget is unrealistic and it is cruel. But Congress Holds<\/a> the power of the purse and we intend to employ it. Now, when you think about it, President Trump<\/a>s hollow 1. 5 trillion infrastructure plan actually only includes 200 billion in federal investments and expects the states to come up with five times that much. Some would call it a ponzi scheme. And he passes the buck to struggling states and local governments. Maybe some of you represent places that can afford of that. We cant afford in ohio. He short changes his real chance to invest in america. Hether its the deficitbudget busing budget. The people need more solutions ot more hollow promises. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Without objection. Mr. Speaker, on february 9, the Winter Olympics<\/a> began in south korea. As we celebrate the worldcoming together, im extremely proud and excited to floridas third strict has three young speed skaters that are competing. Brittany, erin and joey are from ocala. Mr. Yoho these athletesville perfected their skills through regular training. Er inspent four months training on ice before earning her spot making her spot as the first africanamerican woman, even more remarkable. They are from floridas third and we are rooting for you and you will make our nation proud. Good luck and go team u. S. A. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Payne mr. Speaker, i rise school honor a high senior from glen ridge, new jersey for becoming the first africanamerican eagle scott of troop 55. This will young man is a resident of my district along with others in his troop. He led the effort to build an outdoor classroom at the a Child Development<\/a> center. The Center Serves<\/a> underprivileged center and focuses on teaching them life skills and social skills as well. He has spent time painting schools, volunteering for nonprofits and serving as treasurer of the youth branch of the month claire naacp and wants to pursue a career in business or law. He is one of the many examples of young people in my district making plaque History Month<\/a> every day. I ask my colleagues to join me in congrat lating in receiving his eagle scout ranking. And with that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Permission to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to remember dr. James e. Carter of my hometown, who passed away on february 12. For over 50 years, he served generations of families earning the title of doctor of the year by the American Academy<\/a> of physicians and being named one of the nations top family doctors. He was not only a beloved doctor and a leader of one of kentuckys families. His father also held countless political offices. His uncle was a u. S. Congressman, his father and his ncle held the same circuit judgeship for nearly a century. E was Monroe County<\/a> g. O. P. Chair. We have lost one of our greatest Public Servant<\/a>s, i celebrate his accomplishments and reflecting on his meaningful compassion nature lives. M, tom and cindy and marry katherine. Thank you. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Pallone i come to the floor pay tribute to republican staff director of the house energy and Commerce Committee<\/a>. I always remember ray as an optimist. Ray was always pushing us looking for a solution that both democrats and republicans could support and he was optimistic about our prospects and thanks to his prodding and we ar able to pass a bipartisan bill out of the committee and ray was committed to being a Public Servant<\/a> when we marked up the a. C. A. Repeal bill and ray was sick at that time but refused to leave the markup and chairman walden convinced ray to go home but that didnt stop him watching the debate on cspan from home and my staff were getting emails from him. My thoughts and prayers go out to rays family and everyone else who knew ray. He will be sorely missed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Permission to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Olson mr. Speaker, im honored to work with the texans f a small town of the river. And its called the Country Store<\/a> and cafe. In 2016 and ited with Hurricane Harvey<\/a> in august of last year. 6 00 a. M. , exactly one week o, they beat Mother Nature<\/a> again. As you can see in this photograph, yoder, gillespie and off camera and she is watching she is watching maria welcome in home to walpers. I dropped by last saturday. D had a homemade breakfast martha was smiling. And as i filled up, her shirt says, texas strong. Ropers t really says is strong. Welcome home ropers, welcome home. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. I rise today to honor pastor b. R. Daniels as he celebrates 45 years of service at the Baptist Church<\/a> in fort worth, texas on february 18. From an early age, it was his love for the word of god that study. A religious and he graduated with a masters egree in Christian Education<\/a> nrl colorado. Insfaled as a pastor, his leadership raised the churchs profile and membership to nearly 1,000 members. Is due to pastor daniels dynamic leadership that 3. 2 Million Building<\/a> was completed and completed in 2016. He continues to be an active member of the community by being a moderator of the Baptist Association<\/a> and holding positions around the city. Mr. Speaker, im honored to celebrate his 45th pastorial anniversary and years of spiritual leadership to our community. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Poe over the weekend, i went to the texasmexico border nearla reado. River. Time along the the cartel controls a smuggling operation of people and drugs. They have people on roof tops on both sides of the border using sell phones to look for the border patrol. Every one pays to be smuggled across the rio grande. D 3,000 to 5,000 for a Central American<\/a> and 15,000 or 0,000 from people from bangladesh. The crime gang uses stash houses to conceal border crossers. When the coast is close, they move people further into texas and throughout the country. This is a sophisticated criminal network. The outlaw cartel makes million of dollars. Enough with the rhetoric. Secure america first. And thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore are there any other requests for one minute speeches. The chair lays before the house the following personal requests. The clerk mr. Duncan of South Carolina<\/a> for today and tomorrow and mr. Stivers for today and for tomorrow. Without objection. The requests are granted. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2017, mr. Garamendi is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Garamendi i thank you, mr. Speaker. I was trying to add up the number of times that weve been here on the floor over the last decade to talk about infrastructure. And i suspect its like maybe 20 or 30 times that weve talked about it. And this last weekend, guess what happened on monday. The president decides to talk about infrastructure. So here we are. On tuesday, were going to pick up the issue of infrastructure and let me just take a quick tour. Since they dont allow movies or slides here on the floor. Were going to run through these fast. Some of you remember this. This was one year ago yesterday. When the oroville dam spillway gave way and we had the bette biggest water fall in the entire world had the biggest water fall in the entire world. Came close to wiping out 200,000 people. Bad maintenance problem. Or maybe this one. This is not the bridge to nowhere. This is interstate 5 bridge between seattle and vancouver. Vancouver, british colombia. It collapsed. And i5 didnt work. Or maybe this one. Oh, i think youve heard about this. That would be the water at flint, michigan. Still havent solved the entire problem. But, you know, maybe several thousand kids and families were drinking contaminated water, water contaminated with lead. And i didnt need to go all the way back to flint, michigan, to find a problem. In my my own state of california, many in my own state of california, many communities are facing the same problem. Either contaminated water or no water. Weve got an infrastructure problem. Dams breaking. Bridges falling. Water contaminated. You wondering why, well, this is illustrative. You see way, way back in 1973 we were spending somewhere, on t 10 billion a year clean water. And sanitation. Drinking water. And over the years weve seen a decline. This is constant dollars. 2014 dollars. Weve seen a decline in the purchasing power. So that in 2016 we were somewhere around 2 billion. So from 10 billion to 2 billion. You wonder why we have a problem . Were not spending the money on it. And so the American Society<\/a> of Civil Engineers<\/a> comes out with an annual report card. Now, if your kids sent home this report card, you might have a serious conversation with them. So, donald trump comes into office and, whoa, we got an infrastructure problem. And he comes up with a solution to address this report card from the American Society<\/a> of Civil Engineers<\/a>. Oh, aviation, d. Bridges, cplus. Dams, d. Drinking water, d. Lets go over here. Rail is a b. Thats good. But most of those are private companies. Ports are cplus. Parks and recreation, d. Schools, dplus. Solid waste, transit, d, d, d, all the way down. Yep. We have a problem. We have a serious problem. And so what does it mean . If we were to solve the problem . Well, here, lets solve that problem. Well turn this around. Well, the problem is all of those ds that you saw. So what if we were to spend 1, well, how about 1 billion, on transportation infrastructure . The return to the economy is somewhere around 3. 