Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2422) to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve essential oral health care for low-income and other underserved individuals by breaking down barriers to care, and for other purposes.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that good oral health is important for all Americans: our children, our seniors, and our families in north Texas and other neighborhoods across the Nation. It affects our ability to speak, eat, and show emotions. Yet, good oral health remains an unmet medical need for many Americans, particularly in rural or underserved communities. Increasing access to vital healthcare services like dental health is a priority for many on the Energy and Commerce Committee. So I am pleased that today the House is again considering H.R. 2422, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2018, following recent action in the Senate. This bill, introduced by Representatives Robin Kelly and Mike Simpson, takes several steps to improve essential oral healthcare for disadvantaged patients by breaking down barriers to care and giving them the dental health treatment and disease prevention services they need through existing Federal dollars. Also, most of us are aware that poor oral health can raise the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. These oral diseases can lead to pain and disability for millions of Americans. It also costs taxpayers and employers billions of dollars each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, the Nation spends more than $124 billion per year on costs related to dental care. More than $6 billion of productivity is lost each year because employees miss work because of dental problems. Poor oral health can even be linked to other chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Many of these conditions can be avoided by simple preventive measures, such as regular cleaning and water fluoridation. Dentists and dental specialists from Texas discussed similar concerns with me during meetings in the district and here in Washington. H.R. 2422 aims to address these issues and has the support of several national dental groups like the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, to name two. Specifically, the bill seeks to reauthorize activities for oral health promotion and disease prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In many rural and underserved regions in Texas, these activities would expand school-based dental sealant programs and further support community water fluoridation. The bill also establishes an Action for Dental Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services to improve oral health education and reduce barriers to oral healthcare by awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to dental associations, health departments, accredited dental education programs, or nonprofit, community-based organizations. These grants and agreements could be used by these eligible entities to collaborate with State or local public health officials, Tribal health officials, oral health professionals, or other appropriate groups to support initiatives under the Action for Dental Health Program. Lastly, this legislation reauthorizes and expands a grant program through the Health Resources and Services Administration for innovative dental programs at over $13 million annually for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. These grants will help States increase their oral health workforce and offer needed dental care in dental health professional shortage areas. Some of the eligible activities for States include establishing dental homes, which refers to comprehensive oral healthcare, for children and adults and creating initiatives to reduce the use of emergency departments for dental services. I believe targeting resources to facilitate the provision of dental services to those in need in addition to improving oral health education will help prevent dental diseases before they start. This will ultimately reduce medical complications, emergency room visits, and poor dental health outcomes in underserved communities, not only in Texas but across the United States. Benjamin Franklin once famously stated that ``an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'' We can heed those famous words by passing H.R. 2422 today and sending it to the President's desk. I urge all Members to support this important and bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hal C. Lawrence III, M.D. After eleven years of service, Dr. Lawrence recently retired as the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. During his tenure at ACOG, Dr. Lawrence led the organization's work to support OB/GYNS, advance health care, and strengthen ACOG's position within the health care industry. Earlier in his career, Dr. Lawrence was a practicing OB/GYN in Asheville, North Carolina from 1979 to 2007. As a fellow physician, I thank Dr. Lawrence for his long service to OB/GYNs and American patients. I am grateful for his partnership as we worked toward shared goals, and congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Geraldine Sams, who passed away earlier this year. Although she was born and raised in Connecticut, Mrs. Sams leaves a strong legacy of compassion and dedication to North Texas. Mrs. Sams will be remembered for her long service to her fellow Americans. After earning her undergraduate degree at Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, Mrs. Sams spent ten years as a social worker at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Later in 1979, she moved to Texas and continued to work at both the Denton State Supported Living Center and Lewisville Medical Center. In 1991, Mrs. Sams founded Geri- Options Geriatric Care Management, through which she helped countless North Texans and their families. In 2006, she pioneered Stepping Stones, a program to provide care for adults with dementia and support for their caregivers. Thanks to its success, the program has become a joint program with Texas Women's University School of Occupational Therapy, where Mrs. Sams taught courses for students studying social work. Throughout her life, Mrs. Sams exemplified commitment to compassionate care. As an active member of the North Texas community, she was a founding member of AIDS of Denton and the South Central Chapter of the Aging Life Care Association. Mrs. Sams also was an active member of Health Services of North Texas and the Alzheimer's Advisory Board. For her efforts, she was recognized with awards from both the National Association of Social Work and Health Services of North Texas. I am deeply grateful for Geraldine Sams' long service, which touched the lives of North Texans and Americans around the country. On behalf of the 26th District of Texas, I recognize her significant contributions to our region, and express my condolences to her family and all who knew her.