Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 794 provides for consideration of H.R. 5485, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017. The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided between the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The resolution also provides for consideration of 70 amendments to H.R. 5485, and provides the minority the customary motion to recommit. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5485, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017, provides $10.9 billion for the Internal Revenue Service, maintains the current $2.1 billion level for taxpayer services, and provides a further $290 million to improve customer service such as phone call and correspondence response times, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity. For the past several years, the American public has viewed the Federal Internal Revenue Service as one that targets organizations for their political affiliation, slowing down approval for tax-exempt status, and attempting to chill their First Amendment-protected speech. House Republicans have exposed the many violations that have taken place at the Internal Revenue Service, and the bill before us continues to reflect the close eye that Congress continues to have on this agency, reining in their ability to further chill speech by manipulating the Tax Code. To achieve this, the bill includes language that prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from using funds to target specific individuals or groups exercising their First Amendment rights, and further prohibits the White House--under the current administration or the next one, from either political party--from using the Internal Revenue Service to scrutinize their political opponents. This protection of the right to freedom of speech is critical, and, of course, I urge all Members to support it. The bill also provides $1.5 billion for the Securities and Exchange Commission, almost an identical figure to last year's request. The bill keeps the Securities and Exchange Commission focused on critical information technology initiatives and methods to help the Commission better serve investors. It also rescinds the balance of what is known as the Securities and Exchange Commission's reserve fund, a slush fund that was created under the Dodd-Frank law that can be spent by the SEC without congressional oversight. To assist Congress in its constitutionally obligated checks and balances of the executive branch, the bill includes language to increase the oversight of another creation of the Dodd-Frank Act--the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Currently, this agency is wholly unaccountable to the American people as its funding was placed in the Dodd-Frank legislation outside of the yearly appropriations process, leaving little legislative check on that agency. As it exists today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau draws its funds on autopilot directly from the Federal Reserve. This bill would place the CFPB into the regular, annual appropriations process and, in doing so, would increase the transparency and the accountability of its actions and allow for the appropriate oversight from Congress. Additionally, the bill replaces the single-person leadership structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a more balanced, five-person commission that mirrors those of other financial regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the CFTC. The bill also includes $692 million for the Executive Office of the President, which, in addition to providing funds for White House staff, also includes critical funding for drug control efforts, such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and Drug Free Communities Support Programs. In his budget request this year, the President sought to reduce funding for these programs by $70 million. This bill keeps those important programs intact and actually increases their funding by a $5 million mark. The bill further includes a provision that requires the Office of Management and Budget to release information on the expected costs of executive orders and Presidential memoranda. H.R. 5485 also includes $725 million as the Federal payment to the Nation's Capital City, the District of Columbia, which includes funding for public safety resources and security costs as well as $45 million for the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, which is an important program to help children in our Nation's Capital get the education they deserve and to choose the educational path that best fits their needs. The bill includes $7 billion to the Federal court system, which will improve public safety, bolster the security of courtrooms, and improve the speed and efficiency of processing Federal cases. The consideration of appropriations bills each year is the core function of the Congress. With the passage of today's rule, the House will be taking another step in completing that responsibility. I urge support for the rule and for the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I would remind Members that today's rule provides for the consideration of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for the fiscal year 2017. This is an important piece of legislation to fund the Federal Government. I urge support for the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Randy Taylor who is retiring after more than thirty years of dedicated public service with the Lewisville Fire Department. Beginning his career in 1985, Mr. Taylor has served within the Lewisville Fire Department in multiple capacities. He is recognized as a dedicated firefighter and as a knowledgeable mentor to those who have been privileged to work with him. Captain Taylor has been an integral part of the Lewisville Fire Department, and leaves a lasting legacy of excellence and leadership. Mr. Taylor began his career as a volunteer firefighter and was eventually hired full time by the department. After serving 8 years, he was promoted to driver and engineer. His commitment to the department never wavered and after twenty years he earned the rank of captain. He has served at 5 of the 7 LFD stations and he retires as head of station four. He has been a positive influence on the firefighters he has worked with over the years and his service to the city of Lewisville will not soon be forgotten. I am honored to represent Captain Taylor and the city of Lewisville in the U.S. House of Representatives. I salute Captain Taylor for his exemplary career and extend him my best wishes upon his retirement and future endeavors

