Recognition between the parties. All time shall be equally allocated between the parties and in no event shall debate continue past 11 50 a. M. Each member other than the majority and minority leaders majority whip shall be limited to five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Poe, for five minutes. Mr. Poe thank you, mr. Speaker. Graduating from high school and going to college is an important goal for many, Many American teenagers. College offers the promise of an education, new friends, new experiences. And when parents drop their children off at their new dorms, they are trusting those universities with the wellbeing of their kids. The dark reality is in many cases this trust is woefully misplaced. Mr. Speaker, approximately one in five women are sexually assaulted in college. Thats one out of every five of our daughters, sisters and friends. This shocking statistic would lead most people to assume that colleges have extensive protection to support those people on campus that may be sexually assaulted. This is just not the case. Last year one of these victims published an anonymous oped at harvard about her attack. The title of her article was its me, one of your statistics. She described the night of her attack. A friend invited her to his dorm room to study for an upcoming science mid term test. She thought nothing of it, but when she started to become uncomfortable she decided it was important for her to leave. But he did not let her leave. He sexually assaulted her. After the attack she ran to a friends room for help. She refused to shower, knowing she had to immediately get a rape kit done. Assuming the university would be able to help her she called her Health Services department, but the news she received from them shocked her. Harvard University Health center didnt provide rape kits. They didnt provide any postrape care whatsoever. There was nothing they would or could do for her. The university essentially threw up their hands and just turned her away. She was forced to call an uber and paid someone to drive her to the hospital across town. But once she arrived there was no staff at the hospital trained to deal with Sexual Assault victims or trained to collect forensic evidence. Sexual assault forensic examiners, safes, as theyre called, will collect evidence from victims and provide the victim for care and support thats sensitive to the trauma that they have incurred. She had to wait over three hours for somebody to arrive. This is unacceptable and its sad. It is estimated that less than 25 of victims of rape report their crimes. They fear this exact scenario, that they will be turned away, dismissed, ignored or not believed. To address this problem, i introduced legislation that would require a hospital to provide access to a Sexual Assault forensic examiner or have a plan in place to quickly get a victim to a nearby hospital that can provide forensic services. This bill is named for megan rondini, its in honor of a 21yearold Sexual Assault victim who was denied proper postrape treatment at a hospital in alabama. This bill would ensure victims can assess the care they need. Megan didnt have someone on staff at the hospital either. When she reported it to the authorities the authorities did not believe her. Anguished, megan came back to texas dess pondent and tragically took her own life. The only thing she knew in her case is she was failed by the hospital, university and Law Enforcement agencies. Universities have a Sexual AssaultVictim Advocate on staff, all universities. A safe should be available for victims at a nearby hospital and Law Enforcement must quickly analyze Sexual Assault kits because there are hundreds sitting on the shelves all over the country that have never been tested. Mr. Speaker, Sexual Assault victims are people, they are mainly young people at universities, and as the harvard student said, they are not just statistics on a hospital spreadsheet. Society can no longer ignore the silent, painful cries for help of victims of rape on our College Campuses anymore. These days need to end. And thats just the way it is. Ill yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Butterfield, for five minutes. Mr. Butterfield mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize a great american, dr. Virginia newell, who will celebrate her 100th irthday on saturday, october 7. She was a civil rights activist, elected official, mentor and friend. She was born in advanced, North Carolina, to william and donna kimbro. She graduated from Atkins High School in winstonsalem. She received her masters degree from New York University and a doctorate in education from the university of sarasota in florida. After receiving her doctorate, dr. Newell returned to her beloved North Carolina, taught thematics at the high school in raleigh. She was an associate professor of mathematics. In 1965, she joined winstonsalem university at a mathematics professor. She taught at this institution for 20 long years, served as chair of the Mathematics Department. Acknowledging her tremendous contributions to the university, the Computer Science center bears her name. A dedicated Public Servant, dr. Newell served as city alderman for 16 years where she focused on the needs of her constituents, advocated for those who were often without a voice. In recognition of herselflessed a vow case, the city of winstonsalem named a street and walking trail in her honor. Virginia was born to george, a distinguished science professor. A marriage that lasted 46 long years. Two daughters were born to the marriage. My friend, dr. Glenda Newell Harris and dr. Virginia banks. He is blessed with six grand children. Shes a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, incorporated and a platinum member of the lynx. She is the alphabet, and the wife of sigma phi fraternity. She has been a faithful member of the Baptist Church in wisttonsalem. R. Newell is a visionary trailblazer who affected the lives of so many. On behalf of the United States house of representatives and the people of my Congressional District, i wish dr. Virginia kimbro newell a very happy birthday. I now yield to ms. Adams of the 12th district of North Carolina. Ms. Adams i rise to honor the phenomenal dr. Newell, a mathematician, author, elected official, mentor and dr. Newell is an asset to North Carolina. E celebrate her 100th birthday. She graduated from Atkins High School in winstonsalem before attending Talladega College in alabama, she received her doctorate in education from the university of share societya. As an educator she touched the lives of countless students at washington