Marsha Blackburn

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, it is truly remarkable and moving to witness a student chosen among their generation to bring strong direction to their community. As a leader of leaders, this extraordinary individual contributes their time, energy, and wisdom to create opportunities for many to succeed. Priscilla Kirkpatrick, from Franklin, Tennessee, is one of these distinguished leaders. She was elected as governor of the American Legion Auxiliary's Volunteer Girls State and was chosen to be one of the 2017 Girls Nation Nominees. For Priscilla, there is no limit nor bound of what could be attained. Her mindful service and vision for community has inspired many to go above and beyond themselves. Priscilla's success in the classroom, and involvement in several extracurricular activities has set her apart from the rest of her peers. These experiences have prepared her to perform the responsibilities that come along with this role. Franklin High School has been marked by her caring and serving nature. Leadership is not as it appears, but as it performs. I congratulate Priscilla for her new role as governor of the American Legion Auxiliary's Volunteer Girls State.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to record my last vote due to ineffective card. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 307. Personal Explanation

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, public service is not just a career path, it is a way of life. Many aspire to this role but very few fulfill this profession devoutly. These diligent leaders seek and strive to empower their constituency. They understand the pulse and the needs of their community and give the people their voice. Today, I would like to acknowledge Representative Charles Sargent for his service to our community, state, and nation. Service is not a foreign term to Representative Sargent. He faithfully served in the United States Navy. His time in the military and as a business leader created the foundation of his life's work as a strong conservative leader in the Tennessee State House. His leadership in business and the insurance industry served as an asset which made him an outstanding and excellent leader as the chairman of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. Representative Sargent is also generous with his time, energy, and resources. He dedicates himself to multiple charities throughout our state. True leadership is not as it appears but as it performs. His admirable service in making the tough decisions today will make a brighter future for millions of Tennesseans tomorrow. His insight will continue to impact our state and we look forward to his leadership in the future.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present for votes on May 19, 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 267 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 268. personal explanation

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard, this week is National Police Week. It is a time for us to honor the service of those officers who have fallen in the line of duty and to recognize those who serve and protect our communities day in and day out. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Paul Arnold of the Franklin, Tennessee, Police Department. Sergeant Arnold is a 26-year Franklin Police veteran. In July of last year, for the third time, he faced a cancer diagnosis. Through each of these diagnoses, treatment, rehab, he has maintained one demand, and that is that it not affect the work that he is doing in the line of duty with the Franklin Police Department. Today, the police department is standing together as he is receiving the Theodore Roosevelt Association Police Award, which is given to an officer who has rendered outstanding and praiseworthy service to the department and the community despite a serious handicap, illness, or injury. His dedication to service is noted. It is appreciated. We honor him and congratulate him on a well-deserved honor and say thank you to all of the law enforcement community that chooses to protect and defend.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, there are those whose lives shine so brightly and give us hope regardless of life circumstances and tragedies we may endure. Patsy Cline, who was also known as the First Lady of Country Music, was one of those inspiring and uplifting souls. She moved us all by her incredible voice and meaningful lyrics such as Crazy and Walking after Midnight that would continue to be cherished by generations to follow. Patsy was a true treasure whose memory will forever be remembered by her fans and Tennesseans alike. Patsy Cline was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was the first female soloist chosen for the honor. Her short yet remarkable music and television career paved a way for women to pursue their passion in the entertainment industry. The true strength she exemplified came from the genuine love in her heart to serve and entertain her family, friends, and fans. She lived a life worth living.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Foxx and Chairman Roby for the outstanding job that they have done on this. Listening to my colleagues, you would think that there is a lack of understanding, if you will, to that old saying that women want more time. As one of my constituents asked me today: If you pass this bill, is it going to mean that I can bank my time during tax season, take time and a half and use it to take a field trip or a school trip with my child? I said: Absolutely. Because this is a bill that puts you in charge of how you want to be compensated for overtime work. Do you want the money? Do you want the added time so that you have control of your schedule? Yes, this is about empowering the employee. It is so interesting, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 put in place something for the public sector. They forgot about the private sector. You could look at this and say, well, it is a correction within the law so that not only public sector employees, but also private sector employees have the ability to say: I choose to have more time at this point in my career. I want the flexibility.