54. Or for every 1 billion that we invest in transportation infrastructure, 21,7 21,6771 jobs. Six 21,671 jobs. Six years of annual funding pport 2. 1 million american jobs. W, what is it that our esteemed president proposed . Well, heres his infrastructure plan. He cuts more than 168 billion over the next 10 years from existing transportation and Infrastructure Program<\/a>s. He provides wall street with an opportunity to invest. And slashes the federal investments and passes the buck to the cities and the counties in the state. Thats his infrastructure plan. Oh, did i tell you he said he had 200 billion that he was ing to use to leverage 1,300,000,000,000 of private money . Well, it doesnt really work. And were going to talk about that. Because what actually happens, hat 200 billion, that is so beautiful, so awesome, incredible. What is it . Well, lets see. Ive already said that from the ighway safety programs, total, 122 billion. From the tiger grant, which are very preponderate lar, these are grants that go out popular, these are grants that go out to local entities to build specific transportation programs, like intermodal train, bus, rail, highway stations, cuts that by 5 billion. Mtrak, cuts that by 7 billion. Over the next 10 years. Rural air service, cuts that by 590 million. The army corps of engineers, cuts that by 10. 1 billion over the next years. These are real programs. What is that 200 billion that the president takes such pride in presenting to the American Public<\/a> . It is money that is already spent on infrastructure projects. There is zero, no, nada, no, no, no money. He simply is taking money from those programs that i just described and transferring it to a new set of programs that, well, hell probably put trump in gold across the tomorrow of it. And say top of it. And say, look what we have done. All youve done is to create administrative chaos. Not one nickel of new money. It is the repurposing of existing dollars and transferring it to new programs, which instead of 80 federal money, to 20 local money, he flips it on its head and now the federal government will spend 20 and the local governments and state governments will spend 80 . Huh . How does that work . Wheres the federal investment . No new money. And instead of the federal government being the big partner, the federal government becomes the minor partner. What is that all about . Well, unless you happen to be a wall street baron and you want to buy dulles airport, in which case his program would pony up 80 of the money and the private investor would put up 20 of the money, and i guarantee air travelers, international, domestic, would be thoroughly paying higher ees for the privilege of going to dulles, which is now a private airport. Doesnt make much sense. Or maybe you want to travel on interstate 5 from mexico to canada. He would propose that we turn interstate 5 all the way up the west coast into a privately held toll road. Of which presumably 80 would be paid for by some loan or some grant from the federal government and 20 by some wall street investors. Final point. And then i want to turn to my olleagues. Weve been here on the floor perhaps 2030r times over the last several years 20, 30 times over the last several years talking about infrastructure. I will tell you this. The democrats are proposing a better deal for america. We want to invest in america and we want it made in america. Oh, by the way, in the president s proposal is the elimination of the buy america standards. And the davisbacon fair wage program. So we have a better way of doing it. And were going to spend a little bit of tonight talking about how we might have a better real deal for america. Not some fake program that doesnt have any new money. Id like now to turn to my colleague from North Carolina<\/a>, mr. Price. Thank you for joining us this evening. Lets talk infrastructure. Mr. Price thank you. Mr. Speaker, i want to thank our colleague, john garamendi, for taking up this special order and for doing such a striking job, compelling job of lining out what the country needs to do in the way of building our roads and bridges and our energy infrastructure, so much that needs to be done. That would make a big difference for jobs, for our economy. And then contrasting that unfortunately with what the president after a year of looking forward to this seems to have come up with. Its just baffling. And i think we need to understand here tonight whats going on and resolve to do better. Weve got to do better than this. Although the president is, of course, on to a major issue. Weve always said that. During the campaign and in the early months of the new administration, President Trump<\/a> spoke a lot about infrastructure. Promised to put forward a bold plan to put americans to work, repairing, modernizing our infrastructure. Now, many issues divide democrats and republicans. But that really isnt one of them. This is an issue that potentially at least unifies us, brings us together. During the last election both candidates talking infrastructure. Stood out as an area of common ground. Potential bipartisan cooperation. Unfortunately im afraid now after a year we find and after a year of concentrating on other things like repealing health care, and like massive tax cut for the wealthy, now finally the president does come around to infrastructure and frankly its pretty underwhelming. The plan doesnt make good on the promise that he put forward during the campaign for a serious bipartisan plan. It certainly isnt bipartisan. It calls for 1. 5 trillion in new investment. But it shifts the overwhelming majority of the costs to states and municipalities. Forcing them to either raise taxes or to sell off public assets or to cut other critical programs. So on the face of it its just inadequate. The federal investment, 200 billion. Supposed to leverage 1. 5 trillion. And it reverses the split in terms of federal and state responsibility. Thats an 80 20 federalstate split now in most cases. Now its going to go Something Like<\/a> 20 80. And the states and the localities are burdened with taking this on, with very limited and very inadequate federal support. So, its inadequate and it is certainly inadequate as a federal investment. Secondly, and my colleague has stressed this very effectively, this is a bait and switch. This is a bait and switch. Im the ranking democrat on the transportation and housing appropriations subcommittee. So we are now with a budget agreement enacted last week, we are looking forward, hopefully in a bipartisan way, to writing a transportation bill for the remainder of 2018. Transportation investments that have bipartisan support. Are now in sight because of this budget agreement. But then along comes ironically the president s infrastructure plan. Alongside his budget proposal. Which actually decimates the transportation programs we already have. Mr. Ill add just a few specifics. But this is the most incredible part of this plan to me. It not only falls short but actually does great damage to the Infrastructure Investments<\/a> we are already making. For example, we are Building Union<\/a> station in raleigh at this moment. Modal oing to be a multi and facilitate bus transportation and an inner city rail station with an amtrak rail leaving for raleigh and will be increased. Union station, a multimode alpha silt. Creating jobs. Ow do you think raleigh is paying for that . That is a tiger grant. D the president s budget eliminates that grant which have provided that kind of support around this country for innovative infrastructure projects. Tigr grants eliminated in the president s budget. Ommunity block grants, totally eliminated. What on earth are they thinking down there at the white house to be talking about a great infrastructure and at the same time taking away the basic bread and butter Infrastructure Program<\/a>s we already have. Aviation, aviation, the president wants to cut federal aviation appropriations. F. A. A. Facilities and equipment cut. F. A. A. Operations, cut. What are they thinking . And then most incredible of all, when you turn to the transportation budget, the Ground Transportation<\/a> budget, they want to eliminate all new starts for mass transits in this country. Cut the socalled Capital Investment<\/a> grants radically. The president wants to cut the very successful northeast corridor amtrak operations radically. Wants eastern more to cut amtrak operations in places like the southeastern United States<\/a>, the midwest, california. These very promising regional routes. And this is an Infrastructure Program<\/a> . Certainly sounds like an antiInfrastructure Program<\/a>. It does not add up. It doesnt begin to add up. I think this is the most outrageous aspect. The