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fire Chief Danny Thomas who is retiring after 34 years of public service within the town of Trophy Club. The town has benefited immeasurably from his unfaltering dedication, unfailing commitment, and unwavering devotion to the residents he served. Chief Thomas has served in several different capacities and played an integral role in the growth of the Trophy Club Fire Department. Chief Thomas began his career in 1982 as a volunteer firefighter. In 1999 he was hired as a lieutenant and within one month rose to the rank of captain. In 2006 he was promoted to chief and has proudly served the Trophy Club community ever since. Along with his promotion to fire chief he became the emergency management coordinator and fire marshal for the town. Chief Thomas had a vision of growth and safety for this small community and has stayed true to that vision from the beginning. When Chief Thomas began his career Trophy Club only had a volunteer fire department. Today, it is a full time department providing emergency medical and fire rescue services; boasting 16 full-time employees and four volunteers. Much of the significant expansion and the many improvements the fire station has seen can be attributed to Chief Thomas. He oversaw the construction of MUD 1 Fire Station in 2011 and implemented the Citizens Fire Academy and Citizens Emergency Response Team. Chief Thomas brought professional insight and wisdom to his team. His legacy will not be forgotten and his service will have a lasting impact within the department, as well as the Trophy Club community. As Chief Thomas retires, he is highly esteemed by his colleagues and the community he has served for over 30 years. It is my privilege to honor such an outstanding citizen and to serve the town of Trophy Club in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Karen Rue, Superintendent of Schools at Northwest ISD. Dr. Rue is retiring from this leadership position after over ten years of exemplary public service to its students, faculty and staff. During her term as superintendent, Dr. Rue skillfully met the challenges of a rapidly growing school district. Dr. Rue guided NISD's transformation from an educational entity serving 8,700 students in a largely rural area to a more suburban district with an expanded enrollment of more than 21,000. She successfully shepherded the passage of three bond elections, with the overwhelming support of the community, to meet this dynamic growth. During this period, academic performance was increased to ensure that graduates would be equipped for success in higher education and prepared to compete in a global workforce. During Dr. Rue's tenure, the district saw the opening of two new high schools, Byron Nelson, and V.R. Eaton. Additionally, she was instrumental in the implementation of community-based accountability, the expansion of specialized NISD academies and the development of the Outdoor Learning Center. Dr. Rue has been nationally recognized as a leading proponent of the importance of a digital learning environment to equip all students to be ``future ready.'' She was selected to participate in the Connected Superintendents Summit at the White House, was named one of the nation's Top 50 Innovators in Education by the Center for Digital Education and was chosen as a finalist in the eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards program. In addition, she was elected by her peers to serve as president of the Texas Association of School Administrators and was named Region XI Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Rue is also a dedicated community leader, having served as President of the Northwest Communities Partnership and as a director of the 35W Coalition. Cumulatively, Dr. Rue has dedicated 37 years to improving the quality of American public education. She began her impressive career as a 6th grade teacher, then served as Executive Director of Elementary Education at Katy ISD, and as Superintendent of Schools of Tuloso-Miday ISD before assuming her position as superintendent of schools for NISD. I salute Dr. Rue for her exemplary career and extend best wishes upon her retirement and future endeavors. It is my privilege to represent Northwest ISD in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Rue's positive impact and dedicated service to Northwest ISD will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 744 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 744 provides for the consideration of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, and H.R. 5233, Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act of 2016. The rule provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided amongst the majority and minority members of the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources for S. 2012. As S. 2012, as amended, is a comprehensive compilation of energy legislation that has already passed the House, the Committee on Rules made no further amendments in order. However, the rule affords the minority the customary motion to recommit, a final opportunity to amend the legislation should the minority choose to exercise that option. The rule further provides for 1 hour of debate, equally divided between the majority and minority of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on H.R. 5233. No amendments were made in order as the bill is a targeted response to what Members of the House have perceived as an unlawful action taken by the District of Columbia in contravention of the Federal Home Rule Act. The minority is, however, afforded the customary motion to recommit, a final chance to amend the legislation. Finally, the rule contains the standard tools to allow the orderly management of the floor of the