The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i have no further requests for time and im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is prepared to close. The gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Waters i yield myself the remainder of my time. Madam speaker, its become par for the course for the majority to recklessly advance harmful deregulatory packages like h. R. 3978. My friends on the other side of the aisle are moving forward with regulatory roadblocks at a furious pace, pushing dangerous bills through the house nearly every week. It appears that they may have already completely forgotten the way that lax Financial Regulation allowed the crisis in 2008 to occur that. Crisis badly damaged the occur. That crisis badly damaged the whole economy and harmed all of our constituents. The impact was enormous. 13 trillion in Household Wealth was lost. 11 Million People lost their homes to foreclosure. And the Unemployment Rate reached 10 . Democrats responded by enacting wall street reform, to ensure that consumers, investors and our economy were protected from reckless actors and bad practices. But now republicans cannot wait to take us back to the bad old days. It makes no sense. The package of bills before us guts important protections when markets are already experiencing turmoil and would allow High Frequency traders to manipulate the stock markets undetected, encourage regulatory race to the bottom at our nations stock exchanges, and harm investors by weakening efforts to detect accounting fraud at Smaller Public Companies this package of bills threatens important progress, made to reduce risk in the Financial System and return Investor Confidence in in recent weeks we have seen volatile markets that threaten the save offings hardworking american families. These circumstances should serve as a leer reminder that congress should be strengthening oversight of the financial ystem, not weakening it by undermining or removing important protections. H. R. 3917 is strongly opposed by our state securities cops at the front line of combating fraud and it is opposed by groups representing consumers, investor, and unions. For all of these reasons, i urge members to oppose h. R. 3978 and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Hensarling may i inquire how much time i have remaining, mr. Speaker . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has seven minutes remaining. Mr. Hensarling there may be other speakers come, at the moment, i yield myself four minutes, madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hensarling again, all over america today, fortunately because of the tax cut and jobs act, people are waking up to new opportunities. Theyre finally seeing their wages begin to grow. Weve seen the greatest wage growth in almost a decades, madam speaker. Again, thanks to President Trump, thanks to a Republican Congress a bill that was opposed by every single democrat. But as they wake up to these new opportunities, madam speaker, they also need new credit. So as their incomes rise, this is good, but they still need credit in order to buy a home. In order to purchase that car. And sometimes just to put groceries on the table. Unfortunately, over the last eight years of the obama administration, where we saw probably one of the greatest increases in the cost, expense, burden of costly washington red tape, we have seen fewer Credit Opportunities and so now, fortunately today, there are men and women, good men and women on both sides of the aisle who are trying to Work Together to bring some rationale and reason to the regulatory burden. Many members on the other side of the aisle do realize that doddfrank did not come down as tablets from mount sinai. That it isnt chiseled into stone. That maybe there are some improvements that could be made. So today were taking a number of very bipartisan bills to the house floor. Protecting consumers access to credit act, which we debated earlier, madam speaker, passed by 4217. The trade improvement act by mr. Hill of arkansas passed in our committee 5 5. 90 . Almost all the democrats. But the Ranking Member. Supported the bill. Protection of source code. 4614. Fostering innovation. I see the gentlelady from arizona is now on the floor, passed by a vote of 4812. A democrat bill. National Securities Exchange regulatory parity act. 4614. So we have a lot of bipartisan bills, but with one exception, title 5 of the trade improvement act, none of them were supported, unfortunately, by the Ranking Member. So theres again a lot of bipartisan work were trying to get done here. Unfortunately, very little of it is supported by the Ranking Member. Why is this important . Its important, madam speaker, because every day were still hearing from our constituents who need access to competitive Affordable Credit and because of this washington red tape and regulatory burden, theyre not getting it. You know, it wasnt that long ago we heard from ann of wisconsin who said, quote, my husband and i had very high credit scores. We have plenty of equity in our home, but because my husband has a seasonal job and finds other employment in the winter, many banks we contacted rejected our loan request. They based our annual income only on the job he has currently and said that was part of the new regulation. Part of the new regulations. Theres somebody who cant get a home. I heard from Mortgage Bank for the North Carolina who said, last year we declined a young man and his family fixed rate financing to purchase a primary home the applicant recently relocated to work for a family business. Prior to doddfrank it would have been easy to qualify, but no more. Another potential American Home buyer denied credit was of this regulatory burden. And madam speaker, thats what many of us on both sides of the aisle are trying to remedy today. At this time, madam chair, im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from arizona, ms. Sinema, sponsor of title iii of the act of fostering innovation. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Sinema i rise in support of h. R. 3978, a package of commonsense solutions, each pass with support of both parties. Thank you to congressman hill of arkansas for his leadership in moving the package forward. One of these solutions is h. L. 1635, the fostering innovation act, legislation we introduced to help arizona Biopharmaceutical Companies make lifesaving breakthroughs. Business expenses always involve tradeoffs. When arizona businesses spend money on costly regulations that provide little public benefit, less to invest in job creation for arizona families. Thats why i introduced this bill this fix ensures businesses have the time and capital to protect and develop scientific breakthroughs. Right now they are exempted only for five years from these costly external audit requirements. Thats often not enough time for the emerging companies to prepare innovations for commercialization. Our bill temporarily exempts extension for an additional five years for a small subseth of the e. G. C. s with an annual rev lieu of less than 50 million and