Allocated between the parties and in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. Each member other than the majority and minority leaders and minority whip shall be limited to five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Gutierrez, for five minutes. Shortly after the president returned from his trip to puerto rico, i received a shipment in my office of paper towels t didnt come with a note or an explanation, just 2 rolls of viva. A little irony because its in spanish. Maybe after watching the president entertain himself by tossing paper towels at hurricane victims a little iron because its in spanish. In pue rico, some wellintentioned person thought that giving paper towels to Puerto Ricans was an appropriate sign of respect. The gift you give to Puerto Ricans after a major disaster to kind of cheer us up, viva. Having returned from my secretary trip to puerto rico since the hurricane, i can tell you one thing for sure we need than paper towels than paper t from the president and this congress. Louisa, louisa, i was visiting with the mayor. Want you to look at the pictures this. Woman here, she has a a disabled adult sleeping on a wet mattress. Thats the home that she takes care of her son. Ur weeks after the hurricane children hiding behind barricades, homes destroyed. For food four weeks after the hurricane because there is no food has to be handed, neighborhood to neighborhood, hill top to hill top, hamlet and village to village within the town. See this . On that bed here because somehow we forgot that in a hurricane destroyed ciety, it might have be a something o have over your head. Of course the president said he gave himself a 10. Tell that to the people that have to live there four weeks. I just came back from this trip on saturday. Im now not surprised that the congressmen, my colleagues, are taking day trips to puerto rico. Yes, thats what we do as members of congress. We get there at 9 00 during the sun of the day. And we leave by 4 00 before the over your head. Of course the president said he darkness comes because of course there is no electricity. And then they take us on a helicopter ride around the island. Thats no way to visit. You get off the plane and off the helicopter and you stay overnight when its pitch black because thats the way 3. 4 citizens live one month after the hurricane. Thats how they live. I dont know maybe congressmen should stop citizens live one month after the taking day where they get there at 9 00 and leave by 4 00. Spend the night. Get out of your comfort and go talk to the american citizens that youre supposed to be epresenting. America, see this. Thats a horse stable, abandoned house, where people lived. I met a 13yearold girl there with her mom and 12yearold brother. Thats where they live. See this mom and the two children . No roof over their head. Just a little tarp. To keep one part of their house and no place to seep. See this man right here, he lives in his abandoned house in a little tent with a twomonthold child and his wife. Isabled in a wheelchair, and no electricity to run his air tank so that he can get the vital air that he needs to sustain his life. No this is what i saw. This was without the help of the federal government. If you ask for help theyll pet you on a put you on a helicopter and take you on a nice tour and you will not talk or see anybody. I know theres some in america saying they should just do this for themselves. Guess what . They are citizens of the United States of america. They are a colony of the United States of america. And i just ask america, there are over half a Million People n that island that are homeless, whose homes have been destroyed, and our government, heres the one question, people kept asking me no matter where i went, they said, where is fema . Where is the help that we expect from the most powerful and richest nation in the earth in this moment of despair . And soon it will be out of the headlines. And soon it will be out of the rotation. And we will try to forget that they will continue to suffer. I came back on a flight from puerto rico. This past saturday night filled fleeing. E fleaing i met this wonderful woman who said to me, i have my child here, im dropping her with my sister so that she fleeing. I met can be free. We would not allow this in texas. We would not allow this in new jersey. We would not allow this in florida. We did not allow it even after a week in katrina. Lets not allow it in puerto rico, either. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Emmer, for five minutes. Mr. Emmer mr. Speaker, i rise today to honor the career and service of Major General richard c. Nash. Major general nash recently retired after serving as adjutant general of Minnesota National guard for seven years. In his role nash had the importance responsibility of overseeing minnesotas army and air National Guard units. An Important Role where he saw great success. Having served in the army National Guard since 1976, general nash was selected for the job of general because of his experience and strong leadership during the conflict in bosnia and the iraq war. During his time in the National Guard, as a testament to his hard work and commitment to our great nation, general nash has received many awards like a bronze star and the Meritorious Service medal. General richard nash is a true patriot Whose Service