House will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers rooms, washington, d. C. July 14, 2015. I hereby appoint the honorable Carlos Curbelo to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed john a. Boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 6 2015, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and minority whip limited to five minutes. But in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. Roskam for five minutes. Mr. Roskam 00 thank you mr. Roskam thank you, mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the house, we ought not bet against ukraine and we ought not bet against georgia. I recently returned from a delegation of the house democracy partnership. This is a bipartisan delegation over the fourth of july recess that visited ukraine and georgia. Our purpose was to reflect this body to those parliamentary bodies in ukraine and georgia. Ill tell you this. I came away, and i know the other members of the house democracy partnership, came away with a feeling of very seriousness, a feeling of encouragement, a feeling of gratitude for the tenacity with which the ukranians and the georgians are pursuing freedom. These are two nations that desperately want to be in the orbit of the west. They desperately want to be a part of the e. U. They desperately want to be part of nato. And they are doing everything they can to stiff arm and push back from the aggression of vladimir putin. They need one thing. They need our help, they need our encouragement, and they need our support. Its said there are some who look at this as the frontline of the rising voices against authoritarianism, and i think that thats true. So weve got to do everything we can in this body not only to provide the economic support and other support that these countries need, but also do everything we can to push the administration to do the right thing as well. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer, for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. This is a big day on capitol hill. The iranian agreement has been signed. Hopefully well all have a chance to study it and think through the implications of this historic event. But the legislative clock is ticking down in another area. We have only 10 days left this month, legislatively, before we face another transportation funding cliff. The expectation now is that there will be a 34th shortterm transportation extension that we have faced since our last meaningful sixyear reauthorization. People are scrambling for another shortterm Funding Source to keep us going for the next few months that target presumably eight to 11 billion to get us through the end of the year. This is actually worse than no solution at all. Because it perpetuates the uncertainty the crisis mentality, the inability of states and local governments that rely on this federal partnership to that supplies approximately one half of the Capital Expenditures for our surface transportation. This uncertainty comes at a time when our bridges, our roads, our transit, are all in serious areas of disrepair. We are desperately in need of bigger, longer term projects. Its a myth that somehow we cant afford to take action. The public is paying now. Hundreds of dollars a year in damage to each of their vehicles costs far in excess of a few dollars a year few cents a day for gas tax increase. American commuters and businesses are suffering over 120 billion a year cost of congestion, costs directly related to inadequate infrastructure. People are tying themselves in knots when there is a simple, obvious solution. As pointed out in the delightful oped in the Washington Post on july 9, we should simply follow Ronald Reagans example and fill up americas Highway Trust Fund. They ask how the famously tax cutting conservative president raised the federal user fee, the gas tax, on motor fuels 125 . Well, while he was concerned about general taxation, he was absolutely comfortable with having user fees to cover specific costs like the gas tax or aviation or inland waterway fees. He worked with republicans in congress who demonstrated significant support for user fee increases. Then he gave his secretary of transportation drew lewis, free hand to lay the groundwork. Finally, when he decided to support the gas tax increase his department of transportation swung into action as did Ronald Reagan himself. He gave an eloquent speech november 29 1982, on thanksgiving day, calling on congress to come back into session and approve the gas tax increase. We have the opportunity for such leadership today. My proposed gas tax increase, h. R. 680, is supported by all the major interest groups. Unions, the chamber of commerce truckers triplea, transit local government, environmentalists engineers, contractors. The same approach has been used in 20 states since 19 since 2012 to raise transportation revenues. Six states have raised the gas tax already this year. Six red republican states. Its simple. My bill would provide the money necessary to actually pass a sixyear bill. It would be sustainable so we wouldnt be back in the same pickle in a year or two years or five. And finally, its dedicated so people can count upon it to implement the steps necessary to rebuild and renew americas infrastructure. Its time to stop temperizing and time to act. Filling the trust fund with borrowed money, inadequate to do the job but