less than 700 million in public float. This empowersen innovative Arizona Companies to use valuable resources to remain competitive, stable, and ultimately successful. H. T. Zpwamplet tucsonbased developer of targeted molecular technology. Their innovation ensures genetic testing can be turned around accurately and quickly in as little as 24 hours. For patients, doctors, and those grappling with unexplained symptoms or illnesses, those can provide critical insights into life 46 saving treatments. This is what Companies Like h. G. C. Should use their resources to fund, not costly paperwork. I urge my colleagues to pass this act. Thank you in particular to chairman hensarling and congressman hollingsworth of indiana for working with me on a consensus solution that cut red tape and supports innovative and potentially lifesaving medical research. Thank you, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hensarling how much time do i have remaining . The speaker pro tempore one minute remaining. Mr. Hensarling once again, i want to hear the voice os half of hardworking americans, not just washington, d. C. , letterhead groups. We heard from a local banker who said a local union member wanted to refinance his residence, he was laid off dooth winter season. His tax return showed he was generally laid off for about six weeks each yore during the extreme cold but was always called back when weather improve. Since he was laid off we could not meet the requirement to validate his current income that would continue for three years. We had to deny the loan. Yet again, mr. Speaker, more washington red tape, taking away home opportunities from hardworking americans. It is wrong. It is wrong. We must do something about it. And its why on a bipartisan basis so many of us have gotten together to pass h. R. 3978. Yes, we want to make sure that people can buy homes, they can buy cars, they can put groceries on the table and right now when the economy is finally starting to improve, thanks to President Trump and the tax cut and jobs act, we want them to have opportunities. I encourage all members to support h. R. 3978 and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas yields back. All time for debate has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 1 printed in part c of house report 115559, offered by mr. Foster of illinois. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from illinois, mr. Foster, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Foster my amendment clarifies this bill is only intended to apply to the source ode underpinning algo rhythmic training. The algo rhythmic source code of a trading firm are its crown jewels and its basically the core of its existence and its intellectual property. It is not merely historical or descriptive like books of records that regulators routinely have access to. Its not a broad expression of strategies they may use in the future. Rather its a specific and prescriptive algorithm. The firms that rely on algo rhythmic trading have ph. D. Scientists researching correlations that lead that these relationships between the inputs and outputs. These may be simple but may also be incredibly complex, involving multiple inouts inputs that do not rea appear related at first glance this complexity coupled with the fact that they are written largely in computer code limits the effectiveness of examining source code. It is rather the behavior of the firm in the market that represents violation of security laws. Manipulative behavior like display argue canceling orders should prompt regulators to ask the firm to explain it. Source code would be and will be a valuable part of any investigation or enforcement action into observed manipulation of the market but this is not the basis and should not be the basis for casual inspection. It would be probably be central to providing the element of intent in an enforcement action because it demonstrates the algorithm was designed to engage in for example, manipulative or abusive behavior. To this end, its imperative that the firms achieve archived versions in effect at any fwiven time and log modifications to the algorithms and who made them at any time the code is altered. These should always be available by subpoena. Additionally, i believe most firms would allow the regulators on site to examine the source code on an air gap computer. To treat the source code would not limit the regulator to leglation regulation but would allow the staff to request it which has real dangers. Buzz of the value of the firm carries with its proprietary algorithms, it makes sense theyd be reluck tabt to allow any undue access to its crown jewels. And that is really, i believe, and i think the majority of my colleagues believe, that is something that should be accessible only via subpoena. So my amendment simply clarifies that it is only the algo rhythmic trading code and related information that should be covered. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and upon its adoption to support the bill on final passage. Thank you and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. For what purpose does the gentlelady from california seek rick in addition . Ms. Waters to claim time in opposition to the amendment. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Waters the current code would require s. E. C. Examination to obtain a subpoena before it could inspect any source code whatsoever, including, for example, computer code reflecting the firms adherence to the s. E. C. s Cyber Security regulations, the amendment offered by mr. Foster would narrow the requirement in title 2 to only apply to proprietary source code related to algo rhythmic trading. While i applaud mr. Foster and the amendments cosponsor for narrowing the overbroad language f title 2, it cannot fix the untimely and illadvised legislation. En as amended, title 2 would effectively undermine oversight of creators who stand to benefit from the kind of extreme market volatility we have seen in the last few week. Lets not forget that on may 6, 2010, in an event referred to as the flash crash, major ugs stock indices inexplicably plummeted one trillion in less than an hour before mostly rebounding. They took five minutes to determine the flash crash was caused by a combination of a flawed execution algorithm of one Institutional Investor and trading algorithmic by f. T. S. While its too early to tell what caused volatility in the u. S. Stock markets, market analysts have suggested that lgogh myth rick Algorithmic Trading may be it. The biggest one day point drop in history happened last week. Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin testified before the House Financial Services committee that Algorithmic Trading, quote, definitely had an impact on market moves, quoteunquote. Given this trading in our stock market, this information enabled such activity merely because it is it existed in an electronic format. Americans that have trillions of dollars in 401k and other retirement and savings plans deserve the s. E. C. s best efforts in investigating and mitigating computerdriven market disruptions. For this reason and for all of these reasons and given my broader concerns that the bill would significantly harm Investor Confidence in our markets even if the amendment is adopted, i am urging a no vote on h. R. 3978. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Foster id like to simply reiterate it should be the actions in the market that are the first indications that the regulators should have a look at. When they see suspicious activity in the market, that is the time to get the subpoena and go after the source code. And so with that i just urge the adoption of the amendment and passage of the underlying bill. I yield back the balance. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois yields back the balance of his time. All time expiring on the amendment, pursuant to the rule, the question is on the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois, mr. Foster. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois, mr. Foster. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it and the mendment is agreed to. Third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Third reading. To amend the Ll Real Estate settlement procedures act of 1974 to modify requirements related to mortgage disclosures and for other purposes. Mr. Capuano moves to report the same back to the house forthwith with the following amendment mr. Capuano mr. Speaker, without objection, i ask the reading be waived . You want to read it . Mr. Hensarling reserve a point of order. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas reserves a point of order. Is there objection to request for waiving the reading of the amendment or the motion to recommit . There is objection. Clerk will read. The clerk page 5, line 13, strike page 5, line 14, strike the period and insert and. Page 5 after line 14 insert the following d. Has clawback policies to require any executive office incentive base compensation to the claw back in the event the issuer is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the issuer without any Financial Reporting requirement under the securities laws as desectioned in 3a of the Securities Exchange act of 1934 regardless of whether such compensation was paid to an officer who was a party to the actions that resulted in such restatement. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for five minutes in support of his motion. Mr. Capuano thank you, mr. Speaker. My amendment simply requires a company to have a policy in place to claw back executives incentive base pay if it is materially noncompliant with Financial Reporting requirements. Now, those words matter because the words materially noncompliant means something in the accounting world. It has to be a big change. Not a little accounting error. This amendment should be noncontroversial. Its shortsighted a decade after the crisis we still dont have commonsense safeguards in place to ensure that c. E. O. s do not turn a blind eye to problems that lead to a public restatement of their companys financials. This isnt something hypothetical. It happens on a pretty regular basis. Its not relegated to just the past. Everybody here is pretty familiar with wells fargo bank. Well, they generated scandal after scandal by ripping off ripping off its own consumers. St year the bank settled an 1year lawsuit with the department of justice because it overcharged veterans who applied for home loan refinancing. At the same time relearned of hundreds of thousands of Car Insurance, car loan customers charged for Car Insurance that they never agreed to purchase. In 2016, we learned of millions of fake deposits and credit card statements opened up by wells fargo and then charging their customers. Last september, the bank failed to refund insurance payments made by customers who paid off their car loans early. And most recently found out they delayed mortgage closing dates in order to jack up their own fees. These abuses come on top of a 10 billion in fines by that bank thats been paid in recent years for everything from mortgage fraud, illegal marketing, kickback schemes, insider trading, racial discrimination, and student loan scams. And yet, the bank believes that this kind of consistent misconduct is not materially financially important enough to require a restatement. Wells fargos only ever clawed back a few tiny dollars from its executives. All this amendment does is recommit recommit does is simply says that if you commit an act that requires a Material Change in your public statements that you shouldnt profit by it. Thats all. Not basic pay, just the incentive pay tied to those actions. The underlying bill goes in the opposite direction. It makes it more likely that there will be materially inaccuracies in Certain Company s certain financial statements. We should at the very least not incentivize that bad behavior. Title 3 of this bill allows new Public Companies to get out of audit requirements for 10 years. 10 years. Now, we all think, well, thats fine for a Small Company. Small company . Up to 700 million of company shares, thats a Small Company . Those are Significant Companies that puts lots of people at risk. Shareholders and investors. In 2002, the sarbanesoxley act and i want to repeat the sarbanesoxley act because mike oxley was the republican chair of the Financial Services committee at the time, required companies to issue stock to publicly report their internal control structures and procedures for Financial Reporting. Those reports have to be attested to and covered in an audit report. Theres no reason why independent audit of Large Corporations a good thing. It makes it harder for them to hide bad actions. This recommit, again, its simple. It doesnt change the underlying bill. It simply says if a Corporation Makes a Material Change to its publicly stated financial records in executives pay, incentive pay has been tied to the profits made off of that nowchanged policy, a company has to have a policy in place whereby to claw back those illgotten profits. I dont think thats controversial. I dont think thats partisan. I dont think thats antibusiness. I dont think thats overregulation. Its simply fair. We dont let bank robbers keep their money. We dont let other people who commit wrong doings keep the profits that they have. Why should we let corporations who go out of their way some, not all only a handful go out of their way to make sure that they hide their bad actions, report them badly and when they get caught and have to report them appropriately they still get to keep the illgotten gains. That is all this recommit does. It is simply. It is straightforward, and i would hope my friends on not just the other side but on both sides of this aisle see this as a thoughtful, inciteful and commens approach to amend this commonsense approach to amend this bill. With that i yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from massachusetts yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, i withdraw my reservation. I claim time in opposition. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, i listened very carefully to my colleague on the Financial Services committee. I lost track at how many times he mentioned wells fargo. That has nothing to do with an early growth company. That has nothing to do with this title of the bill. So the fostering innovation act by the gentlelady from arizona is all about allowing emergency emerging Growth Companies the opportunity to actually grow. What a novel concept. What we know is, mr. Speaker, in eight years of eight years of obamanomics they were only able to produce 8 of Economic Growth. For all intents and purposes, nobodys savings came back, wages are stagnant. And now that we have sensible regulation, now we passed the tax cut and jobs growth act, now we have 3 Economic Growth which is Economic Growth for americas working families. Unemployment is at a 17year low. It remains at a 17year low. Again, wages grew at 2. 9 last year, the fastest in almost a decade. Two million americans have gone back to work, mr. Speaker, and this isnt by accident. And so what the gentleman is doing with his motion to recommit is sending us back. Hes rolling the clock back, an era where working americans didnt get ahead. Where entrepreneurship was at a generational low. Where Small Businesses were finding it lard to access lines of credit. And so the bill that he so much maligns from the gentlelady from arizona, who happens to reside on his side of the aisle, at markup, the Ranking Member of the relevant subcommittee, the gentlelady from new york, mrs. Maloney, supported the provision and said, quote, this is a sensible compromise that provides a narrowly targeted relief to only the companies that truly needed. Researching a new drug and getting f. D. A. Approval is a very, very long process. Which is exactly what we heard in our committee. We heard from for example, we heard from john blake, Senior Vice President of atear pharma testified who said, it remains the case that the biodevelopment timeline is a decades long affair. Its extremely likely that we will be in the lab and clinic growth e. G. C. , Early Company they may have revenues but they dont have profits. They wont have profits. This is especially common in a biotech area. They need this capital for innovation. And so once again we have heard this rhetoric on the other side of the aisle before. This is all about doddfrank revisited. They aim at wall street but they hit main street, mr. Speaker. The m. T. R. , the motion to recommit hits main street in the gut. It will mean fewer early Growth Companies. It will mean fewer jobs. It will mean lower wage growth and it will mean, again, a decimated and declining american dream. We should reject the motion to recommit and we should support the underlying bill and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas yields back the balance of his time. All time having expired, without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. The question is on the motion. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, no. The noes have it. The motion is not agreed to. The gentleman from massachusetts. Mr. Capuano on that i request a roll call vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman request the yeas and nays . The yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 , this 15minute vote on the motion to recommit will be followed by fiveminute votes on passage of the bill, if ordered, and passage of h. R. 3299. This will be a 15minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 189. The nays are 228. The motion is not adopted. The question is on passage of the bill. Those in favor will say aye. Those opposed say no. In the opinion of the chair, he ayes have it. The gentlelady from california. The gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Waters i call the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 271, the nays are 145. The bill is passed. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on passage of h. R. 3299 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 3299, a bill to amend the revised staut of High Pressure system owners act and the federal deposit insurance act to require the loans remain unchanged after transfer of the loans and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is on passage of the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 245 and the nays are 171. The bill is passed. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to the speaker pro tempore the speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . I ask to make a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent that my name be added as cosponsor to the bill h. R. 676. The speaker pro tempore without objection. O ordered. He house will be in order. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. The gentleman from minnesota, for what purpose . Permission to address the house for one minute. Mr. Speaker, the house is not in order. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Will all members remove their conversations. The house will be in order. The speaker pro tempore if all members will please remove their conversations. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize the service of Carver County sheriff gym olson who recently announced his retirement. He began his Law Enforcement career 31 years ago. Mr. Paulsen he was elected to his first fouryear term in 2010 and reelected in 2014. Olson has led Law Enforcement operations during a time when Carver County surpassed a population of over 100,000 people, making to one of the Fastest Growing counties in minnesota. He oversaw major Public Safety operations during the aftermath of princes death as well as the ryder cup in 2016. Hes well respected in our community and is involved in community outreach, raising Public Awareness of Mental Health resources, educating the public about the role of the Sheriffs Office and supporting the hope house, a Youth Homeless shelter. I want to thank sheriff olson for his many years of service and dedication, for keeping the residents of Carver County safe. We wish him the best of luck in his future, and he will be missed. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognize yigs . Recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The house will be in order. Members, please remove their conversations. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Payne mr. Speaker, i rise today to honor Americas Health and Wellness Coaches. Health and Wellness Coaches help people change their unhealthy lifestyles and manage chronic illnesses. Mr. Speaker, i am a diabetic. I also suffer from Macular Degeneration and heart disease. I know firsthand how difficult it is for people to change their behaviors and make healthier life choices. But i also know that change in behavior can improve Overall Health and reduce the amount of costly medical care people need. The American Medical Association recently found that having a health and wellness coach involved in a persons wellness journey not only increases Patient Satisfaction and engagement but also reduces physician stress and burnout by freeing up their time. Last week i introduced House Resolution 733, to express support for health and Wellness Coaches and to designate this week as National Health and wellness coach recognition week. Mr. Speaker, i ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating our Nations Health and Wellness Coaches. And with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. If members would please remove their conversations. For what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize a tremendous hoosier public servant, leader of the indiana state senate, david long, who recently announced his retirement from office. Mr. Messer david has served as the Senate Indiana senate for 22 years and president pro tempore for the last 12. David is a remarkable leader whos been central to every major policy achievement in indiana at a state level over the past decade. He led the charge on cutting taxes, passing right to work, enacting major moves, creating one of the biggest and best School Choice programs in the country, and permanently capping property taxes. On a personal note, david long is my mentor. Ere both graduates of waubash college, and we both overachieved in marriage. I will always be grateful for his friendship, advice and counsel, and i thank david for his years of service. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Ms. Kaptur i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, our Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community most pointedly the federal bureau of investigation is sustaining an unprecedented coordinated attack. Like a cancer, the strikes are coming from deep in the marrow of our democratic republic. Our own president and even some members of Congress Block the light of justice. In his state of the union address, President Trump bragged about the apprehension of violent criminals and gang members. The hypocrisy of this president taking credit for the dangerous work of our f. B. I. And larger Intelligence Community while systematically and doggedly working to undermine public faith in these institutions is an outrage. Under special counsel muellers direction in 2012, the f. B. I. Made 25,000 arrests, and 14,800 indictments. They located 1,100 missing children and seized 1. 25 billion dollars worth of criminal assets and drugs. The historic role of the f. B. I. In bringing major criminals and foreign and domestic enemies of our state to justice cannot be overstated. The f. B. I. Has defended us in ways and measures well beyond general Public Awareness. Not out of patriotism and commitment to our democracy and its institutions, then out of sheer necessity, congress and the American People must defend the rule of law. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore rs are reminded toward to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. For what purpose does the gentleman rise . To address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today as to urge both colleagues to include high skilled Immigration Reform in the final legislative package. Our immigration system is broken in many places and while we search for solution for compassion, rule of law, i want to highlight a group of immigrants contributing to our country and yet are being left out in the cold by our broken immigration system. Mr. Yoder right now the per country caps on green cards for ghly skilled h 1b immigrants, the caps created a huge backlog of indian applicants who will have to wait decades, as much as 70 years to achieve their dream of citizenship. This must be replaced by a meritbased system that treats everyone fairly. My bill would do just that. I urge my colleagues to not let our compassion end with daca recipients. Lets also use this opportunity to promote fairness for highskilled immigrants as well. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore if members and groups of members would please remove their conversations from the floor. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Ms. Jackson lee mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Jackson lee mr. Speaker, as we he address womens History Month in the month of march, i raise the attention of my colleagues to a set of circumstances that we have seen relating to the administration and its personnel policies. But the real issue is the affirmation of the opposition to Domestic Violence and abuse. Thousands of women and some men lose their lives to Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence. Thousands live in silence and absolute fear. Children see their mothers killed and some men. And to have the kind of insensitivity to the importance of anyone who has engaged in Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse to be ignored sends a wrong signal to the girls and young women in this country. We must join together in a bipartisan manner to ensure that the violence against women act is reauthorized in march, and we must pronounce that Domestic Violence and Domestic Abuse is wrong and that it is wrong for men, for women, for families and it is something that should be condemned and not condoned and no matter how important a position you may hold, it is important for americas leadership to denounce this kind of vicious attack on families. With that i look forward to bipartisanship and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . Seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize a worldclass athlete and olympian hailing from the 22nd congressional district. Ms. Teny twotime world champion, erin carried the team u. S. A. Flag during the 2018 Opening Ceremony in pyeongchang, south korea, last friday. Erin was selected from over eight other athletes to enter her last Olympic Games as the flag bearer. Erin made history in 2014 as the first u. S. Athlete to win a singles luge medal after taking bronze after the sochi games. She was the first woman flag bearer since 2010. Erin led 244 athletes, the largest team ever from the United States. Yesterday, she competed in the last of her outstanding last olympics of her outstanding career. Erin will be remembered as someone who shared shattered barriers for both men and women in the sport of luge. I want to thank Oneida County erin hamlin or this incredible achievement on these incredible achievements. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to mourn the passing of Chicago Police commander paul bauer who was shot and killed in the line of duty yesterday. Mr. Lipinski this is a terrible tragedy for the Chicago Police department and most of all for pauls wife and young daughter. Paul graduated two years ahead of me at saint agnus and joined the Police Department soon after. He rose through the ranks over 22 years and later became commander of the north district. A member of nativity parish in bridgeport, paul is being remembered as a loving father and husband. Someone who knew the value of Community Policing and giving back. And for leading efforts to raise funds for Chicago Police memorial fund. Mr. Speaker, i ask my colleagues to join me in mourning the passing of commander paul bauer. Please pray for him and for his family and for our city, and please remember to take a moment to thank the police and other First Responders that you encounter every day. We owe them so much. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Lamalfa mr. Speaker, i rise today to commend the health and Human Services new religious Freedom Division within the office of civil rights. Recently they announced a proposed rule to protect workers from being coerced into practicing activities that violates their conscience, including abortion, sterilization, assisted suicide and more. Under the previous administration, doctors and nurses were not protected from being forced to participate in procedures that may violate their religious beliefs or moral convictions. This is clearly wrong. Those that are discriminated against for religious beliefs should be afforded the same protections as those facing any other types of discrimination. O. C. R. Has opened a 60day Public Comment period on the rule and i encourage everyone across the country to participate in that comment period. I thank the division once again for taking this important action to protect religious liberty in our health care system. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman rom nevada seek recognition . Without objection. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Today i rise to remember the life of austin davis who visited las vegas to attend he the route 51 concert on october 1. Austin was an only child who he was he was very close to his parents. Mr. Kihuer he lived in riverside, california, and worked as a pipe fitter. In his free time he loved to play softball. All who knew austin knew him for his contagious smile and hardworking and caring nature. Mr. Kihuen please know the city of las vegas, state of nevada, and the whole country grieve with you. Mr. Speaker, i yield the emaining balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. Mr. Burgess i rise to honor sam johnson. This week marks 45 years since he returned to freedom after enduring nearly seven years as a prisoner of war in that know, vietnam. Each february, we are reminded of his leadership that will sam johns ong displayed during his time as a prisoner of war. We are reminded of the persistence of sams family and the joy and joy of our north Texas Community when sam returned home to texas in 1973. Sam johnson has served our country selflessly in his air force career and here in the house of representatives since he was elected to the house in 1991. He has been an advocate for our armed forces, our veterans and america freedom. 15 years ago, i gave my floor speech marking 30 years since mr. Johnson returned home. It is a privilege to honor my friend and mentor on his 45th return anniversary. Sam johnson, welcome home. The speaker pro tempore are there any additional requests for oneminute speeches . The chair lays before the house the following personal requests. The clerk leaves of absence for mr. Lobiondo and for tomorrow and miswatson coleman of new jersey for today. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The requests are granted. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2017, the gentleman from florida, mr. Rutherford is recognized as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Rutherford i recognize john tonchinga to recognize his birthday. Born in dover, new jersey, william spent his years in new jersey developing a love of music. This resulted in him becoming a music teacher until he was drafted in the United States army on july 11, 1941. He left a successful job teaching in new jersey to defend our great nation. And after completing his radio Operations Training as fort dix servedt bragg and he was as a Technical Sergeant leading a group of eight men who were trained as radio operators. His team was responsible for code receiving and transmitting from the field as well as in command vehicles. This group was part of the First AmericanArmy Personnel to be sent in the european theater of operations. After 22 months in iceland, he was sent to england to be part of the invasion force on dday and dropped on the utah beach on june 6, 1944 and bravely fought through the entire campaign of europe including the bottom barredment. He and his fellow soldiers later served at the battle of the bulge and counting his memorable times in the army, mr. Torching ave will talk about his time in europe after dday and told me where he witnessed american Fighter Pilots and time served in joint force with the russians at the river elb. He was discharged after 3 1 2 years on june 22, 1945. After his years of service, mr. Tonchinga went back to his passion of teaching music. He started instrumental Music Program in the Richfield School system of new jersey. And during those years of music education, mr. Tonchingave obtained his masters degree in n. Y. U. U. , you e he was at n. Y. Plead vial lynn in the orchestra and at 100 years old, his talents are impressive. At his recent birthday celebration, he played the collar net, vial lynn and piano and sang for his family and friends. I salute him on his years of faithful service to our country and the Public School system. He exemplified qualities of a true American Hero and i admire his service and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, today, i rise to congratulate the hardworking men and women of the Jewish Community alliance on the celebration of their 30th anniversary of enriching the lives of those with a variety of needs. The j. C. A. Is a pillar in our john kerry sonville community. The Jewish Community alliance is a Nonprofit Community center affiliated with the jacksonville jewish federation, the united way of northeast florida and the Jewish Community centers of north america. Lifeocus is to enhance the of religions, races, financial means and physical and mental abilities. To this end, the j. C. A. Has impacted tens of thousands of sent sense in our community. Situated on the campus, j. C. A. Welcomes preschoolaged children to get a good start in life and embraces teens and youth on a variety of subjects. Of j. C. A. Is a spirit intergenerational sharing of values and ideas. The afterschool and schoolclosed day programs give peace of mind to working parents both married and single. Seniors and adults with special needs are offered opportunities to reach their potential with dignity and tradition. The j. C. A. Facility offers swimming, theater and camp programs and fitness and art and academic classes to all members and welcomes all for membership. J. C. A. Offers an array of creative classes, programs and events to inspire and benefit its participants. I ask you and members of the house to join me in acknowledging the 30th anniversary of the Jewish Community alliance and its commitment to our community. And mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2017, the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Fortenberry is recognized as the esignee for the remainder. Mr. Fortenberry there was a Television Commercial that played quite frequently and may still be on, but it shows a shelter for the poor and homeless around christmastime and men and women are gathering under bright lights and they are clearly benefiting from the holiday outpouring of charity and compassion and