Brooks, in supporting h. R. 5509, a bill to name the department of Veterans Affairs temporary lodging facility in indianapolis, indiana, as the dr. Otis bowen veteran house. He was born near rochester, indiana and received his m. D. Agree from university of indiana medical school. During world war ii, he served in the u. S. Army medical corps from 194 to 1946 and with the in wave of allied troops japan in 1945 and discharged as a captain in 1946. Hen he returned home, he became a country doctor. After servi in the indiana legislature, he was elected the 44th governor of indiana and ultimately served as secretary of alth and Human Services under president reagan. Im very pleased to support this legislation and urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlema reserves. The gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Brooks thank you, mr. Speaker. Id like to thank my dear friend and colleue from california, mr. Takano, fors those remarks. I now yield to the gentlelady from northern indiana, my dear friend who has also served on the Veterans Affairs committee, three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewan is recognized for three minutes. Thank you to the gentlelady for yielding me time. Im tilled to be here to this facility the dr. Otis brown veteran house. His nameame was doc and he was affectionately known. Mrs. Walorski i would be one person knocking on his door every so often just to see how he was doifpblg he had a wall of fame like no other in his house and i throved sit and listen to him hem gradted from Francisville High School and to this day, all those areas in those countries counties are proud he resided in those areas he receive his medical degree from i. U. In 1942, completed his sidency, joined the u. S. Medical army corps, part of the first wave of troops to storm the beaches in wod war ii he started a Family Practice in indiana. I 1952 , he began his career in public service, serving as marshallounty coroner in956 whene was elected to the Indiana House of representativesful he was elected gnchorn 1972, relected in 1976. In 1985, president reagan appoted him secretary of department of health and Human Services, the first medical doctor to serve in that role. Heasne they have most adored Public Servants in the state of indiana. After all his acomplishments and awards, he said his proudest achievement was delivering those 3,000 babies as a familycy igs physician in marshall county. I cant think of a more deservin person to name this bill after inch urgmy colleagues to support this bill d yield become. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentlewoman from indiana reserves. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Takano mr. Speaker, i have no other speakers at this time, agai i urge my colleagues to support h. R. 5509 and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the geleman yields back. The gentlewoman from indiana is recognized. Mrs. Brooks thank you, mr. Speaker. Before we nclude id like to take a moment to personally thank chairman miller for all hes done throughout his tenure in the house of representatives and in shepherding this bill and also would like thank his staff who have helped us bng this bill to the floor. Theeople of floridas first Congressional District couldnt have asked for a more dedicated Public Servant and the work hes done to advanc the rights and care of veterans is truly remarkable. Whether it was in the trenches of war for doc bowen, or in Political Office or in his Doctors Office he had a clear passion for serving others. However he reserved a place in his heart for his fellow veterans like chairman miller. Thats why its only apppriate that the house, the home that he built,hat heelped build for veterans and their families carry his name an serve as a permanent reminder of the character and fortitude of this legendary man. I ce again urge passageoday and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 5509. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the tion to econsider is laid on the table. E speaker pro tempore the chair will eertai requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the geleladyeek recognion . Roslehtinen i ask unnimous consent to address the hou for one minute. The eaker pro tempore the gentlady is recognizewithout objection. Ms. Roslehtinen this sunday, colomans in my Congressional District will go to thpolls to vote on the colombian farq deal, decidi wheth to hold this narcoterrorist organization known as the farc acuntable for its innumerable crimes comtted over more than 50 years. Yet in a deal brokered by the duplicitos castroegimethe farc members may soon get off scott free. No jail time, no compensation to the victims of their the family members of their victims. Farc members will even be allowed to run for office. Good grief. Th is a bad de, mr. Speaker. It should not be financed by american taxpas. The only thing farc and its criminal backs in havana are interested in, more opportunities to continue running drugs, lining thr ckets and destabilizing latin amrica. Colombians in my district can vote on the deal in either coral gables, high lea, or kendall as or as many hialea kendl as well as in oer places around thdirict. For more information they can contact the combianonsulate. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from washington seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman recognized for ne minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise today with a very heavy heart. On friday night, there s a tragic shooting at the cascade ml in burlington where i people were killed. E victims included a 16yearold canc survivor from Mount Vernon High School a dedicated Public Servant from arlington, and her 95yearold moer. A boeing employee from lake stevens and a macy cosmecs counter worker. Ms. Delbene s our Community Comes together in this difficult time, our regrieves for the victims, their families, and all those affecteby this traged , bee lwa remember days dodson, Chris Chuck Egan and shayl martin and i want to ank our local Law Enforcement for theirong hours searching for the shooter who was apprehended less than 24 hurs after the incident. There is no one law that will prevent everyingle instance of senseless violenc we must do more to end the tragic cyclef guniolence affecting our communities. Thank you and i yield back. The speakep tempore the gentlewoman yields back. For what purpose does the ntlem from pennsylvania seek rognition . I a unanimous consent to address the use for one minute and revise d extend m remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentleman is cognized for one minute. Mr. Thompn thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in recognition of the efforts of an erie countbased food ban to combat childhood hunger across the norwestern across northwestern pennsylvania, especially in several counties of pnsylvanias fifth ngressional district. 