Humming humbling ourselves and seeking your help. I want to thank you, first of all, for who you are, thank you for your goodness, your mercy, and grace in each of our lives and thank you for the blessings that you give to us every day. What i want to thank you for each and every representative and all they do to direct our great country. I pray today that would you have your hand of grace and guidance upon them. I pray god, that would you give them had the wisdom they need on a daily basis to fulfill the office that youve appointed them to. I also ask that you would guide and courage and protect them in their personal lives, as well as their families and loved ones. I love you, lord. Thats in the name of jesus christ, i play. 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 the journal stands approved. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise . Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, i demand a vote on the speakers approval of the journal. The speaker the question is on the speakers approval of the journal. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it and the journal stands aproved. The gentleman from michigan. I object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and i make a point of order that a quorum is not present. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question shall be postponed. The pledge of allegiance today will be led by the gentleman from arkansas, mr. Hill. Mr. Hill 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 without objection, the gentleman from Washington State, mr. Newhouse, is recognized for one minute. Nuenue thank you mr. Speaker. I rise mr. Newhouse thank you mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the pastor fountain. He has crossed the Cascade Mountain divide to serve common needs on both sides of Washington State. Pastor fountain began his ministry in 2006 as a youth pastor in lakewood, in western washington. He headed east across the cascades to plan the Moses Lake Baptist Church which first opened its doors four years ago this month. Pastor fountain also currently serves as the chaplain for the grant county sheriffs office. I would like to thank him for his faithfulness and commitment to serve the needs of the people of our state particularly First Responders and our Law Enforcement community. It is my privilege to welcome pastor fountain his wife, hanna, to the house of representatives as fellow washingtonians. I extend the thanks of this body for his delivering the morning prayer and i ask my colleagues to join me in making pastor fountains time in our Nations Capital warm and inviting. Thank you, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the chair lafere lays before the house a communication. The clerk the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir. I write to offer my official resignation as a member of the House Armed Services committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security effective today, march 23, 2015. Both committees are vital to ensuring our nations secure at home and abroad and it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on these two committees over the last four years. Signed sincerely, steven m. Palazzo, member of congress. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the resignation is accepted the resignations are accepted. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina seek recognition . Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. By direction of the House Republican conference, i senleds to the desk a rive i send to the disk a privileged resolution and ask exor desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration. The clerk House Resolution 165, resolved that the following named members be and are hereby elected to the following Standing Committees of the house of representatives. Ms. Foxx mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Without objection, the resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The chair will entertain up to 15 further requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina seek recognition . Ms. Foxx i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Foxx thank you mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome a quish a distinguished visitor to the house floor today. Flat stanley is visiting washington, d. C. This week from his martin from ms. Martins second grade class in clemens, North Carolina. Through flat stanleys adventures, the students in ms. Martins class are learning about geography and maps. Its been more than 50 years since Stanley Lambchop was first flattened by a Bulletin Board in jeff browns 1964 childrens classic. Today the flat stanley project is a Global Literacy activity that engages hundreds of thousands of children and includes more than 6,000 schools registered in 88 countries around the world. Its been my pleasure to show flat stanley around the u. S. Capitol. I hope he has a safe trip back to North Carolinas fifth Congressional District and that ms. Martins class enjoys learning about his visit to congress. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Without objection. Ms. Hahn thank you mr. Speaker. I rise to call on congress to keep its promise to invest in our nations ports. The Harbor Maintenance tax collected at our ports should be returned to our ports, not stockpiled or diverted to other spending. For years only about 50 of the tax was returned to our ports. The Harbor Maintenance trust fund now has a surplus of approximately 9 billion. Last year, with bipartisan support, we passed the Water Resources and Reform Development act, which set targets for annual increases in the usage of that trust fund leadinging to 100 leading to 100 of use by the year 2025. Ive offered an amendment to the budget resolution to meet that target funding level for 2016 established in wrda and im disappointed that the rules committee did not rule it in order. To keep our United States ports globally competitive, we should fully use the Harbor Maintenance trust fund to maintain and improve our harbors and navigation channels. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition . Without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize the Fourth Annual arkansas run for the fallen. Congratulations too to run organizer chief Master Sergeant bubba beesen. Several years ago, to honor arkansas fallen heroes, the arkansas run for the fallen was created. This years run started in ozark arkansas, last friday, and concluded at the State Capitol in little rock on sunday afternoon. Mr. Hill a team of active duty and reserve airmen, soldiers marines and Arkansas State police embarked on a 146mile memorial run to honor every arkansan who has died since the attacks on september 11, 2001. I had the honor of attending the final ceremony on sunday afternoon. I was deeply moved to be in the presence of approximately 30 gold star families that were in attendance. These men have served their country bravely and their example and sacrifice is one all americans and arkansans can admire. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . For what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . Without objection. Mrs. Maloney mr. Speaker, as Congress Debates how to best craft the 2016 Budget Proposal i hope that heavier consideration will be given to reality over ideology. And lets look at the facts. What have has actually worked in the past and what has not of what has actually worked in the past and what has not. The facts show that democratic administrations have outperformed the republican administrations in creating jobs by a significant margin. The most recent jobs report, for instance, showed that the economy added another 295,000 jobs in february. Thats the 60th consecutive month of private sector job growth. And the longest streak in history thats been recorded. Over the past five years the american Automobile Industry added over 500,000 jobs due to the democraticled restructuring. And during the past four years, while our friends on the other side of the aisle predicted hishe inflation, the collapse of the hishe inflation, the collapse of the hyperinflation, the collapse of the dollar and worse, we put more people back to work than all other economies combined. Lets consider what has worked in the real world in creating jobs. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina seek recognition . Without objection. Mr. Wilson mr. Speaker, im grateful to celebrate the strong relationship between taiwan and the United States. With the 70th anniversary of the ending of world war ii this year and the 36th anniversary of the taiwan relations act on april 10, we can reflect how this relationship has been beneficial for both countries. Prior to world war ii, america recognized the importance of protecting the Chinese People from invaders. In 1940 the u. S. Operated a clandestine air support mission to protect the citizens of the republic of china, carried out by Courageous Volunteer Group of pilots. Known as the flyinging tigers, this group became the 14th air force and included my father, the late First Lieutenant wilson. America is grateful that the Chinese Military in 1942 rescued most of the crews after 15 u. S. Planes crashed in china following the doolittle raid, which formed in South Carolina. Today im encouraging everyone to recognize the critically important the critical importance of the relationship and its continuation. In conclude, god bless our troops and may the president , by his actions never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Without objection. Galinggaling thank you, mr. Speaker mr. Gallego thank you mr. Speaker. Today veterans who are disabled can get their federal Student Loan Debt discharged. But unfortunately the department of Education Reports discharge debt to the i. R. S. , where its considered as income for federal and possible state tax purposes. In many instances, having federal Student Loan Debt discharge results in a substantial tax liability. Thats why im introducing the veterans education tax security act. The vets act. This bill would ensure that disabled veterans, deceased veterans and deceased members of the Armed Services are not financially penalized when their federal Student Loan Debts are lawfully discharged. As veterans ourselves, congressman zinke and i both understand the importance of putting politics aside to support our soldiers and veterans. Who have risked their whole lives and families to defend our country. They or their families should not be penalized when federal Student Loans are for given because of death or disability forgiven because of death or disability. I thank the congress mother for his support on this issue and look forward to congressman for his support on this issue and look forward to working with my colleagues to champion fairness for our veterans. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from New Hampshire seek recognition . Without objection. Mr. Guinta thank you mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of one of New Hampshires most vital industries, the fishing industry. For nearly 400 years, our fishing industry has helped sustain and build our local economy in the sea coast region of New Hampshire. Providing thousands of steady jobs and millions of dollars in Economic Opportunity for the Granite State annually. Unfortunately increasing and constantly evolving government mandates are threatening to put an end to this very historic industry. At a time when our nations job creators are already struggling to add jobs, increase revenue and compete with cheaper, international companies, the last thing that we should require of them is to spend their already limited time and resources on adheringing to pages and pages of costly adheringing to pages and pages of cost adhering to pages and pages of costly regulations. New hampshires fishing industry has been a long part of the new england tradition. This remains one of my Top Priorities and i will continue to work tirelessly in a bipartisan fashion with the new england region to essentially ensure that the Granite State fishermen seek the obligations that they inter. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . I seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Mr. Kildee thank you mr. Speaker. Last week the republicans offered up their budget. Just as has been the case for the past few years, it comes as no surprise that this budget will squeeze hardworking American Families and make them, again, work more, work harder and get less. Wunl of our priorities must be to end the acrosstheboard sequestration cuts. Unfortunately this g. O. P. Budget goes further and jeopardizes National Security by keeping sequester cuts on military and defense needs. Sadly the past few months in congress has been nothing more but continued give aways to special interest and the wealthy and to pander to the most extreme voices, the tea party voices in congress. Today the democrats, we released our budget. This is a budget that works for hardworking americans. It protects National Security. It gives michiganders and families all across america the tools that they need to buy a house, send their kids to college, to save for a decent retirement. Weve got to put away the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. 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. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, on march 1, penn state universitys Public Television station wpsutv celebrated its 50th anniversary. On march 1, 1965 wpsu transmitted its first broadcast signal from atop pen Field Mountain and viewers watched an introductory spanish class aimed at School Children across central pennsylvania. Since that initial broadcast wpsu has dedicated itself to informing and engaging pennsylvania communities and beyond. More recently they have looked to make a Global Impact by expanding its documentary productions. Wpsu has produced several Award Winning projects such as telling amys story which has reached more than six Million People through on air broadcast online and various community events. Mr. Speaker, today wpsutv reaches approximately 515,000 households in 29 counties through cable, satellite, eafer overair deliverry. As graduate of penn state university, im so proud of all that wpsutv has accomplished and urge my colleagues to join me in recognizes them for 50 perfect tisk years. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Without objection. Ms. Brownley thank you mr. Speaker. As members of congress we have a responsibility to serve our veterans as well as they have served us and our country. That means a lifelong commitment to their health and wellbeing. Veterans who are severely disabled or blinded after they return home are eligible for medical care at v. A. Specialty rehabilitation clinics wher