to our nation has been a blessing to us all. I speak for all minnesotans his thank him for dedication and wish the best in his well deserved retirement. H dedication and mr. Speaker, i rise to honor the life of Carlene Johnston and the Beautiful Partnership she shared with her loving husband, dan. Originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2012, she 2016 after a long and hard fight. Her devoted husband, dan, stood hrough ifes side t 2016 aftera every moment keeping his marriage vow to love his wife in health and in sickness. On the day that carlene passed, dan shared in a post that caring for his wife in her final days was easy, writing, when youre helping someone you love, its not a burden. As tribute to dan and carlenes strong marriage and dans commitment to caring for his six wife, dan was awarded the relay for lifes 2017 hon rarery caregiver award. Our most sincere condolences go out to the family and we thank dan for epitomizing love in its truest form. You are an amazing role model. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to support minnesotas bid to host the 2023 world expo. I was mr. Speaker, proud to cosponso see both chambers of congress unanimously pass the u. S. Wants for a world expo act earlier this year to give minnesota and the United States a chance to showcase the best we have to offer. The president signed the expo act into law in may and since then the state department, the expo 2023 coalition, and the entire minnesota delegation have been working hard to bring this Prestigious International event back to the United States. Now as we near the november 15 announcement from the bureau of international expositions, minnesotas one of the three finalists in the running to host the 2023 event. With a proposed theme of healthy people, healthy planet. I can think of no better place to hold such an event as minnesotas one of the in the t states country. A hub for medical innovation and world class location to host the first expo in the United States in more than 30 years. In the country. A of grateful for the support my colleagues in congress and the president to make this opportunity a reality and i look forward to putting the United States and the state of my colleagues in congress and the president to on the world stage as the host of the 2023 world expo. Of innesota back mr. Speaker, i rise today to congratulate the sherb rufment n county Sheriffs Office for receiving accreditation from the American Sheriff mr. Speaker, i rise association. Jail ceived antihigh standards they maintain. The accreditation was earned by the 116 Correctional Officers that operate the jail and the strong leadership of the county sheriff. This is quite an accomplishment. Fact, out of minnesotas 87 counties, only one other county jail in minnesota received this adread days. Congratulations to the sheriff and his officers. Were proud to represent you and to work for you. I yield back. E speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. My republican friends are going to be asked this month to embrace a budget chair tax highly disputed a benefits, but whats not in ispute is it will add 1. 5 higy trillion to the National Debt and up to 4 trillion in cuts to programs Americans Care deeply about. Like medicaid and medicare. There is a better way. I spent much of this last weekend in orlando, florida, with leaders of the American Trucking association. These are people who understand trillion to the National Debt the infrastructure crisis america faces because they and their employees deal with it every single day. Instead of cutting transportation funding or having some mythical program without details, they are willing to step up and invest more, raising their fuel taxes. They already pay about half the total cost of the highway trust fund, to be able to make a difference. And i would hope, i would hope that congress will look at that example, listen to those its e, and be able to do part. In no small measure because of the leadership of many Small Businesses and trucking associations around the country over half the states since 2012 have stepped up to raise their transportation resources. And the states are seeing the benefit. They are seeing the economic construction, but its making a difference on the ground for people in communities. The important that federal government the federal government does its part. We need to be there for projects that are multimodal, c its multistate, and multiyear. That federal partnership has played a vital role since the enactment of the interstate highway system in 1956. The Trucking Industry was able to make the point that the public is already paying the cost. About 1,500 a year extra costs for the typical family for maintenance and congestion. The Transportation Industry is paying some 63 billion of cost very year due to congestion. 2 a week 2 a week from the average family we could take critical steps to make sure we we address this infrastructure funding. If people really want to have some congressional action that people to work at familywage jobs, not the disputed trickledown economics, its undisputable hat every 1. 2 billion invested in infrastructure creates almost 30,000 jobs. It creates almost about 2 billion of economic activity. And for each 1. 