2011, the Second Harvest food Bank Launched its Backpack Program which enlists the help of vonteers to fill backpacks with enough meals and snacks to helpd children over the weends of eachcool jeer. Cool jeer. Over the la weekend, volunteers gathered supy backpacks to around 350 students in the Warren County school district. The packs are expected to lt those second and third grade students through the end othe year. In erie county, around 1,0 studes benefit from the progm in t erie county schoodistrict with meal beings distributed to children throhout s 15 Elementary Schools its unfortunate that a proam such as this is necessaut im proud there are fols inhe pennsylvania fifth congressnal district and the surrounding area who ar willing to he step up to the plate forids in need. Thank you, mr. Speer. I yield back t balance of time. The speer pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the geneman from california seek recoition . Without objection, the gentlen s recognized for one minute. Thank y, mr. Eaker. I rise to support the 260 min americansligibl to vote and recognize september7 as natiol Voter Registration day. Mr. Honda year is different with recent attacks on our democracy, unscrupulous actors seek to gn access to confidenti ansensitive information to distort the outcome of our lees. In arizona, the secretary of state took oline the Voter Registration database because of Credible Threats to the system. In illinois, 15 million records were recently exposed and 200,0 accessed by hackers. The rusian government hacked the democratic partys emails in an attempt to distort our election. Our elections sld be fr of eign iluence as representative of silicon vaey, i value technogy in our democracy. Thats why i introduced legislation to introduce vetting technology crical infraructure to give local offices the resources theyee to protect dmocracy. Onhis nabble voter registrati day, too much is on thein r us not tact. I yield ck. The speaker pro t for what purpose does the gentleman from kansas seek rognition . I ask unanimous cse to address the house for minute d revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objecti the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, as a proud jayhawk i rise today to recognizereat leaderor the state of kasas who has made a positive impact othe les of ny kanss. Last year, chancellor aylittl anouned her retirement and i wanted to recogne somef the jor accomplishments in her tenure at u. From day onshe set aggressiveoals through her bold aspiratns initiative to advance the university into the 21stcentury as a lder in education and research. It was a eat success,eading to k. U. Being desigted aa National Cancer institute d working toward a comprehensive cancer designatio the k. U. Alzheimers disease centereceived designation from the natiol institute on aging. As someone who utilized both studentans an pl grants i was appreciative oer vocal support for these programs to help every student hieve the dreams rerdless of income evel. Today on behalff the ites cogress would ke tohank chancellor graylittlr her service to our bod jayhawk mmunitynd wish hernd her family well in their next endeavors. The speaker p tempo the gentleman elds back. For what rpose does the gentleman fromalifornia seek recnition . Witht objection, the gentleman rognized for one minute. Hank you, mr. Spear. Im holding here in my hand a iband ven to me over this weekend here. It tezz 22 every day. It says 2 every day. Unfortunately, shamefullythis isn refenceo the number of veterans who cmit suide in this cntry. Mr. Lamfa for many reasons. Ne reason it shou not be is they couldnt gethroughn a telepho callsomeonet the v. A. Or theve given upope thatheyre going to have their needs met after promise made to them wasnt kept because they could not gwhat th needed fo their health care or other benefits that wasmised them as being members of our military. So my hat off to amvets and pee out there on social media, dediced to doing 2 pushups pusha day to get awareness up angst their friendsor theoss of day to suicide. Veteranper weve got to get our act gether hre, pass the legislation, make sure that they atleast wi getheir phone calls awered, especially in time of crisis like that when theyre contempling perhaps a icide. Mr. Speaker, this need tbe done soon and with the dedicion that they gin tos. Iie back the speaker po tempe the geneman ylds back. Are there further requests fo onenutepeechs . I, the chair lays before the house e foowing personal equests. E clerk leave of absence requested for mr. Georgia today, ms. Jackson lee of texas for today, ms. Matsui of california for today, and mr. Poe of texas for today and the balance of the week. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the requests are granted. Under this espeakers announced policy of january 6, 2015, the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Fortenberry, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of he majority leader. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a friend of mine, he works parttime in a Hardware Store and retired from several other careers, but continues to enjoy helping people in the Retail Service environment. And recently, he kindly gave me as we were talking about gardening some plants that he had grown. As i drove through his neighborhood looking for his house, i suspected his home was the one flying the large american flag. I knew that mike, my friend, had served in vietnam. But as we spent some time digging up the plants and visiting around his garden, i learned more about his harrowing experience as a marine. Mr. Speaker, mike was assigned to protect an area in the northern part of south vietnam. They were a pesky bunch, as mike put it and the north vietnamese d grew tired of the constant harranuing. Mikes squad was outnumbered and were hit pretty hard. A call went out for help but the first helicopter to arrive was blown apart. Mike sustained severe wounds, a bullet to the chest, collapsed his lung, slap nell tore through his leg and another bullet grazed his head. To breathe, mike had to keep clearing his throat with his finger to remove the gettysburg willing blood and to the point where he could no longer physically fight, he crawled to a secure place and propped himself on a sack. Mike told me he remembered two things. The wind blowing through his hair and his mother, who would tell her that he had died. Only three americans survived that battle. Fortunately another helicopter quickly landed and a corpsman came to mikes rescue, stabilized him and returned him to safety. And medical personnel nursed him back to health for which mike was always grateful. But something always nagged him. He never got a chance to thank the corpsman who risked his own life to safe him. On 2001, he went online and did research and found the man 30 years later and mike wrote to him and said, i have not forgotten you. Now, mr. Speaker, its not secret that our countrys economic, political and cultural settlement is straining under a number of very harsh realities. Concentration of economic and political power, coupled with signs of social collapse are contributing to a growing sense of vulnerability and anxiety in our society. Disorientingve and political season, terrorists attacks in san bernardino, orlando, minnesota and new york remind us reminded us of the grave threats to life and our cherished liberties. Take a moment, mr. Speaker, to notice how many citizens of nebraska and how Many Americans like mike fly our flag. It means something. The flag stands for an ideal, for a value, for the proposition that all persons have dignity and when that dignity is afeguarded, people can flourish, thats america. But i think more people need to hear, mr. Speaker, that weve not forgotten you. And fundamental questions right now