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1695, the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act. I am an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation. It was introduced by Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers, making this Register of Copyrights a position nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It was passed out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 27-1. It is completely appropriate that we bring this provision to the floor. As a co-chair of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus, and a Representative of middle Tennessee, which is the Nashville area, it is home to many content producers and creators, in particular, to songwriters. Creators deserve to know that they will have a Register who will do a couple of things really well: is accountable to the people through their elected Representatives, and will provide independent and expert advice to Congress. According to a report prepared by the International Intellectual Property Alliance: the total copyright industries employed nearly 11.4 million workers in 2015, accounting for 7.95 percent of all U.S. employment, 9.39 percent of all private employment in the U.S. The average annual compensation paid to employees of the total copyright industries in 2015, per employee, $82,117, exceeds the average annual wage by about 21 percent. Intellectual property must be protected. Copyrights must be protected. Congress has a role in making certain that these constitutional provisions are held and, also, making certain that the Office is responsible to Congress. I urge the House to move forward on this commonsense measure.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S.J. Res. 34.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in support of S.J. Res. 34, which disapproves of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to protecting the privacy of customers of broadband and other telecommunication services. I applaud Senator Flake's work on this issue, as S.J. Res. 34 was passed by the Senate last week. I also filed a companion resolution in the House. The FCC finalized its broadband privacy rules on October 27, 2016. At that time, they assured us that the rules would provide broadband customers meaningful choice, greater transparency, and stronger security protections for their personal information collected by internet service providers, but the reality is much different. There are three specific problems with which the FCC has gone about these rules. First, the FCC unilaterally swiped jurisdiction from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has served as our Nation's sole online privacy regulator for over 20 years. Second, having two privacy cops on the beat will create confusion within the internet ecosystem and will end up harming consumers. Third, the FCC already has authority to enforce privacy obligations of broadband service providers on a case-by-case basis. These broadband privacy rules are unnecessary and are just another example of Big Government overreach. The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates that Federal regulations cost our economy $1.9 trillion in 2015. Since President Trump took office, Republicans have been working diligently to loosen the regulatory environment that is suffocating hardworking taxpayers. Here is what multiple House Democrats said in a letter to the FCC last May regarding the FCC's privacy rules: The rulemaking intends to go well beyond the traditional framework that has guarded consumers from data practices of internet service providers and ill-served consumers who seek and expect consistency in how their personal data is protected. Further, FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright testified before Congress that the FTC has unique experience in enforcing broadband service providers' obligations to protect the privacy and security of consumer data. He added that the rules will actually do less to protect consumers by depriving the FTC of its longstanding jurisdiction in the area. Once again, these rules hurt consumers. Incredibly, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler referred to the internet as the most powerful and pervasive network in the history of the planet before these rules were even created. I found this really odd because it implied that the FTC regulation had indeed been successful and ought to continue, ultimately undermining his own rationale for additional FCC privacy regulation. Now, there are a couple of myths that are going around that I want to take the time to dispel. Our friends claim there will be a gap for ISPs in the FCC privacy rules when they are overturned. This simply is false, and let me tell you why. The FCC already has the authority to enforce the privacy obligations of broadband service providers on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to section 201 of the Communications Act, they can police practices of the ISPs that are unjust or unreasonable. Sections 202 and 222 also protect consumers. It is already in statute. So I encourage my friends to read title II of the Communications Act. Also, the State attorneys general have the ability to go after companies for unfair and deceptive practices. Third, litigation is another avenue consumers can pursue against ISPs for mishandling personal data. Service providers have privacy policies. If they violate the policy, guess what? They can be sued. I know Democrats will certainly understand that, as they have many trial lawyer friends, and I urge them to speak to the trial bar. Fourth, the free market is another great equalizer. Can you imagine the embarrassment for an ISP that is caught unlawfully selling data? We have all seen the economic fallout from something