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Volpi of Lone Star Analysis, who will retire in December. His career leaves an indelible mark on the State of Texas and our nation. Born and raised in Chicago, John moved to Texas after graduate school at Michigan State. He joined Texas Instruments where he helped usher in modern radar technologies including low level terrain following, and he was a leader in commercial electronics including low cost LORAN. John's teams created technologies that we all depend on today. He led the creation of miniaturized high-performance GPS. He led the development of smart cell phone antennas needed for 4G and 5G base stations. John was perhaps the most important influence at a critical point when DoD decided whether to use GPS for weapons. Today, we assume JDAM and many other smart munitions use GPS. That might not have happened without John's influence. John is an expert in intellectual property. He holds a large number of patents, awarded and pending. He was a key voice in the patent strategy at Texas Instruments, and later at Raytheon. He left the world of large corporations to become Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Incucomm Inc., a business incubator. Incucomm played a critical role in the successful launch of several companies and touched more than 300 tech startups in North Texas. One of the companies born in that incubator was Lone Star Analysis, where John now serves as CTO. In 2012, John was awarded the Tech Titans Award for Corporate CTO by the DFW Metroplex Technology Business Counsel out of a pool of 4,000 firms. The Tech Titans Award was only one of many awards and accolades he has earned over his illustrious career. In addition to his achievements, John has been an important mentor and teacher in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. John led Lone Star's internship program for many years. In some cases, he personally tutored young engineering students. His commitment was ``none of our interns will fail any of their classes.'' He has been an asset for North Texas universities and their students. In fact, he personally has taught nearly all the new employees at Lone Star. John leaves a legacy of excellence, compassion, and impact. Texas and our nation are better places because of the life he has led. I am grateful for his service, and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and memory of Vail Johnson, a young girl from my district who passed away unexpectedly on August 31, 2016 from a heart condition. Two years after her death, the North Texas community is continuing to honor her life through the work of Friends of Vail. This foundation, established by Vail's parents Susan and Chad Chance, has dedicated a new outdoor classroom at the Pilot Point intermediate school in her memory. Through the Friends of Vail foundation, her family has donated funds to other community needs both large and small. The foundation's work is a testament to an extraordinary child. As a fourth-grade student at Pilot Point Elementary School, Vail was known for kindness and generosity. She loved horses, softball, and the color green. A bright student and writer, Vail also competed nationally as an equestrian and began playing softball. Two years after her loss, Vail Johnson is remembered as a girl who brought love and joy to others wherever she went. She is deeply missed, and her generous spirit will not be forgotten. I extend my deepest condolences to her family, and all who knew and loved her.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Dr. Andrew Torget, a history professor at the University of North Texas, on his record-breaking accomplishment. This summer, he set out to teach the entire history of Texas in one continuous lecture. Dr. Torget's passion for the Portal to Texas History motivated him to use his world record lecture to raise money for the preservation of historic documents. During this very long lecture, Dr. Torget taught the history of the Lone Star State, from prehistoric times to present day. Speaking for 26 hours straight, Dr. Torget raised nearly $20,000 to help chronicle and preserve the history of Texas. Through social media coverage and a live-stream of the event, people as far away as Ireland heard the stories of our great State. As an alum of the University of North Texas, I am particularly honored to congratulate him on this world-renowned achievement. It is an honor to represent Dr. Torget and the University of North Texas, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Effie Ruth Webb McQueen of Denton, Texas and honor her for founding the Denton Gospelaires fifty years ago. In 1968, Sister McQueen, along with eight members, organized the Christian singing group that still performs to this day. The Denton Gospelaires was the first gospel quartet to be organized in the City of Denton. Its members have shown continued dedication to their faith by ministering through music over the last 50 years. Founding member Sister McQueen and original member Sister Mabel Deveraux continue to travel and perform with the group. On behalf of the constituents of the 26th Congressional District of Texas, it is my honor to join the Denton City Council in celebrating October 12, 2018 as ``Effie Ruth Webb McQueen Day.'' I congratulate Sister McQueen and the Denton Gospelaires on reaching this momentous milestone, and I hope they continue to share the gospel through their music for many years to come.