House of Representatives during an upcoming district work period. The House amendment to S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, builds on the work of the House. The House has done this work over the past year and a half to update the Nation's energy laws and move the country forward on energy policy. The bills included in this package include work from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Agriculture Committee, Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. While many House committees have had input on this package, Members can feel comfortable that a wide array of opinions and positions are represented in the legislation. This is how the House works its will most effectively, by combining various pieces of legislation into one package. In amending S. 2012, the Senate passed energy legislation. Following passage of S. 2012 in the House, both bodies will be able to begin to conference the differences in the two bills, a further step in the regular order of this bill becoming a law. The legislation will benefit Americans across the country: modernizing our energy infrastructure; expediting and improving forest management; providing for greater opportunities on Federal lands for hunting, fishing, and shooting; and prioritizing science research using Federal taxpayer dollars. S. 2012, as amended, includes various pieces of legislation considered and passed by the House not only in the current 114th Congress, but it also includes many pieces of bipartisan legislation from the 112th and 113th Congresses. A major win for the American people in this package is the provisions allowing for expanded access by sportsmen, fishermen, and recreational shooters to Federal lands, lands that should have always been accessible to all Americans for various legal and constitutional activities. Further, the legislation before us focuses on protecting American interests in a world where uncertainty due to terrorism and unfriendly and unstable regimes in the Middle East threaten American access to reliable sources of energy. We have long believed that America should focus less on relying on foreign energy sources, given the abundance of resources below our very feet across this Nation. Only if Federal policies are aligned with this view, which the House will do with this package, can our country fully focus on becoming energy secure. The second piece of legislation contained in today's rule addresses the House concerns with recent actions taken by the District of Columbia's Mayor and City Council. H.R. 5233, Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act of 2016, repeals the Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act of 2012, a referendum passed in the District of Columbia, which many believe violates both the U.S. Constitution and the Federal Home Rule Act. When the Founding Fathers crafted our Constitution, they acknowledged the special status that the Nation's Capital held and created a special relationship between it and the Federal Government not enjoyed by other States and other localities. While some argue that the District of Columbia should be entirely self-governed, that is not how our Constitution treats the Federal city. Article I, section 8, clause 17 states that the Congress of the United States shall have the power--I am quoting from the Constitution here--``to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings.'' The District of Columbia, falling squarely within the parameters of this clause, is, therefore, subject to Congress' exclusive exercise over its laws. I have no doubt that a strong debate will surround the consideration of H.R. 5233, as we heard in the Committee on Rules last night, but Congress would be relinquishing its duty under the United States Constitution to oversee the governance of the Nation's Capital. Today's rule will allow the House to complete the final two pieces of legislation for the month of May, a month where the House of Representatives has passed legislation to provide funding for our military bases, funding for our veterans, funding for energy and water policies; to provide new authorities and funding to combat the growing threat of the Zika virus; to update our Nation's chemical laws; to provide help to those in this country facing opioid addictions; and to provide tools to our Nation's armed services necessary to keep our citizens safe from the growing threat of terrorism. It has been one of the most productive months of the year for the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. I would remind the House that this energy legislation has worked its way through the House for the last 18 months; and, indeed, the two previous Congresses, multiple committees have had input on this. It has been one of the most thoroughly vetted pieces of legislation. I cannot tell you the number of hearings, the number of markups that I have sat through in the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has had similar treatment over in the Senate. The concept of getting this bill through the House, going to conference with the Senate, this is a good product and is worthy of the support of this body. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, the Founders recognized that, within the District of Columbia, this was a unique entity. But Congress, in its benevolence, granted the District of Columbia limited autonomy in the Home Rule Act of 1973. That autonomy did not extend as far as what the current Mayor and city council envisioned it to. The Home Rule Act maintained the role of the Federal Government in the District's budget process; and, indeed, the Federal Government has had to step in as late as the 1990s because the District had so mismanaged its finances. Then, the District of Columbia Financial Control Board had to be instituted in order to correct the many financial disasters that the District of Columbia government had created for itself. Congress gave the board the power to override the D.C. government where it saw fit. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), from the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where this bill originated.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.