before us are who are we as a nation, where are we going as a people. How will we find our greatness again . Yesterday, mr. Speaker, i had an extraordinary privilege and would like to share the story with you and the body. I was invited to attend a dedication of a new Veterans Memorial in a small town in the heart of the great plains north of lincoln, nebraska, where i live. This town is called wahoo and made famous because in the old David Letterman show he named it as the hometown office. Wah are oo is more than a hometown joke but where a community lives, works and has a deep sense of interconnect he hadness and wellbeing. A place of extraordinary greatness. And this small town about 500 ople from the entire count came and county gathered for the dedication of the new memorial honoring the 101 Service Members who have been killed from that small Farming Community and the surrounding areas. Soldiers, troops, military personnel from world war i to our present day. And all of their names were read n an honor roll, many having czech and german names which were part of the original settlement in that area as well as the swedish. When i approached the microphone to say a few words, i recalled a old movie to kill mockingbird. You will recall, the lawyer finch gives a defense for another man who was unjustly accused of a crime. The community from which that man had come had to sit in the upper balcony of the courtroom because of the prejudice of that time. Getting wyer finch was ready to leave, the reverend in the midst of that community and the gallery says to his young child, the lawyers young child, stand up. Your father is passing. That beautiful ceremony right there in the great plains started with a Public High School choir and the catholic High School Choir singing our national anthem. No one sat on a bench. No one took a knee. We all stood, because it was not about us. It was about them, the men and women before us living and dead who had answered the call to service. And whether they had cooked or cleaned or computed or were in the worst conceivable firefight, nonetheless, they said, i will serve. I will sacrifice for the meaning of our nation. We live in a time, mr. Speaker, when our world is screaming for meaning. What were really searching for is not an answer that can be found here in this body. We have an Important Role to debate the most pressing issues of the day, national security, Economic Security and cultural security. The most importances arent necessarily found down the street in the white house. Theyre not going to be answered necessarily in the great debate thats about to occur moments from now on the television. The answer is found in the debate about meaning itself. When we find things that bind us, like this extraordinary ceremony yesterday nestled in the heart of america where people young and old came to honor our veterans, when we look back to those who came before us, giving them their due in a memorial that appropriately honors them, we bind ourselves in a noble ideal that sacrifice for one another, sacrifice even for a nation is sometimes not only necessary, but it is worthy of the fullness of the call in the human heart. But we still have hard questions before us. So what should we do . The first pathway to finding solutions is to adequately identify the problem. And in one word, i believe the problem is fragmentation. What do i mean by that . It is a creeping separateness, whether in economic affairs, government affairs, Foreign Affairs or our own basic exchanges in local community life. People are feeling alone, isolated. In many cases they feel like they lack control over the basic simple things in their own lives. Far remote systems seem to be the new governing order. Informative institutions that used to provide the continuity of tradition and nest people into an ongoing desire and pathway toward hope, by giving them the gifts of that tradition and responsibility nevt within community as well as the accountability have all become fragmented. These burdens press upon our people in a most profound way. And in particular in regards to their own economic wellbeing. These days, economic measures are on es mind. There is a tremendous amount of anxiety, even hopelessness in our Uncertain Times and while the stock market has certainly rebounded and corporate profits ave sored, many families are facing stagnant wages, decreased pportunity, the feeling of disenfranchisement, the inability to achieve financial security. And part of our problem is our countrys damaged microenterprise sector where more new jobs are actually created and were not even talking about corporations that are 100 to 500 employees but shops that are one to five people. This morning, i made a phone call as i was getting on the plane to return here from nebraska, because i received this in the mail. Its a flyer announcing a doors closing sale from a Small Business called hadlock furniture. This Furniture Company anchors the north end of a Community Called havelock which is subsumed into the community of lincoln, nebraska. It distressed me. I thought they were a victim of consolidation and inability to compete in a small Furniture Store in a sector that might again the concentration into fewer and fewer hands. I picked up the phone and called sue. Now this is an advertisement for closing sale and giving me a discount if i want to come in and buy something. Sue lays out the reality of their circumstances. The family has been in business for 61 years and now im retiring forever, she goes on to say and offering my friends and employees and preferred customers a special discount. Well, i cant ever recall if i ever met sue. And by the way, at the top of this, mr. Speaker, i dont know if you can see it, theres a picture of the founder, mel ever son and says in loving memory and i called sue just to find out what was going on and also to express my thanks for their willingness to be in business this long, carry on an important tradition for an important part of our town, be an integrated part of an old main street that occupies a unique part of the community where i live. And we talked a little bit what happened. Unfortunately, it wasnt the result of any type of pressure coming from outside economic forces that were beyond her control, but simply necessary decision that had to be made for family reasons. Nonetheless, i felt a heartfelt loss. And why . Because in a deeper level, sues business is the loss of a symbol of community and economic affairs, a Gathering Place where Human Interaction reinforces social vibrancy. Our count friday needs a 21st century vision of what economic success looks like. Combined with the Small Business sector creates sustainment, a humane economy that prioritizes personal relationships and Community Ties fosters stronger ntrepreneurialism and forges a better Consumer Product and creates more jobs to persons who need them. Just as a Healthy Society and the selfresponsibility are the preconditions for prosperity. Properly ordered markets support social cohesion. Markets at their best are driven by startup innovation and sustained by widespread ownership. The return of Small Business with a new participatory economy can extend the dignity and just rewards of meaningful work. It will help us fight poverty and help us to rebuild our economy in this century. What are some good examples of this economic