2 billion invested, it will reduce the deficit 200 million. Mr. Speaker, its past time that this congress stops shirking its responsibility. We ought to be in partnership not just with the truckers, but with triplea, engineers, contractors, construction unions, local government. The vast array, the Largest Group dealing group dealing with a controversial issue before congress. If we would give two weeks to hear from these leaders across the country of this broad coalition, the case would be made and i think congress would finally step up and do its job. Our partners in the private sector and state and local government, people in the communities, can expect congress to be a partner to make our communities more livable, to make our families safer, healthier, and more economically secure. I hope when some of our friends from the Trucking Industry join us this week on capitol hill, that members will listen to their case and be able to have the courage to step up and invest in our future. Our constituents deserve no less. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Poe, for five minutes. Mr. Poe thank you, mr. Speaker. Officer floyd east junior of the Texas Tech UniversityPolice Department recently responded to a student welfare check at the dormitory. Callers remember Hollis Daniels was acting erratically and potentially had a weapon. O officer east went to daniels dorm room and discovered drugs and drug pair from kneelia. The defendant was not adequately searched before booking and suddenly the dastardly criminal whipped out a gun and fired point blank into the 48yearold officer east head instantly killing him. This is a photograph of officer east. Yet another peace officer, another guardian of the thin blue line murdered for no reason. The suspect then fled, going on the land, taking officer easts body cam with him. The University Went on lockdown anxiously awaiting for the killer to be found. And sure enough, thanks to the quick actions of the Texas Tech Police force, the outlaw was located on campus and apprehended again. Officer east was an el paso, texas, native. He is survived by his wife, carmen, two daughters, anna and monica. At the funeral, it was a solemn remembrance wrapped up in the release of over 1,000 black and blue balloons which flooded the west texas blue sky. All in officer easts memory. Peace officers from all over texas and even other states showed up for the funeral. And as the body passed the Army Officers ard armry, and military stood at attention and saluted officer easts body. Officer floyd east began his career with the texas tech Police Department in 2014. Security an guard in el paso. He went to the el paso Law Enforcement academy to attain his peace officer license to be a peace officer in the state of texas. Courts document show the defendant, when he was arrested, concealed a weapon in his pants and when officer easts back was turned, the coward drew the weapon and murdered officer east. The weapon that he had was stolen. The defendant is charged with capital murder and a 5 million bond is set. May texas justice occur, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our men and women in blue voluntarily do everything they can to help protect and serve our communities. Especially at our colleges and universities. For these remarkable men and women, their safety, like all peace officers, is never guaranteed. While the badge and uniform represent safety for citizens, for some reason in our society it becomes a target for other people like this defendant. Officer east worked with university students, helping protect young texans eager to learn on their university campus. He was senselessly killed. Theres never an answer for murder except to hold the person who did the murder accountable. The defendants friends quickly jumped to the defendants defense online claiming daniels was not a monster. Mr. Speaker, College Students do make mistakes. A mistake is like missing class, sleeping in. Mistakes are not murdering people. The defendant is totally responsible for his own action. He cant blame the drugs. He cant blame the fact that he was young. He cant blame the fact that he was not thinking right. Mr. Speaker, i was a judge in texas for 22 years and heard cases like the murder of officer east. People are responsible for what they do and our society we cannot have this feeling that people are not responsible, that Something Else caused them to do things. People are totally responsible for the choices that they make. Ive heard all the excuses. I heard oh, i was too young. Oh, i was too old. I was on drugs. I wasnt on drugs. I was affluent. I wasnt affluent. I heard all the excuses. Theres no excuse. People like this defendant are responsible for their actions. Officers like east are cut above the rest of us and they protect us from harms way and they protect us from evildoers. Hes a rare breed, the texas breed of law officers that sacrifice for the rest of us. Taps has been played for officer east. Hes been laid to rest. We pray for his family and his friends and those officers in west texas and Texas Tech University. And thats just the way it is. Ill yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. Thompson, for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, members, the worst fire in the history of california has devastated nearly 300,000 acres, destroyed some 7,000 homes, caused billions of dollars in damage, burned to the ground many businesses and most sadly taken the lives