Robert Aderholt

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the men and women who proudly make up the Alabama Army National Guard's 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion as they deploy to the Middle East in defense of our nation. The 115th has a rich history of service to America. The unit was organized in December 1940 as the 2nd Battalion, 151st Engineers, a little less than a year before our nation would enter World War Two. In early 1941, the unit was called into federal service to participate in maneuvers in Louisiana as the War Department geared up for the threat of war. In January of 1942, just after America entered the war, the unit moved to Alaska to help protect American territory from the Japanese. Service during World War Two also included deployments to England and France. The unit would be called into federal service once more in 1963. The men and women of the 115th would again answer our nation's call to service after the attacks of September 11, 2001 amidst our efforts to neutralize terrorist threats around the world. The first call to support the War on Terrorism would be in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, returning home in 2005. Then, in 2011, the unit would be sent to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Now, in 2017, like so many Alabama Guard Units, the 115th which has companies in Florence, Haleyville and Huntsville, is once again standing up to serve our nation. The unit will be sent to the Middle East to support and defend our nation's vital interests abroad. Mr. Speaker, Congress' appreciation along with our continued admiration for these men and women and the service they provide to the United States of America are reflected here today.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the Quality of Life Health Services (QOLHS) on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. This Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), was founded by Dr. Roberta O. Watts to provide health care to the most vulnerable populations. QOLHS, based m Gadsden, Alabama, is the state's largest community health program. The organization's network extends from the northern area of Alabama in Geraldine to Phenix City in the southeastern corner of Alabama. QOLHS's network consists of 24 health centers. Fifteen of those locations are in Alabama's Fourth Congressional District--which I am honored to represent. I am proud to be a long-time supporter of QOLHS, helping to support numourous federal grants, attending the groundbreaking and grand opening of a school-based program in Gadsden, and joining in other events over the years. Quality of Life serves over 55,000 patients each year and shows a profound commitment to the communities it serves. Let me end by congratulating Dr. Watts for her years of dedication, and a very special congratulations to Wayne Rowe--who has served as CEO for the past 35 years. I look forward to continuing to work with QOLHS in the future.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG) which was created in 1967. Then Alabama Governor Lurleen Wallace signed legislation in June of 1967 to establish NACOLG. Over the past five decades the organization has played a pivotal role in the economic opportunities of Northwest Alabama and has improved the daily lives of its citizens. NACOLG is an association of 37 governmental units in the five county region of Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion, and Winston Counties, along with the municipalities inside those counties. It is an association where local leaders can address issues of region-wide importance. 50 years after its creation, NACOLG continues to fulfill its original mission, which was to serve senior citizens in its five county region. NACOLG helps seniors in numerous ways, from getting medical care, to ensuring fair treatment, to finding jobs for area seniors. In addition to serving senior citizens, NACOLG's role has expanded into economic and community development. NACOLG serves as a conduit for federal dollars to projects as diverse as water and sewer infrastructure to community tornado shelters. Growing up in this area, I appreciate the significant role that NACOLG has also played in providing economic opportunities to people of Northwest Alabama. The Council's revolving loan program gives smaller municipalities access to capital to purchase land, and construct or renovate buildings to lure new business and jobs to the area, Currently, NACOLG is led by Keith Jones, and has an excellent staff that makes sure the five county region is well served. On this 50th anniversary of NACOLG, I send my best wishes to all those who work directly and indirectly with NACOLG. I know NACOLG and its member partners will continue to use its strength to work for the people of Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion, and Winston Counties.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a gentleman from my home state whose work in the area of respiratory care has undoubtedly saved countless lives. Mr. Ed Waits spent four decades working many long hours every day to serve patients in North Central, Alabama. Mr. Waits began his career in 1954 working in inhalation therapy at the Walker Oxygen Company. Waits would deliver oxygen tanks to local hospitals. In 1958, one of the hospitals Waits delivered oxygen to, West End Baptist Hospital, offered him a fulltime position as an inhalation therapist. As part of this position, he also provided the same service for Highland Baptist Hospital. Mr. Wait's workday began at 6:30 a.m. when most of us are just waking up. He would perform his duties at West End Hospital and then ride in a laundry truck to complete his days' work at Highland Baptist. The job performed by Mr. Waits could at times be very grueling. If the elevator did not work, he would have to carry oxygen tanks, weighing between 75 and 100 pounds, up five flights of stairs slung over his shoulder. Mr. Waits also had to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as he was the only inhalation therapy employee. He performed this non-stop service for four years before additional employees were hired. In 1963, Mr. Waits became the first president of the Alabama Society of Inhalation Therapists. He has also received honorary doctorate degrees from Miles College and the American Pulmonary Medical Institute. He retired from Princeton Baptist Hospital in 1994. Mr. Waits is also a veteran of our military. He served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1955. He is a true servant to his community, his state and to our country. This is why, for posterity's sake, his accomplishments should forever be enshrined. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Ed Waits for his sacrifice and hard work on behalf of so many Alabamians over the years and for being an example for younger generations to look up to.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member and all of my colleagues who have worked so hard on this bill over the last several months. These appropriations bills are taking a long time to get through the process. A lot of times, we don't realize all the hard work. So I want to thank all of my colleagues for their work and all the staff that have had great input into it. I want to echo what a lot of my other colleagues have said about this bill. As chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I understand that, while the bill is not perfect--and, as has just been mentioned, no bill that we vote on is perfect--there are significant wins for agriculture, the food sector, and for rural America. I wish that we had been able to include relief for the cotton growers. Also, regulatory relief for harm reduction products related to tobacco. Members from rural districts with agriculture constituents like I have in Alabama can be very proud of the bill's accomplishments for rural America. It provides necessary relief for American farmers and ranchers who are experiencing a 50 percent reduction in income from 4 years ago. We have been able to provide targeted increases for a few high- priority programs. The bill directs funding for rural communities, bolsters U.S. agriculture, maintains food and drug safety, ensures sound markets, and provides nutrition for children, families, and seniors at home and abroad. There is increased oversight of nutrition programs, and there are provisions to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, including closing a loophole to prevent fraudulent SNAP participation in multiple States. The bill also includes a prohibition on gene editing of human embryos. This is a tremendous victory for those who are concerned about life. In this bill, we stop additional Obama administration school meal regulations from being implemented by keeping the school meal sodium standards at the current target 1 level, we continue to have the whole grain waiver for schools that are having difficulty meeting that standard, and we allow flexibility in schools in serving low-fat flavored milk to students. Furthermore, this is exactly what the new Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced USDA will be implementing for the 2017-2018 school year. The agriculture portion of this bill also contains important provisions that further the President's Buy American, Hire American initiatives. If we are to build infrastructure in America, then we need to spend dollars that support jobs right here in America instead of utilizing iron and steel made in Russia and China. I am happy to support this bill, understanding that we have an opportunity in FY 2018 to craft bills that will be more fiscally and socially conservative. I look forward to working with the chairman and my colleagues as we go forward.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I know our time is short. I just want to say that this bill signifies our staunch support for life, and in spite of what has all been said, it just simply prevents taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions. For years our government has had a patchwork approach to this issue. However, this bill, H.R. 7, would create a clear and unified policy across all Federal agencies. Our Founding Fathers set forth in the Declaration of Independence ``that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.'' One of those unalienable rights is life. Therefore, it follows that the right to life of each human being should be preserved and protected. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I present to you an amendment, as the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, that provides funding oversight for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, known as the CFTC. This amendment that is before us this afternoon is a simple, yet a very necessary solution to issues identified at the CFTC regarding its leasing practices by its own inspector general and the Government Accountability Office. This amendment, Mr. Chairman, would allow the CFTC to manage its leases through a third party, such as the General Services Administration. Up until now, the CFTC has demonstrated they have not responsibly managed their own leases, and such missteps have created a number of problems for the agency itself. These include poor management and oversight of the agency's leasing practices, resulting in millions of dollars in excess space and leasing costs. The GAO legal division has identified instances of the CFTC violating the appropriations law with regard to its leasing payments and contracts. GAO is further reviewing four additional legal issues that are related to the CFTC's leasing contracts, and we expect the issuance of opinions in the near future that will justify the need for this very amendment that we are talking about this afternoon. Let me add that at the CFTC, they are experts at their oversight of the commodity and the futures and the swap markets. However, the CFTC is not expert in leasing practices, and they should be relieved from the burden of doing this as we move forward. I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment at the desk. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment has been vetted by the House Legislative Counsel and the staff at the CFTC.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT. The amendment has been vetted by the House Legislative Counsel and the staff at the CFTC. I understand and I can appreciate any concerns that the ranking member would have. Let me say, as we move forward, we will take any of this into account as we move forward on this process, any technical changes that are necessary before this bill becomes law, and we will be happy to work with the ranking member as we move forward with this amendment.