president is coming out with what he markets as a new Bold Initiative<\/a> and at the same time, hes actually not just trimming, he is radically cutting as far as i can tell, all modes of transportation, virtually everything we count on to underride and support infrastructure at present. And then finally, finally, the president is making a big thing out of rolling back environmental protections and limiting the review of projects. Now we all know and democrats and republicans have gotten together on this on the fast track, for example. We all know that review needs to be expedited. Review needs to be efficient. The fast act contains many provisions to expedite review and those arent fully implemented yet. Here we come with the president s Infrastructure Initiative<\/a> which proposes the arbitrary shortening of deadlines. It purports to override the National Environmental<\/a> policy act and possibly the clean water and clean air act. Hard to tell what exactly he has in mind and there is virtually no investment in clean energy infrastructure, which one would think would be a major forwardlooking component of any infrastructure package. Representative lowen that will seek coalition and we have released in the last couple of days, a sustainable infrastructure proposal and when you place it along side what the president seems to be suggesting with some details yet to be announced, theres a great contrast because what we are advocating is that we invest smartly and invest sustainbly. We have no desire to destroy the core environmental safeguards. In fact, we want to have a meaningful, serious review process and want to have sustainability and resiliencey initiatives in our infrastructure plan. So i commend to my colleagues this report, which we just issued, which i hope will gain attention from both sides of the aisle as we attempt to deal with the president s proposal and deal with the Appropriations Bills<\/a> and try to build into our infrastructure proposals sound environmental practice and Sustainable Practices<\/a> so that we for example taking into account global warming. The president has no intention in including that in his proposal and what a short sided proposal that would be to build highways and other projects and some years found now that the planning was inadequate to deal with the sealevel rise. So again, i thank my colleague for helping us understand what we need to do as a country, but also understanding what we need as a congress and both sides of the aisle need to assert ourselves, not just assume this some kind of trump proposal that will we cant criticize or in fact we need not just criticize but need to do far, far better. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Garamendi i thank you for the specific details. Nd i thank you for bringing up the environmental issues. The fast act significantly moved projects faster through the entire program. And had some logic to it. And still maintain the underlying strong desire to protect our environment. Climate change, you couldnt be more correct and the specific programs that you mentioned that the president intends to cut, if this were some sort of a a state fair and had somebody on the boardwalk with the shell game, thats what is being played here. Programs that are working. E tigr program and the localities know how to use and now are planning to put their own money in, the president would terminate those and start a whole series programs, new administration, new chaos. All of us want infrastructure. Heres the report card. One b and a couple of cs along the way, just to maintain these programs that the president would be 2 trillion, not building new or adding to what we have. But 2 trillion and what does the president offer us 200 billion. Hat is a b, not a t, to save money that we are already spending. No new dollars and somehow that would leverage state, local, private. Mr. Price i know he shares my sense that we need to diversify our Transportation System<\/a> in this country and we need to develop highspeed rail in these corridors where it makes so much sense. Raleigh to charlotte has been a demonstration of whats possible there. And transit. You know transit is not a republican or democratic issue. Large and small cities throughout this country are getting into bus rapid transit, light rail and regional rail. And the notion of the same week you are announcing an infrastructure plan and say no new transit. It is beyond belief. Mr. Garamendi are you saying that the president s budget is inconsistent with the president s Transportation Plan<\/a> . In the Transportation Plan<\/a> he talks about new starts and new programs but eliminating those in the budget transferring that money over to the new programs that i guess he wants to call the trump programs. S that what is happening here . Mr. Price the o. M. B. Director and president s people in the white house doing this infrastructure plan never checked with each other. I do think this is the most incredible aspect of this because it really, really would damage transportation efforts that we already depend on. Mr. Garamendi mr. Price. I notice we have mr. Payne from new jersey. Would you care to join us . Mr. Payne its a real honor and privilege to join both of my colleagues here for what is a very important discussion to very. And im honored to join the both of you in this discussion. Nd i want to commend congressman garamendi for always and passionate and krt diligent on these efforts around the issues that are germane and important to this country, moving forward and being successful. I thank you, sir, for being a role model for me here in the house of representatives. Also, mr. Price, who has been a leader. And i have worked with him on several occasions in North Carolina<\/a> on different issues. It is good to be in both of your companies on this important issue. But were here tonight on this special order talking about the president s infrastructure plan. Its not really much of a Transportation Plan<\/a> at all. What President Trump<\/a> has proposed is another massive giveaway tore big corporations. The trump infrastructure plan would privatize much of the nations infrastructure. Would replace highways with tollways and roll back environmental protections and workers rights. It would award infrastructure grants based on how much revenue is raised locally. Instead of rewarding several grants based on the projects quality. Mr. Speaker, mr. Trump promised a trillion dollar investment in our nations crumbling infrastructure. But as always, the president hasnt delivered. This is becoming a theme with him as we move through different issues that this nation faces. Theres a pattern developing here. My father used to mention that type of thing, when he saw issues or things going awry, he would notice the pattern in the way these things are addressed way inre is definitely a the way the president has handled being commander in chief and hasnt been in the best interest of the entire country, but to a select few. The trum infrastructure plan is cult from the same cloth as the tax scam my republican colleagues bassed in december. And cut from the same cloth as the budget that President Trump<\/a> proposed this week. The tax scam was a massive giveaway to billionaires and big corporations. To golf course owners, to owners of l. L. C. s. Now i dont know much about big business and golf courses. Im a miniature golf man myself, t, you know, once again that pattern. What would be so important in the tax scam that you carve out something for golf course owner . Well, any way, can you say aralago . Also, in that same vein, if im not mistaken, all of the trump businesses that are still being enriched as he sits in the white house, which is totally contrary to what this nation was built on , l. L. C. s. So in the tax scam there was a carveout for l. L. C. s. Oh my goodness. There seems to be a pattern here. Trump proposed a budget that slashes more than 168 billion from federal highway, transit, amtrak and Water Infrastructure<\/a> funding. He also propose wed privatize the nations air traffic control. Which would add another 57 billion to the federal deficit. So much for deficit hawk. So before he even so before even proposing his infrastructure plan, the president proposed a 225 billion cut to infrastructure spending, and all he can pay aways to the ve rich. Mr. Speaker, democrats and republicans want to Work Together<\/a>. To rebuild americas crumbling infrastructure. But the president s plan doesnt get us there at all. Its a partisan proposal that benefits the president s corporate friends at the expense of the American People<\/a>. This infrastructure plan is a major blow to my constituents and everyone who travels along amtraks northeast corridor. It proposes often Infrastructure Incentives Program<\/a> that would award grants based on how much revenue is raised locally instead of how badly needed the project is. Now that seems not to make too much sense from where im standing, and my constituents understand, and congressman garamendis constituents. And the majority of people in this house, you really pull them aside and ask them honestly. But thats for another day. Take, for instance, the