im referring to where no person or no thing is thrown away . I recently saw a presentation by a c. E. O. Of major corporation. He threw up a power point on the screen and i thought we were getting ready to look at some boring Quarterly Earnings proks or is Something Like that projections or Something Like that. Instead of rolling out the power points and graphs, the c. E. O. Showed a simple picture. A picture of a young woman on her wedding day, a bride on her fathers arm, and the c. E. O. Hen said this everyone is someones daughter. Everyone is someones son. In other words, persons matter. Persons matter in a society, persons matter in a business, persons matter as we debate the great Public Policy issues before us, because ultimately that is the purpose, the wellbeing of persons. The point was powerfully made. The understanding of work and the workplace, the proper understanding of work as nafted within the workplace, as nested within the workplace, are essential to Human Dignity and human happiness. The c. E. O. Of this very large corpse said he believes business can be the greater course for good in the world. Thats a strong and proper perspective. Mr. Speaker, as i was recently looking around my garage, looking to clean out a few things, i came upon an old antiquated pick ax. I bought this years ago and used a number of times in my yard. Then the handle finally broke. I had a hard time throwing it away. Its a bad habit i have, i guess. But it sat there in my garage. Substantial piece a of iron. So, instead of throwing it away, i took it with me to the local Hardware Store and then i went to look at some new ones and i asked the clerk, i said, what do you think . Do you sell handles . He said, no, we dont sell new handles. Youre probably better off buying a new one and putting this one on the wall in the man cave. So i went and looked at a new one and toyed with the idea, but then the clerk said, look, let me do a Little Research for you. Ill get back to you. So he did. He went out and found a company in america that made pick ax handles out of hickory. He took it a little further. He went ahead and ordered the handle for me, replaced it himself, and when i went into the store about a week later, there it was. A piece of old, old hardware ready to be push putt back to work ready to be put back to work with a replacement handle proudly made in america, made of hickory. If you had done a straight analysis of the cost involved in this repair project, it wasnt worth it. I only say its about 10 by repairing versus a new onement i had to wait a week or so and one. I had to wait a week or so and i had to go to the store twice. But there are unmeasured benefits here. Lets talk about those. First of all, an old piece of iron is not in the landfill. A renewable resource of hickory wood was deployed. And american an American Company made a little profit. And the Hardware Store clerk had the satisfaction of a handbuilt opportunity. I tell you, i must say im pretty proud of my refreshed, repurposed pick ax. I put it right to work. On some old bushes i had in the yard. More importantly, mr. Speaker, if we were going to rebuild our economy, thinking how about how we manufacture, how we maintain and how we rebuild what is still useful can unlock the benefits of a wellfunctioning market system. This small act of taking something old but solid and getting it back into useful Service Provides some insight on how to better secure economic wellbeing. The disposable nature of so many goods, as they are now manufactured, with the intended Life Expectancy ever more narrow, decreases costs in the short term, but cheaper isnt always best. The ability to repair and recycle and to repurpose, to keep the useful life of a resource as long as possible, is smart economics. Its a fundamental present of conservation. And its a key to reviving the Small Business service sector. Perhaps, mr. Speaker, this is an emerging trend. I was watching the olympics and during it, i noticed a commercial where a major retailer gave a subtle message about cheat imports. During the commercial, as the song dream on built up steadily in the background, the commercial featured people waking up, going about the routine of life, getting their kids to school and making their way to a factory where they used their hands to make things. Tough and gritty work. But connected to a deeper meaning. At the end of the commercial, the company stated it will american 0 billion in manufacturing in the years to come. Maybe we are on the front end of a trend, mr. Speaker. I certainly hope so. An economic model that chases more and more output alone is not a valid measure of value. Our countrys economic reboot requires a return to a humane economy, one focused on quality, durability and the work of human hands and, as much as we can, made in america. Without this focus, we will forever chase that which we cannot find. And perhaps more and more people are realizing that we should shift to what is de pendable, not disposable. What is fixable, not forgettable. What is repairable, not just replaceable. Using my repurposed hickory handle, the americanmade pick ax, gives me a great time deal of time to think about these things, mr. Speaker. It also gives me a pretty good workout. A win all the way around. Mr. Speaker, i want to reference Something Else that i happened to see. Theres a show, im not sure if the still on, but the called Undercover Boss and ive seen it a few times. I find the program to be quite engaging. Very, very human. The premise of the show is that the c. E. O. , the chief executive officer, of a Major Company goes undercover as an employee and then from there they participate in the gritty work of building things, of cleaning up, working the phones and performing basic administrative tasks. During this particular episode that i saw, the boss spent time out in the field repairing a broken sewer line. Then he was in an Office Answering calls and at a manufacturing plant where the equipment was crafted. The c. E. O. Was assigned to one of the companys top welders for training at the manufacturing facility. As part of his disguise, he wore safety glasses and a do rag. The first mistake the c. E. O. Made was burning a hole through the metal that he was supposed to be joining. After the welder who was supervising him gently corrected his technique, they took a break, where the conversation turned to job security. The middleaged welder, who was a longtime, dedicated employee and team leader at that corporation, told the boss about the worry that he has and that he overhears at the manufacturing plant. Would they just show up one day hanging closed sign on the fence . Given whats going on in america, no one knows for sure whether the company would just pack up, move overseas, like so many others have. This simple conversation in the break room in Middle America captured what so Many Americans are justifiably concerned about. Now, although the governments aggregate statistics show an overall Unemployment Rate at about 5 , the numbers hide a disturbing reality. For too many people the rhetoric of free markets has not translated into better opportunity or security. I menged stagnant wages and downward i mentioned stagnant wages and downward mobility, staggering student loan debt, and the increased cost of living are all real difficulties making the new normal for an increased