Mr. ADERHOLT. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. ADERHOLT. Reclaiming my time, I would just add that, for this amendment, we will work with any concerns that they may have and try to fix anything that may be, but this is something that needs to be addressed, as there are real problems at the CFTC regarding the leasing issue. I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. I appreciate the time to come to honor Joe Pitts. Congressman Smith, I appreciate your organizing this evening so we could thank Joe Pitts for his many years of service to not only this Chamber, but also to the public in general. Madam Speaker, of course, Joe is retiring after 20 years of service to this institution and to the American people. He served, as has been said, 24 years in the Pennsylvania Legislature. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Joe Pitts, is a hero for conservatives. He fights daily for families, for unborn children, and for persecuted Christians around the world. I know firsthand about his work for persecuted Christians because one of the first overseas trip opportunities that I had as a Member of Congress was to travel with Joe Pitts to the country of Egypt to advocate on behalf of persecuted Christians. I had the chance to sit there with Joe as we both talked about the plight of the Coptic Christians in the country of Egypt. We sat across the table from Hosni Mubarak, who, at the time, was the President of Egypt, and we let him know of the concerns that we had and that the American people had for Christians who were treated unfairly for no other reason than because of their beliefs and their faith. Joe Pitts has been a friend and a colleague since we were first elected. He and I were first elected back in 1996. We started here in January of 1997. He has worked tirelessly as chairman of the Values Action Team since the late 1990s. That was when Newt Gingrich had asked him to work on pro-life, pro-family issues. He has been an active, leading member of the Pro-Life Caucus, along with Congressman Smith, since that time. I also had the opportunity to work with Joe on OSCE issues, the Organization for Security and Co-operation of Europe. We would meet in the parliamentary assembly once a year with other parliamentarians to try to work on issues. I can tell you the pro-life issue and trying to protect the unborn and the family has been at the forefront of those issues with him as well with the OSCE. I want to take a minute to thank his staff. Over the years, they have worked hand in glove with Congressman Pitts. They have been champions for the conservative causes over the last 20 years alone here in the House of Representatives, and we will certainly miss working with them as they go on to the next chapters of their lives. Again, I wish Joe Pitts all the best as he moves on to the next phase of his life. I certainly pray that he and his wife, Ginny, will have, maybe, a slightly slower pace as they go back to Pennsylvania. I know that Joe, in whatever next chapter of life he is involved, will be involved in protecting families; he will be protecting the unborn--the most vulnerable--and he will be making sure that he does what he feels is in the best interest of this country. I wish Joe Pitts and his family all the best in the many years to come.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 4, 2016 I had the privilege of co-chairing the 64th Annual National Prayer Breakfast with Representative Juan Vargas. I would like to submit Part One of the transcript: 64TH NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST: PART ONE U.S. Representative Juan Vargas: Jesus once said, that when we lift up his name, it would draw a crowd, and wow, it worked. Look at this group, unbelievable. What a miracle you are here this morning--elected and appointed officials, religious leaders, business leaders, entertainers, athletes, farmers, sons, and daughters, moms and dads, folks from all 50 states, and from more than 140 countries. U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt: We are not here this morning to see a show, or to watch a ball game, or to participate in a political rally. Each and every one of us are here this morning with a single focused reason, and that is to pray. And what a holy moment it is, for not only Washington but also the entire world. We could not be more different. The thousands of you who have gathered here this morning, you know--just look around, everyone is different. But what we are seeking and what we are asking God to do is to bring us together in unity. Not just for today, but also for the days ahead, and not just for us that are in this room and that are hearing this message this morning, but for the entire world. Rep. Vargas: Now, to gather our hearts and point us in the right direction, I am honored to introduce Major General Julie Bentz, to offer our opening prayer. Her important job at the Pentagon, is figuring out how to protect American soldiers who are in harm's way around the world from so called improvised attacks. She is also part of a small group of members of the military who meet regularly to focus on the teachings of Jesus, General Bentz. Major General Julie Bentz: Jesus, here we are gathered in your name from across this nation, in all corners of the earth, here to learn how to pray together, with and for one another. You ask all of us who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, to come to you and find rest. You ask us to learn from you, who are gentle and humble of heart. You show us, our Heavenly Father, not only as holy and just, but also as good, loving, and merciful, full of tenderness and kindness. And so we have the courage to stand in the presence of Holy God and pray for a miracle of unity across borders, boundaries, and beliefs. We ask you, Father, to look favorably on those you have placed in our care, and on those who have elected us to our current positions. I ask specifically for your grace on behalf of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, coasties, and marines, our commander in chief, and all those in authority over us. In this year of mercy, Lord God, let us discover your generous love, and be transformed into patient, tolerant, and tender leaders. Enter into our actions, oh God. Remove our fear of suffering, our fear of humiliation, and our fear of failure. Lord, I acknowledge before you and before those present here, that I have failed, in my thoughts, in my words, and in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do, but I trust in your limitless mercy. You shower me and each one of us here abundantly with your goodness. Oh God, Heavenly Father, holy is your name. Your children yearn for your kingdom and pray that your will be done. We thank you for our daily sustenance, for forgiving us as we forgive others, you who direct our paths, and secure us from evil. Pour out your Spirit on us today, and in so doing, renew the