and ligon high hool in raleigh, yale summer high school, winston state university. As chairwoman of the Mathematics Department for 20 years and later as professor emeritus, she brought computers to that campus and in winstonsalem, she was elected alderwoman ald for 16 years. She led numerous drives and cochaired the Shirley Chisholm for President Campaign in North Carolina. Even after retirement, she served as mentor and tutor to hundreds of students who continue to thank her for her Firm Approach and for expecting nothing but the best from them. Dr. Newells hard work and dedication to her students, constituents and to North Carolina is admirable and noteworthy. Indeed a phenomenal woman, and i wish her a very happy birthday for 100 years. I yield back. Mr. Butterfield our time has yielded back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. Carter, for five minutes. Mr. Carter mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize the life of mr. George hamilton who passed away on august 4, 2017, at 88 years old. Mr. Hamilton graduated from the university of Georgia School of pharmacy and owned and operated his own private pharmacy. He was the owner of hamilton pharmacy in the heart of downtown savannah where he was the primary pharmacist for many residents of savannah. It wasnt just his products that brought in his customers but the genuine care he showed for people. He opened this business because his love for neighbors and community. If someone could not afford to purchase their desperately needed medicine he would give them for free. And he kept groceries from having the elders walk to the grocery store. He saw his beloved georgia bulldogs play almost every saturday. Thank you, dr. Hamilton, to the profession of pharmacy. You will truly be missed. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize the life of mr. Herman butler sr. Who passed away on august 21, 2017, at 81 years. Mr. Herman was a man who wore many hats in the pembroke, georgia, community. He worked at a barbershop for many years before serving as a brian county probait judge. Venison, uayle, barbecue pork on the courthouse grounds. His events became extremely popular and eventually garnered the title of cafe. More specifically, the roadkill cafe, because of the large amount of choices he served. He served not only courthouse staff and Law Enforcement but people from across pembroke and the state of georgia, including some of the states highest officials. He retired in 2000, and his roadside feasts were special for anyone who was lucky enough to attend. Mr. Butler certainly will be missed. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize admiral lower half randy prisis for his promotion to rear admiral upper half. He serves as commander of submarine group 10 in the extreme southern portion of the first Congressional District of georgia. Since he signed up to sign up in 1985, he has proven himself an outstanding leader. Among his many accomplishments, he completed for patrols while commanding the u. S. S. West virginia that dissuaded enemies from potentially threatening our country. It will be impossible for me to overstate the not overstate the importance that hes doing at Kings Bay Naval base and i trust he will succeed in his new assignment and make an even greater contribution to the safety of our nation in this position. The first Congressional District of georgia appreciates your patriotism and dedication to the United States. Thank you, mr. Speaker. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Cohen, for five minutes. Mr. Cohen thank you, sir. In the past week we honored and welcomed back Steve Scalise to this chamber. Victim of a horrible shooting aimed at him because he was a congressman. Could have been any one of us. Today, the democrats spoke on the steps of the capitol about the need for reasonable gun law reform, and with us was Gabby Giffords who was shot in 2011 because she was a congressperson doing her job. Congressman john lewis had said, you cant go to a movie theater, you cant go to a concert, you cant go to school and feel safe. You cant be a public official and feel safe. What happened in las vegas were 58 people were murdered and calls on the ed United States congress to take action to protect the American People. For is a time to act reasonable, commonsense gun reform laws. The former deputy Prime Minister of australia fisher who in 1996 after the greatest mass shooting in australian history led an effort to reform the australian laws, sent a message to President Trump suggesting this is the time for him to act and to do something very important for american society. And said it can be done. In australia after that kill, they passed laws that made it illegal automatic and semiautomatic weapons. Hey had a buy back prom that bought back over 600,000 guns. After 1996 and the effort which was difficult but successful, had a killing ot of over five people. Prior to 1996, they had 15 or 16 shootings of that nature. Everyone recognizes australias success. We need to do something and not just have continued moments of silence. Yesterday on a bill on this oor about the unborn, taking precedence over the rights of women, quite a few republicans came to the floor and talked the unborn and loss of their potential for life. But none have talked about the were injured00 who lost. E 58 lives that were we could pass laws to eliminate bump stocks that apparently this murderer used to make his weapon into the effectually and automatic weapon. We could shoot hundreds of bullets at a time, lost. We could pass laws to eliminate. Bump stocks should be illegal and senator Dianne Feinstein had a bill to make them illegal in 2013, and she has one again. We need better background checks. And we need to make sure the mentally ill dont get guns. Unfortunately in this congress in february the Congress Passed a law that President Trump flair with passion and a that eliminated a rule that said that the Social Security administration would send the names of people who couldnt manage their own Financial Affairs to a bureau to see to it that they were on a list where they couldnt buy guns. If you cant successfully manage your own Financial Affairs, a gun . You have i would submit not. But that bill was passed on a partisan vote and signed by the president. Making it easier for people to get guns who the Social Security administration has found could not manage their own affairs. Nobuye with the nofly, risk. If you are too much of a Security Threat to fly on an airplane, you shouldnt be able to buy a gun. The arguments we heard against that were about due process. Has anybody brought a bill to give the people on the nofly list due process . Has it come 209 floor to the floor . No, and it wont. Because it makes sense to have a nofly list and they should also be people who cant buy guns. We shouldnt have semiautomatic weapons, certainly automatic weapons which are illegal. But the bump stocks make regular weapons automatic weapons. The c. D. C. Is prohibited by law from doing a study to see if there is a connection to gun violence and Mental Health or our countrys health. That law should be repealed. We shouldnt fear the c. D. C. Study. The speaker pro tempore the entlemans time has expired. Mr. Cohen high capacity mags shouldnt be permitted and Law Enforcement should be protected from armor piercing bullets. I yield back the balance of my time. And hope that we can act to mr. Save american lives. The speaker pro tempore thank you. The gentlemans time has expired. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from michigan, mr. Mitchell, for five minutes. Mr. Mitchell thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the 21st century air act, a comprehensive act to reauthorize the f. A. A. And reform air Traffic Control. Our Aviation System was once the best in the world, but unfortunately america is no longer first in flight. Ask anyone who flies, they know our Aviation System is plagued with inefficiencies. These range from indirect routes us all over trying to get from one point to another. Seemingly endless delays, and time wasted on the tarmac hoping to us all over trying to get take off to head to your destination. These delays cause travelers and our economy an estimated 25 billion a year. You may have heard arguments that, well, there is nothing we can do. 50 of our air traffic delays are caused by bad weather. Underlying that is 50 of delays are caused by bad weather because they have to space out aircraft further and differently when the weather is inclement. Why is that . Well, in many cases were using world war ii Radar Technology to keep track of modesh modern aviation. Over 400 air Traffic Control facilities were built before the intervention of internet and nine are old enough to collect medicare if they were a live human being. Think about them. They are that old. Questions have been asked why havent we fixed the problem . After all taxpayers and taxpayers pour billions of dollars into the f. A. A. To modernize that system yet we have little to show for t as president clinton pointed out nearly 20 years ago, part of the problem is our Outdated Technology when a more fundamental problem is how the f. A. A. Operates. I couldnt agree more. We recently had a hearing regarding air Traffic Control and the f. A. A. Was asked what does it take to get to a modern air Traffic Control system like used in developed parts of the world . I was told if we had 10 more years and 30 billion more. We hope to have the project done. I come from private business, hope is not a plan. The 21st century air act would replace a federal entity that itself to be ineffective with an independent, notforprofit board tasked with modernizing our air Traffic Control system. They would have one duty. Providing the itself to be ineffective with safest, most Efficient AirTraffic Control service to all users. Contrary to critics, it would be comprised of users of the system. All are represented equally. Let me bust a few myths here. Critics argue that transferring air Traffic Control service from fay if a to a new entity would be a free giveaway of federal assets. Well, first let me state they are not federal assets. They are ours. We paid for them. Everyone in this chamber paid for them. They are owned by the people. Most these assets are so old and outdated in many cases they are actually a liability. There are many facilities that are actually environmental brownfields. A number of f. A. A. Facilities no longer meet osha standards, somehow some of the critics claim these are valuable federal assets. Users are going to pay for this air Traffic Control system to update it. They are going to pay for the equipment, the staff, and technology to finally update a system that we have been trying to do for over 30 years. Many in this chamber talk about we refocusing the federal government, reducing it back to core missions, to what it does best. This bill does just that. Mr. Speaker, after billions of dollars and decades of federal bureaucrats, fruitless efforts traffic ze our air system. Its time traffic system. Its time for change, its time for real reform. Mr. Speaker, this bill does exactly that. Lets bring the bill to the floor. Lets achieve real reform rather than just talking about it. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Gutierrez, for five minutes. Mr. Gutierrez thank you, mr. Speakerment i received a lot of calls in my office in the last few days. Some are offering help to the people of puerto rico. But many are from moms and dads hoping to hear from their children. From children hoping to hear rom their moms and dads. From grandchildren worried about an elderly grandparent who is still in puerto rico. Two weeks after the hurricane hit, puerto rico from, there are people who have not been heard and people who are calling for help. But havent received it yet. I have had members of congress, state and local official, and people from all over the and pe for help. Countrynt call me to tell me someone who needs help getting out of puerto rico. Their mom is still in puerto rico, or cousin is on dialysis and has not been heard from, and can i help them get to a hospital on the main land . These calls are country call me to heartbreaking because they are all about u. S. Citizens and should be treated better two weeks after a calamity. Even a devastating calamity like Hurricane Maria. Most of the calls i received from been from my constituents in chicago. Heres one example that was summarized to me by my staff member in chicago. She said, congressman, i received a call. I wont give her name. She lives in illinois, but has an aunt who is in the hospital in puerto rico. Was very ill with cancer. She is requesting assistance from our office to get her aunt out of puerto rico so she can receive treatment in chicago. Mr. Speaker, if you take a look at my facebook, you will see the same sort of thing. Writes, the municipality of the coastal town writes, the of the coastal town in northern part of puerto rico has not received help. I spoke to my family there via text and they said the situation there is dire. Please dont forget the people are hungry, thirsty, and there are many sick who need medicine. Thank you. I just spoke 10 