number of families in our society. In another segment of the television show, the disguysed c. E. O. Had to work on a disguys are guised c. E. O. Had to work on the disguised c. E. O. Had to work on the drain system. A woman was told the bill to figure the problem was 1,200. She responded in a very worried voice about her many doctor bills and how much medicine she had to buy. The employee supervising the c. E. O. Then paused, considered the situation, and gently spoke back to the elderly woman and said to her, well, how about 500 . The employee, as it turns out, ad took it upon himself to cut his own commission in order to help this elderly vulnerable person. All while his Undercover Boss watched. After several other meaningful encounters with his employees, the show concluded with the c. E. O. Revealing his true identity and commending everyone with whom he had interacted. He made some poignant points about his experiences, how deeply they had touched his life, and how they would now impact his management style. To the welder he said, i want you to take the message back, we are staying in america. Give them that assurance from me. To the man who reduced the bill at the cost of his own salary, he rewarded him for his compassion and dedication. Business cannot a force for great good, mr. Speaker can be a force for great good, mr. Speaker. The True Potential of companies depend upon their people for their greatness. In this case, the c. E. O. Was willing to do a selfevaluation of his own leadership style. And the very fundamental purpose of the company itself. Perhaps a scorecard should be kept to feature businesses that do the right thing, trying to keep the best jobs in america, consistently innovating and paying just salaries, persons who work hard to support themselves and their families. To persons who work hard to support themselves and their families. In order to discover, discover something perhaps about himself, to discover the true meaning of work, to discover the true value of the persons under his authority. The c. E. O. Went undercover authority, the c. E. O. Went undercover, and by doing so, he found what he had not seen. A properly functioning market economy, genuinely economy genuinely works for both profits and persons. Repairing fractures in our society and enhancing community interdependency, thats the point, mr. Speaker. And community interdependency is the true source of our nations strength. Mr. Speaker, when i was a much younger man, i owned a rearwheel drive ford bronco 2. They dont make them anymore. I loved that little truck. I sold it shortly after i was married. That little truck was great for a time in my life. But navigating winter conditions could be a bit tough. One night while traveling on an interstate during really for ding weather, i came over forboding weather, i came over the crest of a hill and what lay before me was surreal. It must have happened just seconds before. A large 18wheeler truck had jackknifed. Cars were spun in every direction. Flung into the median. There was a clear sheet of ice that no one had expected. In an instant, my reality changed. In an instant, everything changed. I had to make a choice. I rapidly decreased my speed. Gripped the wheel and focused my total attention on the road before me, only just barely navigating the treachery. Feel they , many Many Americans have been tossed around in our current policy. Many americans are looking for new leadership and offers a compelling inspirational and stable vision that can restore the true security of our nation. And if we so choose, one of the strengths of the american system of government is its capacity for constantly punishment. In the midst of this unpredictable transition season, it may seem unusual to talk about opportunity, but could this moment give us the chance as a people to reassess and realign . Perhaps so, if we so choose. As we began this conversation, mr. Speaker, i talked about pointing to the problems in order to understand solutions. I think a stronger america might be demrimpsed through four mutually supporting principles. Government decentralization, economic pastism, realism and social conservation. Mr. Speaker, just like every Football Game has four quarters, lets think of our solution as a. Ur quarter game plan what do i mean . First, a return to a more decentralized form of government will restore an important source of americas strength. I in no wish to belittle the important debates that occur in this body and the federal government. We have a role, we have a role to create the conditions so the rest of society can flourish. The ultimate role we have is to seek justice and the just structures that can bring about order for persons and communities to flourish. When the federal government grows beyond its effectiveness, t infringes upon basic liability and stifles innovation and crushes creativity and takes away the responsibility we have for one another, a creeping tendency to nationalize every conceivable type of problem, erodes community resolve. Now while the federal government does have a central role in maintaining the guardrails for stability and the rule of law and fair opportunity economy, americas governing system is designed to operate most effectively at different levels. Those close to an opportunity or a problem ought to have the First Authority to seize the opportunity or solve the problem. I find it notable that the Veterans Memorial ceremony that i went to just yesterday did not include any government fund. It was made up of community resolve and community sacrifice. At this point, i believe the rules committee has a an announcement it would like to make and i yield to the gentleman. I send to the desk two privileged reports from the committee on rules for filing under the rule. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the text. Reporter report to accompany House Resolution 892, resolution providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 5303 to provide for improvements for the rivers and harbors of the United States to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources and for other purposes. Providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules and waiving a requirement of clause 6a of rule 13 with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the committee on rules. Report to accompany House Resolution 893, resolution providing for consideration of the bill h. R. 954 to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986 to exempt from the individual mandate certain individuals who had coverage under a terminated qualified health plan funded through the consumer operated and on the parted plan coop program. The speaker pro tempore referred to the for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. The gentleman from nebraska is recognized. Mr. Fortenberry the rules committee from which the the gentleman from georgia is still working, trying to structure the debate on certain pieces of legislation. I understand the dilemma you had needing to come down and interrupt the proceedings so we can continue the important business of the house. Let me return to something i said, mr. Speaker. Just like every Football Game has four quarters, i believe we ought to think of our solutions. The first is returning to a healthy concept of decentralized government. A healthy federalism where those closest to the responsibility