And n no event shalle cont beyon 5m. Acmembertherhae minoritern dority whiplle d to fe minut gentlewon fromaschetts, ms. Clark, for five minutes. Ms. Clark thank you, mr. Speaker. Next week is the fifth Year Anniversary of the horrific shootings at the Sandy Hook School in newtown, connecticut. And for a brief moment it looked like we would actually honor those victims by voting on a bill that would improve background checks to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals. We should never have gotten our hopes up. There is one winner in the house and its the gun lobby. The majority has combined a background check bill with a bill that helps move forward the gun lobbys ultimate agenda, gutting states gun laws. This bill forces every state to accept the concealed carry laws every other state, including the 12 states that dont even require a permit to carry a oncealed weapon. Every other in public. Even into a school. Lets take one example of the dangerousness of this bill. A woman in an abusive relationship is five times more likely to be killed by her abuser if there is a gun involved. In lets let that sink in. Bringing a gun into an abusive situation means the chances of a woman dying increases by 500 . So it makes all the sense in the world that if this congress was interested in public safety, saving lives, curbing gun deaths that we would be talking about keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people. But thats not whats happening here. Were talking about a bill that invites Domestic Abusers to buy a gun in states with lax laws and legally carry that gun into any other state. This bill creates not only added danger for the public, but for Law Enforcement. There is an extra kicker, this bill includes civil liability for Police Officers as they try to identify who can legally carry a weapon. The National Law Enforcement partnership wrote, the complete lack of consistent training standards, the different standards for identifying individuals that are too dangerous to carry, the uncertainty of a documents validity, and the exposure of agencies and Police Officers to civil liability creates an unacceptable risk to our nations 900,000 Police Officers and the public at large. Read the letters. From prosecutors, from attorneys general, from Law Enforcement all warning of the this this bill. Anyone with common sense can tell you this is not only an abdication of our duty to keep americans safe, its an overt favor to the rich and powerful gun lobby. But its no surprise because the gun lobby is the only one who gets a vote on these issues in congress. If you are a survivor of Domestic Abuse fleeing across state lines to protect your family, you do not get a vote. If you are a mom whose 6yearold was murdered in sandy hook, you do not get a vote. If your mother or sister was gunned down during a Prayer Service at emanuel church, you do not get a vote. If you are one of the 93 people who died from gunshots every day in this country, you do not get a vote. But if youre the gun lobby, you get a vote every single time. Mr. Speaker, i dont need to tell you this isnt the kind of action that americans at home are demanding. We have heard their calls. We have taken the meetings. We have heard their pleas for help. But republicans in congress are trying to convince us we cant even try to prevent another death. Here in this chamber the moments of silence have turned into decades of inaction. And if that inaction wasnt scandalous enough, now this congress is paving the way to actually increase gun violence in states that have acted responsibly to decrease it and prevent it. Who is going to pay . Not the rich and powerful gun lobby. No, it will be the next innocent victim of preventable gun violence. You remember, thats the person you couldnt even bother to give a vote. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson, for five minutes. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise today as one of the senior members on the house education and Work Force Committee and cochair of the career and Technical Education caucus to note that this week is Computer Science education week. Computer science drives job growth and innovation throughout our economy and throughout our society. Computing occupations are the number one source of all new wages in the u. S. , and make up 2 3 of all projected new jobs in stem fields, making Computer Science one of the most in demand column degrees. Computing is used all around us and in virtually every field. The fewer than half the United States schools offer any and ter science courses, only 8 of stem graduates study it. 93 of parents want their Childs School to teach Computer Science, but only 40 of schools teach it. 67 of parents and 56 of teachers believe students should be required to learn Computer Science. 50 of americans rank Computer Science as one of the two most important subjects of study after reading and writing. In the commonwealth of pennsylvania, there are urrently 16,976 open computing jobs. The average salary for a computing occupation in pennsylvania is 85,654. Which is significantly higher than the average salary in the tate of 47,540. Mr. Speaker, only 169 schools in pennsylvania offered the advanced placement Computer Science course in 2015 2016 and there are fewer a. P. Compaments taken in Computer Science than any other stem subject area. But Technology Connects the in ways like never before. In ways like never before. From everyday conveniences at our fingertips, to improved communication, technology plays an ever increasing role in our lives. Were becoming more dependent on applications or apps and the students of today will become the cleared of tomorrow by developing such technology. Proudly the house of representatives has encouraged americas students to focus on Computer Science and stem subjects through the annual congressional app challenge. This competition allows k through 12 students from across the country to practice their code writing skills by developing an app. Writing apps will be displayed