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of North Texas Student Health and Wellness Center on the 100th Anniversary of its founding on October 3, 1918. Since 2007, the health center has operated from Chestnut Hall, a state-of-the-art facility that serves current student health needs. Its home at Chestnut Hall reflects both the improvements in care and the growth of the UNT community that have occurred over the past 100 years. The health center has a long history. It first opened in 1918 as the sanitarium for the Student Army Training Corps students, constructed by the federal government as an emergency hospital for student soldiers training for World War I during the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic. It served five patients on its opening day, and was only able to provide care for eight patients at a time at its initial W. Mulberry Street location. Although the hospital closed November 11, 1918, North Texas State Normal College purchased the equipment through a $1 fee from all students and staff, relocating the hospital in September 1919 to the corner of Avenue B and Sycamore Street under the supervision of a nurse, Adolphine Grabbe. Dr. L.O. Hayes was hired as head of the hospital in August 1930 and became the first full-time physician on staff. Facility improvements were also made that year, including a steam pressure sterilizer and clinical laboratory. In 1933, the hospital was relocated to a new fifty-bed building on campus that was equipped with an x-ray machine and allowed treatment of first-aid, surgery and care for both contagious and non-contagious diseases. A new hospital with air conditioning was constructed in 1957, allowing for space on the 2nd floor to be closed-off for an isolation ward. A remodel in 1975 converted the hospital from an inpatient facility to an outpatient facility, and added additional capacity to provide critical health services. The groundbreaking for Chestnut Hall, approved by a student referendum on the 35,000 student campus, was held in 2005. The 74,000 square foot building currently boasts a digital x-ray machine, extensive laboratory, treatment rooms, immunization rooms, urgent care rooms, twenty-nine exam rooms, wellness resources center, pharmacy and space for administrative staff. In August 2018, the center received reaccreditation through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). This is a prestigious honor that serves as a reminder of the high quality of care provided to meet the health needs of a 38,000 student campus. As a physician, I understand the dedication of those called to a medical career, as well as the satisfaction that comes from helping patients. I offer my sincere appreciation to Dr. Herschel Voorhees and the center's dedicated team for their efforts to provide outstanding care each day. Thank you for all you do to enhance the lives of students, faculty, and staff at UNT. I join you in celebration of the accomplishments of the center's first 100 years, and the standard you have set for those who follow in the next 100 years

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Mr. Charles Weldon Burgoon. A lifelong cowboy, dedicated volunteer, and local businessman, Mr. Burgoon recently passed away at the age of 88. A beloved member of the community, Mr. Burgoon was the owner of Weldon's Saddle Shop and Western Wear where he sold belts, saddles, and other handmade leather accessories until he retired in January of 2017. Mr. Burgoon grew up in Denton County and began riding horses when he was just three years old. He began training Shetland ponies as a child, and joined and competed in many rodeos across Texas until 1992. He and his wife Joy met as students at Denton High School, and were married in Green Valley, Texas in 1950. Throughout his life, Mr. Burgoon dedicated much of his time to serving his fellow North Texans. Even after his retirement, Mr. Burgoon continued to dedicate his time to the youth of Denton County. He served on numerous organizations in Denton including the Denton County Livestock Association and Youth Fair, North Texas High School Rodeo Association, United Way of Denton County, and the Methodist Church Men's group. Mr. Weldon Burgoon was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2010 and the National Bit, Spur and Saddle Collectors Association in 2012. As a lifelong North Texan, renowned cowboy, and businessman, Weldon Burgoon selflessly served the entire Denton community for more than 60 years. He will be deeply missed, and his impact on the Denton community will not be forgotten. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Joy, their family, and all who knew and loved him.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6 is by far the most comprehensive legislation to address this national crisis. While more work remains--and I am the first to admit it--it provides meaningful solutions and vital resources for our States and localities. Many of the priorities developed by the Energy and Commerce Committee are included in H.R. 6, like the 21st Century Tools for Pain and Addiction Treatment Act, partially repealing the institutions for mental disease exclusion and strengthening interagency coordination at our international mail facilities so that, perhaps, once and for all, we can do something about this poison coming into our country from eastern Asia to the detriment of our citizens. I believe H.R. 6 could have been stronger. It could have included language aligning 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA. That stand-alone bill received 357 votes in this House. And I promise you, you will see it again. I am concerned about expanding prescriptive authority for nonphysicians, and I hope we will be able to look at that again in the future. But I cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I urge our Members to support this product today.