gateway project. The gautway project is a multiyear, multibillion dollar project that will repair, replace, and expand the Railroad Infrastructure<\/a> connecting new jersey and new york, but boston to washington, d. C. As well. It is the nations most Critical Infrastructure<\/a> project. The gateway project will make commutes safe and more reliable for hundreds of thousands of people. And the Economic Activity<\/a> it generates could create upwards of of 100,000 new jobs in the region. This multiyear project, mr. Speaker, is vital to this Nations Health<\/a> and infrastructure. The northeast corridor is the only line that is profitable for amtrak in its entire in the entire nation. And we want to cripple that. We dont want to strengthen that. Wed like to cripple that more. It doesnt make sense. The gateway project is something that is needed. It will put americans to work. It will create a greater infrastructure and allow the two tunnels going into new york city now to be repaired. They took a terrible beating from superstorm sandy. And the corrosive salt water got into a lot of those tunnels, damaged the Electrical Work<\/a> in those tunnels, and im glad my constituents around people going back and forth between new york and new jersey dent get to see the shape that those hundred year old tunnels are in. So once we create this new tunnel, it would allow us to prerepair the other two. Which is desperately needed. Esperately needed. It is the nations most Critical Infrastructure<\/a> project that we see. It will make people safe. It will create more than 100,000 new jobs in the region. The gateway sprodget necessary to modernize amtraks northwest corridor which runs between boston and kk. And d. C. Its a project that benefits people from states up and down the atlantic sea board. Thats why the federal government agreed to cover half of the cost of the gateway project with new york and new jersey splitting the other half. And if my colleague would who has Greater Knowledge<\/a> of these issues over the years, to have a state come along and be willing, you know, we think that 7030 splits are good with states. But new jersey and new york said well do 5050. Now if we cant understand how that is a positive and that the states are willing to do their parts, then we dont understand these issues. So im new to this. I would would you elaborate on the ive heard that 8020 splits are good, 7030 are great, and heres a 5050 split, and yet still we cannot get the federal government to buy in, which when amtrak said they would take over the northeast corridor, the federal government was supposed to fund them to the levels they needed in order to maintain it and amtrak has never received the collars it was promised since the inception of taking over he northeast corridor. Mr. Garamendi mr. Payne, if youll yield. Mr. Payne i yield. Mr. Garamendi ill attempt to answer your question. It doesnt make any sense. What the president pr poses, instead of the normal 8020, sometimes 7525 split , in which the federal government is the major partner so these Transportation System<\/a> are of national importance, the president is proposing for all kinds of projects, wherever they may be, on the northeast corridor, the west coast, or anywhere in between that he flip it over had the federal government becomes the minority partner at 20 and the state, the county, the city, or in the case of new york, the triborough mr. Payne tristate. Mr. Garamendi the tristate entity comes up with 50 . But thats not good enough he wants 20 federal and 80 tristate. Its a formula for a major disaster for americas infrastructure. Its not just tunnels and amtrak, its water systems. It is repairing the flint system. Repairing the water system in california. S the flood control. It goes on and on and on. Unless of course you happen to be a wall street investor and you want to, well, lets say you want to build that tunnel. The federal government will give you 80 , you come up with 20 . And by the way, whats going to be the cost . To the commuter . So none of this makes much sense, except for one thing. Thankfully the president , after a yearplus, has come forward with a plan. Well work with that. Well take his bad plan, well do a judo move on it. Well flip it. And then well build a definite program for america, lets call it a better deal for america. A better infrastructure plan. What do you think . Can we do that . Mr. Payne will the gentleman yield . Mr. Garamendi certainly. Mr. Payne i think, sir, you are on the right track. We were willing to work with the president. And this unfortunately is another incident, or an example of where his lack of knowledge of government operation is hampering what we need to do in this nation. Its very difficult to learn on the job. Especially when you have the job of commander in chief, and youve had no experience with the government, understanding the senate, understanding how though house, how it operates. It is just were willing to help him we want him to be successful because if hes successful, then they should be the nation can be successful. Not his own, not his own personal success, but success for the nation. I will come to a conclusion, i see one of my colleagues who is on the northeast corridor, has joined us as well. But just to your point about Water Infrastructure<\/a>. The Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> went to flint to meet with the residents there and ms. Pelosi was on the trip. And sat and met different people and what they were going through at that time. It was just just sad. Heartbreaking. And so me traveling back to newark, new jersey, which is the third oldest city in the United States<\/a> of america, understanding if they were having those issues in flint, which is nowhere near as old as newark, new jersey, what were the conditions in my community . And lo and behold, i spoke to several mayors in my district and i said you need tostart looking at your waiter system. Based on what i saw at your wauter system. Based on what i saw, im concerned. And dont you know, they found lead in 30 schools in newark, new jersey, in the water system. Mr. Garamendi mr. Payne if youll yield back, i do need to move on to mr. Cicilline, but you were asking about the water systems, just look at real dollars, 2014 dollars, where the federal investment has gone over the last 25 years. Almost 30 years. So no wonder that were not prerepairing and rebuilding. Not repairing and rebuilding. Thank you, mr. Payne. Let me turn to mr. Cicilline who together whiz teammates, ms. Busetose of illinois, and mr. Jeff reese ms. Bustos of illinois and mr. Jeff reese of new york mr. Jeffries of new york laid out what we need to do. You took on this topic generally and made a proposal. Could you tell us about that. Mr. Cicilline i want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for your many years extraordinary leadership, not only on make it in america but on the urgency of rebuilding our infrastructure of our country. These two things really intersect because what democrats have proposed is for the frft to be a real partner again for the federal government to be a real partner again, rebuild again, which the cities and states cant den their own. Weve put together a framework for trillion dollar investment , in rebuilding, roads, bridges, transit systems, schools. And making the investments that will create 16 million goodpaying jobs and create a platform to grow our economy, address urgent needs. America yao america used to lead the world, were now behind countries like the United Arab Emirates<\/a> and singapore, according to the World Economic<\/a> for rum. As you put up there, the American Society<\/a> of Civil Engineers<\/a> gives us a failing grade on americas infrastructure. An estimated 56,000 of americas bridges are structurally deficient. One out of every five miles of highway pavement in our country is in poor condition. Of course we dont need those report cards. We dont need these reports to tell us. The American People<\/a> experience it every day. Being stuck in traffic. Having disruptions in their rail service. Having repairs to their cars. Our constituents feel it every day. Thats why its so disappointing that the president has been unwilling to work with democrats in a bipartisan way to craft an infrastructure plan that will rebuild the country career ate goodpaying jobs, make us the envy of the world again and instead he puts forth this sort of bait and switch. First of all, its a 200 billion investment. Our plan is five times that. And then he says, well, its really 1. 