in the Capitol Building winning apps will be displayed in the Capitol Building later this year. This years winner from pennsylvanias fifth Congressional District is lockland campbell. He redesigned the hack club website to make it more user friendly. Its a nop Profit Network of coding clubs run by High School Students around the world. He started a hack club this past spring at his very own State CollegeArea High School and taught more than 40 students how to code and create a web sy. His project for the congressional app challenge was to redesign hackclub. Com and his overhaul has been welcomed by the club. I congratulate lockland by on winning the congressional app challenge for pennsylvanias fifth Congressional District. Hes a twotime winner having come in first place in 2015 as well. Hes got a promising career ahead of him. Mr. Speaker, im so proud of all the students who participate in the app challenge. The competition inspires students from every corner of the country to explore stem, coding and Computer Science through handson practice. Something we can all something support. Happy commuter Science Education week. 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 recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. Scott, for five minutes. ,. Scott thank you very much mr. Speaker. Rise this morning to pay honor to an extraordinary great american. Mr. Tim mcfay, Vice President and general manager of wsb television is retiring. After 39 years as a Top Executive with Cox Media Group television stations across this nation, from dayton, ohio, to pittsburgh, pennsylvania, to San Francisco, california, and tim lanta, georgia earning mcfay the highest award in fell television, including the edmund r. Muro murrow awards, peabody awards, emmy awards, and the induction into the prestigious Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and sciences. Tim mcfay, a great american. Deeply rooted in his love of country and his love of family. His loving wife, cindy, his evan, his son sean, mr. Speaker, is head coach of the los angeles rams. The youngest head coach in the istory of the nfl. And his father, the Legendary John mcveigh, was the head of Football Operations for the San Francisco and his father, 49ers. Members of congress, winning five super bowls. Great allamerican story. But theres more, mr. Speaker and members of the congress. Grt at i must tell you about tim mcfay. Tim mcfays life has been like that shining light on the hill. Reaching out. Elping other people. Loving his neighbor as himself. That most sacred of ommandments. Whether its helping the hundreds of television journalists, young people in their careers who are now leading in the television industry, or helping me and hundreds of our companies and employers, corporations in georgia, with our annual jobs fair. Where we have gotten over 12,000 jobs for georgians. Or our health fair where we have every year, where we give Breast Cancer exams and prostate exams to those individuals who, for reasons of income, dont have insurance. Saving lives. And our veterans, the work that tim mcfay has helped us with our veterans. Ladies and gentlemen of the congress, let me tell you it was tim under his leadership at wsb television in atlanta, georgia, and his reporter i. His wsb reporter, aaron diamond, who exposed to this nation the tragically high suicide rates of our veterans. And then got behind myself and my republican fellow member of congressman Larry Bouchard of indiana and helped us pass legislation to get more psychiatrists into the v. A. God bless tim and got bless the United States of america. Land of the free. And the home of the brave. Hank u thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia yields back. Now recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Norman, for five minutes. Mr. Norman thank you, mr. Speaker. Fellow house members and guests, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to rise and note the celebration that well be having not only for the birth of christ for the month of december, but on december 10, this coming sunday, well celebrate the First Baptist church in rock hill, South Carolina, under the leadership of reverend steve hogg. Let me give you a little background on the church and on reverend hogg. Reverend hogg was born on kentucky. , 1958, in i think his birthday will signify his 60th in january. He married monica in march of 1982. And the two children, history of his Service Began in february of 1977 to november of 1977 where he was both minister of the First Baptist church in whiteburg, kentucky. From there he went to the summer missionary First Baptist church from 1977 to 1980 and 1983. He was pastor of the Baptist Church in november of 1977 to march of 1984. He served as pastor of the bethel Baptist Church from 1984 to 1987 where he began his ministry in the First Baptist church in rock hill, South Carolina, in december, 1987. And let me just give you a couple milestones for the church. First Baptist Church relocated n april of 2004 to an 84,000 square foot phase one facility on 52 acres of land near i77. And let me tell you as a developer, we were involved in that area and there were no Shopping Centers when the church moved out there. There were no hotels when the church moved there. There were no gas stations where the church moved. They literally moved out in an area of town on faith that this area was going to be where the church wanted to grow and grow it has. The Church Budget has increased. Rom 490,000 to 2,637,000 they had over 1,500 baptisms. They sponsored the first africanamerican congregation for membership in the york baptist association. They sponsored the second africanamerican congregation for membership in the york baptist association. Reverend hogg has had a long and distinguished service to our state and country. He has served as president under the South CarolinaBaptist Convention in 1993 to 1994. He served as the second Vice President in 1992 to 1993. Hes been chairman of the united christian back lahr yet baccalaurett planning. Hes