minutes ago to maria in chicago and she said, congressman, i havent heard from my parents. Tragic. Mr. Speaker, these messages break my heart, but i dont know what to tell people except to say that help may be on the way soon, but of course thats not good enough. And i have no explanation for why it is not already there. It certainly is not the fault of the brave men and women who work for fema and the armed forces. I spend a lot of time with them in puerto rico while i was there. They are working hard, they are tired, and facing difficult task of finding and feeding people. From what i saw in puerto rico this last weekend, what i am hearing from my constituents, and what i am hearing from my family and friends we need to seriously ramp up the use of full capacity and capabilities of the u. S. Government, the u. S. Military, to rescue people. They dont need paper towels tossed at them like the u. S. Mi rescue people. They dont need paper towels tossed at them like tshirts at a sports arena. They need helicopters, bridges, cell towers, and generators. Which i was frankly horrified by president S Performance yesterday on the island. He said that puerto rico was making his budget out of whack. As if the monetary cost of saving lives is what we should be focusing on. Or that an agenda that cut taxes is really as important as save peoples lives in danger. From the beginning he has focused on the cost of saving puerto ricans. Not the moral duty to save them. He has essentially said that puerto rico is sitting around looking for handouts and not helping themselves. Which not what i saw in puerto rico this past weekend, mr. Speaker. Yesterday the president said we should all feel proud because been listed e have as officially listed by Hurricane Maria in puerto rico. Really, we should feel proud . Yes, he said a real tragedy like hurricane katrina, kill many more people. He said. So i guess hes saying, hey, only 16. Why the big fuss . And that number doubled overnight by the way. And everyone understands it will go up farther still when contact is made with all parts of the island. I look at it a little different. To me, it is almost like Hurricane Maria posed a test to the United States of america and our president. The hurricane said, im going to take 34 souls. That is 34 too many, but thats what im going to take. Now, im leading it up to you, america, mr. President , and you the people in congress, tell me what will you do to prevent that number from going any higher . How getting medicine to the sick . Are you evacuating the aunt with cancer and cousin on dialysis. Are you providing Safe Drinking Water and flights to safety . Mr. Speaker, i dont think todays body count is the right metric to look at, but rather we should be challenging ourselves to make sure it doesnt go higher. The most serious event in puerto rican modern history may not qualify as a significant disaster to our president , but let us not sit back and allow the body count to change the president s mind. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Gue tear rest we cant wait that long. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. Woodall, for five minutes. Mr. Woodall thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i have the honor of serving on the house transportation and Infrastructure Committee and i rise today in support of the 21st century Aviation Innovation reform and reauthorization act. We call it the air act on the committee. 2997. R. It is a unique opportunity, in a bipartisan way, to do Something Big together for the American People. I know we hear that a lot in this chamber, mr. Speaker, but so often it seems like it is just out of our reach. That is not the case today. Under chairman shusters leadership on the transportation and Infrastructure Committee, that is mr. Speaker, my colleagues and i have worked to craft the kind of bold, forward thinking reform that americas 21st century Aviation System needs. And it is in reach today to make that the law of the land. When we sit together to reauthorize the f. A. A. , mr. Speaker, it isnt just about attending to the nations business of ensuring safety of air travelers across the country. Of course that is a priority, but it is an opportunity to implement the kind of innovative reforms we have seen across the globe and that America Needs to reestablish itself as the worlds aviation leader. We have an opportunity together to deal with a bloated bureaucracy, to reduce taxpayer costs, to improve efficiency all in an industry that is designed to prioritize customers experience and customer service. Mr. Speaker, americans pioneered air travel, and we remain the safest Aviation System on the planet. But our own outdated bureaucracy, our own outdated rules are standing in the way of american innovators and making air travel more time consuming, more coastly and Safety Innovations more costly and Safety Innovations more difficult. Mr. Speaker, with this we can better serve our travelers and to preserve the worlds finest commitment to safety, as we always have. As is the case, mr. Speaker, with any heavy lift, with any big task, there are always concerns, and keeping americas system safe and the American People safe are highest among those concerns. Mr. Speaker, what you need to know today is that with the support of general mattis, with the support of the department act will , the airr preserve National Security in our infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, the bill has the support of those dedicated Public Servants at the pentagon because it has been sensitive to these issues. It maintains the d. O. D. s access and management of airspace. It doesnt allow user fees that are charged to passengers to be passed onto taxpayers through the d. O. D. It leaves intact the president and the d. O. D. s proper authorities to manage this space. In addition, it provides unequivocal definitions about the importance of defense to the American People, and balances the needs of general aviation with the needs of the department of defense. The oversight will always remain with the f. A. A. , with the d. O. T. And with the United States congress. Mr. Speaker, after we preserve National Security, we turn our attention to the general Aviation Community, and if you have talked about this bill at all with any of your constituents back home, mr. Speaker, you heard the concerns of the general Aviation Community about what it will mean to them to completely reform americas air Traffic Control system. Mr. Speaker, we have to balance the role of government oversight and accountability with private innovation. Our bill is designed