enough to avoid responsibility is not a solution that we can be proud of. Especially when america is ready and Ronald Reagan pointed the way. The speaker pro tempore the time of the gentleman has expired. The chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Emmer, for five minutes. Mr. Emmer mr. Speaker i rise today to recognize and congratulate st. Cloud Cathedral High School baseball coach bob karn on being named not only the regional coach of the year but also the Diamond National coach of the year by the american baseball coaches association. Under coach karns direction they have won 50 consecutive games and this year they celebrated their second straight state title. These impressive statistics are nothing new for the coach. Hes coached a total of 45 seasons and under his leadership, cathedral has a record of 736237, and nine state championships. Coach karn you made a Lasting Impact on your players and they will use all you taught them wherever they go. Your team, your school, and community have all benefited from your leadership. Thank you so much for everything that you do. Keep up the excellent work and best of luck next season. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of the raines act f my time in congress one message i consist tently hear at home is washington is not listening to the people. Unelected nameless bureaucrats continue to impose harmful and burdensome regulation on the American People. In total compliance with federal regulation costs 1. 5 trillion a year. These regulations are devastating to Small Business and cost American Families nearly 15,000 a year. Using the raines act, the new congress has stepped up to the plate. Under the raines act, major rules from federal agencies would require congressional approval before enactment. Through congress, the American People would have up to 70 days to view a major rule before it is ever called for a vote. To prevent long legal challenges, courts are allowed to ensure agencies have adhered to all necessary requirements before final implementation. Finally, the raines act allows for congress to disapprove of any minor rule thus holding this Administration Accountable and protecting against run away federal government. I am a proud cosponsor of the raines act which restores the democratic process in favor of those who originally formed our government, the people. And i ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this vital legislation. Mr. Speaker, transportation is the key to the future Economic Growth of my district and our nation. For years, the federal Highway Trust Fund has run deficits and fostered an environment of waste and frivolous spending. This week, congress is poised to pass another shortterm fix. While i applaud the efforts of chairman ryan and shuster my constituents need longterm answers and solutions to the transportation gridlock and congestion that stifles growth and expansion. Projects in my district such as interstate 94 which is one of the most congested corridors in the region are slowing development and costs commuters valuable time and money while they are stuck in traffic. U. S. Highway 10 has become such an issue that cities are placing moratoriums on new business development. Mr. Speaker, this is a travesty and my constituents have every right to be frustrated. I call upon this body to work to pass a longterm funding bill and give our constituents the certainty they deserve in their Transportation System. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to recognize st. Clouds onlyic intaluki for his second place finish at the International Power lifting Federation World championships in finland. This past year after topping 108 competitors,ic inwon the National Title and a ticket to the World Championship in finland. With eight previously World Championship competition under his belt, nick finished higher than before completing a 744 pound dead lift for the gold. In addition to his Power Lifting career, hes also a st. Cloud Police Officer and swat team operator. As a child, nick dreamed of becoming a Police Officer and that dream was realized seven years ago when he joined the st. Cloud police force. I congratulate nick on his impressive silver medal at the World Championships and thank him for his service as one of st. Clouds finest. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the time of the gentleman has expired. The chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. Neal, for five minutes. Mr. Neal ask perfect permission to address the house. Revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Neal mr. Speaker, i rise this morning to mark the occasion of the new horizon spacecraft reaching pluto. New horizon launched on january 19, 2006, and since 2007 has been traveling steadily at 30,000 Miles Per Hour. This morning at approximately 7 49. 