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, one century ago, our country was in the midst of the worst pandemic in history. It claimed the lives of almost 700,000 Americans and killed more than 50 million people worldwide. Mr. Speaker, we listened to testimony; we discussed aspects of this legislation before us today; and it is critical that we remember the significance of the centennial anniversary of the 1918 influenza pandemic as we consider this legislation today. The creation of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under the original legislation of 2006 has helped us to make monumental strides in preparedness, coordination, and response. Close collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration and our State, local, and territorial public health partners has been vital in making this progress. Much like politics, much of public health is local and executed on the ground by our hospitals, our health departments, and our emergency responders, who are our front lines in addressing infectious diseases, disasters, and threats. We must evaluate the domestic biological surveillance systems, such as BioWatch. This bill will help bring those programs up to date so they are operating with the most efficient capabilities and technologies. We must also look for innovative ways to continue to advance our medical countermeasures and ensure that Americans can access the medications that will provide critical protection in the future. As we consider the problem of antimicrobial resistance in this country, we must discuss new methods to curb this growing problem. It is important to note that this reauthorization bill is being heard on the floor of the House prior to the expiration of the fiscal year, at which time the current authorization expires. The House, once again, has done its work in this regard, and we do urge our counterparts in the Senate to do their work as well. This reauthorization includes an important provision: The MISSION ZERO Act. The MISSION ZERO Act seeks to connect American patients with battle-tested trauma care through the craft of military trauma care providers. The bill provides grants to allow military trauma care providers and teams to offer care in our Nation's leading trauma centers and systems. The need for top-notch trauma care extends across our Nation, far away from the battlefield. I first introduced this bipartisan bill with my fellow Texan, Representative Gene Green, following a police shooting in Dallas 2 years ago. Over 2 years ago, five police officers were killed and nine more were injured in a shooting in downtown Dallas. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, area hospitals sprung into action and activated their disaster plans. The staff at Parkland Hospital, Baylor University Hospital, and other medical professionals provided excellent emergency care to victims of the attack. Frontline facilities and responders in Dallas experienced this firsthand in 2014 when a patient presented with Ebola to a Dallas-Ft. Worth emergency department. We must remember that infectious diseases are a mere plane ride away, and we must continue to ensure that we are prepared and ready to respond to emerging infectious diseases worldwide. This Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act is critical to protecting the lives of Americans and providing the necessary tools and infrastructure when disaster strikes. I want to thank Representative Susan Brooks and Anna Eshoo for their work on this legislation before us today. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2553) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit health plans and pharmacy benefit managers from restricting pharmacies from informing individuals regarding the prices for certain drugs and biologicals.

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

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2553, the Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018. This bill would prohibit health plans and pharmacy benefit managers under Medicare or Medicare Advantage from restricting pharmacies from informing individuals about prices for certain drugs and biologics at the pharmacy counter, a practice commonly referred to as a gag clause. These clauses prohibit pharmacists from informing patients that paying in cash will result in lower out-of-pocket costs than the insurer's cost-sharing arrangement unless the patient directly asks. This is a policy that the Energy and Commerce Committee has pursued in H.R. 6733, the Know the Cost Act of 2018. We held a legislative hearing and a markup in the Health Subcommittee before ultimately passing the bill out of the full committee. Once again, I want to commend Representative Buddy Carter for championing this policy. His bill would have banned gag clauses in group and commercial health insurance plans, as well as for prescription drug plan sponsors for Medicare part D, or Medicare Advantage plans. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 6733, I believe these bills banning gag clauses are essential in both lowering drug costs for individuals and freeing pharmacists to do what many consider to be the right thing. I am surprised Congress has not acted sooner to ban health insurance plans from using gag clauses. I am glad to see these bills on the House floor today. This will allow pharmacists to look out for their patients' pocketbooks and help them get their medications at the lowest possible price. This bipartisan policy has been a shared priority for many Members on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Our Senate counterparts had a shared interest in this sound and reasonable policy, and recently advanced it out of their Chamber. The issue of gag clauses was further brought up to the forefront by the Trump administration's drug pricing blueprint which was released this May. The President proposed eliminating gag clauses as a solution in his plan to address rising drug prices. I, too, believe that allowing pharmacists to disclose the cost-saving potential of paying out-of-pocket to patients at the point of sale is an important piece of the drug pricing puzzle. While gag clauses are already prohibited in Medicare through regulation, it makes sense that we protect our seniors by putting this language in statute and sending S. 2553 to the President's desk. This legislation should serve as an example of how the House and the Senate can work together to accomplish a goal to swiftly pass and send to the President for his signature. There have been news stories across the country from the New York Times--two investigations in my market--and CBS 11 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area about how consumers can save money at the pharmacy counter by getting around gag clauses and directly asking their pharmacist: Is this cheaper for me to pay cash and not use my insurance? Kelly Selby, a community pharmacist and pharmacy owner in north Texas, has told me about the problems that gag clauses cause at his own pharmacy. He says that a gag clause has a chilling effect as a pharmacy owner and a pharmacist, and that the pharmacy benefit managers will call you after you break a gag clause and threaten you with canceling their contract. Even if pharmacists have what is in the best interest to their customers at heart, Mr. Selby told me that, overnight, he could lose 40 percent of his business, taken away by the power of pharmacy benefit managers. It is unfair for pharmacists across our country like Kelly to have to choose between hiding useful cost information from their patients and losing their other contacts. Eliminating gag clauses is an integral part of driving down healthcare costs and prescription drug prices, an issue that hits home with each and every one of our constituents. It may not solve the entire drug pricing dilemma, but it is an essential piece. When this bill becomes law, it will make a real difference in the lives of patients across the country. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 2553, and I urge fellow Members to support this legislation. Let's send it to the President's desk for his signature. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary work of Chief of Police Russ Kerbow of the Lewisville Police Department. Chief Kerbow recently retired from the Lewisville Police Department after spending more than 40 years serving his hometown. He began his career in 1977 as a Reserve Officer before rising through the ranks in various areas of the department. Nearly thirty years later, in May 2007, he was appointed Chief of Police. As a North Texas leader in law enforcement, Chief Kerbow is well respected by his colleagues and the residents of Lewisville, Texas. Before joining the Lewisville Police Department, Chief Kerbow graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He attended the School of Police Supervision at the Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute, the Command Management School, and the 197th Session of the National FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Kerbow holds a Master Peace Officers License and is the regional director for Region 8 of the Texas Police Chiefs Association. Outside of his law enforcement career, Chief Kerbow actively serves or has served on a number of North Texas non-profit organizations' boards such as CASA of Denton County, the Heroes of Denton County, Lewisville ISD Education Foundation, and Lewisville Rotary. Chief Kerbow has devoted more than four decades to protecting and serving his neighbors, putting strangers' safety above his own. He has made significant contributions to the Lewisville Police Department and our North Texas community. I am deeply grateful for Chief Kerbow's service to the City of Lewisville, and wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary work of Chief of Police Debra Walthall, who retired from the City of Corinth, Texas on August 21, 2018. Chief Walthall has spent her 35-year professional career in law enforcement as a committed leader to each community she has served. Chief Walthall became the Chief of Police for the City of Corinth's Police Department in 2008. During her tenure as leader of the Corinth Police Department, she facilitated open communication and enhanced transparency with the citizenry through the Citizen's Police Academy, the Volunteer Policing Program, and the personal daily interaction of Corinth Officers within the community. Under her leadership, the department has been recognized for compliance with Texas Police Chief's Best Law Enforcement Practices through the Texas Police Chief's Association. Before coming to Corinth, Chief Walthall began her career in law enforcement as a Detention Officer in the Collin County Sheriff's Department in 1978. She later joined the Allen Police Department to serve as a patrol officer, criminal investigator, narcotics investigator, field training officer, and SWAT member, rising through the ranks to Deputy Chief. Chief Walthall graduated from the Regional Police Academy in Arlington, Texas in 1986, and holds a Master Police Officer Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice, and is a 2002 graduate of the FBI National Academy--Session 211, the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute, and the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration. I am deeply grateful for Chief Walthall's dedicated public service and significant contributions to the City of Corinth and North Texas, and wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Morris Salerno, owner of BISTECCA--An Italian Steakhouse, of Highland Village, Texas as he returns from supporting the United States team as they competed for the title of Global Chef 2018. Morris assisted the United States team as Manager/Mentor for the team headed by Chef Patrick Mitchell at the Global Chefs Challenge in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. Held every two years, the competition, attended by chefs from more than 100 countries, was hosted at Asia on Plate--Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2018. The final competition required the preparation and presentation of a four-course menu of twelve servings within an allotted five hour time. Twenty teams, represented by a chef and an assistant, pitted their menu and preparation skills against each other for evaluation by a jury of senior judges representing the Worldchefs Culinary Committee. Chefs and their teams applied their own creative interpretations to a variety of assigned products and proteins from around the world. Each team was judged on five elements: Mise-En-Place, Professional Preparation, Service, Presentation and Taste. As Manager/Mentor, Morris personally won a gold medal in the 2014 Expogast Culinary Competition in Luxembourg, and a bronze medal in the 2012 competition as part of Team Texas at the Culinary Olympics. Chef Mitchell also won a gold medal in 2014 at Luxembourg, resulting in two of the 14 total gold awards presented at the competition returning to Texas. In supporting Chef Mitchell as Manager/Mentor in preparation for Global Chef 2018, Morris provided not only his guidance and experience as an accomplished international culinary competitor, but also his time and talents in hosting fundraising dinners for the team's competition expenses. I offer these comments in appreciation of Chef Salerno for his professionalism and support of the United States Team in Kuala Lumpur and other competitions abroad. I also want to recognize him for his years of service to the constituents and communities of the 26th District. Through his art, craft, and partnership with his brother Mike Salerno, North Texans have had the opportunity to enjoy world-class meals and service for more than 30 years at Highland Village's The Grotto and BISTECCA--An Italian Steakhouse and at the Flower Mound Salerno's. I thank Morris and all of the Salerno family for their service, and wish them success.