or opportunity have first order priority in taking responsibility or seizing that opportunity. Again, not to denigrate the very central role that the federal government plays in creating the conditions tore stability and the rule of law and just Playing Field particularly in the economy and national security, but other levels of government are essential to community wellbeing. Second, economic inclusion or economic patriotism should help america recover from an art thritic economy. Although the governments aggregate statistics show unemployment at 5 , these numbers continue to hide certain reality. Its stagnant wages and downward mobility making life difficult for a number of families. Its sad to say this but this wall streetwashington axis which promotes the transnational entity for the new ruler of society cannot secure the wellbeing of our economy. They cannot. Instead of a supply side elitism, America Needs a vibrant marketplace of her own that expands the space for structure of interdependency, which will fight poverty and drive innovation. At the heart of which again is Small Business. Small business is the key. Along with a fair Regulatory Environment and the right type of Health Care Reform that will actually end up decreasing costs while protecting vulnerable persons and reset the architect tur so we have a 21st Century Health care system that is truly just, that is fair and actually going to achieve the conditions for creativity and innovation in the marketplace. What we have now is a Health Care System that is an increasing drag on the Small Business sector and therefore the number of jobs we see created are going down. We live in an entrepreneurial winter. The number of jobs being created are less from Small Businesses, are less than the number of Small Businesses that are actually dying. We are in an entrepreneurial winter. This never happened before. So focusing on the Small Business sector and returning to a fair Regulatory Environment and appropriately addressing a new architecture for health care that protects persons, improves Health Care Outcomes and reduces costs is the key to restoring the Small Business sector. Third, Foreign Policy realism. What do i mean . Charts the course between over interventionalism and isolationism. America has an Important Role to play on the global stage today. However, Many Americans are alarmed at an exhausted drifting and often crourpt productive Foreign Policy. The posture of Foreign Policy adventurism. Sometimes coupled with naive assumptions about democracy promotion requires a recalibration leveraging american strength through Strategic International relationships and Authentic Friendships will help us navigate the 21st century marked by a changing geo political framework. I believe in the 32, strong defense, and thats the right balance in our Foreign Policy considerations. Fourth, social conservation. Social conservation provides the conditions for order, opportunity and happiness. We dont usually put those two words together, social and conservation. You think of conservation as important protection over our land and water and the air we breathe, not throwing things away unnecessarily, thinking of the ideals of the echo system where all things are interdependent or looking out into the vast horizons of nature and letting us letting it pull ourselves to a higher realm, that which is beautiful, that which is divine. We have had that experience. We know it in nature. Could we possible apply see that, the idea of an ecosystem of community where we actually think its more than politics for the promotion of sustainable values. As society has become more fragmented, it is harder and harder for us to craft policies that meet societys needs. Washington cannot spend enough to help the wounds. Social conservation recognizes that family life and faith life and civic life provide a continuity of tradition, giving meaning to life and creating stability particularly for children. Those of us who have had the scarring experience of coming from broken situations, we know this. Those of us who struggle with the deep scars of having what you know and what keeps you safe, torn from you, we know that the institutions that preserve the good are invaluable o opportunities later in life. Our sense of wellbeing, the strength of our nation ultimately does depend on the institutions that give rise to family life and faith life and civic life. Thats the strength of america. We are confronting intensifying struggles about the direction of our country and the fault lines are sadly widening. But i think there are things that still bind us. I would like to think that what im saying speaks to every member of congress here, that it transcends the superficial political boundries that we set up, better, yes based on the difference in philosophical perspectives of what washington ought to be or not. I would like to think this rises above because they are binding elements of the human heart. Thats what we all long for, to e nevt to be secure within the Loving Community around us to care enough to hold us accountable and care enough that we take responsibility for them and with them. Although we are encountering rough weather in our country, we can choose to rediscover this best sense of ourselves. We can choose to rediscover commonsense governance which will be built upon them. We can choose right size economic models. We can choose to rediscover universal foundational value that are consistent with a desire of all persons hearts. This is how the greatness can be restored again. This is how we can make America Great again. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Mr. Woodall i move the house do now adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to adjourn. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. , the ayes have it. The motion is adorted. The house is adjourned until 10 00 a. M. Tomorrow for morning hour debate. A preview of the debate. You want to make sure you have a profile of it like this, everyone will be as safe as possible. Although security measures can seem timeconsuming and can same like inconvenience, it is for the best of the university. Editor in chief of the posture chronicle. He and his fellow reporters are covering all the events surrounding this debate tonight and watching the debate itself. Take you so much for talking to the cspan audience. Thank you for having me. A look once more inside the debate hall. Most people are in place. Ive been able to see some famous faces in the cloud crowd that are lining up to find their seats. I think, there is rudy giuliani. Watch thattinue to for the next five minutes until people are asked to be seated and the predebate program will get underway. Peter flynn is back before that. We want to introduce you to one more student who is up there. Natalie from the Fashion Institute of technology. How did you get to hofstra . I went to Lawrence High School and it is a local high school here in my former teacher , he is very into politics and i was in one of his Public Policy classes and he just noticed that i had an interest. I love fashion and i had a huge interest in politics. He got this great opportunity and has been here before at the 2012 debate and have this great opportunity. Im taking three students, they need to be 18 come are you interested . 