57 a. M. , the new horizon spacecraft rendezvoused with pluto. Three billion miles away from earth. Having just passed pluto this morning, new horizons will continue on to the kiper belt. Standing here is the spacecraft just past pluto, i take great pride in noting that a massachusetts astronomer helped in the discovery of its existence. While clyde formally discovered pluto, was a boston astronomer that led the way. The p and the l. Make that astronomical symbol for pluto serves as a testament to lowells part in the discovery of this small planet. Lowells contribution to astronomy also stands today with the establishment of the Lowell Observatory located in flagstaff, arizona. He inspired countless generations with his advocacy of astronomy and more than 80,000 visitors each year go through the doors of the observatory. Im certainly proud to have known lowells desendents, the Putnam Family and who for years have continued their advocacy of the Lowell Observatory. New horizons is the first in the new frontier series, inspired by another son of massachusetts, president john kennedy. Who said about the need to explore space and i quote, we set sail on this new sea because there is a new knowledge to be gained, new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. President kennedys support of our nations first Space Program set us on course for hope and optimism for our future. New horizons accomplishment this morning, along with other initiatives such as the International Space station which im very proud to say that i supported and recall in this institution the space station survived by one vote at a precarious time in our history. But it serves today as a strong reminder of the continued importance of Space Exploration and the very smart people that are drawn to this initiative. I also want to close by saying we want to remind ourselves of the optimism of the kennedy years and the Space Exploration program, which kennedy highlighted and helped to inaugurate but which he never got to see many of the benefits of is a statement that all members of congress should grasp and that is that the candidate who offers the best sense of optimism for the future is generally the candidate that prevails. During the course of the campaign when one makes arguments on behalf of a particular initiative were also to understand that its part of forming a government. So optimism becomes infectious in our political system when embraced properly, and i hope today that as we celebrate this remarkable achievement of new horizons and just the thought that that spacecraft travels at 30,000 Miles Per Hour and the fact that three billion miles from earth americas science achievement and initiative have once again prevailed in this world. So i hope that we will continue to support these space initiatives and embrace the notion and the role that science plays in our lives. Thank you, president john kennedy. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama, mr. Brooks, for five minutes. Mr. Brooks mr. Speaker yesterday democrat president ial candidate Hillary Clinton unveiled her Economic Program stating, quote, the defining economic challenge of our time is clear. We must raise incomes for hardworking americans so they can afford a middleclass life. We must drive strong and steady Income Growth that lifts up families, end quote. And, quote, the measure of our success must be how much incomes rise for hardworking families, end quote. Clinton concluded that quote, if you work hard and do your part you should be able to get ahead but over the past several decades that bargain has eroded end quote. Hillary clinton identifies the problem and goals. However, i submit her trickled down federal government dictate solution while splendid recognize rick misses the target en rhetoric misses the target entirely. Three decades ago america gave amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. That amnesty beget millions and millions in more illegal aliens. This illegal alien labor tsunami has done more to take jobs from and suppress wages of struggling American Families than anything else over the past three decades. The Pew Hispanic Center estimated in 2009 that American Workers lost 7. 8 million Job Opportunities to illegal aliens. A more fair study estimates americans lost 8. 5 million Job Opportunities to illegal aliens. Economic studies reveal that wage suppression caused by the surge in cheap illegal alien labor cost American High School graduates an estimated 800 per year and americas lowskilled labor an estimated 2,300 per year in income. But it is not just illegal alien labor that undermines American Opportunity and the American Dream for american citizens. Americas generous Legal Immigration policy created a second tsunami of legal foreign labor that doubles the economic damage to struggling American Families. Since this bureau Homeland Security and Labor Department latea data offers a sobering and startling income in the 16 to 65 age bracket. While they created 5. 6 million new jobs in the 16 to 65 age bracket over the past 14 years, americanborn citizens lost 127,000 net jobs. All that job gains and more went to illegal and legal immigrants while americanborn citizens lost 127,000 jobs foreignborn persons gained 5. 7 million new jobs. Worse yet, when you factor in population growth, there were 17 million more americans in the 16 to 65 age bracket not working in 2014 than in 2000. Contrary to the propaganda of amnesty and open border proponents and their media allies, immigrants gained across the labor market in lower skilled jobs such as maintenance, construction and food service and middle skill jobs like Office Support and Health Care Support and higher skilled jobs including Management Computers and health care practitioners. The propaganda that immigrants only do jobs americans wont do is not supported by fact. Immigrants gained jobs while americans lost jobs in each of the following h