such as a data breach. Companies have a financial incentive to handle your personal data properly because to do otherwise would significantly impair their financial standing. To my Democrat friends across the aisle, the bottom line is this: the only gap that exists is in these arguments that you have made. Consumer privacy is something we all want to protect, and consumer privacy will continue to be protected and will actually be enhanced by removing the uncertainty and confusion these rules will create, as the Democrats Rush, Schrader, and Green indicated in a letter to the FCC last May. I also want to speak, for just a moment, on the edge providers because there has been some question about who has visibility into your data. Clinton administration veteran privacy expert Peter Swire offered a report in February 2016 titled ``Online Privacy in ISPs.'' ISP's access to consumer data is limited and often less than access to others. Swire found that ISPs have less visibility into consumer behavior online than search, social media, advertising, and big tech companies. Swire's study found that, as a result of advancing technologies, the rise of encryption, and the various ways and locations individuals access the internet, ISPs now have increasingly limited insight into our activities and information online. By contrast, however, so-called edge providers, like search engines, social media, advertising, shopping, and other services online, often have greater visibility into personal consumer data. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 230, I call up the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 34) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to ``Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services'', and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I will remind my colleagues across the aisle that, again, section 222 of the Communications Act covers the authority that the FCC needs. Traditionally, online privacy has been handled by the FTC. That is an authority that we have designated to them. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control that time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, Fred Thompson was a neighbor and trusted friend. He was embraced by the people of Tennessee because of his dedication to first principles and strong conservative values. To most Americans, he was an actor, usually taking roles that exuded confidence and integrity. To those of us that knew him personally, he was a devoted public servant that spent a large part of his life service to the people of the United States. He began his public career as an assistant U.S. attorney in Tennessee before working with Senator Howard Baker, a man who was a role model for generations of Tennesseans looking to serve the American people. He would go on to spend 8 years in the U.S. Senate himself, famously touring the state of Tennessee in his red pickup truck. After conducting a life well-lived, naming this federal courthouse to honor him is a great way to show our respect for his commitment to the people of Tennessee. I am glad this bill to give him that honor is on the floor today, and I hope all my colleagues will join me in passing it

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, family is the greatest gift life can offer to us. There is no relationship more special or more enduring than the bonds that are found within family. Family is truly the tie that binds us together. Both the friendship that is shared and struggles overcome are a testament of what is possible when a family is united and dedicated to loving God and one another. Because of their friendship, work, endurance, and giving spirit, it is an honor to recognize the Holt family for their efforts in the pioneering of Williamson County. Their story is a story of faith and family and it is an honor for those of us gathered this evening to share this story. The presence of the Holt family in this area can be traced back to the 1840's, beginning with Lucretia and Henry Holt. With each trial that came along; with slavery and segregation, each member of the Holt family chose kindness and compassion and in the midst of injustice, they chose forgiveness. Their heritage will forever be memorialized by the naming of Holt Road off of Nolensville Pike and Stanfield Road in Brentwood, Tennessee. There is much wisdom we can all glean from the example set by the Holt family, who created a generational legacy of love that will be remembered for decades to come. Their story is a story of a life well lived. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this family for their influence and impact on Williamson County, Tennessee.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding the time. I do encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. Recently, National Geographic ranked this as the third best Civil War site to visit--the third best--and there is a reason for that. It is because of the dedication of the National Park Service personnel that are there at the Shiloh battlefield and the local volunteers from Tennessee and Mississippi that work to preserve and to enhance. Mrs. Torres was so right when she talked about the relevancy of the site and the opportunity for introspection and remembrance and the importance of preservation and the lessons that can be learned as individuals go and visit this park. It is significant, and in our Civil War history it is significant that we preserve this and work with the National Park Service. The Battle of Shiloh was fought on April 6 and 7 in 1862. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up to that point: 23,000 Americans died. General Grant's Union Army was victorious. The Confederate forces withdrew to Corinth, and the outcome of the battle eventually led to the fall of Vicksburg in July of 1863. This permanently divided the Confederacy and crippled the Southern war effort. As we look at this legislation that goes around this battlefield, it does preserve the historical legacy of Tennessee, of Shiloh, and of our Nation. It gives the Park Service the authority that they would like to preserve more than 2,100 additional acres of the historic Shiloh National Military Park. As the gentleman from California said, Fallen Timbers, Davis Bridge, and Russell House are all included in this, as well as Parker's Crossroads Battlefield, which would be named an affiliated area. As we look at visitors to our Nation's park, the Shiloh National Military Park welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each and every year. I thank my colleagues for the time and the support.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, it's with great honor that I rise today to recognize the Keep Tennessee Beautiful organization for receiving the Keep America Beautiful State Affiliate Innovation Award for their publication of Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee: A Story About Keeping Tennessee Beautiful. Written and illustrated by Guy Gilchrist, this story showcases the remarkable attractions, natural resources, and historic landmarks of the great state of Tennessee, all while promoting the importance of taking care of our community by recycling and not littering. Nancy and Sluggo Love Tennessee is a treasured keepsake that educates children and instills a sense of pride in being a Tennessean. As proven by their achievement, Keep Tennessee Beautiful does outstanding work in innovatively educating and engaging the young minds in our community and I applaud their dedication to our state.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this morning to talk about a piece of legislation that is going to be before us this week, and we are bringing it forward through the Congressional Review Act. In our office, we have had so many people ask: What is a Congressional Review Act, and how is it that you can recall these rules? This allows Congress to exercise their authority over the agencies and the administration and the executive branch interaction where they make rules. Many times they do these rules, as this previous administration did, at the last minute, as they are heading out the door, trying to put their thumb and their imprint on actions and prohibit Congress or prohibit the States from taking an action. So as we meet in this Chamber this week, we are going to take up H.J. Res. 43. H.J. Res. 43 is a resolution which will disapprove of one of these last-minute rule changes that President Obama made as he was exiting his office. This one deals with title X funds and the grant allocations that come through title X funds. Now, title X funds were put in place to serve women and their healthcare needs, underserved women in underserved areas, and to make certain that there were provisions so that they could access women's health and have access to preventive screenings, to annual immunizations, those checkups that they need to have each year. Many times these funds have been used by individuals who will say: We do women's health and we also do abortion services. Now, what the rule would have done was to block the States and to take away their ability to go in and ask: Who is going to have access to these funds, and are we going to disallow them to go to entities that provide abortion services? So H.J. Res. 43 repeals the previous administration's rule and it restores and gives back to the States the flexibility that they want and desire to have to distribute these title X grants under the parameters for which this program was designed. States should be able to offer family planning funds to providers that offer a full and complete range of healthcare services for women, but do not participate in elective abortions. Title X funds, outside of the Affordable Care Act, were intended to help keep patients healthy and to help them on the road to a better quality of life and better health outcomes, not to take away life. H.J. Res. 43 also redirects title X grant funds to other clinics comprised of local health departments, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers that seek to protect life and offer healthcare services to women. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 43, which repeals the previous administrative efforts which undermine State laws and restores to the States the title X grant program for its original purpose.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, from time to time members of this House rise, address the body to honor events in their districts, members of their communities, or occurrences in their towns. To be read into the Congressional Record is an honor our constituents cherish. Today, though Mr. Speaker, the honor is all mine to rise and tell this body about one of the Tennessee 7th Congressional District's most cherished and devoted citizens, Wayne Oldham, as his life and homegoing is celebrated this week. Wayne was born in Montgomery County and made his life there and at every stage of his life, he would be found championing the conservative cause. From creating the Austin Peay State University College Republican chapter still in existence today, to being the longest serving State Executive Committee member of the Tennessee Republican Party, Wayne had a drive and a passion to support the people and causes he held dear. There was never a meeting too small or a race too insignificant for Wayne to attend and support. He was a fixture in Clarksville and his absence will be felt for years to come. There are those whose light shines so brightly, boldly, and consistently that we are confident their legacy will remain long after they are gone. I join with family, friends, political activists, neighbors, committee members, and all those who will miss Wayne's supportive phone calls, his never-fading friendship, and his heart-felt laugh. I ask my colleagues to join with me in remembrance of my dear friend. May his life's work be a reminder in serving the world around us, no matter how big or small.