fellowship. But then the commercial shifts and the environment changes. Its a dreary downtrodden affair at this point. The new year has begun and the helter is less full and former ambient light and laughterville dimmed into somber tones. While all the while, a man is tting at the piano in this emptyying place singing dont you forget about me. You see the scene concludes the season ends but the need re mains. As our economy begins to recharge giving more and more hope, with more and more americans imagining jobs, it is important, though, to continue to reflect on this still early stage of the new year after important budget battles here and important pieces of legislation, its important to reflect on the proper balance between responsibility and charity as well as those who continue to be left behind or forgotten. Americans are the most generous people in the world. And we also deeply value responsibility. And we know that a fulfilled life requires rewarding work. Unfortunately, unemployment and underemployment continue to hinder a faster economic recovery causing much anxiety for persons and their families. Cording to a new survay from career builder, eight out of 10 people say they are living from paycheck to paycheck. And this should not obscure this difficult reality. So to better help persons help one another in the full dignity of work, our next phase of economic regeneration must be an attempt to find the proper balance between rightsized government, responsibility to one another and reasonable expectations that everyone can contribute something, according to their means and their capacity. Everyone has something to give. As this recognition and economic regeneration rekindles, several guide pofts should be kept in ind and the arasheure of what call entrepreneurial impediments and address and amend a deep societal sense of breaux kenness. When persons are unemployed or underemployed, they could enter a downward spiral in their lives. Mr. Speaker, as we well know, washington alone cannot create a humane economy that works for the many. Americans working together form the cornstone of a vibrant market. The fuller answer to unemployment and underemployment and lack of Financial Assets along with the resulting loss of social capital might be found in the idea that society and government seeing work as ar common endeavor for us all. After all, economics in its essence is not just a transaction but profoundly relational. The profound meaning of work also requires the right words, the overrelines in this body particularly on depersonalizing economic language is one reason that washington can seem so disconnected and aloof from real communities and real people. At the end of the month, if a person cant pa pass their gas bill, they are unlikely to care for d. G. P. Growth. Recent news cycles are tracking the stock market valuations with ups and downs as of late and this is exceeded most expectation but demroge green numbers and signals provide little reassurance to millions of americans who were priced out of owning stock. Ultimately, mr. Speaker, a lack of work as well as a lack of assurance in the security of government guardrails and earned a efits can take the life of diminishing toll. I have seniors who write to me and suggest to us in pretty clear terms that they arent entitled to their own money, throw the language around of entitlements referring to programs that women set aside to money. Or given a guarantee. Its not an entitlement but something people worked for. Both dignity and earned benefits, sometimes are those who are forgotten. I approach my door, recently mr. Speaker, here at my office and there was a large crowd of men who gathered and in camoflauge tshirts waiting outside. And we have experienced a number of visitors from our home state. And in my office, they have to stack up. As i got closer, the front of these tshirts these men had on, read United Mine Workers and i thought that was unusual to see them wearing united mine worker tshirts but they were waiting for my neighbor who is from the state of kentucky. We began a meaningful conversation about work and security and fairness. Men who spent their lives in hard jobs and im sure they toiled very proudly to make a reasonable living for their families. But they all now showed real signs of physical fatigue. And they were in washington making a plea for their pensions which are facing dramatic reductions. A similar situation does exist in nebraska for another group of workers. These persons work for a guarantee that they would be provided for when they could ork no more, but given a confluence of factors, their pension took a dramatic shortfall and, frankly, its not fair. I lived for several years as a younger man in the area where these gentlemen had come from, in a town that had lost half of its population in 20 years, in the old whats called the Old Industrial rust belt where the postworld war ii economic boom had built a thriving, were community, but now globalized supply side theory had its most dramatic, degenerating economic effect. And i said to one of these men, you know that i know where you come from. And we hugged. Mr. Speaker, our country is in pain. Epic hurricanes and floods, escalating urban violence and opioid epidemic, those selfmedicating because of their mental, physical, financial anguish. Combine this with the lingering effects of baiterly fought last electoral season has torn at americas heart. In a vibrantly healthy society, though, there should be space for what i call marketplace fluidity and creativity and innovation. A person who has an idea and the drive should be able to pursue it. The benefits accrue, of course, to this person as the inventor but also the buyer of those services, the community, and those who gave the effort in the building of this product or service. So a healthy economy is two things at once. Its individualistic and its communityoriented at the same time. Innovation and competition can be disruptive but they must be et within a fair set of rules. When a system stacks to the wealthiest or is outsourced by faceless corporations in the name of advancing quarterly profits, exploiting the poor elsewhere and damaging the environment elsewhere where there is a lax Legal Foundation and therefore an indirect subsidy to the costs are borne by persons elsewhere in the form of shorter lives and the effects of pollution, it sets in motion not only difficulties in other places but here a loss of jobs, loss of Community Cohesion and breakdown of lifes stability. And tie this to the loss of the formative institutions of family life and faith life and civic life and we drift. We drift. We drift without a national narrative. Make it much more difficult to respond wholistically in the midst of tragedy to our greater challenges and problems. For a moment i want to speak about a person who participated in one of my telephone town lls who she told me shes an architect and her husbands an architect and they were very interested in starting an Architectural Firm on their own but they cant. Why cant they . They have the education. They have the