18, are you interested . Of course im interested. I took my professor come i will do all my work that i have to take disparate he said, do this. It is a onceinalifetime chance. Here i am and i am excited. Want to show a picture that has been tweeted out. You interviewing congressman peter king. What have you been doing . We have just been picking up these reporters. They are very persistent. They will go up to anyone and they are clever with the questions and we just have been picking up on what they ask, the former congressman and had executive people. We will ask the same questions and get opinions from students. We love seeing young people involved. It is exciting. Natalie wood the Fashion Institute of technology. Thank you for being with us. You can see what she is tweaking out. Tweeting at. Cspanbts if you want to see some of her work. Cspan behind the scenes. When other thing we want to share with you, this is cspan. Org. This is our website. A multitude of opportunities on this website. Rates are for the president ial debate coverage. Desktop phone or tablet. You can watch live streams of every minute of the debate, get reaction, sights and sounds and all without commentary and commercials. Video on every question and answer from each debate. You can choose which camera feed to watch the debate from and you can easily create your own video clips of your favorite debate moment. That is all at cspan. Org. Thank you. You can see one of the pictures available is from the very first residential debate in 1960. 56 years ago, tonight. This all began and it changed the way modern campaigns have been conducted. We will tell you about what is coming up, we will see the briefing, the predebate briefing. The debate begins just a little 9 00 eastern time. We will show you as much of the room as we can. A sense of how they are interacting with the folks in the audience. Then he will open up the phone lines for your comments around the country, we will also have an opportunity for you to react on twitter. You can even send us a text. Lots of ways to be involved. This is all about you tonight. We want to hear your reaction to the knights first president ial debate. Now we will take you lie to the fora at Hofstra University site and sounds with just a couple of minutes before the predebate program gets underway. Ladies and gentlemen, could you take your seats please . If you could all please take your seats, we have a scheduled to stick to. Thank you. Im janet brown, executive director of the commission on president ial debates. I would like to welcome you to hostile university. Event andhistoric historic evening. We are very pleased that you all are here. Askedar ago, hofstra was if they would agree to serve as and 68 dayskup site ago, they were activated. When you look around this campus, and you think about all of the work that has been done in the last 10 weeks while starting a new academic year, it is absolutely phenomenal. This is the result of a Fabulous Team effort. The work on the debates themselves started two years ago. An extraordinary amount of teamwork between a lot of large organizations. There are many individuals who deserve particular thanks and were going to start this program by introducing the cochairs of the commission to think some of those people. I would like to introduce frank and mike mccurry. [applause] good evening, ladies and gentlemen. If we want to join and welcome you here tonight. This is a special night for hostile university. They do a tremendous job. They are setting a record tonight. This is the third consecutive cycle where they have posted a president ial debate. They do a marvelous job. We are very thankful for them. [applause] the commission of president ial debates was formed in 1987 when paul kirk, chairman of the Democratic National committee and i was chairman of the Republican National committee, tonight is also a special night for us regarding the commission, this is the 20th president ial debate we had done starting in 1988. We are so proud that all of you could be here tonight. It would notbe be possible to do what we do without the marvelous people who serve on the board. Some of them are here tonight. I want to introduce them and have them take it quick way. I dont know where they are seated. John grisham, marvelous job working with the social media site for people. [applause] congressman jane harman. Warmer congressman harman of california who now runs the Woodrow WilsonStudent Scholars program. [applause] a great friend of mine. I have a couple grandkids at notre dame. Father john jenkins. President of the university of notre dame. [applause] go irish it has not been a good start, father john. [laughter] and the league of women voters. [applause] let me Say Something quickly about the format, we made changes in the format for years ago. This is very different than what it used to be prior. The 90 minutes has been broken into 615 minute segments of time. Lester holt will start each of those segments by asking a question to one of the candidates. That candidate will have two minutes to answer. The other candidate will have two minutes to respond and answer. Or the next 1012 minutes, depending upon things, we want the candidates to debate. To talk to each other. Challenge each other on the issues. The moderator is also there to make sure that they drill down on the issues and we get some things, rather than the we used to seeing the debates could only us or holdquestions. Only lester holt is the question. The last thing i have to do tonight is to be the public scold. What i mean is by all estimations, there could be as many as 100 Million People watching around the world and the United States watching what happens on this stage tonight. This debate is for them. For them to observe these candidates, listen to them, consider what their position is on the issues and to see them in this atmosphere that we have. This debate is not for us. The lucky ones who get to sit in this audience and be part of history. This is a very historic debate tonight. This is not like the primary debates. There is no clapping, no ,heering, no billing booing no sound. Please be quiet. Do not interview interfere with what those do not interfere with what those millions of people are watching. You will get a chance to applaud when the candidates come out and when it is over. Please follow that. It is very important to us and imports into the candidates. We do not want to have anything disrupt and what is happening. We had been 20 of these and only have we had a problem on one or two equations a kate occasions. Started this i in 1987 to add most of you know, when Teddy Kennedy died, paul was named the governor of massachusetts to fill teddys seat until the special election was held. He had to step down to be cochairman. To have the lucky gentleman standing to my right. Hes usually on my left. That is another story. Mike mccurry who did such a tremendous job as spokesman to the white house for president William Jefferson clinton. Thank you, frank. [applause] our partnership is really a valuable one. We really do work well together. The commission on president ial debates itself is totally nonpartisan. It is a nonprofit organization. We dont get funding from the government or Political Parties or from any public entities. We rely on a number of corporations and individuals and foundations that have been generous. Thank and list sponsored. F the 2016 