part of the no room for racism board. Hes the cofounder and state codirector of changing South Carolina. Which led a movement to ban video poker. The activities at the church that he has started, one of many contemporary worship service, prayer ministry, ministry for the deaf. He started the Television Broadcast of morning service. He has Live Streaming of the worship services. He has conducted eight capital fund campaigns. I could go on and on. But its been such a pleasure seeing this church grow and i forgot to mention when they ecided to move to this new area of town, he didnt go with just a simple majority for the board of directors of the First Baptist church. It had to be 80 or greater, and how democratic is that. Its said to be successful you must have three things. You must have a selfworth living with. You must have a work worth living for. You must have a faith worth living by. Reverend hogg has demonstrated hes had a successful life and continues to be have a successful life. God speed for the First Baptist church in rock hill, South Carolina. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Gutierrez, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, every day that congress does not pass the dream act, 122 Daca Recipients lose their participation. Young people who arrived in the u. S. As children have gone through multiple background checks and have lived in the u. S. For at least 10 years. Every week that passes nearly 1,000 Daca Recipients lose their protection from deportation. By christmas the number of daca recipient who is will have lost their participation will reach 13,492. But now were hearing we may have a shortterm c. R. , a series of c. R. s, and that the whole budget and funding debate might get kicked down the road to next year. When all 800,000 young immigrants who signed up for daca will begin losing their status. Mr. Speaker, with republicans in control of the house, senate and white house, im pretty sure you will not need my vote to pass the next budget. So i will vote against any shortterm c. R. Because i assume you have the votes to govern as you see fit no matter how much i and other democrats disagree with your priorities on women, on Childrens Health care, the environment, or dreamers. Now, if republicans decide they do need help from democrats to approve a budget, they know where to find us, and we are more than willing to help if what we are voting on meets minimal standards of priorities for the American People. For me and a lot of my colleagues, that means a vote on the dream act, right now, this year. The votes are here. The legislation is here. The American People are already in support. Mr. Speaker, at some point Republican Leadership should just get out of the way and let america vote. That is what leadership, compromise, and bipartisanship looks like. Now, we certainly know what it doesnt look like. In the middle of the night last weekend, republicans voted to give a tax cut to the richest americans. They dressed it up as a tax cut for all of us, for everyone, but we all know that its an obscene tax cut for the obscenely wealthy and rich in america. Not a single democrat in either house supported it, and this chart explains part of the reason. It is tremendously unpopular with the American People as the small slice in red on this hart shows us. Accordingly, the gallup poll, just 29 of americans support the republican tax cut for billionaires and the multinational corporations. That is what partisanship looks like. So what does bipartisanship look like . It looks like the dream act. Overall, 86 of americans support the dream act, a bill to legalize immigration status of immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Yes, 86 . Thats a big slice of red on the chart. And that number comes get this from fox news poll, just in case i was using a partisan poll where they put their thumb on the scale to show things in my favor. Support ump voters citizenship for the dreamers. So heres a proposal supported by an overwhelming number of people, an overwhelming number of republicans, and an overwhelming percentage of trump voters, but we cant get a vote. Yesterday, 34 republicans in this body wrote to the speaker asking him to please allow a vote on something to protect the dreamers. Clearly all 34 of those republicans can read the chart in red. They want to do something that is both politically popular and the right thing to do from a moral standpoint. The recent republican leader will not allow a vote on the dream act or at least are acting like they wont is because they know it will pass. So you take 34 republicans that wrote the speaker and add 194 democrats, and you know what you got, a majority of the house, and for all of those republicans who oppose the dream act, they get a christmas present. They get to vote against it. What better way to associate yourself with the comments of your president on mexicans, on muslims, on Everything Else than to vote against the dream act. So mr. Speaker, i urge you to let your members vote against the dream act as an act of charity in the christmas spirit. Republicans will get what most of them want, an opportunity to send a message to their base voters by voting on something the rest of us agree on, just like the tax bill, but this time with the passage of the dream act, at least the majority of the American People will get something out of it too. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Fitzpatrick, for five minutes. Mr. Speaker, k just a few weeks ago i was privileged to travel to puerto rico to meet with residents of the hardest hits areas of the island and to stand by them and serve them on thanksgiving day. The extent of the damage, mr. Speaker, is vast and heartbreaking. And the road to recovery will be long and filled with challenges. I cannot begin to describe the devastation, but what i can describe is the enduring spirit and the shining optimism of all the people that i met. I was inspired to see the way the Community Came together to help one another, and the generosity with which people shared what little they had in order to make sure their neighbors were taken care of. I was fortunate to have the advice and counsel of constituents of mine, pastor harry torres, and karen from the Latino Alliance in bucks county and with their help i reported back the needs of our fellow citizens to better tailer or Community Efforts to help the people of puerto rico. The people of puerto rico are citizens of the United States of america. Let this congress not forget hat. Mr. Speaker, on friday, i was honored to welcome a group of passionate, wellspoken and civic minded young constituents to our nations capital. Along with the bucks county chapter of the naacp, the africanamerican museum of bucks county, these people spoke to me on the floor of the house of representatives testifying about their experiences battling discrimination in all forms, as they work to create a more inclusive society. Our team was deeply moved by the stories of these young people. In the coming days i will be entering these students written tms into the congressional record so that my colleagues can also benefit from their experiences. As i said hateful attacks against members of our community cannot and will not be tolerated and its incumbent upon each and every one of us to condemn hate whenever and wherever it appears. I look forward to sharing this message as we Work Together to rise above and to appeal to the better angels of our nature. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania yields. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. Green, for five minutes. Mr. Green thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, im honored to be accorded the privilege of standing in the well of the congress of the United States of america. Mr. Speaker, the american poet robert frost penned a poem with the words, two roads diverged in the woods, and i took the one less traveled. Mr. Speaker, in a metaforcal sense today, sometime afternoon, shortly after 12 00, i will take the road less traveled. Mr. Speaker, i ask that no one take this journey with me. I am absolutely convinced that this is a road worth traveling, but i have not asked that others travel this road and will not. After 12 00 today, i will present articles of impeachment, and there are many who want to know whats next, what will happen after theres a vote. Mr. Speaker, i will spashiate those concerns after the spaciate those concerns after the vote, but i will take the road less traveled and i believe that it will make all the difference. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Duncan, for five minutes. Mr. Duncan thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, several times over my 29 years in congress ive wondered whether there are any fiscal conservatives at the pentagon. It seems that the Defense Department is just like every other gigantic bureaucracy when it comes to money, the refrain is always more, more, more. On november 14, the house passed what one capitol hill paper described as a 700 billion compromise defense bill. It was 80 billion over the budget caps, and many billions more than even President Trump had requested. I opposed almost all the major initiatives of the obama administration, but it was false to say that the Defense Department had been depleted or eviscerated during those years or that now we must rebuild the military. In fact, Public Relation experts in future years should conduct studies how the Defense Department has been able to convince the public it has been cut when it is now getting more money than ever. Defense Department Appropriations have more than doubled since 2000. In addition, the department has gotten extra billions in several supplemental or emergency appropriations bills. The military construction bill is a separate bill that has added another 109. 5 billion over the last 10 years. It would be hard to find any u. S. Military base anyplace in the world that has not had several New Buildings constructed over the last few years. In fiscal year 2016, we spent over 177 billion on new equipment, tanks, guns, etc. We spent similar amounts for many years. Most of this equipment does not wear out after or have to be replaced after just one year. It is ironic the only president who tried to reign in spending is the only one who spent his most career in the military. In a book when told by the top staffer he could not reduce defense spending, president eisenhower said if he gave other start to every general who cut his budget, quote, there would be such a rush to cut costs you have to get out of the way. The book also quotes who cut his budget, eisenhower saying heaven help us if we ever have a prs who doesnt know as much about the military as i do. Therein lies an explanation for the wasteful defense spending and eagerness to go to war and support permanent neverending wars. Only 18 of the Current Congress has ever served in the military in any branch of the military. Members are afraid if they do not vote for an increase in defense spending or question waste by the military, some demagogue will accuse them of not supporting the troops. It would be a huge understatement to say i usually do not agree with New York Times editorials. But the times Editorial Board op october 22 published an editorial entitled americas forever wars. Pointing out the u. S. Has been at war continuously since the attacks of 9 11 and now has troops in, quote, at least 172 countries. The board wrote that so far the American People have, quote, seemed to accept all this a very sm, but its real question whether in addition to endorsing these commitments, which have cost trillions of dollars and many lives over 16 years, they will embrace new entanglements. The times added the quong, quote, has spent little time considering such issues in a comprehensive way or debating, while all these deployments are needed. Backing these words up was a cartoon in the october 25 issue of politico, a capitol hill newspaper. E cartoon showed the first senator reading a newspaper said who knew