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor of the House today to talk about an issue that has been in the headlines a lot recently. Every month, more than 30,000 people come across our border, our southern border, without the benefit of a legal status. Now, there is no doubt that there are more people in those 30,000, but 30,000 are what are identified by our Customs and Border Protection personnel on the border. Thousands upon thousands of these are unaccompanied children. The end result is many of them reside in shelters and they are cared for by American taxpayer dollars. Some others are less fortunate, and they end up being released into dangerous situations. I think all Americans can agree that we want our immigration system to work, and maybe we want it to be better. But as we consider this crisis on our southern border, it is fair to ask: How did we arrive at this point? First off, just from the numbers, America is the most generous country in the world. Through our Nation's legal immigration process, we welcome well over a million immigrants into the United States of America every year. That is more than every other nation on the face of the Earth combined. And, just to be clear, these are people who go through the correct process and follow our laws. Despite this generosity, others remain intent on entering our country without the full benefit of legal status. Congress continues to grapple with immigration reform, and particularly the question of what to do with unaccompanied minors and those who come into this country as small children and then age into the system. I actually asked the Congressional Research Service: How do other countries deal with this population of children, identified as Dreamers, how do other countries deal with this population? Well, their answer was pretty short. Other countries don't. If someone is found coming into their country without the benefit of legal status--man, woman, or child--they are returned to their point of origin. They do not keep anyone in that status, in that category. So, again, America is the most generous country in the world, and we have the most significant problem with immigration without the benefit of legal status. Over the past couple of weeks, we have heard intense criticism of the Trump administration of a zero-tolerance policy. We have heard Members of Congress opine, both at the border and here on the floor of the House, about the misfortune of those who have crossed into our country without the benefit of citizenship. From the news, you would know that this is a terrible situation. So, enforcement first; is that a bad thing? Well, that is what the administration is supposed to do. And there is significant proof that an enforcement first policy does deter people from subjecting themselves to harm by taking a perilous trip to the American border, whether it be by land or by sea. For example, when General Kelly was the Secretary of Homeland Security, before he became Chief of Staff for the White House, he visited our Texas border in May of 2017. Those Border Patrol stations were virtually unoccupied at the time. In June of 2017, a Reuters journalist, Julia Edwards Ainsley, reported on the decreased number of border crossings. She writes--and, bear in mind, this is just over a year ago: Last fall, during the waning months of the Obama administration, hundreds of immigrants crossed the river on rafts at this point each day, many willingly handing themselves over to immigration authorities in hopes of being released into the United States to await court proceedings that would decide their fate. Now, the agents look out on an empty landscape. Footpaths up from the water have started to disappear under growing brush, with only the stray baby shoe or toothbrush serving as reminders of that migrant flood. The reason for the change, the agents say, is a perception in Mexico and Central America that President Donald Trump has ended the practice known as ``catch and release,'' in which immigrants caught in the United States without proper documents were released to live free, often for years, as their cases ran through the court system. Now, would-be border violators know ``they'll be detained and then turned right back around,'' said one of the two agents, Marlene Castro. ``It's not worth it anymore,'' she said. What had happened between the end of the Obama administration and the first year of the Trump administration? When people believe that they will encounter a border wall, or that they will be turned away at the border, people simply do not come. However, our laws are effective only if they are enforced. As General Kelly said at the time: For changes to be permanent, Congress must change the law. He went on to say: If Congress does not want us to enforce the law, they should change the law. So, every night, when you are listening to the news, you might believe that this is the first time in American history that a Presidential administration has used an enforcement first, or a so- called ``zero-tolerance'' policy. But let's think about this for a minute and turn the clock back to 1992. In the early 1990s, rafts of immigrants from the country of Haiti were bound for the United States and were intercepted at sea, as authorized by a policy enacted by President George H. W. Bush's administration. A young Governor from Arkansas was running for President against the incumbent George H.W. Bush, and, what a surprise, the campaign rhetoric became divisive. Then-Governor Clinton, time and again, spoke of his disagreement with then-President Bush's zero-tolerance immigration policy. During his campaign, Governor Clinton often maligned President Bush for being so cruel in his treatment of Haitian refugees traveling to America by boat. The rhetoric then was the same as the rhetoric now: You have put a closed sign on the Statue of Liberty, or you have hung up a no vacancy sign on the border of the United States. During his campaign, some people feared that Governor Clinton was creating unrealistic expectations for the Haitian people, who were suffering significantly from unrest in their country. As Douglas Farah wrote in the New York Times article