Ralph Abraham

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 91, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, many businesses show their gratitude to our Nation's servicemembers and veterans by offering special discounts on goods and services to those who have served our Nation in uniform. Unfortunately, unless a servicemember is a qualified military retiree, DOD does not issue an official ID card as proof of service. That means that millions of veterans cannot easily provide evidence of their service. This bill, as amended, would change that by directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue a veteran's ID card that would display the veteran's name and photograph to any veteran who requests such a card, as long as the veteran is not entitled to military retired pay, nor enrolled in the VA healthcare system. This card would give those who served in the Armed Forces a convenient way to prove that they are veterans, for the purpose of receiving the promotions and discounts offered by many businesses around the country. The bill, as amended, would also require the Secretary to determine a fee to be charged that would cover all costs of producing the cards and managing the program. The bill also specifies that the card does not entitle the holder to any VA benefits. H.R. 91 passed the House by a vote of 402-0 on May 18. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent on June 22, with an amendment that would authorize VA to provide this card to any person who meets the statutory definition of a veteran. Under current law, a veteran is defined as ``a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.'' I thank my colleague Mr. Buchanan for his efforts on this commonsense legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan).

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam Speaker, I stand here as a proud sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This is strong, commonsense legislation focused on protecting the lives of unborn children and their mothers, and I am very happy that this new language is even stronger than the original bill in January. As a doctor, I know--and I can attest--that this bill is backed by scientific research showing that babies can indeed feel pain at 20 weeks, if not before. That is why it is so important we stand up for life and stand up for this human rights issue. This is a pro-life effort that deserves bipartisan support. I fully urge passage of this rule.

Mr. ABRAHAM

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

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, we are here today because, with the stroke of a pen, President Obama has threatened decades of work by Americans and local governments to combat flooding. Executive Order No. 13690 establishes a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard that greatly expands the area defined as flood plain and imposes unreasonable standards on any Federal activities in that expanded flood plain. The administration crafted this policy in secret, without input on its merits from local officials or stakeholders, those stakeholders that will have to live with this policy. The Office of Management and Budget predicts that this standard will significantly increase the cost of living and doing business in all areas that are at any risk of flooding. This is just another case of the President imposing his climate change politics on hard-working Americans. This new standard will have a real devastating impact on communities throughout the country. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that will prohibit funding for this woefully shortsighted executive order. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Boustany, my good friend.

Mr. ABRAHAM. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our great friend and majority whip.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, the good, hard-working people that live in these areas that would be affected now have not incurred floods in their lifetimes or in their generations of lifetimes before them, but this would impact some States up to 40 percent of their total landmass. This is unacceptable. Cost of flood insurance would go astronomically high in some cases. Federal overburden would again be an issue, and businesses could not function. Even existing businesses would be put out of business. This administration has violated the congressional intent in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2015 by crafting the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard without consulting the necessary officials and basing it on some climate issues that have no scientific basis at this point. This standard will affect both private and federally financed development in areas considered flood plain. This means certification and accreditation of new and improved levees, issuance of section 404 Clean Water Act permits, issuance of federally backed mortgages, issuance of grants, construction of new transportation projects, and on and on would be affected. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Simpson for putting the money for the whole E and W bill. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment to ensure that Congress remains faithful to its obligation to fund important infrastructure projects. The harbor maintenance trust fund takes in enough revenue each year to provide the necessary maintenance of our harbor ports and channels. However, for years, expenditure of these funds has failed to keep up with the annual revenues. This amendment would simply keep us on schedule to hit the harbor maintenance target authorized by law in the Water Resource Reform and Development Act. This fund helps the Army Corps of Engineers provide dredging and maintenance for critical ports and channels throughout the country. In my district alone, these funds have been used to provide needed dredging at the Lake Providence Harbor, the Madison Parish Port, and ensure that the Ouachita and Black Rivers and the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway remain open to transportation and commerce. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that will keep our Nation's critical arteries open for business.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fredrick ``Will'' Williams on the occasion of his retirement from the SourceAmerica Board of Directors, through which he has helped identify and create work opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities in Louisiana and in communities across America. Mr. Williams served in the U.S. Army from February 1983 to March 2006. He is an Iraq War Veteran and two time Purple Heart recipient. He was acting as a convoy escort managing a team of 14 soldiers escorting dignitaries through the war zone when there was a suicide bomb attack resulting in injuries leading to his retirement from the Army. He later became employed by Training, Rehabilitation and Development Institute (TRDI) where he worked as a security monitor. While at TRDI he became a knowledgeable and vocal advocate for people with disabilities and the AbilityOne Program and received recognition for his efforts through the SourceAmerica 2007 William M. Usdane Award. Mr. Williams is also a mentor in the Boys and Girls Club of Monroe and works with young adults who have disabilities and are struggling to find their purpose. Mr. Williams is a deacon of True Vine Baptist Church and has served on the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the AbilityOne Speakers Bureau and has spoken to groups around the nation about the difference employment makes in an individual's life. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Williams for his heartfelt commitment to improving the lives of those with disabilities, and wish him well as he departs from the SourceAmerica Board of Directors.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of the four Louisiana National Guardsmen and seven marines who so tragically died in a helicopter accident off the coast of Florida. My family and I and all of the Louisiana delegation, I am sure, with the rest of the Congress will continue to keep their families in our prayers. As a helicopter pilot myself, I feel a certain kinship to the two guardsmen in my district, George Griffin, Jr., and George Strother. Both of them served our district, our State, and our country most honorably. Chief Warrant Officer George Griffin was originally from Delhi, which is only about 10 minutes from my house. He had more than 6,000 flight hours, including 1,000 or more combat hours, and was a very decorated veteran. Chief Warrant Officer George Strother, of Alexandria, was a seasoned combat veteran who also served distinguishedly and was decorated, and he also served us in our trying times of Katrina. These men, these two plus the others who died in the Black Hawk accident, served our Nation and our country most honorably, admirably, and stood in harm's way when we didn't have to. We will never forget them; we honor them; and again, our prayers are with their families.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Erle Edwards Barham, a man who dedicated his life to public service in northeast Louisiana. Edwards tragically passed away in October. His memory will carry on with his family and friends, and the agricultural community will honor him in March as the newest inductee to the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. If you look at his life's work, it is easy to see why. Edwards grew up in Oak Ridge and held degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He farmed cotton, rice, soybeans, and corn in the fields of Louisiana and Mississippi, sowing the initial seeds that would grow into his legacy as a truly great agricultural leader. His contributions to the agriculture community include service in the Louisiana Cotton Producers Association and the Northeast Louisiana Rice Growers Association. He founded Flying Tiger Aviation, one of the Nation's premier agriculture flight schools, which provides an invaluable service to my district, one of the largest row crop districts in the Nation. Edwards left his mark on Louisiana history as well. In 1975, he became the first Republican in modern times to be elected to the State senate, a position he pursued so he could create a better life for all Louisianans. Edwards valued education. He served on the Louisiana Board of Regents, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors. Edwards and his wife, Bennie Berry Barham, were married for 56 years. They had four children: the late Ben Edwards Barham, II; Erle West Barham; Robert Berry Barham; and Amy Barham Westbrook. He was also loved by a number of grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Mr. Speaker, Louisiana is a better place today because of the contributions that Edwards Barham made to our community. I am honored to have called him a friend, and I know he will be greatly missed.

Mr. ABRAHAM

Mr. ABRAHAM. ``This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.''