to empower those innovators but to preserve the protections that g. A. Has today. Mr. Speaker, i want to refer on to a graphic youll find he committee of transportation website. You cant see it but i have line by line by line the law we are talking about, the bill we are talking about, the reforms that we are talking about and how it protects our friends in the general Aviation Community. No fees, no new fees for our friends in general aviation, mr. Speaker. If you have a doubt about that, look at section 9713. Youll see charges and fees may not be imposed for air Traffic Services provided. Continuing airspace and airport access, mr. Speaker. So important to american citizens involved in general aviation. Again, i refer you to chapter 907. General rights of access to airspace and airports. The secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that air Traffic Services air Traffic Services user is not denied to airspace or air Traffic Control services. The stakeholder board, mr. Speaker, the cooperating of air Traffic Services that weve seen so successfully in canada where they say they are getting twice the safety and modernization input for half the cost, doing it in a third of a time having done with their bloated bureaucracy, the stakeholder board, mr. Speaker, defined by general aviation nomination. Transport. House. Gov, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the distinguished minority whip, mr. Clyburn, for five minutes. Mr. Clyburn thank you very much, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago i stood on the east steps of this ornate building and i now rise in the hall of this august body to call for action on an issue that has languished for far too long. Specifically, Congress Needs to pass commonsense reforms of our laws regarding firearms. I applaud our concerns for broader background checks, but broader background checks must be as effective as they are efficient. It is true that our Current Technology allows us to efficiently to be efficient enough for background checks to be completed within three days. And over 90 of them are. But what happens to that less than 10 . Why arent they completed within that time frame . Well, mr. Speaker, we do not have a perfect world. Our Public Servants are not perfect, and the consuming public is not either. Public servants occasionally make mistakes, and some consumers intentionally make misrepresentations. No matter how good our technology is, sometimes the process requires more than three days to ferret out dishonest and illintended purchases. We need to close the gaping loopholes in our gun laws. We need to close the internet sale gun show loophole that allows gun purchases to evade restrictions in purchasing their weapon through a licensed dealer. We need to close the loophole that allows individuals on the terrorist watch list to purchase firearms. We need to close the loophole that allows domestic abusers to purchase guns. We need to close loopholes that allow semiautomatic weapons to be effectively turned into illegal automatic weapons. The socalled bum stocks that allow the retrofitting of semiautomatic weapons to make them fully automatic should not be legal. The las vegas shooter had several of these devices that enabled the firing of hundreds of rounds per minute. The purchasing of fully automatic weapons thats been significantly restricted in this country since the 1930s because weapons of war should have no place in our civil society. Give us a vote to close this loophole. We need to close the charleston loophole that allows purchases of firearms without the completion of a background check. My background check completion act will do just that. And prevent another tragedy like the emanuel a. M. E. Church shooting that took the lives of nine worshipers more than two years ago. Give us a vote to close this loophole. Mr. Speaker, Congress Needs to pass commonsense reforms of our laws regarding firearms. Give us a vote. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from arizona, mr. Franks, for five minutes. Mr. Franks mr. Speaker, i am so grateful that yesterday this chamber passed the paincapable unborn Child Protection act, or micahs law. Im especially grateful to everyone who actually voted for it and had the courage and humanity to do so. In the years to come, no matter what else they do in this chamber, i believe they a lot look back on that day as a day they stood for those who could not protect themselves for the least of their Little Brothers and sisters. Mr. Speaker, it was just over four years ago that one Kermit Gosnell was convicted of killing a mother and killing innocent late term paincapable babies in his grizzly torture clinic even after they were born. When authorities entered the clinic they found the torture chamber for little babies that defies description within constraints of the english language. According to a grand jury report, quote, dr. Gosnell had a simple conclusion for unwanted babies, he killed them. He didnt call it that. He called it ensuring fetal demise. The way he ensured fetal demise was sticking scissors in the back of the babys neck and cutting the spinal cord. He called it snipping. Over the years there were hundreds of snippings, unquote. Ashley baldwin, one of dr. Gosnells employees, said she saw babies breathing and she described one as two feet long that no longer had eyes or a mouth. But in her words was making like this screeching noise and it, quote, sounded like a little aileyen. For gods sake, mr. Speaker, this cant be america. Kermit gosnell now rightfully sits in prison for killing a mother and murdering innocent children like the one i just described. And yet there was and still is no federal protection for any of them. And if he killed these paincapable babies only five minutes earlier and before they had passed through the birth canale it would have all been perfectly legal in many of these United States of america. Now, supporters of abortion on demand have tried for decades to deny that unborn babies ever feel pain. Even those they say at the beginning of the sixth month of pregnancy as if somehow the ability to feel pain magically develops the very second a child is born. Now that we have passed micahs law, mr. Speaker, voices who have long hailed the merciless killing of these little children is freedom of choice. Freedom will now grow louder than ever, especially the ones who profit from it most. And i pray when senators hear those voices they will search their own souls and remember the words of president Abraham Lincoln when he said, quote, those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and