anheuserbusch companies. Howard g buffett foundation. Cochlear fund. Aarp. And the National Governors association. Would you please join me in thanking them for the work they have done . [applause] in addition to putting on these debates, we have incorporated a lot of social media aspects into what you will see in the coming debates and some of what you will see tonight. That is with partnerships we have developed with Technology Companies that you will see your program. N i encourage you to take a look at that and see some of the ways in which we bring the educational aspect of these debates to a much wider audience through the work that we do with these partners. The next thing i would say is some of you might wonder, what do we do when does not a president ial Campaign Election year . We are proud of the work we do internationally. One of the things that we have done is to lend expertise to other countries that are sponsoring their own debates. They learned from our staff and learn from people we sent abroad to help them with their function. You will see more information about that also listed there in your program. Finally, i would join with everyone who has complement it our friends here. We cannot have done this in the record time it took hofstra to pull this together without some incomparable leadership from the president of that institution. It is my pleasure to introduce onitz. Ent stephen rem [applause] thank you. A simple path to tell you who is really responsible for this event. Credit and i get the i was on the Television Shows and radio shows. You oni want to welcome behalf of the entire cost her community. We have 11,000 current students and we have more than 134,000 alumni. Prouder and more delighted to welcome you to the first president ial debate leading up to the november 8 election. Thankthis bank is, yous, im with you think the commission on president ial ebates, the nonpartisan commission. Secondly, i want to complement the staff of the cpv led by the endowment of all janet brown. The staff is among the most professional and most confident people i have ever worked. [applause] thirdly, i want to thank all of my cost colleagues who did all of the hard work. As you heard, usually you have 12 weeks. 12 months to prepare for a debate. We had, eight weeks. Was all of ourit worked fromfrom Early Morning to late at night. You dont know the names, i know the names. You dont know their names, you will not know their names, but i thank them from the very bottom of my heart. Officials,ernment the commission will not go any place where they are not welcome. It is clear that for three second consecutive debates, they have been welcomed here by the state of new york, the county, the town of hempstead and the village of hempstead. Finally, in terms of general thank yous, i think the many Law Enforcement agencies to work andelicate well together correlated and plant one of the most difficult security events in modern times. Thank you lawenforcement agencies. [applause] ask you to join twon especially recognizing generous supporters who helped hofstra in significant part fund the expenses of this debate. Sponsor, our debate he is a son, alumnus of the university and currently to vice chair of this board of trustees, join me in thanking david f mack. [applause] secondly, i ask you to join me graduateizing, also a of Hofstra University, former ceo of pantone, our debate benefactor, lawrence herbert. [applause] by the way, larry has also recently generously endowed the Herbert School of indications communications. [applause] a lot has changed at hofstra between the debates of 2012 and. Ebates of 2016 if i had to mention all of them, i would have to go to the podium. There are too many to relate. Im really willing to have dinner lunch with anybody want to know what happened. I do want to mention to special things that have occurred. Openedonths ago, we just the peter calico school of government, Public Policy and international relations. That school has been generously endowed by peter calico who is also here tonight. Iner, would you join me welcoming peter . [applause] the point of the school and was to ensuretion that Hofstra University retains its status as one of the most prestigious places at which to study the american presidency. This is just one example of the kind of program we have. The other thing i will mention about what has happened recently is that we have formed and created a center for entrepreneurship. What is special about that center is that they will benefit not only from their own resources, but from the resources of our law school, our business school, school of engineering and Applied Science and, of course, our very successful medical school. Have made changes, one thing has remained constant, that is, we have some of the nations very brightest, most all true mystic altruistic, most public spirited College Students in america. Spend time with these young people and feel pessimistic about the future. You spend time with these young people, you have to feel optimistic about the nations future and we host this debate and the past two debates for them. There were 7500 students who signed up for the Seats Available to half the students hofstra students. That is out of 11,000 students. Say, that every single student, i say this with pride, every single student who has a thist and is sitting in debate hall was eligible to vote has already registered and promises to vote in the november 8 election. [applause] that is why we do this. I will close simply by emphasizing once again, how proud the university is tothis r nations history. Thank you. [applause] im going to add one logistical think that i forgot, wright 9 00, youre going to hear a lot of noise behind you. The networks go on the air at 9 00. You will hear the introduction. It will get quiet about 23 minutes and we will go forward. Thank you very much. [applause] one additional piece of housekeeping, it you could please turn off your cell phones or anything else, the use of whilehones or photography this is going on. If you could do that now, that would be great. I would like you to welcome Melania Trump and former president the clinton. Bill clinton. [applause] you can take your seats again. Thank you very much. We are grateful this evening to have as moderator lester holt, the anchor of nbc nightly news. You can welcome him now. [applause] good evening. See every seat is still. There was some question of whether we would have enough interest for tonight. I guess we have taken care of that. Good to see you and everyone. That sound you heard backstage with the sound of my knees buckling when fragmented and potential audience of 100 million. It is just us tonight. The two ofnd just them. That is what is about. This is not an easy job. Im going to ask your help, you heard the admonition, if you could please refrain from clapping or reacting in any audible way, that would make my job easier and the American Public would appreciate it. We want to hear what they have to say tonight. Im happy to be the one facilitating that conversation. What is going to follow are some awkward moments of silence. Im going to take my seat here in my office for the evening and i will give you a one minute warning when we are about to come up on the air and then no we go to. Ts or music, thank you for being here. [applause] i hope you enjoy the debate. [applause]