You call us today to grow in the knowledge of that love and invite us to receive your blessings. Accept the prayers we offer for our beloved nation, protect it and keep it ever in your sight. Fill this house of representatives with your holy wisdom and may that wisdom lead to right action. Strengthen these representatives and their staffs as they labor for the common good and for what is just in your eyes. May true harmony, lasting freedom and justice be secured for all so that there may be lasting peace. We ask this in your most holy name, amen. The speaker the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 thjonastdsppve the pledge of allegiance today will be led by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Marino. Mr. Marino please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker the chair will entertain up to five requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina rise . Mr. Wilson mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker without objection. Mr. Wilson mr. Speaker, im grateful to express my appreciation for major veronica cultritter. Shes been on loan from the United States marine corps for the past year serving as a military fellow. The major enlisted in the United States marine corps in 1997 and received training the following year at the marine corps recruit depot at paris island, South Carolina. As the former representative of this base, i know firsthand of the proficiency that veronica has because of her training by the highest marine corps standards. Veronicas ability to connect with veterans has been a tremendous asset to our office. Beginning this month, veronica will serve as the manpower and Personnel Office of the Marine Corps Office of legislative affairs. I wish her and her husband, eric, a military Police Officer in the marine corps, all the best in the future. God speed. In conclusion, god bless our troops and the president by his actions must never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. Our sympathy for the citizens of france fighting terrorism. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mst pelosi thank you, into ms. Pelosi thank you mr. Speaker. I call upon the expertise and ability, a person of deep dedication to our country to ending poverty, fighting disease and advancing democracy, someone ive had the privilege to have on my staff for the past 15 years the new assistant administrator for asia at usaid jonathan stivers. Over the years, john worked closely with usaid and congressional committees to promote our National Interests, fight poverty and disease around the world and address ongoing challenges and Global Development across asia. He played a central role in advancing Foreign Policy priorities of our country, especially in the fields of human rights appropriations, hivaids, International Trade and in countries across the asia pacific region. Many of our republican colleagues know that john works very much across the aisle on all of these issues. Johns jonathans professionalism and attention to detail were unparalleled and i can say with confidence on the most challenging and Critical Issues of our day, john stivers consistently exhibits the leadership needed to improve the global community. Though we will miss his expertise and his experience, im proud that hes serving these Critical Issues in his new position, and i wish him, his wife, ramsey whos here with us, his daughters his baby daughters joe is he a phone and parker, all josephine and parker, all the best in their new adventures. Thank you, jonathan stivers, and good luck. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. For what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from virginia is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, on Law EnforcementAppreciation Day, i want to extend my support and gratitude to the Law Enforcement officers across the country who serve our communities and the American People daily. Mr. Goodlatte our nation was founded on the rule of law and every day Law Enforcement officers carry out this legacy. They protect our neighborhoods from criminals fight crime ensure justice and keep the peace. Sadly, many Law Enforcement officers have died in the line of duty. Last year 118 Law Enforcement officers died, including three from the commonwealth of virginia. Last years murder of two nypd officers is a sober reminder that our nations Law Enforcement officers face danger every day as they carry out their duty to protect the American People. In the gospel of john, we are told that there is no greater love than to lay down ones life for ones friends. And this is true of our nations Law Enforcement officers. Every day they risk their lives so that you and i may be safe from harm. These brave men and women are heroes and deserve to be recognized and honored for their service to our country. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from oregon seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from oregon is recognized for one minute. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. While i did not support the development of tar sands and environmentally destructive and carbon intensive process, we should not continue a loophole that lets Oil Companies off the hook for covering destruction from these bills. In 1990 we authorized the Oil Spill Liability trust fund for the immediate cost of cleaning up oil spills and its funded by an excise tax on crude oil and petroleum products, but the oil derived from tar sands that would be transported through the Keystone Pipeline is not subject to this tax. Since that oil is a thick, sticky form of crude, more difficult and costly to clean up than other types of oil, the exemption makes no sense. Especially if it is as safe as some allege. Thats why yesterday i reintroduced the tar sands tax loophole elimination act which makes sure that oil payed into the that travels through this pipeline, if its ever constructed. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina seek recognition . Ms. Foxx i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. In just a few minutes, my colleagues and i will be following a tradition that we began when republicans regained the majority in 2011 of reading the constitution during the first week that we are back into session. I think this is a very important tradition that we have established here in the house of representatives and our speaker reminded us the other day that this is the first time in the history of the country that this has been done. This is our Third Congress in a row to do this. All of us or almost all of us carry a pocket version of the constitution with us to remind us why we are here and what undergirds everything we do in this house and in this congress. And in the front of the copy i have it says the declaration of independence was the promise, the constitution was the fulfillment, and theres a quote were Alexander Hamilton. The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musky records. Theyre written with the sun beam in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of divinity itself and can never be erased through mortal power. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition . Without objection the gentleman from washington is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to call on this body to take up legislation to repeal the lastminute changes to Campaign Finance law that were tacked into a 1,600page bill. Mr. Kilmer the wealthiest owners can now each contribute more than 750,000 per year to a political party. More than seven times the previous cap. Worst of all, these changes were buried in the bill with no hearing and no public debate. In fact, mr. Speaker, this body never even got a chance to vote on this provision since the bill was not considered under an open amendment process. In all the conversations that ive had with residents throughout Washington State, i can tell you i have never heard anyone, democrat or republican, argue that wealthy cant spend enough on politics. Or that those with the deepest pockets dont have enough influence in our nations capital. Thats why ive introduced the close the floodgates act, to protect the interest of we the people and make sure the wealthiest owners dont get a chance to flood our politics. Lets take up this legislation strip out those loopholes and restore the faith and trust of american voters. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Sessions mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize a remarkable individual from dallas, texas to recognize him for his introduction into the National Football federations Leadership Hall of fame. Last night, january 8 2015, and id like to thank chairman archie manning, Football Player troy aikman, mayor tom and laura leopard and Football PlayerRoger Staubach for recognizing dr. Kenneth cooper for his dedication to health and fitness and his continuing leadership to health care for all. Throughout dr. Coopers career in the United States air force and in the medical career in dallas texas, hes continued to Revitalize Health care and fitness. Hes also the father of preventative medicine and known as the father of aerobics. Trying to make sure that American People and the world understand how important fitness is to our life and our health. I want to express my hardy congratulations to dr. Cooper on receiving this Outstanding Award on behalf of the National Football league and i hope the American People and today the United States congress. I yield back my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Mr. Cohen to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman from tennessee is is recognized for e nu. Mr. Cohen thank you, mr. Speaker. Today the president will be speaking in knoxville, tennessee, on extending College Education to americans. I share with the president the goal of giving more americans the opportunity to go to college, but i would submit to him he should not be holding up the tennessee promise plan in tennessee as an example but he should be holding up the Tennessee Hope Scholarship Program which i worked 20 years to achieve in tennessee and has provided over 3 billion to education, 215 million a year. Scholarship programs, such as the president is talking about, should have standards for students at high schools to achieve to get a scholarship. They should have strong standards in college to maintain them. They should be in addition to pell grants and in addition to other scholarships to pay for books and tuition. The promise plan takes from middleclass and lowerincome students and gives to higherincome students, doesnt have standards in high school to get the scholarship and doesnt have high standards to keep it. Its the last dollar scholarship. The president s plan should be more like the tennessee hope lottery scholarship, ensure that students in high school have an incentive to get it and keep it and should not go forprofit schools because thats an invitation for abuse. I thank the president for his commitment. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from alabamse regnio without objection, the gentlewoman from alabama is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Roby thank you, mr. Speaker. President obamas attempt to bypass congress and grant amnesty to millions of americans is wrong and dangerous. It undermines the rule of law and threatens american jobs. Thats why right now several of my colleagues and i, including fellow appropriators, are putting the finishing touches on a plan that will wield the power of the purse to block executive amnesty. I believe we have a solid strategy. We wanted to put forward the simplest, most straight faord bill language that could defund the president S Immigration actions. Thankfully my own alabama senator jeff sessions, had already had great model language so we crafted that into the house bill. Were still working on that but im confident that strong defund language will be presented to the house for inclusion in the homeland appropriations title. I believe the will of Congress Must be to Fund Homeland Security and its important functions but to specifically block implementation of president obamas unconstitutional immigration orders. Thank you mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. Pursuant to section 5 of House Resolution 5, the chair now recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, for the reading of the constitution. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, this morning for the third time in the history of the house of representatives, we will read allowed on the floor of the house the full text of the United States constitution. It is our hope that this reading will help demonstrate to the American People that the house of representatives is dedicated to the constitution and the system it establishes for limited government and protection of individual liberty. We also hope that it will inspire many more americans to read the constitution themselves. The text we read today reflects the changes made to the document. Those portions precede bide amendment will not be reid. To assure fairness to all those interested in participating, we have asked members to line up to be recognized on a first come, first served basis. I will recognize members based on this guidance. Each member will approach the podium and read the passage laid out for him or her. In order to ensure relative parity and fairness, i may recognize members out of order in order to ensure bearp bipartisanship and balance. Because of his longterm leadership on civil rights issues, i will recognize representative john lewis to read the 13th amendment. I want to thank the members of both parties for their participation in this historic event, and i will begin by recognizing Speaker Boehner to read the preamble of the constitution. The speaker i thank my colleague for yielding. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of america. Mr. Goodlatte article i section 1 all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. I now yield to the majority leader, the gentleman from california, mr. Mccarthy. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Section 2 the house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most Numerous Branch of the state legislature. Mr. Goodlatte i now yield to the gentleman from maryland, the minority whip, mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer no person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who