Talking to local mayors, lead into a question i have. We are leaving at this point. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers rooms, washington, d. C. October 31, 2017. I hereby appoint the honorable drew a. Ferguson the fourth to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, paul d. Ryan, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 3, 2017, the chair will recognize members from lists chit smithed by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. All time shall be equally allocated to the parties and in no event shall debate continue beyond 1 50 p. M. Each member other than the majority an minority leaders and minority whip shall be limited to five minutes. The chair recognizes the the guam, miss from bordello, for five minutes. Miss bordello ms. Bordallo guam, miss i am lo, mr. Speaker, indeed proud to introduce the lwcf parity for territories and d. C. Act. With the support of all six members of the house representing our u. S. Territories and the District Of Columbia as original cosponsors. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill gives parity to guam, the other territories, and d. C. In annual funding from the federal land and Water Conservation fund. The current law requires the territories and d. C. To split single states annual lwcf allocation. This bill fixes this disparate by providing disparity by providing a full states annual lwcf allocation. This bill state equivalent share of the land and Water Conservation fund funding for each territory and d. C. Every year. This additional funding is needed to improve our public parks, our Outdoor Sports fields, and Community Open spaces on guam and the other territories. Especially as puerto rico and the u. S. Virgin islands rebuild rom recent hurricanes. I encourage our colleagues to cosponsor this Bipartisan Legislation and support the lwcf parity for the territories and the District Of Columbia. I thank you and i yield back he balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair i encourage our colleagues to the gentleman from texas, mr. Poe, for five minutes. Recognizes mr. Poe thank you, mr. Speaker. Governments, militaries, and civilizations, sometimes mr. Poe thank you, mr. Speaker. Governments, militaries, and civilizations, sometimes ignore history to justify their actions against individuals. Bit of history is important here. When the british controlled the colonies, they heavily taxed the colonies. Citizens had to pay a tax on goods they brought in to the colonies. The colonies had no say so on the imposition of those taxes. Thats another issue. The king issued writs of assistance, what that was was a piece of paper allowing the British Military to go into businesses and homes unreasonably to just search to see if the colonies were paying a tax on imported goods. Example, john hancock was a merchant. They would search his business to see if he had the tax stamp on the rum he brought in to the colonies. Example, john hancock the right of privacy and the right to Say Something about your taxes were two reasons for the American Revolution that came about. The right of privacy is a natural right as Thomas Jefferson said. One of the rights given to us by our creator. So our ancestors wrote the Fourth Amendment unique to the United States. Heres what it says. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, paper, and effects against unreasonable soichts and seizures shall not searches and desure shall not be violated and no warrants shall be issued except on probable cause supported by an oath, that means the officer has to swear to it, describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Fourth amendment. What does that have to do with us today . Ill explain. Congress has passed the fisa legislation, the foreign Intelligence Surveillance act. Which allows government to go after terrorists and people who are working as an agent of a Foreign Government and search their information. And they go to a secret court and get a secret warrant, called a fisa warrant from a fisa judge to allow that search of all that information. Separate the bad guy from americans who they may be communicating with unrelated to terrorism. They may be cousins talking about whatever. And government, our government, n. S. A. , seizes that information on americae americans, emails, conversations on americans, emails, conversations, seizes that information and keeps it forever. Heres what happens and the violation of americans right of privacy. Government then can go back into that information unrelated to terrorism to search to see if those people are paying their taxes. Maybe somebody didnt pay their taxes on importation of irish whiskey. So then government, i. R. S. , files a case, a criminal case against that american citizen. Remember, all of that information was based upon no probable cause issued by a real judge. Were getting ready to reauthorize, maybe, fisa, foreign Intelligence Surveillance act. Before we do that, we need to protect americans right of privacy in a section called 702, it gets down in the weeds, and 702 has been abused by government to seize american information and then keep forever and government then peruses that based upon their hightech guys in the n. S. A. To committed or were not. They have no warrant. No probable cause. Nobody sworn to the warrant. I used to be a judge. I signed lots of probable cause warrants. Government says well we got it because we were looking for a terrorist and its an incidental search and want to keep it. Thats a violation of the constitution. We should make sure americans right of privacy is protected before we reauthorize fisa. And to illustrate, i ask unanimous consent, mr. Speaker, to introduce this article, the secret Court Rebukes n. S. A. For veyear illegal surveillance of american citizens. Ask unanimous consent to introduce this. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Poe mr. Speaker, we must remember history. We must not abuse the fourth american citizens. Amendment. And its Congress Responsibility to protect the natural right of citizens, right of privacy, get a rrant, or amendment. And dont make a search. Thats just the way it is. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Cohen, for five minutes. Mr. Cohen thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of a constitutional amendment i introduced today to prevent the president of the United States or any future president of the United States from pardoning himself or herself, members of their family, members of their administration, or members of their president ial campaign. Mondays indictment president Trumps Campaign chairman, paul guilty plea and of guilty plea of another Campaign Staff member, demonstrate how important it is for congress to act. The pardon power is supposed to be a safety valve against injustice. A vestige from when we were part of britain and the king had this power. Were no longer part of britain and the pardon power is be as complete as it is. Its not supposed to be a way for president s to put themselves, their families, and embers that power should not of the law. The law. To obstruct justcies tis there is an investigation of wrongdoing. Unless we change the constitution, this is how it can be used and may be used. We should stop this conflict of interest from ever arising. There are already serious questions their administration and their Campaign Team above s current president , his family, members of his administration, and his Campaign Staff. Including possible collusion with russia during the 2016 president ial election, currently being investigated by special counsel robert mueller. To ensure everyone is treated equally under the law, we need to amend the constitution to narrow the scope of the pardon power. For some who may say this is because of the current president , i would say i objected to the pardon of a brother of a president in the past. And in 1977, i proposed changing the pardon power in tennessee through a Constitutional Convention item that would have sent four Supreme Court justices who disapprove of a gubernatorial pardon. I also proposed in 2007 and this congress a change to the pardon power where the Supreme Court of our United States by a vote of six members could veto a pardon. The pardon powers a vestige from days gone by. Not something we should have complete and total ability of the president to use to pardon whomever and whatever he pleases and to obstruct justice. I ask my members, fellow mbers to join me in this amendment to protect america, see that our constitution is current and reflects our values. And not to be complicit amendment to in any activity that is this president may use with the pardon power to free up wrongdoers. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from kansas, mr. Marshall, for ive minutes. Mr. Marshall mr. Marshall mr. Speaker, growing up in kansas i had many opportunities to visit the Dwight David Eisenhower president ial museum library, and childhood home. Some of my greatest memories would go back to visiting ike on my 10th birthday my entire family drove up to abilene kansas to visit the museum. Later on in rotary, multiple opportunities to go there to museum and to his library and honor ike. Perhaps the greatest memory i have was when my father was allowed to represent kansas in ikes honor guard during his funeral procession from washington, d. C. , to abilene, kansas. I found ikes devotion to public service, his leadership and integrity to be inspiring both in his role as supreme allied commander during world war ii, and time as the 34th president of the United States. In october of 1999, this congress recognized the significance of general eisenhower to the United States and passed legislation directing the construction of a National Memorial in his honor. This week, this very week, this friday, the Eisenhower Memorial Commission will finally break round on the construction of this memorial to commemorate the favorite son of kansas here in our nations capitol capital. I want to congratulate and thank this memorial several other kan legends part of this commission. Dole, pat robbers, and senator kassebaum for their work in achieving this milestone. We look forward to sharing his legacy to dole, pat again racia come. Mr. Speaker, november is prematurity awareness month. I rise today to discuss the fight to prevent premature births. I remember my very first night alone at Bay Front Medical Center as a second year ob gyn resident when i was summoned to the labor unit at 2 00 in the more. There i found a young lady who was bleeding to death as the placenta was tearing away from her uterus. Rushed her back to the operating room,dy a quick sonogram to figure out if these babies were viable. Juns glancing at her she looked like she was 22 or 23 weeks along. I quickly saw not only was there one baby, but two babies. Though we got the babies out in less than 30 seconds, both of those babies perished from their extreme prematurity. Thats been 25, 30 years ago, mr. Speaker. And to this day prematurity is still the number one cause of death for infants. One out of 10 babies are stillborn premature. And one out of three of those still dy. Though we have done a great job in treeth these premature babies, we have done very little to lower the incidents of premature births. Thats why i rise today to recognize this problem and to tell everyone the most important step you can do to prevent premature birth is early prenatal care. Thats why wherever i have been, whether a residency in st. Petersburg, florida, or in kansas, in kansas, i made sure that every patient regardless of their ability to pay had early access to early on in their pregnancy and hopefully identify the risk that might lead to premature birth. Mr. Speaker, this week is National VeteransSmall Business week early on in their pregnancy and hopefully identify the so i rise today to acknowledge the contribution that these folks have given not only to the service to their country but also to their communities and businesses. Veterans bring a unique perspective to entrepreneurship. Taking leadership skills they developed during the military careers and applying to it to starting a growing business. Nearly one in every 10 businesses in this country is owned by a veteran, creating annual sales of over 1 trillion each other and employing over five million americans across the country. These veteranowned businesses are a pillar of our communities. I applaud the success of these veteran entrepreneurs both in kansas and across the country and ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating National VeteransSmall Business week. Mr. Speaker, theres so many veteran businesses i can honor today, but just a very few of them listed. From our own fort riley area, junction city. Kyoity barb, disabled veterans engraving services. Mobile gaming. Master cut lawn and landscape, j. C. Cross fit, 360 kayaking, studio pink, candy boutique. R. Speaker, those are just but a few of the veteranled businesses in my own district and were so proud of them and salute them on this week. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, mr. Fitzpatrick, for five minutes. Mr. Fitzpatrick mr. Speaker, several Economic Indicators show us that our economy is growing. The Unemployment Rate is down. The stock market is up. Consumer confidence is at its highest level in over a decade and businesses are starting to invest in their future again. However, we cannot rest on this shortterm snapshot. For too long topdown policies from washington have built a system thats based on protecting the status quo rather than helping Small Businesses and middleclass families. We need to embrace the governing vision that advances the American Dream and puts jobs and Economic Growth above the partisanship that too often divides us. And this starts with tax reform. If this congress is serious about standing up for middleclass families and unleasing the power of the american economy, tax reform is the natural starting point. The model is straightforward. We need to simplify the ridiculously complex Internal Revenue code, eliminate the loopholes that allow corporations and individuals to avoid paying their fair share, lower the rates for middleclass families and for Small Businesses and to broaden the tax base. We had the chance to make real lasting changes to our broken and bloated tax system and we need to act now. As a c. P. A. And a member of the Small Business committee and as a concerned taxpayer, im committed to fighting for real tax reform based on three Core Principles encouraging growth, simplifying the tax code itself and increasing service for the taxpayers. He time is now to act. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year bristol won the Small Business revolution earning a grant through Small Business development and entrepreneurship. Integral to this effort with a bill, an individual who defines everything thats great about bucks county and everything thats great about bristol borough. Bill is a lifelong resident to bristol. He has served the community as an educator on the council, as a member of the school board and as a community activist. He championed local businesses, creating an Organization Called raising the bar, a program which brought Community Leaders and Business Owners together to support the local bristol borough community. Focused on development and community preservation, he continues to find new ways to serve the Bristol Community today. Bill would be the first one to tell you that the many recognitions he has earned throughout the years belong to the community and not just to him which is a true sign of his character. However, mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize bill today for being named person of the year at this years bristol fall classic. I am deeply grateful to bill for the positive impact on our community and i congratulate him, his wife, karen, and his entire family for this muchdeserved recognition. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until 2 00 p. M. The house will return to officially open todays legislative session at 2 00 p. M. Eastern. Debate will get under way at 5 00. Members will consider four bills from the agriculture committee. Two dealing with federal land sales. Another utilities control, vegetation as a way to manage wildfires, and letting South Carolina join a peanut standards board. Well have live coverage when return here on cspan again at 2 00 p. M. Eastern. Representatives from twitter, facebook, and google testify before Congress Today and wednesday. As part of the investigation into russias influence on social media anti2016 election. Complete live coverage is available on the cspan networks. Today at 2 30 p. M. Eastern. Live coverage on cspan3, sean, general counsel from twitter, holland, general counsel from facebook, and the director of Law Enforcement and Information Security from google testify before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on crime and terrorism. On wednesday, two hearings live on cspan3, the house select intelligence committee. Ear testimony from sean of twitter, collin of facebook, and kent walker Senior Vice President and general counsel for google. Watch all three hearings on cspan3, online at cspan. Org, or listen live on the free span radio app. President trump is trying to get the Administration Message back on policy. Tweeting this today, i hope people will start to focus on a massive tax cuts for business, jobs, and the middle class, in addition to democrat corruption. The president meeting with House Speaker paul ryan at 2 00 today at the white house. This is ahead of tomorrows announcement whats in the toda house. This is ahead of tomorrows announcement whats in the tax reform package that congress will consider. Speaker ryan is staying focused on tax reform with this tweet t but were not n, getting spooked. Tax reform will get done in 2017. Former independent counsel ken starr compared his investigations of the Clinton Administration to the current investigations of the trump during a panel ut were discussion at the annual Texas Tribune festival in austin. Other panelists include the former director of the u. S. Government ethics office, former spokesman for attorney general eric holder, as well as president bushs former chief ethics lawyer. This took place before yesterdays indictments. About an hour. [applause]