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, there are those who live their lives with distinct intentionality. They have the ability to inspire their communities by bringing innovation and change in their relentless pursuit to make the world a better place. They use their creativity to bring beauty and encourage leaders to reach their fullest potentials. I am saddened by the loss of my friend, Kitty Moon Emery. I was fortunate to have met her early in my career and always appreciated her advice and counsel as she was one of those special leaders. Kitty was a Nashville native who had an endearing love for Tennessee and our country. She worked as one of only two female press secretaries in the Senate under Senator Bill Brock. She later went on to become the Assistant National Director of Advertising for the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan. Kitty was eventually appointed by Secretary Henry Kissinger to a United Nations Advisory Committee. In these spheres she broke many barriers by filling positions that were not traditionally held by women. Kitty was a treasured advisor to many. She served as the chairman for the Metro Sports Authority and played a vital role by serving on many boards including the Country Music Association, the CMA Foundation, the Rotary Club of Nashville, and Leadership Music. More recently she founded the consulting firm Kitty Moon Enterprises to support leaders in the Middle Tennessee Region. Kitty's presence in Nashville will be deeply missed. Her love and devotion to community brought people together and made Tennessee a much better place to live. I rise today to celebrate her lasting achievements and ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring her life.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 423) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand and clarify the prohibition on provision of misleading or inaccurate caller identification information, and for other purposes.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), a new member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the committee report for this legislation from the last Congress. H.R. 423, Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017 background and need for legislation Spoofing is a practice in which a phone number shown on a phone or caller identification device is deliberately falsified, often to portray an official entity such as a government agency or credit card company, typically with malicious intent. Spoofing is a commonly used tool for a number of illegal practices, including phishing for personal information and swatting--calling in a fictitious crime in progress in order to generate a police response. The original Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 prohibits spoofing voice caller identification. However, as communications methods and consumer habits continue to evolve, so too do the attempts by third parties to fraudulently gain personal information for criminal use. Many Americans are now relying on text messaging to stay connected, and this method of communication has become a target for spoofing in much the same way voice calls have been. H.R. 423 extends the provisions of the Truth in Caller ID Act to include text messaging as well as Voice over Internet Protocol services. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Barton, Rep. Lance, and Rep. Meng, also addresses the growth of services that allow users to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information by adding a definition of ``spoofing service'' to the Truth in Caller ID Act. In amending H.R. 423, the Committee significantly changed the definitions of ``text message'' and ``text messaging service.'' The changes are designed to exclude from these definitions those online messaging services that use traditional telephone numbers for the purpose of identifying a user's account, just as other online services may use an email address or username for a similar purpose. The excluded services do not use telephone numbers to interconnect with the public switched telephone network or enable communication with individuals who do not subscribe to the same messaging service. The Committee intends the Commission to devise its rules using the meanings set forth in the legislation. ``Short message service'' and ``multimedia message service'' should be narrowly interpreted consistent with current industry standards (see, e.g., ETSI, Technical Specification, 3GPP TS 23.040 version 12.2.0 Release 12, ETSI TS 123 040 v12.2.0 (Oct. 2014), available at www.etsi.org). The Committee takes notice of the fact that the language set forth in the version of H.R. 423, as ordered reported, is identical to the text relating to the same subject contained in S. 253, the Communications Act Update Act of 2016, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, on September 27, 2016. The House passed S. 253, as amended, by unanimous consent. The foregoing discussion should therefore serve as an explanation of that bill's provisions for purposes of legislative history. section-by-section analysis of the legislation Section 1. Short title This section provides that the Act may be cited as the ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017''. Section 2. Spoofing prevention This section amends the Communications Act to expand the Truth in Caller Act to include text messaging services, as well as communications from outside of the United States. This section defines the terms ``text message,'' ``text messaging service,'' and ``voice service.'' This section also requires the Commission, in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, to develop consumer education materials regarding caller ID scams and technologies that can help consumers protect themselves against fraudulent activity. This section also requires a Government Accountability Office report on the actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission and FTC to combat caller ID fraud.

Mrs. BLACKBURN

Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.