under a just god cannot retain it. Mr. Speaker, Abraham Lincoln called upon us to remember that magnificent declaration of americas Founding Fathers and said, quote, their enlightened belief that nothing stamped with the divine image and likeness was sent into this world to be trodened on or degraded and embruted by his fellows. He reminded those who he called prosperity that when in the distant future some man, some faction, some interest that set up a docket rick ryne that were not entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that their prosperity thats us, mr. Speaker that their prosperity might look up again to the declaration of independence and take courage to renew the battle which their battles began. Unquote. Wow. Mr. Speaker, what we are doing to these little babies is real and all of us here know that in our own hearts. So let me close with a final wise counsel from Abraham Lincoln who stood so strongly for Human Dignity and it desperately applies to all of us in this moment. He said, fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We will of this congress will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No one can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor until the last generation. Mr. Speaker, what if the words of the american declaration of independence really are true . What if there really is a creator . And what if these little paincapable human beings really are his children . Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Rush, for five minutes. I want to thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to ay a privileged tribute to a longterm resident of my district and a true friend of mine, bertha mcmorris, in on of her 80th birthday in honor f her 80th birthday. Ms. Bertha is also so very much more. A proud fwrad wit graduate of the chicagos teachers college. Ms. Bertha is a dedicated Public Servant who spent more than 20 years at the u. S. Department of education. In addition to her work as a Public Servant, ms. Bertha spent nearly a decade working t deramo push coalition, and is currently the proprietor of the newly founded ray moore push store. The also spent time as past leader of happy companion, incorporated, a Community Service organization founded by her late sister, ms. Win fred winifred jackson. S. Bertha has lived in woodlawn community, which is located in my district, and has been a lifelong and faithful mber of the marian Baptist Church of chicago where shes currently a trustee of the churchs credit union. Ms. Bertha is also the proud mother of mr. Lamel mcmorris, a very successful entrepreneur and founder and chief executive officer of the perennial Strategy Group and perennial sports and entertainment group. Lamel manages an inhouse team of experienced government and Public Relations professionals, wyers, and sports agents offering a multitude of services to clients and a wide range of disciplines offering and specialty areas. En today, mr. Speaker, ms. Bertha stays very ackive active. Has a very big heart, and is so very kind to everyone whom she meets. He is aptly described as someone who brings cheer, who brings joy wherever she goes. She meone who is, indeed, our owny atriarch of chicago. So, mr. Speaker, i hope that my coming to the floor today so, mr. Speaker, that this very small gesture can bring a big smile to her face and help ms. Bertha enjoy her birthday a little bit more. To you, ms. Bertha, we all say happy birthday, happy 80th birthday, and may you have many, many more. Godspeed. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The chair now wants to recognize another gentleman from illinois, for five bost, minutes. Mr. Bost thank you, mr. Speaker. Week on sunday southern illinois, actually southern illinois, the state of illinois, and i believe this nation mourn with the family and friends of a week on sunday southern french mine by the name of tom mcnamara. About two weeks ago we lost this local hero who spent decades on the frontline of Law Enforcement, combating the drug trade. Tom began his career in carbondale as just a police local Police Officer with the department while he was in college. Over the years, he became an author, instructor, investigator, expert witness, and under cover agent. Even after retirement he continued to serve the public as an advisor to local Police Departments who are still fighting the drug trade. I came to know tom, the good friend that he is, on the 23rd of november, 1988. Mr. Speaker, you might ask, how would you remember the day that you first met someone . I can remember that day because it was the day after my youngest daughter was born. Tom then was the head would you the day of what as known as the make unit, metropolitan enforcement group, a Drug Task Force that had been assigned, and had he been an under cover agent for quite some time. My sister, actually, was the secretary for that unit. So she had brought tom over to see the new baby. And while my wife was out of the room and i was in the room by myself, tom came in. When he came in he was introduced to me. And i toll home how glad i was to meet him. Tom was a very big man and at the time he was an undercover agent. So his hair was grown out, his beard grown out. He was undercover in a motorcycle gang. He was all dressed in black. Which he commonly did, actually always did. But when my wife returned to the room, hes leaning over the top of the bass net bassinet lay, where our daughter looking at the babby, my wife came in and had this startled look because she didnt see myself and sister in the room. Instantly she had that mother reaction to try to protect a child. And all of a sudden my sister jumped up and said lay, looking at the its ok. This is tom mcnamara. Hes a Police Officer. My first words to tom, who as i said became very good friends with me and very good friends with her, she said, well, i want to let you know that i would not run to you in an alley if im in trouble at night. You would not be the one i would run to. He said thats good. Im doing my job. Tom mcnamara taught other Police Officers the dangers and concerns. He served proudly as a Police Officer and as an undercover agent. But he also studied in great detail the harmfulness of certain drugs. When i was a state legislator, he came to me in 1997 and said, mike, i need to talk to you. Then senator, i need to explain to you about a drug that is so awful that if a mother and a father would use it, it would make them not have any concerns for the safety of their children because they are so focused on trying to get more of this drug. And they can make it in their kitchen, their cars. That was methamphetamine. That was when we first started drafting laws in the state of toms guidance to try to deal with the meth problem that still exists. Tom was also one of the first leaders that realized that tomo try to deal with the drugs like bath salts and all these being used. I dont even know how many people tom mcnamara has saved over the years. Well never know, im sure. Let me tell you, because of his to ty and his willingness work, and always to stand in the back, not to be recognized, sometimes for his own safety, but, mr. Speaker, he did it for the betterment of this nation and thats why i stand to recognize him today. I thank his wife, judy, his daughter, rachel. His soninlaw. And their children for giving up this man to serve us and serve us so well for all the lives he saves. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The chair now recognizes the gentlelady from texas, ms. Jackson lee, for five minutes. Ms. Jackson lee i thank the chair. A few floors st from here im in the Homeland Security committee and were addressing issues dealing with the security of this nation. And in my remarks on the legislation that we are dealing of , i expressed the pain having this Congress Come together in a bipartisan manner. I know a couple sessions ago we worked on a bipartisan Border Security bill. And sometimes america says enough is enough. They want us to work together. This morning i rise to mourn and ofnd with those families, 58 them, who are feeling now an unspeakable pain. They are questioning it how their loved one could be at a joyous Country Music festival nd be massacred. Our hometown newspaper says it right that the massacre in vegas, an act of pure evil. Those of us who believe in this flag, whether we kneel, whether we stand our hometown newspaper, as we p that america is the greatest country in the nation. But when she is hurting, it is important for this congress to act. The comment that it is no time we solve this we solve this unfettered violence, this this evil this evil perpetrato then that sentiment is a sentiment i hope will only be a small percentage of this body. We tried over and over again in any manner that we could to discuss fairly the idea of gun safety legislation. Not the diminishing of the Second Amendment as some made the argument that the kneeling, take a knee or i kneel was a diminishing the First Amendment. It absolutely was not because the First Amendment allows one to petition ones grievances. The sec amendment which in the procedure of overturning a constitutional amendment would be a long journey. Which include the two houses of congress and the people of the United States stop fueling fear that any manner of regulating hold cond the right to guns is Northern Ireland way diminishing the Second Amendment, the right to bare arms. It is enough bear arms. It is enough is enough and there were hundreds of mothers and ho guns is Northern Ireland way fathers outside of the capitol this morning when democrats stood up and called on this congress and the speaker to appoint a select committee, which i join them in. Make it as large as it can be. Have people who disagree. Take members of the jurisdictional committees and others who have experienced this violence. Let us solve this dirty problem. It is dirty. For you cannot give any support to the idea of civilians having militarystyle weapons and taking them and preying on the innocent. Beautiful young women, young men, mothers and fathers, grandparents now dead. Now dead. And nothing but their faith will give their family the hope that they may see them again for were god fearing people in whatever faith we may have. Our hope is vested in seeing our loved ones again. In particular in the christian faith. And others have their ways of seeing their loved ones again. But there must be a ban on assault weapons. There must be a recognition that there exists domestic terrorism. What was the pulse nightclub. Domestic terrorism comes in different ways. It doesnt have to be isis. It can be charleston, south carolina. That was an act of intimidation and there were those who were i may rethinkying my life. Why should i be going to large venues. Do i cant could that that. Thats not america. Thats not what we want for our children. Why cant this Congress Look at the polling numbers of the members of the National Rifle association . They understand the importance of training, of putting locks on guns, of not having military weapons. In the hands of individuals who would kill us dead. So, mr. Speaker, i rise today to say that enough is enough. We cannot do nothing. This flag demands that we do something. I close by saying a veteran was killed. He was not killed in iraq or afghanistan where he fought, but he was tilledkiled in the treets of america where he had posttraumatic stress disorder. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. Ms. Jackson lee we know that texans were wounded. Mr. Speaker, i leave this podium in respect simply to say as america we cannot do this any longer and we must stand up as a congress and do our jobs. And find a way to end this gun violence now. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair now recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Arenthold, for five minutes. Mr. Farenthold thank you, mr. Speaker. Its home to almost half of all naval air training in our country. South texas is a hub of military aviation. Thats why im here today to commemorate the dedication of the south texas aviators memorial which will be dedicated on october 12 at corpus christis rope park. After almost three years of planning, fundraising, and wareness by associate director buyer, the former flight i struckor, and many other volunteers, the memorial will soon be permanently placed to grace the bay front of corpus christi. This memorial, a tribute to fallen military aviators of all branches, features a sevenfoot tall bronze aviator, surrounded by benches and a walkway made of bricks bearing the name of local individuals and businesses that supported the building of the emorial. Thank you to each person who sponsored the building of this new memorial. Im proud to represent so many south texans that are proud of our military and are honoring military aviators who paid the ultimate price in service to our country. Mr. Speaker, each year i have the honor of nominating young men and women from the 27th district of texas to our United StatesService Academy. My office will soon be holding two Service Academy nights to help students interested in earning appointments to Service Academy learn about the application process and eligibility requirements. Representatives