7 billion. Why . His friends will privatize Public Infrastructure<\/a> and create tolls and higher costs for users. Thats not what infrastructure is. Infrastructure is a public investment. The federal government plays a role. He proposes a budget that makes deep cuts in transportation. Almost as much as he proposed spending. So its, im willing to invest zero in infrastructure is what the president is saying. We need a Real Infrastructure<\/a> plan. We put forth a better deal to rebuild america, a Real Investment<\/a> of infrastructure that will protect environmental standards, worker rights, pay good make goodpaying jobs, and instead what the president proposed is a proposal one fifth the size, making deep cuts in Infrastructure Program<\/a>s and shreds environmental protections, shreds worker rights. We, of course, put in our plan ways to accelerate so these things can move forward. But its got to be done in a way that respects labor and environmental standards. Im sure, mr. Garamendi, you have been here longer than i have. This is sort of sad. This was always a burn shosh. We could agree on the urgency, the necessity, of rebuilding our country. It should be a national priority. We should all be committed to doing this. This is another flimflam. This proposal is basically privatize Public Infrastructure<\/a>, make big corporations and wealthy investors rich and let working class and middle class folks pay for it, the same thing we saw in the tax bill and the budget. Its very disappointing. Im hoping the president will study the democratic framework and work with us to actually invest in and rebuild our country in a way we can all be proud of. I yield back to you, mr. Garamendi. Mr. Garamendi first of all, hat 200 billion is simply repurposing existing programs and they are laid out, the highway fund, 121 pillion transferred over to his new program which is really strange, and calls it 100 billion of innovation. Who is going to determine what is innovative and what is going to be funded. Going to. Chaos is and amtrak and the importance here in the northeast corridor, now, im from california, but i got to tell you, i care about amtrak because i would like to get from new york to washington, d. C. ,. If you want to get to downtown. But not to worry. He is going to privatize reagan and dulles and you think that is going to work out well . If you want to pay more money. And in my district, i have the highest flood potential of any place outside of new orleans. And depend upon this and they 10 billion. Cut by its a massive shell game. Moans under that shell, its the same money back and forth. So we need a real program and im so pleased that you and your colleagues put a real trillion dollar program, it is solid and foundational and what an opportunity was missed in this wonderful Christmas Gift<\/a> that the president gave to who . The top 1 and american corporations. Ponder this for a moment. For every 1 reduction in the federal Corporate Tax<\/a> rate, its 100 billion. Now corporations and the chamber of commerce was saying from 35 , take it down to 25 . The republicans and president went to 21 . Four percentage points. 10 s 00 billion over years. Think of the possibilities. If instead of that money flowing to corporations that are going to use that money for stock buybacks and dividends, knots for new investments excuse me, they said they increased the wages. Do a careful study. Most of those wage increases are in states and localities that have increased the minimum wage. So 400 billion right there. Could it have been used . Yes. Foreign earnings. Put on the they loor a proposal to put it back here in the United States<\/a>. Far lower whats in the tax bill. If that money was going into an Infrastructure Bank<\/a> and Real Investment<\/a>s in america. I know you have worked long and hard on this, tell us more. Mr. Cicilline i just want to point out to your point, the president proposed in the that rewarded the wealthiest people. 83 of that tax cut went to the top 1 . It created a debt of 1. 5 trillion plus interest over 2 trillion for the next generation. Can you imagine, a giveaway if that money were reinvested and create 60 million jobs and create an incredible power for our economy so we can move goods, services and information to rebuild the economy. But when you think about the willingness to give away that amount of money to the top 1 , 83 of the tax cuts and instead of invested the urgent priorities that impact the lives of every single american, what a difference it would make. I thank you for the many years you worked on this issue and underscoring of investing in products made in america and making sure as we rebuild america that we focus on innovative materials that are made here in the u. S. A. Mr. Garamendi you have prompted some energy and some excitement from mr. Payne and you want to join us . We have seven or eight minutes left. Mr. Payne i would like to thank e colleagues of mine and mr. Price, for really showing a in how to t this engage the American People<\/a>. And these shoes, mr. Speaker, are critical toll americans across the nation. And yes, there is a swamp that does not have these issues to worry about and there are people every single day that need to have us address these issues in the manner in which were speaking. Everyone is not well off. For one is not able to buy themselves. Everyone is not the owner of a golf course. Everyone is not the president of an l. L. C. There are hardworking people. There are people that need jobs. Reinvesting in this infrastructure will put americans to work and give americans the quality of life that they deserve in this nation if they are willing to work for it. And we understand that. But give them the opportunity to work for it. And i yield back. Mr. Garamendi thank you, mr. Payne. There are so many things we are going to talk about over the next several months. The president did a good thing by putting the fraurning program on the front burner. Obviously, from what i said this last hour, mr. Cicilline and mr. Price. The proposal doesnt fly. It will not solve the problems in america that is good for the people, the working men and women in america. But we can Work Together<\/a> on this. The program that our democrats have put out, a better deal for asm and we havent talked about broadband and the availability of broadband in rural areas which i represent, but thats a problem in rural areas. But we have a common interest in a good solid infrastructure plan. Unfortunately, we are looking at the deficit hawks returning. They disappeared last november and december when the tax bill went through and the president s budget contemplates a trillion dollar deficit each and every year for the next 10 years. So wheres the money . A trillion dollars in the top 1 and corporations and l. L. C. s and golf courses, that is money that could have been used for building the foundation for economic growth. Educating, reeducating, teaching the skills. The president mentioned that in his address on infrastructure, and good. But wheres the money . What was that movie. Show me the money. Well, its a shell game. Ends one program and starts another one. We need real solid investment and we can do it. The proposals are there. And we will talk about this every week, every day, every Community Meeting<\/a> and talk about the tax scam and where the money went and the wealthy getting wealthier and income inequality and we are going to talk about the great missed opportunities, education, highways, water systems, sanitation systems, ports, multimodeal. And with that, mr. Speaker, im losing my voice. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Under the speakers announced policy of january , 2017, the gentleman from oregon, mr. Walden, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Walden i thank the speaker. And this is a tough night for those of us on the energy and Commerce Committee<\/a>. We pay honor to our staff director ray balm who passed a fight against cancer. He left this world on february 9. Unexpectedly and many respects, he left before we were ready but not before he filled us with love and grace and kindness. Shared his intellect and his great humor. I got to know ray in 1988. I know you dont know, this is me on the right, i had hair. We were both elected to the legislature. I dont know about you all, but you meet people and you dont remember 30 years later, but with ray, i remembered him. State representative from le grand decided not to run and announcing pretty late in the process and i happened to be in salem at the capital when he brought this young attorney out of the grand, ray balm and said im not going to run and hes my guy. Ray and i were both candidates in 1988. In the er we both ran seat that our fathers had held and in Different Air<\/a> as. His dad already had the votes to be speaker of the house and didnt get reelected in his seat but we won in 1988. We became fast friends. Republican leader of the house and dubbed us the twins after the baby food and we outgrew that over time. But we became very good friends. Shared a lot of time together. Legislated a lot together, had a terrific experience and we were committed to Public Service<\/a>. Ray was a member of the bar. 19832003 practices practiced law. He was elected in 1988 and senched through 1997. I was majority leader when republicans took the house. He followed me as the House Majority<\/a> leader for the 1995 session and he left the legislature and democrat governors knowing what a great leader he was decided to appoint him to the Public Utility Commission<\/a> in oregon. Its a threemember commission appointed by the governor and he was the lone republican. Until 2003 he and the family moved toll salem and accepted this commission where he was until 2011. In 2010, the governor appointed him as chairman as a republican, of a committee, Public Utility Commission<\/a> with the other two democrats and kept the consumer in mind and good about public policy. He served as a state chair of the federal state board on universal service. He served as chairman of the National Regulatory<\/a> telecommunications committee. He rose up in the ranks. Incredible family man. Those of us who knew him, it was about his wife christine and all about their children, rachel, yatt and alexis and mary and andrew and his 10 grandchildren. That was the light of his life. He had two twin calling, his family life, father, grandfather in Public Service<\/a>. And he was asked about that and he said about his wonderful wife, she has been a great example of others. She supported me in my pursuit of politics and put up with my Public Service<\/a> impairmentment. And it showed. I remember calling him when i became chairman, we interacted on the years given his National Roles<\/a> and i said ray, they are going to make me chairman, im going to need your help. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can come back from time to time. I said ray i need you here in washington. Oh, oh, i dont think christine will go for that. The kids were out of the house for that. And she said i think that would be a nice change which shocked him and he came back and served as senior counsel as a special advisory on the Telecommunications Subcommittee<\/a> and played a big role. Then our mutual friend, gordon smith, lured him away for all of of all of about nine months. As much as he enjoyed fighting the fight for broadcasters, which was my background , he really loved Public Service<\/a>. When i became chairman of the committee, he actually reached out to me and said, hey, um, you know, what are you going to do in that position . I was delighted that he had an interest in coming back to Public Service<\/a>. He loved it. You heard from our colleagues earlier tonight during oneminutes, anna eshoo and frank pallone, Top Democrats<\/a> on the committee, that loved ray and still do. He is just one of those rare human beings. I talked about his great intellect. I talked about his friendship. What i havent talked about is what i call his rayisms. These funny sayings he always used that i think find their way into our vocabulary and speech without us even knowing. A constant reminder was, the fun never stops. The fun never stops. Hed use that along the way, generally when things were going off the rails, hed say ordinary care, fun never stops. Hed also say, thanks for coming out today. On fridays hed go around to the staff and say you know, youve been doing a great job, take the next couple of days off. Hed say remember to come back in the morning. As i said, cursed, as he would describe it work a Public Service<\/a> impediment. He was very faithful. Very active in the Mormon Church<\/a> , he and christine both. He joked he was the only mormon to ever oversea the oregon liquor control commission. He was a member of that too along the way. I want to share a couple of things. Before i do, lets get this icture here. This is ray with Senator Cory Gardner<\/a> of colorado when he was on the energy and Commerce Committee<\/a>, anna eshoo, some of the fwreath staff weve worked with over the years on the telecom subcommittee, where he really thrived. A lot of work, we passed to free up spectrum and all. When he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer<\/a> several years ago and it had migrated tragically into his bones, i forget who gave him the hats but we knew he was going to lose his hair and so somebody came back with a different with different sets of hats to cover up the los of hair. Theres nothing wrong with rusing your hair, i might say, just as an aside, but he tried them all on. I think you get the spirit of ray. The fun never stops. Ipt to share a couple of comments and then i know ive got some terrific cloogs here who want to share with the body and with our friends that are watching. Speaker paul ryan tweeted out, when he learned of rays passing last week, ray vaughan was a kindhearted man with a deep commitment to Public Service<\/a>. The whole house mourns his passing. Please keep rays wife christine and his family in your prayers. Another person said, i worked with him over the year was impressed by his keen intellect, fundamental kindness. He was a good man and i will miss him. Commissioner mike oreilly said, more than a colleague, ray was wonderful individual with an endearing smile. Gordon smith at the n. A. B. Said, in the time he spent working at n. A. B. He was to everyone a delight. We will miss his everyday greeting, its nice to have you out today. His zest for life. His creative legislative mind. His love for others. And his determined determined work ethic as he battled cancer. These were all inspirations. We both served with a guy in oregon named peter courtney. I think he probably holds the record for the longest serving state legislator, a democrat from outside the salem area. I know he holds the record for the longest president soif the oregon state senate. He said, i quote, ray taught me a lot about how to work with the other party,000 disagree and still get things done. Former state nart of pendleton said, he was a consensus building. Dont we need more of those in this process . Former Union County Commissioner<\/a> Democrat John<\/a> howard said, when he took a position on an issue, people listened. Whether they were democrat or republican, people valued his opinion. People just on facebook wrote, ray served the people of northeastern oregon with distinction. He was a wonderful person who set a great example. Being blessed to have been neighbors for years with ray and his family, hunting on the banks of the snange river will never be the same. Another wrote, ray was one of the fines persons ive ever encouventered in oregon politics. Topnotch. Selfless person. One of the staff, rays assistant, drew mcdowell, said, one of my first days here was a very rainy morning and ray walks in without skipping a beat and says, quote, sure is a nice day far duck. Knew right then he was the type of guy who could brighten up a rainy day. A. J. Johnson, energy subcommittee, one of the last legislative victories came from the team providing help for our soldiers and other service members. When i think of ray i do think of the happy soldier, fighting for others, fighting his own battle, doing it with injury and grace. Jennifer sherman, press secretary, said, ray loved returning to youth to visit his family, particularly when there was a new grandchild to be welcomed did i say there were 10 and when ray returned to d. C. He made the focus of his walk and talk about the newest little one, to show off photos, tell us what his grandkids were up to. It was always clear his heart was in utah and oregon with his loved ones. Its hard to stand here and pay tribute not because i dont feel all that for ray but because i probably spent most of the last four years in wonderful denial, believing that ray would somehow muscle through it and be with us. I would say being chairman of the committee, i get one of those wonder passes from time to time that allows a senior staffer on the floor. I think there are a lot of members who for a long time wondered what district he represented. He interacted with members here in a way ive never seen, including the lead around the speaker. Hed corral them, cajole them, on our issue the committees issues, always did it with such a smile, a wonderful way, big heart, big brain. Incredible mentor. For young and old alike. Young staff, old members. He was a friend, he will be missed , he will not be forgotten. His imprint is all over the state of oregon and now all around the country. With that, id like to recognize the chairman of the environment subcommittee, my friend from illinois, john shimkus. Mr. Shimkus thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, speaker, for this time. Cant beat the chairmans long years of friendship and devotion and service with ray, were down here to make sure we remind the American People<\/a> that most of us know that were only as good as the people we have around us. And thats why i wanted to come down and join my colleagues to talk about our former republican staff director of the commrge and of the energy and Commerce Committee<\/a>, ray baume. I dont have the long years chairman walden has but i do remember ray coming to the city in 2011, as was noted, to be the senior poolcy advisor of the Telecommunications Subcommittee<\/a>, which i was fortunate to serve on. And right away, i pirnlly noticed there was something different. This is before i really knew ray very well. But it also but it all made sense when you found out he had served in elected office. He had been reelected. And he served on a as majority leader. And then he moved on to the Public Utility Commission<\/a>. We love our staff. And we las vegas the people who devote everything. But we all know as elected officials that really the crucible of what we do is election. Standing in front of voters. And being held accountable. And respovending to them. So to particularly have a staff