of 42 people and that number may in fact rise. This fire was like no other. Repealed by winds that reached speeds of over 70 miles an hour. It moved so fast burning at times 200 feet per second. Thats three football fields every 30 seconds. The people had little time to escape their burning homes. People fled with only their nightclothes, no time to grab even their medication, important papers or personal belongings. Thousands of families were displaced and will have to find housing, rebuild their homes and businesses and rebuild their lives. Over 100,000 people were evacuated during the late hours of the first night of this monster firestorm. Many of you saw the News Coverage play out on your television. The most covered area in the news is a neighborhood in santa rosa called coffey park. This is it. There alone some 1,300 homes were burned to the ground. This area is on the far western side of the fire devastated area, a county away from where it started. The winds were so high they pushed the blaze across eight lanes of freeway and over two frontage roads to destroy the homes and the lives of these 1,300 families. The winds were so high that cars were not only burned beyond recognition, they were flipped over. The metal theres a metal garage door that remains stuck about 35 feet off the ground in the remains of a burnt out pine tree. Leader mccarthy was with me in coffey park and saw firsthand the devastation. I want to thank the leader and thank him also for his commitment to work with us to help our communities and the many people so devastated by this unprecedented disaster. Thank you, also, to the 11,000 firefighters, the many Law Enforcement and National Guard that put their life on the line to stop the raging inferno and protect the lives of the people of my district and the other firethreatened areas of california. Some of those First Responders lost their own homes but worked 24 7 to help others. The response was the response was awesome and truly appreciated. Mutual aid came from every county in california, states across our great country, federal agencies and from other countries. E actions of civilian heroes and heroines saved an untold number of lives and continue to tolerable for those affected by this sdears. The fallout from the disaster will be felt for years if not dakeds. You just cant rebuild decades. You just cant rebuild 7,000 homes overnight. The heartbeat of our communities, doctors, nurses, teachers, c. E. O. s and Small Business owners were burned out and must start over. My colleagues and i appreciate all of your words of comfort and offers to help. And the people hurt by this monster fire will need all of our help. As we move forward, we have to Work Together to address this devastation that has befallen the people of my district and other parts of Northern California. Thank you and id like to yield my time remainder of my time to congressman huffman. Mr. Huffman thank you, mr. Speaker. I spent a lot of time with my friend, congressman mike thompson, over the past week because our districts neighbor each other and while the worst of this fire was in congressman thompsons district, portions of that terrible santa rosa fire spilled over to affect my constituents and i had a separate fire in the redwood complex that itself would have ranked among the top 20 wildfires in california history. The fact all these fires happened together is truly an unprecedented and dreadful crisis. I do want to thank him. He has been everywhere in the region. I want to thank our local government partners. I want to thank our colleagues, leader pelosi, minority leader mccarthy. The support has been bipartisan and its been nationwide. And fema has been on the ground along with First Responders doing heroic work to get the recovery and rebuilding process started. Were grateful for all of that, but we are only at the beginning. If you want to see your government doing good work, go to the local assistant center in santa rosa and watch how the Wraparound Services are there. Every need that these fire victims, these devastated families could imagine is there to be met. But were at the beginning and were going to need that support over a long sustained period. So colleagues, thank you for standing with us at this early stage of dealing with this crisis and were going to need you over the long haul. And well be talking more about this going forward. I yield the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from west virginia, mr. Jenkins, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, everyone remembers the excitement of receiving that first paycheck and the feeling of accomplishment that hard work brings. And we also remember just as vividly the disappointment we experienced when we saw just how much of our hardearned money went to taxes. Its a rite of passage that weve grown used to but that doesnt mean its right. Americans deserve to take more home of their pay. Thats exactly why we need tax reform, tax cuts, tax simplification and why im working with President Donald Trump to make our tax system work for west virginias families. Our tax framework would cut taxes for west virginias middle classes families, double the standard deduction for families and couples and create jobs by making Small Businesses and American Companies more competitive. West virginias families work hard and have been squeezed by economic economys downturn. Under our tax framework and with the support of president trump, help is on the way. We will also make it easier and simpler for americans, west virginians to file their taxes. Most families will be able to file their taxes just on a postcard, saving them both time and money. Our plan for tax reform, our plan for tax cuts, our plan for tax simplification will help us build a better america, a better west virginia, one where families have more opportunities, more jobs and more money in their pockets. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. Pelosi. Ms. Pelosi notwithstanding you very much, mr. Speaker. I join my colleagues, congressman thompson and congressman huffman, in paying tribute to the First Responders who responded to the fires in Northern California and indeed Southern California as well. The spirit of our community is so magnificent to see people come together to help each other. I salute our colleagues, mike thompson, who was just his whole district was like so of his district was an inferno, but much of his district is still thriving and one group helping another. And mr. Huffman there side by side with him the whole time. This is very tragic. The loss of life is southern ca heartbreaking. The loss of livelihood is devastating. And the loss of homes, of course, will take a while to replace. We have seen other Natural Disasters in the rest of the country and harvey and irma and maria and nate, puerto rico, virgin islands, florida, georgia, alabama, texas, louisiana, so many of our the people of our country are devastated in a short period of time. So in time of Natural Disaster it is very important for the federal government to honor its social compact with the American People and to be there for them. I look forward to working in a bipartisan way for us to have the resources for fema to do its job, for s. B. A. To do its b to help businesses and their rs recover losses. Again pray, our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their loved ones, their livelihoods and in need of still recovery. In need of recovery. With that, mr. Speaker, i just want to go to another subject. I rise in opposition to the devastating tax plan that tax cut plan that the republicans are putting forth. If their losses. Again pray, our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who class, you will most likely be having your taxes increased. If you have a Family Member on medicare or medicaid you will be most likely devastated by the impact of this. This is a bill that the republicans are putting forth that will add trillions of dollars to the National Debt while they sing the praises of fiscal responsibility. The fiscal hawks have become an endangered species. No longer are they there to say were not going to borrow from our future in order to give tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country. Indeed, 80 of the trump g. O. P. Tax framework, net tax cuts go to the top 1 of americans. The top 1 of americans get 80 of the trump g. O. P. Net tax. As they increase the deficit, anyone who might be haunted by he thought we better cut someplace, where do you think going to go . They will devastate medicare. They will devastate medicaid. What does that mean in the lives of the American People . It going to go . They will devastate means that families in our country will be subsidizing tax cuts for the wealthiest families and wealthiest corporations in our country. This is completely wrong. It will also have a devastating impact on our budget priorities. In our budget priorities, our budget should be a statement of our national values. What is important to us as a country should be reflect reflect what is in the budget. Investment in education so that children and families can reach aspirations. So that communities can reach their economic success. So that america continue to be number one aspirations. So that globally, competitively. And that we, again, have the resources to invest in science and technology. And our National Security to keep america number one. Infrastructure, so talked about, infrastructure. Build, build, build. Build across america, roads, a dges, broadband, build water system. All the needs that we have. Uild human infrastructure of america by investing in education and health care and the rest. Build our democracy by making sure that our of america by investing in education and health care and d process has the resources necessary to be conducted in a way where every persons vote is counted as cast. All of this is connected to governance. To governance. And you will all of this is harmed by the assault on our budget that this tax proposal will present. Iddle class taxes will increase. The increase. The middle income families, will pay more, tens of millions of middle class families will pay higher taxes. Is f the ways they will because of the great idea the republicans have to stop the deduction for state and local taxes. This is a big hit on middle class families in our country. Of dollars is ons because of the, borrows from the future, from our childrens future, to give tax cuts to the wealthiest, 80 of the g. O. P. Tax cuts go to the wealthiest 1 at the expense of our children and working families and our countrys future. It would devastate medicare and medicaid after adding trillions to the deficit. G. O. P. Will use the deficit to justify