titled ``Clinton Inspires Hope and Fear in Haiti'' on November 28, 1992: It was Mr. Clinton who helped create the expectation of an exodus from Haiti when he condemned the Bush administration for a ``cruel policy of returning Haitian refugees to a brutal dictatorship without an asylum hearing.'' Now, we all know that Governor Clinton won the Presidential election in 1992. From Governor Clinton's promises, the people of Haiti expected to be welcomed into the United States with open arms. The problem is that after winning the White House, President-elect Clinton had a change of heart. Now, I will read from some of President-elect Clinton's remarks, and this was spoken directly to the people of Haiti over the radio on Voice of America. For Haitians who do seek to leave Haiti, boat departure is a terrible and dangerous choice. I've been deeply concerned by reports that many of you are preparing to travel by boat to the United States. And, I fear that boat departures in the near future would result in further tragic losses of life. For this reason, the practice of returning those who flee Haiti by boat will continue for the time being after I become President. Those who do leave Haiti for the United States by boat will be stopped and directly returned by the United States Coast Guard. To avoid the human tragedy of a boat exodus, I wanted to convey this message directly to the Haitian people: Leaving by boat is not the route to freedom. Now, this dramatic change of heart did not go without notice. On January 17, 1993, the Chicago Tribune columnist Stephen Chapman wrote: The President-elect has a terrible time making up his mind and keeping it made up. A lot of Haitians are disappointed to find he's something less than a man of his word. They're not the only ones. As you can see from this story, border security is not a new debate. Zero-tolerance policies do go back far longer than the current administration. Now, just before I leave this topic, I want to thank the Library of Congress and the National Archives for their work in helping me track down this now long-forgotten radio address. But I do think it is useful as we consider our current situation, and I am grateful to them for their work to uncover this recording from their archives. It actually was easier to find evidence of the zero-tolerance policy in effect during the Carter administration. There was a phenomena known as the Mariel boatlift. Fidel Castro, solving a problem he had internally in his country, opened the doors to his prisons and some of his asylums. He sent criminals and patients suffering from mental diseases through the straits of Florida and he left Jimmy Carter's administration to grapple with a Cuban refugee crisis. In a 1997 interview, former Deputy Secretary of State John A. Bushnell recalled a meeting with President Carter in which he and other key advisers discussed possible solutions to the Cuban refugee problem. He said: I remember sitting in that windowless conference room of the National Security Council with Secretary of State Muskie, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Director of the CIA, the head of the Coast Guard, the head of Immigration and Naturalization Service, and several other senior officials debating how to stop this flow of Cubans. National Security Advisor Brzezinski chaired until President Carter came in toward the end of the meeting. There was a long discussion of how Coast Guard and Navy ships might physically stop the Cuban boats, either from leaving the United States or returning. The Navy and the Coast Guard, represented at this meeting by admirals, asked: ``How can we do this?'' It was suggested that these boats could be rammed or shot at. The Navy and Coast Guard said that it would be very difficult to stop these boats physically from leaving the United States or from returning without major loss of life among the boat crews and passengers. I guess Secretary Muskie was something of a sailor. He certainly knew a lot more about boats than I did. He was suggesting ways of maneuvering boats to block passage, which struck me as sort of wild. It sounded to me as if he had in mind a picket line of Coast Guard and Navy boats going across the straits of Florida to stop the movement of these small boats with refugees. This naval discussion went on for a long time, but was inconclusive. Well, from this interview, we understand that President Carter's administration was contemplating how to physically stop Cuban boats from coming to the United States. More recently, President Obama's administration faced a crisis in 2014. There was a flood of unaccompanied minors who came across our southern border from countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala. There is no question that President Obama's dangerous catch and release policies helped to bring us to this point. President Carter, President Clinton, President Obama, they all learned the same lesson. It is inhumane and dangerous to encourage anyone to attempt a harrowing journey by land or sea in order to reach America's borders. But I do want to emphasize some important points moving forward. First off, under the jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, we do oversee the Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. Over the last 5 years, I have made 10 trips to the border to visit these Office of Refugee Resettlement facilities. In the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to visit shelters in Tornillo and McAllen and Brownsville, all on the Texas border. I can tell you this: The shelters are in excellent condition. The men and women of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the men and women who work in the nonprofit organizations who help in those endeavors, they do an excellent job. The children receive professional care from the exemplary HHS employees. Children were living in a healthy environment. Children were playing on a soccer field with artificial turf. In McAllen, at Casa Padre, I witnessed the same thing. Regardless of what you are hearing on the news and from our friends on the other side of the dais here in the House of Representatives, the Department of Health and Human Services is providing outstanding care to the minors in its custody. This was not always the case. Back in 2014, I made other trips to ORR facilities early in what was then the Obama administration's unaccompanied alien