director, or i would call chief of staff, the person who is trying to keep the training runs on time, so important, but for one who knows the trials and tribulations of serving in elected office, it is very, very helpful. I think the chairman mentioned that when he talked about ray being on the floor, being able to talk to members and people in leadership alike. Understanding when our colleagues were struggling. I think the tributes earlier this evening by Ranking Member<\/a> pallone and congresswoman eshoo also highlights the facts that he had a great relationship across the aisle. Which is critical in getting that bipartisan consensus to really move bills on the floor. Weve been fortunate to serve on the energy and Commerce Committee<\/a> and we have i would argue almost an unparalleled record of success, bipartisan, major votes, because either the we worked together or we have staff directors who are able to keep us focused on the prize and thats getting by get buyingin so theyre not hugely contentious votes on the floor. There are large bipartisan majorities which are not spoken of very much in washington today or covered because they just are not newsworthy. Enough to make that. Also, chairman walden mentioned rays great love, his family and Public Service<\/a>. But i think theres a third one cause someone from the west that would call someone from the west coast to washington, d. C. I think a lot of us were able to observe and appreciate this relationship between the staff director and our chairman that went over decades. Trust and loyalty and support. So much that as ray continued to fight through this challenge, something that kept him going was the fact that he loved this institution. He loved his members in a he was responsible for, thats all of us on the committee, but he loved chairman greg walden and wanted him to succeed. I think that is a great tribute to remember. So im here just to say thank you to christine, his wife, and the children were named, rachel, wyatt, alexis, mary, andrew, and elizabeth, and i want them to know, mr. Speaker, that we appreciate the sacrifice they gave to allow ray to be part of this institution. With that, i yield back to the hairman. Mr. Walden very kind and thoughtful remarks, his tribute to a really great Public Servant<\/a>. I think you hit it on the head. His having served, having gone through elections, gave him that perspective and having come from a rural part of america, like a lot of us do, in fact, we represented, in my district, encome patses where he is from. That gives you a different perspective as well. About some of the issues. Sometimes get lost otherwise. So yeah, thank you, john, thank you for coming and sharing. I know we have some other members here who i think wanted to make some comments. I dont know who would like to go next, make the gentleman from north dakota, mr. Kramer who is also a public also was a Public Utility Commission<\/a>er if i have the right title for what it is in north dakota, Public Service<\/a> commissioner, you knew ray from that era and you got to put up with him here, as i kindly say. I yield to the gentleman. Mr. Cramer thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Let me at the outset, as chairman shimkus did, express how special it was to watch a chairman and staff director work as, i think i dare say, peers. As a team. Thats very unusual in a place where titles seem to matter more than they ought to and more than they do other places. I did have the opportunity to know ray a little bit when i was on the north dakota Public Service<\/a> commission and he serbed on the oregon Public Utilities<\/a> commission. Our terms nearly mirrored exactly one with the other. I think it is undeniable and the things he could have done and probably made a lot more money and he serves as a testimony and this opportunity we have to pay tribute to ray and his memory is in furtherance of his testimony that we here even here in washington, d. C. , the swamp and all the people who watch us wondering if there is any decency amongst us, we are a family. Our tribute is testimony to that because it is a testimony to his life and served as a great example to all of us. A lot has been said about rays sense of humor. Nd until you get to know him ray had an ability to take a serious moment seriously and take a serious issue series yousely but never take us too series yousely. He allowed us to gain perspective because he had a good perspective and it was his ability to make us laugh, to , nd the anecdote in ar moment always calm. We could use a lot more calm. If there was i dont know, people dont know this, but each of us have really big and important issues that are lifechanging and most important in the world to us. And then we bring them to the greater good, right . To the larger group and ray had an ability to boil it down and again put it in perspective for each of us individually and he was a great leader for all of us. Be funny without priff louis and being respectful and joking with us and the chairman said with everyone from the speaker to the sergeant at arms to the freshman class, tremendous ability. And so, mr. Speaker and chairman walden, christine and the family, we all are part of your family. We are all hurting and mourning and hard to sugar coat it. This thing called cancer. Ray had the tune to serve with us on the committee that works to try to eradicate diseases and he was very helpful as we worked on important legislation, like 21st century cares and health care legislation. But were all better for having known ray. But tone, we are a little bit sad about it to say the least. But god bless you, christine and kids and grandbabies and thank you and thank you for your friendship, mr. Chairman. To ray and way it was transferred, not just transferred but aggregated in a dynamic way for all of us and serves as a great example. Mr. Walden we appreciate you coming down tonight and sharing those thoughts. You summed it really well. Now the chairman of the Digital Commerce<\/a> and Consumer Protection<\/a> , bob latta who is vice chair of the Telecommunications Subcommittee<\/a> and ray was part of that and ended up as a staff director and bob thank you for coming down. Mr. Latta mr. Speaker, i rise to honor the life of ray. And i thank the chairman for having this special order tonight because it is very important to honor his life. , n i was recently back home what do you like about being a member of congress. Its not being a member of congress down here but about the people you get to know at home and the people you get to know here. And a lot of times you dont always get to meet someone like ray and someone who has great Public Service<\/a> instilled in him. When you meet these thousands of people, you always have people that stand up and thats ray. If i would like to quote what the chairman said in his release when ray passed. Ray dedicated his life to Public Service<\/a> first as an elected official and then as an advisor. The people of oregon and our country is better off. Ray will be deeply missed but will not be forgotten. We will honor his decency and kindness and more importantly the graciousness and honor he showed every day. And you heard chairman shimkus say the same thing. And one of the things, you got to get things done around this place. And sit in your corner and fold your arms and say im not going to listen. He reached out as the chairman mentioned and that is important to reach out. And i think as was demonstrated by the piece of legislation we got out. You know, last year, he was working with me on getting the selfdrive act. We have a lot of pieces of legislation that comes through but the staff kept track and said he had over 300 meetings with staff and with members in getting that bill out. And it was a bill that wasnt a republican bill or Democrat Bill<\/a> but a bill that everyone worked together on. Ray had a big hand on that. He had a lot of meetings and the staff sat through those more than i did. But he was a guiding hand and calm hand to get that bill out. And when you think about a piece of legislation of that magnitude, when that bill came up for a Committee Vote<\/a> not only for the chairmans work, that bill went out 540 which is amazing for a bill that size and magnitude. He was instrumental when we sat down with our friends in the senate and what they would be doing and he was very involved in it, but he was a calming voice. And i wasnt privileged to know ray when he became his public Career Service<\/a> out in oregon but i got to know him on his work in the committee. But one of the things i could say, he was an incredible person to work with. He was a gentleman and he took time to listen and analyze a problem. Around this place, it doesnt happen all the time. You jump out there and say, what am i go go to say. But ray was always prepared and ready to go forward and he was willing tore listen and i will never forget years ago, i had a professor, god gave you two ears and one mouth. But that is to listen and ray listened and always gave you a straight answer. And its tough when you are working on legislation and working on something and you have to get an answer from somebody. Ray