destroying medicare and medicaid. They are already in the bill aying that they are going to means test medicare means test medicare its in keeping with their theory that medicare should wither on the vine. Should wither on the vine. Democrats are for a better deal. Real bipartisan tax reform. Any business will tell you that what they want in tax reform is some level of certainty. That this is means test medicare its in keeping with their theory that medicare should wither on the vine. Should wither on going to last a while. The only way to do that is to have bipartisanship at the table. Go to the table. What will create growth . What will create goodpaying jobs . What will reduce the debt . This bill does exactly the worse worst. Dont let them tell you even though they are adding trillions of dollars to the debt that thats going to be paid for by economic growth. It has never happened. It has never happened. Trickledown economics, president bush tried that. It was tried before. It has never done that. It has never paid for itself. In fact, it has only increased the National Debt. In that regard, Chris Bartlett who was an economist in the reagan years, as well as works very closely with the supply side economics as an advocate for supply side economics, never said it would pay for itself. Anybody who tells you that these additions to the deficit will pay for themselves by growth its not true. Its nonsense. And he said, b. S. Forgive me. Im just quoting. Im just saying what he said. So this is a moment of truth for our country. What are our values . How are they reflected in our budget . Economy in a the way that increases the paychecks of americas working families so that they have Consumer Confidence that they i vs. Ments in ect education, college, lifetime work for our workers. Adding tax cuts which will steal from our budget investments in education is stiff competition. One of the worst ideas that the republicans have to offer. But this is something that people should be alerted to for what getting the policy, all the rest of it, what it means in your life. Family ely middle class you will pay more taxes. If you have a Family Member who is dependent on longterm health care, longterm care whether in a nursing home or at you will pay more taxes. If home, most likely you will pay a price. If you have a Family Member who is on medicare or if you are on Social Security disability, you ill be affected by it. The president said in his campaign the system is rigged. This is the rigging of the rig. This is taking the rig to a step that is almost impossible for us to return from. They take us down this road to ruin. They take us down this path to severe increase in the National Debt to the tune of trillions of dollars, not even counting the debt service on it at the debt of investments in our future, in our children, in our families, in fairness in our economy. In opportunity for america. This is something that must be stopped and we can start by opping the state and local taxes deduction. Lets hold members of Congress Accountability for accountable for what they do that affects their pocketbook and future. Well be continuing this conversation for a while and well have charts and the rest to visually demonstrate what this is. But governance is about how you raise the money and how you invest it. And this is the dialogue that our country needs to hear very clearly for not only the policy aspects of it, but the personal consequences in their lives. This is a very bad deal for the American People, for middle class families. Democrats want a better deal, better jobs, better pay, better future, and by the way, to do this in a very bipartisan way. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Fitzpatrick, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to share the story of 22yearold luke johnson, a graduate of pennsbury high school. He was known for his quirky sense of humor and laid back demeanor. He was a football standout and was named best defensive player of the year his senior year. He also wrestled, played soccer, baseball, and could throw a frisbee a mile. Above all, luke loved to be with his family and with his friends. It was this tight n. I. T. Group hat supported luke as he battled opioid addiction. On may 17, 2017, luke lost his battle with this disease after a very difficult, many difficult years of trying to return to normal. Throughout his fight, like so many, he was haunted by shame, loss of selfworth, and stigma of being addicted to opioids this. Pain was shared by his friends and family affecting the entire community who just wanted to help. To see luke be luke. As he tried to work his way towards recovery, lukes parents discovered the genesis of his addiction. A prescription opioid pill iven to him on his first day in high school. It progressed further when he was offered opioids after a Football Game during his junior and senior year in high school. Ultimately he was offered and accepted the invitation to try heroin. Imagine the difficulty for this family and millions like them. At first, lukes family was dumbfounded, angry, and hurt. They had no idea the difficulty he was facing. Support luke to by placing him into local rehabilitation facility, but later found out that their insurance would not cover inpatient treatment. So they sold their car for his initial recovery. However, when luke came home, e people, places, and things from his old life triggered a relapse. His parents hoped that a facility in florida would remove these triggers from his ol from lukes life and put him on the road to recovery. After several months of recovery in florida, luke was forced to find another place to live. This was the movement mr. Speaker, that he was not ready to make. He died a few days later before he fully unpacked the few belongings he had. Following his death his parents established the lukes hero in me foundation. Their goal is help with the awareness, education, and to destigmatize opioid addiction. Ultimately they want to ensure other Family Friends and ommunity networks can save their luke. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to submit to the congressional record a letter i receive their luke. From lukes parent. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Fitzpatrick with opioid overdose the leading cause of death among our young people, we have little choice but to act. When i met lukes father he gave me this picture of luke and he asked we remember luke as we work to end this epidemic. I urge my colleagues to join me in this call to action. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, for five minutes. Mr. Green thank you, mr. Chair. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Green thank you, mr. Speaker. It is always an honor to stand in the well of the house, and aim honored to do so today. Speaker, i rise today to defend the honorable frederica wilson. Mr. Speaker, i rise to defend her not because of her color. She is a person of african ancestry but, mr. Speaker, i ont rise to depend her color. I believe that its not the color of skin but rather the character within that determines the worth of men and women. So i rise to defend her worth. I rise to defend who she is. I rise to defend her integrity, her honor and her dignity. I rise to defend an honorable woman. In speaker, i do so because this country we have allowed Public Discourse to be degraded to the expense that the president of the United States of america would call a member of congress, an honorable woman, wacky. Mr. Speaker, this is not a wacky person. This is a person of honor and integrity and of intellect. Mr. Speaker, shes a former principal. She just didnt show up in congress one day. She was a state representative and a state senator before coming to congress. I rise to defend her. I rise to defend her because, mr. Speaker, it has been said that shes an empty barrel. Mr. Speaker, its hard to believe that one who has served the country as well and is capable and able as the maker of that would do so but it says about the influence that this president is having on people of honor and integrity. It says something about the influence that hes having on society. This is not an empty barrel. Shes a person of intellect. It has been said that shes all hat and no cattle. Thats an insult. That is an insult because somehow someone is trying to send a signal that others will receive as a person whos an air head. Shes not an air head. Shes not a person who is all hat and no cattle. She has sponsored meaningful legislation. Shes been in a fight to free many young women who have been taken captive. Shes tenacious. She doesnt give out. She doesnt give up. She doesnt give in. Shes a fighter and i stand and i rise to defend her and do i this, mr. Speaker, because i believe that carlisle is right. No lie can live forever. She has been lied on, mr. Speaker. I do so because i believe that William Colin bryant is right. Truth shall rise again. There are people who have tried to bury the truth about this good woman in an earthly grave of lies. Mr. Speaker, i rise to defend her because i believe if we allow one person to go undefended in a circumstance like this, every person is at risk of being treated in a similar fashion. We are in some very difficult times, and many of us dont realize it. We have a person whos at the top, whos setting the tone and tenor for the country, whos demeaning the dignity and respect that his office commands. Mr. Speaker, this has to stop. There are those who say wait until the next election. I am not one of them. I believe that the remedy for this kind of behavior and the impact its having on society is impeachment. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until noon today. Senator cory gardner of colorado currently doing the questioning. Senator compareder in the United States was the last senator gardner the United States was the last standing. It was hurting our interest. It was hurting the ability of this elected government to have a good start in addressing the problems that had been ignored by 50 years of military authoritarian repressive rule. It does not mean burma had reached perfection. Mr. Murphy we knew this would be bumpy. We knew there would be challenges. We had to look at the tools available to us to encourage behavior change and proper actions. Proper actions are required by all in the international community, including china. We would hope as a member of the Security Council china could join us in recognizing the militarys disproportionate response has exacerbated these problems, and china needs to work with others on the Security Council to understand that the instability thats being created could affect the neighborhood, including chinas own interest. Senator gardner has