face of the earth. Amen. Rep. Aderholt: Well thank you so much General Julie, I like the sound of that. The President of the United States is on his way, and the First Lady, so at this time, please enjoy your conversation and your breakfast. Speaker introducing the president: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States and Mrs. Michelle Obama. Rep. Aderholt: We want to get started this morning. We have a great lineup here this morning at our head table, and we are excited that everyone is here. I am Representative Robert Aderholt from the state of Alabama, and I am privileged to be here with my co-chair for this event, my new best friend, Juan Vargas from the state of California. Just so you know, over the past 13 months we have been praying, and we have been working, and we have been praying some more about what happens over the next 75 minutes. We prayed this head table together. We have prayed for you who are here in this ball room, for those that are in the overflow room--which are probably enjoying an even better breakfast than we are having. Some are out there watching it on a computer screen monitor, some are watching it by television. We pray for everyone that is listening, or that is in our presence, because we believe that Jesus and his reconciling power of prayer is so desperately needed these days. So thank you for showing up and for your prayers. Here is the most obvious thing that you will hear--and that is we all need all the help we can get. I would like to introduce my co-chair, Congressman Juan Vargas. He served in the jungles of El Salvador as a Jesuit missionary, and now he serves in the jungles of the House of Representatives. He grew up on a chicken ranch, and quite honestly, that is a high qualification for government service in my district. He brings great joy and passion to his new responsibilities in the House of Representatives, and I wish all of you could just spend a couple of hours with him. What is so maddening about the place where we work is that there is so much division and it prevents us from appreciating each other, and from understanding the wonderful strengths that 435 unique individuals have that we all work with. And if you are not all from around here, you might not know that Juan is a progressive Democrat and that I am a conservative Republican. Our voting records are probably about as similar as our hairstyles. But I love him, and I know he loves me because we share a common friend in Jesus. Juan, thank you. Rep. Vargas: Thank you. That is so true, I do love Robert and I appreciate it, but compared to Robert, I just got here. He has served 20 years in the House, which seems like 90 dog years I think, quite some time. Prior to coming here, he was a judge and I bet he was a great one. He is good at seeing things from all sides and all angles, and it is really a rare gift. I represent Southern California, and he represents northern Alabama. These places are very different according to most demographics, but they are alike in that they are both full of folks with really a very deep faith. One of the landmarks of Robert's district is a beautiful 60 foot high sandstone bridge, called Natural Bridge, and like that bridge, Robert is able to connect people. He brings people together to get work done for America. Robert and I have the responsibility of facilitating a weekly prayer group of members of the House. The House has had such a group for over 50 years now. This group includes Republicans, Democrats, older members, younger members, women, and men and folks from different faith traditions. We have much yet to accomplish, but we are making progress by coming together in unity around Jesus. This morning's event is simply a big, public version of what we do intimately and privately every week that the House is in session. We hope we all make progress here today as well. One idea we would like to plant in your minds this morning is, despite our very busy schedules and all our differences, we make time to come together every week and pray. Could you do that in your city, your workplace, your mission in life? If a lefty Chicano from California and a conservative judge from Alabama can do it, why can't you? Rep. Aderholt: Now I would like to introduce to you those who will be leading this morning, and if you could, please hold your applause until I introduce the entire head table. Way down to my right is the hero of Alabama, Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry of the University of Alabama, the national champion University of Alabama. Roll tide. He has got some big shoulders, so we have asked him to carry us all the way through the program this morning--he is going to finish with our closing prayer. You have already met Major General Bentz--thank you for being here. Next, we have our counterparts from that other chamber in the Capitol that are here with us, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Senator John Boozman of Arkansas--they will be sharing greetings from the Senate group just shortly. And you should know that in about an hour, they will start working on the 2017 breakfast; gentlemen, thank you for your leadership and as we hand the torch over to you in a few minutes. Rep. Vargas: Most important to me, I would like to introduce my beautiful wife of 25 years, Adrianne Vargas. Honey, you truly are a gift from God to me and I love you very much. Next is a distinguished member of the President's cabinet, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, which he has dubbed the Department of Opportunity. Prior to federal service, he was mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Secretary Julian Castro will be offering a prayer for unity and the needs of the poor. Next is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. And it is impossible to hold your applause for her, it really is. We love her. First Lady Michelle Obama is a lawyer, a writer, and the wife of the 44th and current president, President Barack Obama. She is the first African American First Lady of the United States and is a role model and an advocate for poverty awareness, higher education and healthy living. Rep. Aderholt: Continuing down the table is our brand new Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. We haven't cut the tags off of him yet, he is so new. And he is a great colleague with a lot of energy. He has a lot of knowledge, and he has a lot of faith, and we are honored to have him with us while he is still fresh. Sitting next to him is Democrat Leader and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California. She has been a strong and gracious force on so many issues during her time serving in Congress, and she will offer a reading from Scripture. Next to her is my dear wife and best friend, Caroline Aderholt. We have been blessed by trying to put God in the center of our relationship each day, and so I appreciate her being here and her support through all of