we had troops in niger . The second said heck, we couldnt even know how the military budget gets spent. Inally the cartoon shows a senator who is saying, war is hell. I say we just give the pentagon an extra 80 billion and call it a day. Washington post columnist, richard colon, himself a veteran, as i am, wrote on october 23, quote, by there is Something Else at work here. The slavish veneration of now accorded the military, can you see it every time someone in uniform testifies before congress. Since now less than 1 of the people serve in the military t. May be that many people who never serve feel perhaps even subconsciously they must bend over backwards to show their patriotism. However, it is not patriotic it is not unpatriotic to oppose wasteful defense spending or very unnecessary permanent forever wars. President reagan once said, quote, our troops should be committed to combat. Abroad. Only as a last resort. And when no other choice is available. We have far too many leaders today who seem to want to be new Winston Churchills and far too eager to send people to war. No true fiscal conservative could ever justify spending many billions more than even President Trump requested. Our National Debt recently went over the 20 trillion level. A few days ago it was reported that the deficit for fiscal 2017 was 666 billion. This fiscal year it may be higher. Conservatives used to be against huge deficit spending, they also used to be against massive foreign aid. Much of what we have been doing in both iraq and afghanistan, Training Police and farmers, repairing leak trickal and water systems, most of this is pure foreign aid. Mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. And request permission to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentlemans time has expired. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Lahood, for five minutes. Mr. Lahood thank you, mr. Speaker. The American Economy stands today at a crucial moment with globalization and advancement in technology, the World Economy continues to become more intertwined than ever. As countries trade goods and services at rates never seen before. It is easy to look at this change and turn inward in a attempt to shore up americas position in the World Economy. But that will only set us up for more struggles down the line. Here in america we make and produce the best goods in the world. But tariffs and regulations put American Goods at a disadvantage in too many countries. That is why it is so crucial we continue to support free and fair trade. Working to bert our trade agreements like the north American Free trade agreement, or nafta, to help american businesses and families. In my district, illinois 18th Congressional District, agriculture remains the largest portion of our economy. In fact, were the eighth largest Agriculture District in the country. In some of the most fertile farm lapd in the entire world is located in the 18th district. As great as the product that is we grow may be, our farmers and agriculture industry must have markets to sell their goods. Thats where free trade agreements like nafta come in. Removing barriers that allow our corn and soybeans to be sold all over the world at competitive prices. Since the implementation of nafta, american agriculture exports have more than quadrupled from 8. 9 million, to 38 billion annually. Bringing more money back to our rural and agriculture communities. This is so important that this amount of money comes back to our district. The reason why agriculture our Agriculture Sector now supports over 21 million jobs here at home. Other sectors of our economy are just as affected by trade, especially manufacturing. With 95 of the worlds consumers living outside of the United States. Protectionist tariffs and policies in other countries put American Goods at a disadvantage. Since naftas implementation, we have seen these barriers come down and more markets opening up to our exports. Agreement our trade partners receive half of all exports of american manufactured goods. The benefits of this are agreem on to hardworking families with bs linked to trade, paying 15 to 20 more and accounting for more than 38 million jobs across our country. While nafta and tree trade have allowed for this kind of prosperity and growth, we must also be mindful of the problems that can arise. Nor example, recently for example, recent canadian policies creating quotas for the dairy have threatened those industries here at home. That is why it is time to take a fresh look at our trade agreements. Not with an eye to withdrawing from the global economy, but with a goal of making our trade fairer and better. As President Trump and his team continue to renegotiate the terms of the nafta deal, it is my hope that they can keep in mind the businesses, farming operation, and families of districts like illinois 18th. Free trade is a winwin for our nation. And it is vital that we work hard to make these agreements fairer to keep america at the forefront of the World Economy. Yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1, the chair declares the house n recess until noon today. House begins work on a bill that lets gun owners with conceal carry license to go into other states. Click on the congressional chronicle. Off the floor negotiations continue on 2018 federal spending. Current Spending Authority runs out friday night. Theyre considering a twoweek extension while they get agreement on spending for the rest of the year. We talked to a reporter about it this morning on washington journal. Ferris, budget reporter for politico, joining us on the phone. Sarah, what is the latest on the efforts to pass what were hearing might be some sort of continuing resolution to keep the government funded . Uest speaker ryans plan to have this stop spending pass in the house this week, those egotiations are literally happening as we speak. Im standing outside a meeting caucus e House Freedom was meet thanksgiving morning trying to decide whether or not to support this bill, a socalled clean