drive. They want to be innovative and disruptive. They want to do Creative Work with their own two hands and take the risks necessary to provide something new, nofble in the marketplace. Novel in the marketplace. They have a sick child. So by the time they go onto the individual Insurance Market and try to obtain insurance for themselves, knowing theyre going to have to pay the full deductibles and copays, that bill this was a little while back. I suspect its higher now. The bill was going to be close to 30,000. Before they even open their door they have an upfront cost of 30,000 just for a little bit of personal protection. So what happens . They stay put. Theyre tethered to institutions that may not be as gratifying to them. Society loses from their inability to take that risk and provide that product out in the market. Because theyre tethered. Theyre handcuffed to a benefit called health care that a Large Institution can provide but a small entrepreneur cant. This makes no sense. We have some specific ideas on this and were working to grow a Bipartisan Working Group to make proper changes potentially in that individual Insurance Market whereby people can pool together more easily, where there is a better type of Major Medical product out there that would be a lot less expensive. And perhaps using an idea that was embedded in the Health Care Debate earlier this year where the government provides a stabilizing reinsurance model so the market can actually work within a certain bandwidth but the sickest person pays the same rate but is protected from excess expense by a more government subsidy. Just makes sense. Think about the entrepreneurial potential that then would be released, creating opportunity, more jobs, better products. Were constraining ourselves for no reason here. I hope that this chapter with unfold in the coming weeks. Some people of good will are trying to work through this and there is significant feel, i feel, on both sides of the aisle. We have to break through it. Mr. Speaker, we also, from my perspective, living in a paradoxical age where we are more dependent on big business for information flow and consumer goods and at the same more are a more and skeptical of this model. I was trained in an era where economic language was cast in terms of efficiency and optimismization, inputs, the free flow of capital and labor d on and on, all the vocabulary of economic academic theory. These are analytical and mechanical terms necessary for Understanding Market function. But they lack a connection to any deeper purpose. And ultimately a properly functioning market is a connector of community, a delivery mechanism for material wellbeing and an opportunity enhancer for individual nitiatives and rewarding work. These classical economic expressions lack a deeper understanding of the ultimate purpose of production. I once asked a professor when i was young, who does enormative analysis . Who asks the question, what ought to be . What institution is doing that . He said, no one. Mr. Speaker, youre a fairly young man. You know this as well. We are long past the age when working ones entire career in the same Large Corporation guaranteed security and wellbeing. Its finished. The current corporate construct s desperately driven and hopelessly fragmented by quarterly profit mandates, shortterm decisions overrule longterm strategy. And while this is occasionally brought to heel by a scandal and malfeasance, most multinationals are no longer tethered to a face or space so they pitch us on tv and print images with caring images and kindly deem us worthy to help with their chosen causes and then major cities with major airports become the hub and the rest of us have to just buy it. Now, les i sound too critical lest i sound too critical, they provide a certain space for producing industrial goods and largescale products and can provide exciting opportunity. Thats all true. And necessary. But i also think were on the front end of something, mr. Speaker. Theres a hunger for the next Economic Trend to reorient around the revitalization of main street including local foods, Sustainable Energy production, smarter services and smaller scale manufacturing. Recreating that long loss sense of place in our communities. Imagine a new urbanism of an economic ecosystem with friendly neighborhoods, nearby enters of smaller scale, micro sinesses, contextually appropriate architecture and easily accessible public place. We see this trend developing and frankly its very exciting. Now, we had a bill recently in which we took an important vote here on tax reform. I believe this is going to help. I believe that tax reform legislation will help rebalance a number of business inequities, particularly for Small Business, where most jobs come from. Estimated an average Nebraska Family of four will receive about a 2,000 more than 2,000 extra benefit in their pocket from the Immediate Impact of the tax bill and the rehe leaf that theyll get. Over time, due to increased wages, that will translate into about a 4,000 benefit. I think this is important because americans need a break. Especially working men and women trying to get a bit ahead and trying to provide for their family well. For many its also harder and harder he. As we said, Many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Thats not fully a tax code problem. Its the harsh reality of social fragmentation, downward mobility and the rising cost of living and skyrocketing income disparity driven by inequitable globalization and concentration of economic power. These forces have not fundamentally benefited us fully, and theyve left millions of people behind. But i think this tax reform measure was important because it rebalances, particularly rebalances the incentive to offshore. In addition to putting more money in the pockets of hardworking americans, it does support the revitalization of main street and the return of the made in america label. This legislation also provides a reasoned progress provided a reasoned progress in the attempt to make the tax code simpler and fairer and to resolve this convoluted set of problems that overburdened families and persons and Small Businesses across the nation. I think this is important because were living in an age where we cant keep pushing the same policies over and over and expect them to fit into a 21st century architecture of wellbeing and successful living. Moving forward, i believe, the source and strength of the American Economy will be in small urbanism of business in which entrepreneurs from village to city add value through smallscale manufacturing, Innovative New products, or brokering in repair services. Now, we do anticipate a spike in the initial deficit from the ax bill, but were already seeing a surge of revitalization and possibility of economic opportunity. And given this reorientation of the tax policy around the family, hopefully with the entrepreneurial momentum will generate more jobs, earnings, and reverse this downward trend in Small Business formation. Less tax, more taxpayers, more revenue over time, thats the calculation. And as more opportunity