this. And by the way, Adrienne, Juan's wife, and Caroline informed Juan and myself that this does not count as a date. Rep. Vargas: We tried. Next, our keynote speakers who will be introduced in a little bit. Next is the Honorable Judge Robert R. Rigsby of the District of Columbia Superior Court. He has served our nation in so many ways, including service in the United States Army for 34 years. His service makes him the first District Judge ever deployed to a theater of War. Robert and I are blessed to have Judge Rigsby as a member of the weekly prayer group. He will offer a prayer for national leaders. Next is the distinguished Rabbi Jack Bemporad. He is a great hero of ours because he has done about as much as anyone alive to try to bring people together, of all the world's great religious traditions to find common ground. He will offer a reading from the Scriptures. Rep. Aderholt: Quite a group, isn't it? Thank you all for being here and for leading us this morning. Rep. Vargas: And finally, I would like to introduce a returning favorite artist to the Prayer Breakfast, Andrea Bocelli. Andrea Bocelli's voice and spirit has lifted hearts and souls all around the world. We are pleased to share his gifts with you this morning as he sings Panis Angelicus, `Heavenly Bread'. He will be singing in Italian but listen to his words in English, they go like this: ``Heavenly bread that becomes the bread of all mankind; bread from the angelic host that is the end of all imaginations and images. Oh miraculous thing, this body of God will nourish even the poorest, the most humble of servants, even the poorest, the most humble of servants. Amen.'' To share a few remarks and a song, please again welcome Mr. Andrea Bocelli. [Mr. Bocelli sings Panis Angelicus] U.S. Senator John Boozman: I am John Boozman from Arkansas, and I can promise you one thing--next year when Tim and I are running the show, we won't be following that; simply remarkable. How does anyone do that? It really is a pleasure to be with you all, and to be with my colleague, Senator Tim Kaine. I greatly appreciate his friendship and have had the pleasure of working with him this last year as co-chair of the Senate prayer breakfast. As the fellows who are going to put this event on next year, together we realize that we are a part of a very, very long, great tradition. It is humbling to think that the Prayer Breakfast that we are a part of has been meeting longer than either of us has been alive--and in my case that has been a while. It is exciting to think also that it will be going on a long time after we are gone. We meet, we pray, we have personal prayer requests. Someone shares their testimony or spiritual thought. Who would believe that an hour of fellowship per week centered on the teachings of Jesus could make such a difference? It is not logical; it is a matter of the heart. So I would encourage all of you as you go back to your communities, as you go back to the different countries that are represented here, to start a prayer breakfast. The example that we have today, the example that we have every week in the House and the Senate-- that is how you change hearts, that is how you change the world. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine: Good morning. What a wonderful occasion. It is truly good to be here with my friend, John Boozman. When I was young, I spent part of 1980 and 1981 living with Jesuit missionaries in a small community in Honduras. I learned from that experience the power of a small group in advancing your spiritual life. And it has been my blessing to have opportunities since--in my parish in Richmond, with a group of legislators when I was Lieutenant Governor and Governor and now in the Senate working with John Boozman and my other friends in the Senate and the Senate prayer breakfast tradition. We are here in a very, very large room and there is greatness in a large room, but I think a lot of us are here because there is greatness in small rooms, and small groups. And so like John, I would encourage you to advance your spiritual life by joining a small group that focuses on spiritual fellowship. And now a word of introduction, when I came to the Senate in January 2013, within nine months the government of the United States shut down. Because I am Catholic, I was tempted to blame myself. When the government re-opened, we had a hard task on our shoulders, which was that Congress was charged with finding a budget deal by the end of the calendar year. And I am on the budget committee; and I got to watch my chair woman, my great friend, Senator Patty Murray work with the then House budget chair, Paul Ryan. I came to know, in that work by observation, Paul is a person of strong principle, a person who knows that the American people send us here not to express our opinions louder than the next person but to be principled, but also respect and work with the principles of others, and we found a deal that enabled us to move forward. I want to offer a prayer for the Speaker, from a letter of Paul, a letter to the Galatians: ``And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not give up.'' Ladies and gentlemen, the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. U.S. Representative Paul Ryan: That was quite nice. Thank you very much. First of all, I want to express my gratitude to my friends, Robert Aderholt and Juan Vargas for hosting us here today. Thank you. Thank you for what you have done. And I want to applaud their work to raise awareness of the plight of the persecuted Christians around the world. I also want to welcome all of you to Washington. You could not have come here for a better reason. This breakfast is a national tradition because prayer is a part of our national heritage. It goes all the way back to the Declaration of Independence. We believe that our rights come from God, and our job as office holders is to protect those rights. So it is only natural that we should ask for His guidance as we seek to do His will. I have noticed a growing impatience though with prayer in our culture these days. You see it in the papers, or you see it on Twitter. When people say ``We are praying for someone or something,'' the attitude in some quarters these days, is ``Don't just pray, do something about it.'' The thing is, when you are praying, you are doing something about it. You are revealing the presence of God. Whenever people are in grief, or even when they are about to start some great undertaking, they feel the worst pain of all. They feel alone. How am I going to get through this? Why is this happening to me? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? That is why there is nothing more comforting, or more humbling really than to hear someone say, ``I am praying for you.'' Because when you hear that, you realize you are not alone--God is there. And hundreds, if not thousands, if not millions of people are all speaking to Him on your behalf. They are not praying for some abstract notion, they are praying for you, the person. You know it says a lot about our country, that people of both parties and of all faiths will drop everything and pray for their fellow Americans. What it says is ``We believe in the dignity of the individual, of the human person,'' and that is why prayer should always come first. All Americans believe this; but as Christians, we can especially appreciate this truth. We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe God came down from heaven and became a man with a name and a body so that we could know him, we could begin to understand. He walked among the poor and the lowly of this world so that he could raise us to new heights in the next. It is a miracle. It inspires us every single day, and that is why we should rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all circumstances, give thanks. Thank you, and welcome.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the contributions to North Alabama made by Dr. Kenji Hamada of Arizona. Dr. Hamada is a highly regarded optometrist who has dedicated his life to helping preserve and restore eyesight to countless individuals. His care and concern has also extended to those in other states. Several years ago through his service with Optometry Cares, Dr. Hamada met Alabama State Representative Johnny Mack Morrow and his wife, Dr. Martha Morrow, a fellow optometrist, who introduced him to North Alabama. At this time, Dr. Hamada was looking to develop a program for visually impaired children. Little did he know that a program was already in the works between the Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation and Optometry Cares--The AOA Foundation. The first ``Camp Courage: A Helen Keller Experience'' for blind and severely visually impaired children was held in October 2013, and Dr. Hamada was immediately sold on the concept and became an advocate and funding supporter. Since this initial meeting between the Morrows and Dr. Hamada, he has dedicated a great deal of his time and resources to support programs to help visually challenged children in Alabama. Through his support and partnership with organizations like the American Optometric Association Foundation, many children have been assisted with or cured of their visual impairments. In addition to his support of optometry care, he has also financially supported other groups in Alabama such as the University of North Alabama Summer Theatre and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. I would like to commend Dr. Hamada for his service and dedication to the people of North Alabama. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I believe it is fitting and proper that Dr. Kenji Hamada be an Honorary Ambassador for North Alabama for all his contributions and service to the region.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Alabama country music legend Jeff Cook in honor of his birthday and the music festival named in his honor in Guntersville, Alabama. Cook is a lifetime resident of the Fourth Congressional District. He was born and raised in DeKalb County in Fort Payne. It was in Fort Payne that he formed a band with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. The three young men would first call themselves Wild Country, and then in 1977 they changed the group's name to Alabama. During the next four decades their group, Alabama, would become one of the best-selling music groups in history. Fans of Alabama have bought more than 75 million albums and singles. They were named the 1980s Entertainers of the Decade. Then, in 2004, Jeff formed the Allstar Good Time Band. Jeff plays backup to his wife, Lisa, who also sings. Jeff and Lisa spend a great deal of their time in Guntersville, Alabama, which is in the heart of the Fourth Congressional District. It is where, each year, Jeff is honored for his birthday with the Jeff Cook Days. On behalf of the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District of Alabama, I commend, recognize and honor Jeff for his accomplishments and the work he has done and for being a positive image for Alabama, and for his dedication to his home state. Also, I want to take this opportunity to wish him a very happy birthday and many more.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Michelle M. Williams for her exemplary dedication to duty and service to the United States Army and to the United States of America. Lieutenant Colonel Williams has served for the last two years as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the Secretary of the Army. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Lieutenant Colonel Williams was commissioned from the ROTC program at the Florida Institute of Technology, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. While there, Michelle received her airborne wings. She was commissioned as a Finance Officer in 1999. As a junior officer, she deployed to Bosnia where she served as a cash control officer, responsible for the distribution of over $1 million in cash, cash documents and equipment to Multinational Division-North in support of Operation Joint Forge. She also served as a Finance Detachment Commander in Iraq, where she led her troops through hundreds of missions across Baghdad and through the risky Sunni-Triangle area of operations. Her unit disbursed over $1 billion dollars. Michelle also served in several other organizations, as a resource manager in the Joint Chiefs of Staff J8, and as a budget officer in the Pentagon before being promoted to Major. As a Field-Grade Officer, Michelle served as a Deputy Comptroller for United States Southern Command where she established herself as the lead and technical expert when deploying the Army's new Financial Management system, GFEBS at SOUTHCOM. She deployed again as the Budget Officer for United States Army Central Command in Arifjan, Kuwait where she was responsible for obligations exceeding $1 billion and eliminated inefficient processes while improving audit readiness and preventing duplicate payments. In 2014, Michelle returned to the Pentagon as an Army Budget Liaison, where she was of great assistance to many Members of Congress and their staffs. Lieutenant Colonel Williams facilitated many briefings from Army officials here on Capitol Hill. In addition, Michelle managed a portfolio that included the Army's Operations and Maintenance account, the Working Capital Fund, and activity at the Depots that support the Army, a significant portion of Alabama's contribution to our Nation's defense. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in commending Lieutenant Colonel Williams for her service to our great Nation. Michelle's leadership throughout her career has positively impacted her soldiers, peers, and superiors. We wish Michelle and her husband Jeff Pashai all the best as they continue to serve the nation in her next assignment as the Division G8 at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and honor Dr. Robert E. Witt for his academic career and the impact he had on higher education. As Dr. Witt closes another successful chapter of his life as the Chancellor of the University of Alabama System, I believe it is important to recognize a few of his numerous accomplishments and his service to the nation and to the great State of Alabama. Dr. Robert Witt began his educational endeavors at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1962. In 1964, Witt received his MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College, and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Penn State in 1968. Over the next 35 years, he established a career of excellence in higher education. Dr. Witt served in various positions at The University of Texas, including serving as dean of the Business School at the University of Texas at Austin and president of the University of Texas at Arlington. In March of 2003, Dr. Witt was appointed President of The University of Alabama. During his nine-year tenure as President, Witt led an ambitious plan for academic growth and achievement that has positioned UA as one of America's fastest growing public universities. In 2012, he was appointed by the University's Board of Directors to serve as the Chancellor of the University of Alabama System. The University of Alabama System is comprised of the universities in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville as well as the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. Dr. Witt has held several important roles aside from his leadership at the University of Alabama, including serving as the chairman of the Council of Presidents of Alabama's public colleges and universities. Dr. Witt has played a leadership role in various organizations during his time in Alabama which include the Governor's College & Career Ready Task Force; the American Cast Iron Pipe Company Board of Directors; the Alexis deTocqueville Executive Committee; the Advisory Board, Elizabeth Project Care Board. He is past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, a past member of the Tuscaloosa County IDA Board and the Black Warrior Council Boy Scouts of America. In 2011 he was inducted into to the Alabama Academy of Honor, which is comprised of 100 living Alabamians elected on the basis of service to the state. I want to commend Dr. Witt for his success and his dedication to higher education. While Dr. Witt's career may be coming to a close over the next few months, the impact he has left on students and faculty will echo for several generations to come. I wish him and his family all the best in the future.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, since I first was elected to Congress, one of the things that I talked most directly about was the fact that if there is one thing that is so important in the Federal Government to do, it is the duty to provide for national security. The legislation that we have before us now may be the most important document that we will take up this entire year. My colleague on the Republican side, Mr. Frelinghuysen, and my colleague on the Democratic side, Mr. Visclosky, both take their job very seriously. As they work on this bill, they work with great dedication and care, and it is a privilege to work with both of them, along with the committee staff, as they work forward to move this bill. Our men and women in uniform carry out a broad spectrum of missions. Some missions are directly combat related. Some are related to rescue. And some are humanitarian missions. Health research to help our soldiers also benefits civilians of all ages and all backgrounds. This bill specifies both the base funding and also overseas contingency operations funding in a way that meets the needs to carry out all of those missions. So I would encourage my colleagues, as we vote on this bill and as we move forward on this, to vote ``yes'' on it. We owe it to our men and women in uniform and our dedicated civil servant workforce to provide that stability and continuity and also to continue making sure that we stay the greatest and the strongest nation on the Earth.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize and honor Mayor Ken Sunseri of my hometown of Haleyville, Alabama. Mayor Sunseri has served as the mayor of Haleyville since 2008 and has proven himself to be a leader who has shown dedication to the city and every citizen thereof. Mayor Sunseri is not only the leader of my hometown, but he is also the leader of men. During the Vietnam War, Sunseri served his country as a platoon leader with the First Infantry Division and retired at the rank of Colonel. He is one of our country's brave veterans whom we can all be proud. Over the years he has dedicated himself to his country and his local community. In 2004 he was awarded the Civitan Citizen of the Year. In 2005 his involvement in the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program led to his being named the most outstanding ACE volunteer. He has held numerous Board positions and received many awards, most recently receiving the 2011 Haleyville High School Alumni Service and Dedication Award. Sunseri has served Haleyville through many widespread agencies including President and Deputy District Governor of the Haleyville Lions Club, President of the Haleyville Chamber of Commerce, President of the Haleyville Merchants Association, Member, Haleyville Library Board, Member, Haleyville Housing Authority, Member, Haleyville Industrial Recruiting Committee, Member, Individual and Family Support Board, Board Chairman 310 Board, Winston/Marion Counties. As Mayor, Sunseri was approached with an opportunity to construct a new city hall for Haleyville. Under his leadership this project was completed in January 2016 and will serve citizens for decades to come. Most importantly, Mayor Sunseri is married to Kay Sunseri and they have three children: David Sunseri, Beth Moore and Jennifer Sunseri. They also have five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor Mayor Sunseri for his long service to so many in Haleyville and Winston County and the State of Alabama.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and honor Mrs. Shirley Dobson on her 25 years of service as the chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. With the focus being to mobilize prayer and to encourage personal repentance and righteousness in the culture of the United States of America, the National Day of Prayer includes over 40,000 prayer gatherings in all 50 states. Millions of people across the nation participate at courthouses, city halls, community centers and at the U.S. Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance that occurs on the first Thursday in May and people of all faiths are asked to pray for the nation. The National Day of Prayer dates back to 1952 when a joint resolution was passed by both the House and the Senate. Shirley Dobson has worked diligently along with so many others over the last 25 years to bring the nation together around prayer. In addition to her leadership with the National Day of Prayer Task Force, Mrs. Dobson is nationally recognized for her many contributions to women's affairs, Christian Organizations, and the institution of the family. Shirley Dobson has been invited to the White House by many Presidents over the past 30 years and has been recognized by numerous national organizations that are focused on faith, family and spreading God's word to the world. Mrs. Dobson is also an author. She and Gloria Gaither have co- authored a four-book series for families. The books are focused squarely on faith and the family and how those two should always go hand-in-hand. Shirley and her daughter also wrote a book together titled, Welcome to Our Table. Shirley Dobson is the wife of psychologist and author, Dr. James Dobson, founder of Family Talk. She and her husband reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado and have two grown children, Danae and Ryan. They also are proud grandparents of two grandchildren. It is my privilege to honor such a fine person as Shirley Dobson and to recognize her contributions to faith and family in America and especially her tremendous work with the National Day of Prayer.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Michael Sabljak, who is interning in my office as part of the Uni-Capitol Washington Program. The Uni-Capitol Washington Program (UCWIP) has paired some of the brightest Australian students with various congressional offices for almost two decades, and I am happy to be a host again this year. Michael comes from the University of Melbourne where he is studying for his Juris Doctor degree. Over the past couple of months, I have found him to be outstanding in his duties and continually going above and beyond the call of duty. He has attended committee hearings, assisted with constituent correspondence, and assisted me, as well as my staff, with research. He was asked to travel down to Alabama during the latter part of February, and Michael and I travelled over 700 miles across the Fourth Congressional District. His Australian accent has garnered the friendly attention of many of my constituents on tours and over the phone. Michael's commitment, hard work, and presence have been an asset to the office and he will be sorely missed by all. The program has been in force for 17 years thanks to the vision of Eric Federing, its director and founder. The students who are selected come from a variety of academic disciplines, but all have a common interest: promoting the U.S.-Australia relationship. These student placements are enhanced by the formation of genuine friendships and the exchange of views and ideas between the Australian interns and their respective offices. We are grateful for these friendships, and it is our hope that they strengthen the diplomatic ties of our great countries. I would like to also thank Eric Federing for the opportunity to host Michael over the past several weeks through the program. To date, over 180 interns have come through his program, representing 10 different universities over the program's lifetime. It enhances opportunities for the individuals who come, and enlightens those who they come to. After the internship, many receive jobs on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. or go to work with Federal or various State Parliaments in Australia. Other interns have gone on to work in the Australian Embassy or The World Bank. Simply put, this program selects incredibly talented individuals who are a pleasure to host and work with. It was an honor to have Michael in our office over the past couple of months, and I wish him the very best in the future. Michael, thank you again for your hard work and dedication.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor Mr. John Sudduth of Double Springs, Alabama as the 2016 honoree of the Winston County Republican Party. I am honored to stand before this body of Congress and this Nation to recognize Mr. Sudduth for his unselfish dedication to the people of Winston County. Mr. Sudduth grew up in Winston County before receiving his teaching degree. He first taught in Piedmont, Alabama before returning to his native Winston County where he taught agriculture science for more than 30 years at Winston County High School. Mr. Sudduth has taught thousands of students over the years the importance of agriculture to the local community, the state of Alabama and to America. Mr. Sudduth has been very active in his community. He is a member of Double Springs First Baptist Church. He is also very active in ALFA and the Cattleman's Association. As part of his service in the Cattleman's Association, Mr. Sudduth and other members helped distribute supplies to farmers who were hard hit by the tornado outbreak of April 2011. Last but not least, Mr. Sudduth has been a member of the Winston County Republican Party for many years. He has also served as its vice-chairman for several terms. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor Mr. Sudduth for his long service to so many in Winston County. I join his family, friends and colleagues in congratulating him on being recognized by the Winston County GOP.

Mr. ADERHOLT

Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge and recognize that this is National Marriage Week. The sacred vows that a man and woman exchange as a part of the sacrament of marriage have been part of our culture from the very beginning of humanity. It's an institution that, over the centuries, has proven to be the best for raising a family, and creating self-sufficient and well-balanced children. However, this week as we celebrate National Marriage Week, I remain deeply concerned that this sacred institution is suffering in our country. More than half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Fewer couples are choosing to marry. And there are still large numbers of women having children out of wedlock. More than half of all babies born to women under the age of 30 are now born outside of marriage. Fifty years ago, that number was around 5 percent. While the culture we live in today is no doubt responsible for much of this shift, the government could be doing more to help this situation. Our laws do not encourage marriage, but in many cases, they also discourage marriage by imposing tax penalties on those who would like to marry. So, as we recognize the importance of marriage, I believe that it's time that Congress remove the government-imposed financial barriers-- which is often called the marriage tax penalty--that too often make marriage a second choice for these couples. I am blessed to have been married to my wife, Caroline, for almost 22 years. Our partnership is one of the great joys of my life. I am proud to recognize National Marriage Week and the institution of marriage here in the United States as well as around the world.