minors crisis. The children, when I visited the shelters in 2014, they didn't have access to a doctor. There were no medical personnel. Today, they have access to the full range of medical facilities and mental health resources, and the children are being screened for communicable diseases. This is important. These children are likely to be placed with families in the United States. They are likely to attend schools with those families where they are placed. Certainly illnesses such as tuberculosis need to be screened for and ruled out before those children are placed with families in the interior of the United States. Today, children have a way to contact back to the Department of Health and Human Services, or the office of oversight, the Office of Refugee Resettlement after they have been placed. In 2014, when I visited those shelters, there was no way--if a child ended up in a situation that was not just not agreeable, but perhaps dangerous for the child, they were not given any means of contacting back to ORR once they left Federal custody. And, unfortunately, we know now that some children were not placed in loving homes but, rather, fell victims to trafficking or other abuse. Now, because of the House Republicans who serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, if children need help after they leave a shelter, they do, indeed, have a lifeline. These are helpful resources for those who are entrusted to Federal care. This afternoon, I want to thank and commend Secretary Alex Azar and his team at Health and Human Services for their work, yes, to reunite children with verified family members and for children who have come across the border without any other visible means of support, who are then taken care of by the men and women of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and, of course, the generosity of the American taxpayer. The people at HHS are taking the appropriate care to ensure that children released from their custody will be placed safely. My primary goal still remains to secure the border. Yes, this would be a problem that would be much better prevented than managed after it occurs, but there remains a problem with unaccompanied minors crossing the border without the benefit of citizenship. All the time that that does occur, we must do our best to ensure that they are safe when they are in the custody of the men and women of Health and Human Services. Again, I want to stress, when it comes to immigration, the United States of America is the most generous country in the world. But is it okay, is it all right for us to allow 30,000 people to enter our country illegally each month? Is it okay, is it all right to allow 13,000 children to enter our country illegally each month? Is it all right for us to subject these innocent children to a dangerous journey? Is it all right for us to continue to encourage and monetize child traffickers and coyotes who bring these children across central Mexico? President Trump has said that the highest sovereign duty of the President is to defend this Nation, and that includes the defense of the borders. Quite simply, sovereign countries must define and defend their borders. I believe that America is a country worth defending, so, ultimately, we are going to have to solve this problem. From experiences, both recent and throughout history, we do know that rhetoric matters, and President Trump's enforcement first policy should not come as a surprise to anyone. As the President, current President campaigned, he promised to end the catch and release program and restore order on the southern border. The traffickers and coyotes in Central America use our words, our words spoken here on the floor of this House, in Washington, D.C. They use our words to prey on the disadvantaged in Central American countries, and they encourage families to put their children on top of a freight train, a train called La Bestia, from southern Mexico to the Rio Grande, and subject their children to violence of the cartels or worse. And these are children, some of whom will never arrive in the United States because of the dangers on that journey. When we say, or even suggest, that children could receive amnesty at the border, we put innocent lives at risk. We can be compassionate and we can provide a secure border at the same time. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive. In 1980, I previously quoted former Deputy Secretary of State John A. Bushnell, and let me quote him again. He recalled that Congress, that year, appropriated over $400 million to assist holding and settling Cuban refugees in the United States. Reflecting on that time, here's what he said: ``I used this appropriation as a key example of why foreign aid through the Caribbean Group was a good investment. It was much better to help our neighbors build a good economic future for themselves at home than to have a flood of desperate refugees, which would cost more money to settle.'' Madam Speaker, I would ask my colleagues in the House if it would not be wise to consider former Deputy Secretary of State John Bushnell's reasoning. Perhaps our foreign aid to countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and even Mexico, should be tied to how they care for their children. Here is the deal: Why should we reward those countries whose children are fleeing for their safety to the United States of America? It is certainly something to consider, particularly as we consider the foreign operations appropriations that we will likely have on the floor of the House when this House reconvenes in September. As we have heard today, it is simply irresponsible. It is inhumane for the American Government to incentivize anyone, to subject their citizens, the children of their citizens, to this perilous journey to our border. This was a lesson that President Clinton learned; it was a lesson that President Carter learned; and it was a lesson that President Obama learned; and, unfortunately, each of them learned it a little bit late. But we have an opportunity. We could end this broken pattern. We could find a solution. First is to secure the borders, and second is to use our foreign aid to encourage those countries to take care of their children first and to not count on the generosity of the American taxpayer to continue to do the job that they refuse to do at home. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.