wasnt that way. He would sit down with you and work with you. He would be up in my office. But he was always there to listen and always there to give you an recommendation but the end result, he was somebody you could trust and also know this. He had the respect of the Committee Members<\/a> and respect of the staff, republicans and democrats alike. He was kind. And he was thoughtful. And sometimes you hear staff there there are folks around here that doesnt treat them very well. But he isnt one of those individuals and he will be missed. And work with him someone of his caliber and one who believed inputting Public Service<\/a> above self. To his wife and family, you are in my prayers. Mr. Chairman, i thank you for this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. Mr. Walden i thank the gentleman both for your wonderful words about ray and also your terrific Public Service<\/a>. We have a couple of other members that have come down tonight and this really speaks volumes of the impact that ray had on all of us so many members oming down at this hour to pay tribute, the vice chair of the oversight committee. Mr. Garrett thank you for giving us the opportunity. I met him back in 1988. I did not have the opportunity untill within rays orbit he became the staff director and i never had the opportunity. I found him to work with, extremely intelligent and passionate about his work, his honesty and forth rightness. And then i was particularly struck when it became clear he was well aware of the severity of his illness and how he handled that with courage and grace. But knowing that the e. N. C. Committee would be hand willing and involved with the issues of the day and i had several conversations how he wanted to work and spending time, helping you with these issues, helping the committee and our great country and why christine and children thank you for sharing your father, husband and citizen servant. We will miss ray. Mr. Walden thanks for those comments. He maintained a wonderful sense of humor about his own present dickment knowing there was a time line he had been given because of bone cancer and went through the treatments and held up very well. On more than one occasion and i would say how are you doing . He said im doing all right, he out of one has gotten here alive yet. He somehow would relieve that tension. It was remarkable and memorable and i will remember that great attitude. And just those great attributes. Mr. Walden from georgia, buddy carter, who has worked with him on a lot of different issues. And buddy, thanks for coming down tonight. Mr. Carter thank you for not only doing this but allowing me to be a part of it. You know, im a relatively new member of the committee, as you are aware and only served on it for about 13 months now and only been in congress for three years. And one of the less frequent questions that i get asked when i go back home, what is the most surprising thing that you have discovered since you have become a member of congress. I tell them the truth. The most surprising thing is the most encouraging thing, and there are a lot of good people in congress. There are a lot of people serving in congress, good people that work with staff who are good people who want to do the right thing and move this country forward. And yes, that is somewhat surprising. But more than anything, its encouraging. Sometimes i feel like as members that we get kind of a bad rap, we are dysfunctional and not getting anything done. And i get frustrated by that. But i think about people like ray and you know, if they knew someone like this, who is dedicated and truly to do the right thing and move the country forward, then they would understand better. This is not going to be reported, oh, one of the good guys, we lost one of the good guys. Thats not what sells papers or drives up ratings. It is what keeps us going. I really appreciate, mr. Chairman, your friendship with earlier going over the history, because thats important. But i really appreciate the opportunity to add just a few words about again, one of the good guys. You know in our lives, there are people and places that we remember. And i know i will remember ray. He helped me when i became a member. Its tough, being a new man on the block and low man on the tote empole, but he was a great help to me and the committee. We need more people like ray. We need more people like that up here. He was really one of the good ones. I thank you, mr. Chairman for giving me the opportunity. This is special and i want to offer my thoughts and prayers to the family and to the friends. This is indeed a good man. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. Mr. Walden thank you, mr. Carter. Thanks for those wonderful words. I know he had such Great Respect<\/a> for you and the other colleagues og both sides of the aisle in the committee. And the working relationships that he developed, i almost unlike any other staffer i have ever known. He wasnt a staffer. Kind of a funny thing. He didnt think himself as a member, he was just ray and didnt let barriers keeping people from succeeding. And for oregon, for my home state, he was kind of the sixth congressman. The only thing he lacked was the voting card. When ray was speaking, he spoke on my behalf and we cop double up on Columbia River<\/a> treaty, whether it was Rural Telecom<\/a> issues or grid issues. It was a twofer for the price of one but maybe one and a half. But ray had the ability to reach across the aisle and close the gap and make us better people. In closing i would just say that ray is one of those people, as i said in the beginning, that left before we were ready but not before he filled us with love and kindness and grace and shared his which the and humor wit and humor. Some humor better than others. And ray, it was just good to have you out. God bless you on your journey. God bless christine. Your brother, your sister. Their families. And all your kids and grandkids. You touched our lives. You left us better than this better than you found it. This country, this state. We are all indebted to you and so appreciative that we got to know you and work side by side with you. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Mr. Walden i now move that the house adjourn in memory of ray balm. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to adjourn. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. Accordingly, the house stands adjourned until 10 00 a. M. For tomorrow work on a measure aimed at consumer Interest Rates<\/a> and loan transfers. Follow the house live on cspan when members returned wednesday at 10 00 a. M. Eastern for speeches and noon for legislative work. This weekend on america. Istory tv on cspan3 saturday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Former Virginia Governor<\/a> Douglas Wilder<\/a> at virginia commonwealth university. A definition i use for politics. Can anyone guess what that is . I said one word would define politics. Money. Give me something that is the proposition before any tribunal money. Es not involve sunday at 10 00 a. M. Eastern from the west point center for oral history. Henry thomas, a combat medic during the vietnam war. Our grandfather my grandfather served in world war i. Always for a black man, whenever you served, it was your military service you hope would confirm firstclassdes as a , redblooded American History<\/a> and title, too. At 4 00 p. M. On railamerica, with the cpac conference in washington, d. C. Last week we look back to 1988 when president reagan spoke at a dinner. The American People<\/a> know what limited government tax cuts, deregulation, and the move toward privatization has meant. It meant the largest peacetime expansion in our history and i can guarantee you they will not want to throw away for return to liberal special interests. Watch America History<\/a> tv every weekend on cspan3. Cspans history series landmark cases returns this month with a look at 12 new Supreme Court<\/a> cases. Each week, historians and its roots discussed the constitutional issues and personal stories behind the significant Supreme Court<\/a> decisions. Beginning monday, for really 26, live at 9 00 p. M. Eastern and to help you follow all 12 cases we have a companion guide. Landmark cases, volume two. The book costs eight dollars 90 five cents plus shipping and handling. Rg landmarkcases. The conversation on the effect the tax cuts have on the economic outlook. Joining us on washington journal. This is 30 minutes. Continues. Host mark zandi is back with us. He served at chief economist at moodys analytics and is helpful in answering our questions about the state of economy. Credit the end of last year, you wrote a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a> that begin by saying this","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia800108.us.archive.org\/9\/items\/CSPAN_20180213_233000_U.S._House_of_Representatives_U.S._House_of_Representatives\/CSPAN_20180213_233000_U.S._House_of_Representatives_U.S._House_of_Representatives.thumbs\/CSPAN_20180213_233000_U.S._House_of_Representatives_U.S._House_of_Representatives_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240630T12:35:10+00:00"}