George holding to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, john a. Boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 7, 2014, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour ebate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip each, to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1 50 p. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer yesterday, the New York Times produced a carefully balanced rationale for ending the federal ban on marijuana. In more that 40 years, this failed attempt at prohibition has been hopelessly out of step. The times editorial said marching toward criminalization, adult use while the federal government maintains its schizophrenic posture, pretending marijuana is as dangerous is more dangerous than heroin or l. S. D. , worse than cocaine or methamphetamine. While the Current Administration has been somewhat tolerant of the actions taking place in 3 4 of our states that are acting to decriminalize, authorize medical marijuana and more recently in colorado and washington state, to legalize adult use, theres no guarantee that future administration also have a lighter touch. Thats wrong. As the times and others pointed out, there are significant financial costs and huge human costs of this failed experiment in prohibition which, as i said, falls disproportionately on young men of color, especially africanamericans. The times readily acknowledged this issue has troubling aspects. We have all struggled as a society to deal with drugs, legal and illegal. Addiction to cigarettes and alcohol, prescription drugs and narcotics extracts a heavy toll. We are all deeply concerned about the impact that marijuana and other dangerous substances have on young people. This is particularly a problem dealing with the development of the young brain being affected by marijuana use. While this clearly can have serious consequences, so, too, there are horrific costs associated with alcohol, tobacco, to say nothing of other illegal drugs. We as a society have struggled with these challenges but weve actually had some measure of success with controlling use of cigarettes and alcohol. The use by adults of tobacco has declined 2 3 in a generation. Theres no reason to think we cant do the same for marijuana if we act rationally. As a practical matter, the Current System doesnt accomplish keeping it out of the hands of children while it does inflict that real damage on casual users and those young men of color. Currently there is a vast illegal network that supplies the public and children with marijuana. No one checks i. D. Theres no business license to use. For those of us working to reform our flawed marijuana law, the times editorial marks a significant milestone, joining other publications and organizations arguing for a new approach. It comes while we in oregon, which was the first state to decriminalize marijuana, will vote this fall to become the Third Straight to legalize adult use. The times editorial and the promise of more discussion in the paper joins with other editorial pages across the country. The portland oregonian had a particularly thoughtful and very positive editorial on saturday, the 26th of july, talking about the opportunities in our state for legalization. The nations editorial pages are playing a constructive role in having a careful discussion about the marijuana poll circumstances its failure and the alternatives. Were seeing growing Awareness Among significant floor action that slightly reduces the illogical discussions. We need to keep pace for whats going on with the nations he had norial writers and the march towards rational policy thats going on in states across america. Its not too late for this congress to make constructive contributions. We have several opportunities. The cultivation of industrial hemp. We dont force illegal marijuana businesses to be all cash. Tax equity and protecting medical marijuana from heavyhanded federal interference. The recent positive votes in Congress Suggests that more progress is possible before we adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. Wolf, for five minutes. Mr. Wolf i thank you, mr. Speaker. Another sunday has come and gone without mass being set in mosul. Theres no doubt about it, religious cleansing is continuing to occur in iraq. The churches have been seized, and some turned into mosques. Every trace of christianity is being eradicated in iraq. The christian property has been seized, looted and given to others. The vicker of the only Anglican Church in baghdad recently stated, quote, things are so desperate, our people are disappearing, we have had our people massacred, their heads chopped off. Are we seeing the end of christianity . We are committed, he said, come what may, we will keep going to the end but it looks as though the end could be near, end of quote. Vicker white continuing said, quote, the christians are in grave danger. They are literally living in the desert and on the street. They have nowhere to go, end of quote. The question remains, what should the world be doing to help the christians and other religious minorities in iraq . The administration has taken a small step, although it needs to do much more. The president of the United States needs to speak out on this issue. This morning after a ninemonth vacancy, the white house announced the nomination of rabbi David Sapperstein to be for mbassador at large religion. Hes been engaged on this issue for a long time. I welcome this nomination. It is a good nomination and i ask the senate to confirm rabbi sapperstein quickly. On friday the house passed legislation that creates the position of special envoy for religious minorities in the middle east and South Central asia. This was a Bipartisan Legislation that was introduced with congressman anna eshoo and myself. Our office worked closely with our former colleague, senator roy blunt. I ask our president to sign this bill quickly and to fill this position as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Christianity, as we now know it, is being wiped out before our very eyes in iraq. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Gallego, for five minutes. Mr. Allego thank you, speaker. I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Today id like to continue the journey through the 23rd district of texas and talk about kermit. Kermit, texas, which many people know as being one of the communities in the center of all of the action with respect to the Energy Economy in texas, but i know it as the home of the yellow jackets. The yellowjackets who for years have been a formidable foe for my own alpine bucks. Kermit started life the town started as a local trading and supply company, trading and supply depot for the ranches that dotted the west texas landscape. Kermit gets its landscape not from a notable green frog, the first frog to communicate with humans, but instead it gets its name from kermit roosevelt, the only place in the United States that is named for the son of a former u. S. President , teddy roosevelt. Kermit, texas, became the county seat of Winkler County city like was a many of the other Rural Communities in texas that had a challenge staying alive. Small towns have always had a particular challenge, and in kermits case, they were devastated by a drought that struck the area in 1916 that forced many homesteaders and ranchers to leave. Rmit ran dry by 1924 and the ernd baird family was the sole house with a Single School and a lone courthouse. The whole town nearly evaporated into the air until that sea of oil was discovered below the surface, and in 1926, kermit, texas, became a boomtown. That boomtown continued into the 1960s and through the boom, the town has seen tremendous growth. During the rapid expansion of the city, flooding actually became a problem and as with small towns that are scattered throughout rural texas, they worked through that problem to a solution. They constructed crown streets and the city kept growing and building additional infrastructure to support the oil boom and the growing needs of their county. Kermit, texas, although small in size, has displayed that same attitude reflected in many of the successes of our great nation. They work through tough situations with creativity and resolve and as a result we as a nation greatly benefit from their willingness to stick through it. Kermit, texas, and those who worked and lived and raised families there, theyve all contributed to our Energy Security. Theyve all contributed to the Energy Security of our entire country. Without them it would have been difficult to meet the energy demands of world war ii and after the war, the economic boom that the u. S. Would experience. Even today, kermit is a main stay of the west texas economy, an active chamber, an active community, a wonderful place to live and to raise kids and, of course, the everproud yellowjackets. If you find yourself near kermit, texas, i invite you to visit the small and Historic Town that has contributed so much, so greatly to our texas values, our Texas History and our texas success. Kermit, texas. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Holding, for five minutes. I holding mr. Speaker, rise today to recognize North Carolina representative dr. Jim fulgim, who recently passed away after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong resident of raleigh, he married his high school sweetheart, mary susan. They both received their medical degrees at chapel hill and mary susan continues to serve the Raleigh Community as a doctor, as jim did for so many years. I want to commemorate jim for all he contributed to the field of medicine, the city of raleigh, North Carolina, and our country. Jim was a world renowned neurosurgeon, served his country in the gulf war and later went on to serve in the North Carolina state legislature. Jim was truly a great american, a good friend of mine and a mentor to me and so many others that he came in touch and contact with. As a member of the North Carolina house of representatives, jim was an exemplary statesman on behalf of his constituents. He was compassionate man and touched the lives of many. Throughout jims life, he tirelessly offered his service to his community. He was involved in numerous organizations in the state, including United Methodist church, where he was active throughout his life. Mr. Speaker, North Carolina mourns his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with jims wife, 47 years, mary susan, and the rest of his family, emily, molly, patrick, jim and sisters, peggy, mary ann, ruth and two grandchildren, margaret and kurt. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until put nbc has tweeted out that the republican aide to the committee is drafting a bill that could be filed today. And a debate on the resolution suing the president for failing to implement the health care law. The senate is in at 2 00 eastern. Later in the day, at 5 30. Also on the agenda, a bill for highway and mass transit projects in a vote on the nomination of Robert Mcdonald is the next federal affairs secretary. You can see that live on cspan when they return and the senate on cspan2. For more on what is coming up, as members per pair to leave for break, we spoke with a reporter earlier today. As aining us on the phone congressional reporter with politico. The house has its own a bill. The senate has a version as well. House take up their legislation . You could see it happening this week. There is a lot of contention about this bill. Is there enough for Border Security . We will see john boehner and Kevin Mccarthy and the Republican Leadership really working this week before they schedule a vote to ensure that they have the ability to pass it. Democrats will not be joining in the efforts. Host they will not be able to count on democratic votes . Guest there are a few reasons for that. Opposedlosi is really to changing that antitrafficking law in conjunction with the supplemental. She is doing it as a process of legislation and having that change go through the normal order. She does not want it tied to supplemental. That is really meant to address an emergency. That is also a projection the amount being spent is really much less than the president had asked for. By and large, theyre not going to come in and do but the Democratic Party has done when a Speaker Boehner has not been able to call enough republican votes and get those votes to pass. Host the headline, from your is that the house gop faces a big test on this bill. Why . Where is that coming from . Various parts of the gop. You see those conservative most,s who believed that if not all spending, should be offset. When you have border states who want to see more Border Security measures put in their, then you have those who disagree generally with how the government is handling the immigration crisis. They want to see much more there. It is an Interesting Group that is opposing this. They could lead up to trouble for the gop. Story on have another your website. Cornin is pushing a bill. They have come together. Piece, here is a quote from senator cornyn. There wings of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party that are willing to do nothing on this . If they do not see what they want spending offsets for the republicans. Guest there absolutely is. That is a real feeler. The democrats feel that they have been the leading voice on immigration reform. They do not think they will be punished by voters. They wanted to see it done. People called it shameful. They advocated their duties. Stronge standing separate from the 2008 trafficking law. Republican lot party has a split. We are going to be punished by increasingly difficult populations in the latino voters. Them do not see it as as big of us threat. You will hear that throughout the week. Host what about the senate side . They have their own legislation. They want to spend their own money. Is it a slamdunk . That is hard in the senate. Heres all of the action over amendments and how poorly the Senate Majority leader, harry work and get they along. It is more likely they will pass something. Is it something the house could pass . That is highly unlikely. Do the two bodies have to go into Conference Committee . Can they do it before friday which is when the Senate Leaves for a fiveweek break . Some say of course we should keep working and stay. Some say would be against the law to stay past the august recess. Host why is that . Guest it is some procedural archaic rules in the house bylaws and say they have to recess by august. It would be archaic. Nobody would be going to jail. Those who really stick to the letter of bylaws are talking about that. Host that is a question for our viewers. Should congress finish this before they leave for the fiveweek rate . There was a deal reached between the house and senate on the Veterans Affairs health care bill. Can this get past the wings of a both parties by friday . This is much more likely. We really thought it was falling apart. The summit democratics were criticizing. It looked like they were walking away from negotiations. They accused each other of giving up. We are hearing that Bernie Sanders and jeff miller have reached a deal and come much closer. Theyre going to unveil their proposal for how to fix it. That could actually get past and sent to the president before the august recess. Host we will have coverage of that News Conference. This is a 15 billion price tag. Beyond that, what are some of the highlights . You are going to see an ability for veterans who have been waiting for medical care to leave the v. A. System and take care privately at the v. A. s expense. If they live far from a va hospital, 40 miles is the agreedupon distance, you will also see the v. A. Secretary the ability to fire senior managers accused of mismanagement. They can obviously fire those who are ill performing. It takes a very long time because of federal rules about letting employees go and their process to appeal. This was one of the reasons the controversy started in the first place. Host more to come on this v. A. Deal in the house and senate. Lauren french, thank you for your time this morning. Again, see the house live at 2 00 eastern. On cspan2, the senate will be on the same time. About a proposal finalized over the weekend, threatening mismanagement and delays of veteran health care facilities. The News Conference will be at 1 30 eastern today, live on cspan2. Earlier today, john kerry gave the opening remarks at the Young AfricanLeaders Summit here in washington. He talked abo