from west point, annapolis, the air force academy, the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy will be on hand to answer questions. There will be a presentation about the reserve officer training corps, rotc. These events are recommended for young men and women between the ages of 17 and 21 and their parents who are residents of the 27th Congressional District of texas but are open to any High School Student considering applying to our Service Academy. The first one will be in victoria on tuesday, october 10, from 8 00 sorry from 6 00 to 8 00 p. M. At the university of houstonvictoria, University North building multipurpose room. North room 114 at 3007 Wilson Street in victoria. The second will be in corpus kris tree from 6 00 to 8 00 at Veterans Memorial high school cafeteria, 3750 cimarron boulevard. For more Information Contact my office or visit my website at farenthold. House. Gov. Mr. Speaker, on october 10, w10 day, its the national day of taiwan and id like to take the opportunity to wish the people of taiwan a very happy w10 day. Over the years taiwan has commitment to democracy, its contribution to Global Health initiatives, International Development and humanitarian mission. Taiwan was there following the 2010 earthquake in hatey the 2013 typhoon in the philippines and was delivering critical aid and food in times of need. Taiwan was also there for the United States when Hurricane Harvey hit. Theyve donated a total of 800,000 to the American Red Cross in texas to assist with relief efforts. I would like to thank the taiwanese government and its people for this generous support and its continued friendship. Id also like to recognize all he great Taiwanese Companies doing business in texas. Thank you, again, taiwan and i offer my best 10 10 wishes to the people of taiwan. Finally, mr. Speaker, this week is a birthday of two of my staff members, luis in my District Office and bob of my chief my chief of staff here in washington, d. C. And corpus christi. Both are dedicated Public Servants committed to helping the people of the 27th district and all of america. Happy birthday, guys, and thanks for the help. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair now wants to recognize mr. Gallego for five minutes. Mr. Gallego thank you, mr. Speaker. This weekend as millions in puerto rico trudge through squalor in search of food, as homes lay in ruins and businesses remain swamped under feet of water, our commander in chief went golfing. As brothers and sisters on the leader ere there, the of the free world pats himself on the back. Quote, we have done a great job with an almost impossible situation, trump tweeted. Mr. Speaker, donald trump has it backwards. Hes not doing great job despite an impossible situation. The puerto rican people are. Yesterday on a belated visit to the island, trump could have apologized. He could have promised a vast extension relief effort to match the needs of the puerto rican people. Offered blamed and conned sention. He said, i hate to tell you, puerto rico, but you are throwing our budget out of whack. Im sorry, hes dead wrong. He is throwing our budget out of whack with the tax cuts for the rich. Early morning tweets and tantrums. Mper and now most recently, on the courageous leaders of puerto rico and the people of puerto rico such poor leadership, he says, by the ability of the ability of san juan and others in puerto rico. Mr. Speaker, i am not sure donald trump knows the meaning of the word leadership. Especially in the wake of a natural disaster, real leadership is about having the courage to do whats right and the compassion to do whats necessary to help others. Its about selfsacrifice, not selfpromotion. Its about putting our Country First and your own ego second. Instead, yesterday we were treated to the bizarre spectacle of the president of the United States throwing rolls of paper towels into a crowd. Despite the millions in puerto rico wanting for electricity or basic necessities he called his administrations response, and i quote, unbelievable and incredible. Donald trump even had the gall said they did not lose hundreds of lives, like in real catastrophes like hurricane katrina. Mr. Speaker, the outrageously poor response to the devastation in puerto rico is the best illustration yet that President Trump only cares about people who look like him, who vote for him or make the kind of money he makes. The American People, especially 3. 5 million u. S. Citizens in puerto rico, deserve a president whos capable of common human decency, a president more concerned about his conduct in office than his coverage in the media, a president who understands that his base is every single one of us. Mr. Speaker, id like to close for a few words in spanish the brave people of puerto rico. [speaking spanish] thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Members are reminded toward engaging in personalities toward the president. And the gentleman must provide a translation to the desk. Pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until noon today. Rex tillerson addressing reports of his intending to resign and his relationship with the president. President donald trump. We will have that for you momentarily. In the meantime, part of todays washington journal. Washing. Host joining us now is politicos bureau chief at the capital, john. Good morning. What has been the snap reaction . Guest lawmakers in both parties are offering condolences to the victims. They are talking about how evil this whole incident was. There has been talk, especially from the democrats, on some new gun control legislation, but there is very little chance to no chance that that will happen. There is talk about it. There will be a press conference later today. Gabby giffords will be at the capital today talking about this. Democrats are going to be pushing for new legislation. You will see democrats introducing new bills, particularly something that deals with background checks or fires,stocks, slide devices that help make semiautomatic weapons into automatic weapons. Therewill be debate, but is very little likelihood anything will happen should host will happen. Host could the democrats reach out to republicans to get some type of support . But, yes, you can watch this segment and all of todays washington journal online at cspan. Org. We will leave this. Just moments ago at the state department, secretary of state Rex Tillerson spoke to reporters about reports of his intending to resign and his relationship with President Trump. Secretary tillerson good morning. There are some news reports this morning that it