Mo Brooks

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Nell Long on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Nell Long was born in Alabama's Oak Grove community on July 12, 1920. Her family settled in Alabama long before that. Nell grew up during the Great Depression, so she possesses a toughness and tenacity that only true hardship can produce. Nell worked hard to help her family as a girl. She harvested cotton with her father and preserved food with her mother. Nell went on to finish high school, most notably, in the light of an oil lamp--electricity did not come to Oak Grove until 1935. At nineteen, Nell married James Long and started a family They had three beautiful children. As an active mother, Nell volunteered as a substitute teacher, a 4-H Club leader, in the PTA, and on local campaigns. She worked in her children's school lunchroom. She did all this in addition to helping James on their farm. Nell and James were committed to conservation in Madison County and the fruits of their labor can still be seen in our community today. In 1986, Nell was named Madison County Woman of the Year for dedicated service in the community and church. After James' passing, Nell has remained active in the community. She is a member of the local Homemaker's Club, Hunt Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and of Owens Cross Roads Church of Christ. She has inspired scores with her dedication to improving the lives of others. Madam Speaker, the Tennessee Valley is fortunate to have such an exemplary citizen for 100 years. Nell Long's unwavering hard work, strong family values, and unshakable faith embody the best of our community. I wish Nell and her entire family the very best as they celebrate Nell's centennial birthday.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I will never vote to give Washington, D.C., separate statehood status. Washington, D.C., is a city, not a State. Its population is roughly one-seventh that of Alabama. To add perspective, giving D.C. statehood is the equivalent of giving Jefferson County, Alabama, or the Tennessee Valley separate statehood status. That is nuts. History is in order. The District of Columbia originally was 100 square miles, 10-miles square. Part of D.C. was in Maryland; part was in Virginia. In 1847, the Virginia part of the District of Columbia was given back to Virginia, leaving only the Maryland portion of D.C. still in D.C. These former D.C., now Virginia, residents gained the right to vote on U.S. Senators once Senators became elected rather than appointed. If D.C. residents want to vote on U.S. Senators, fine. That can be done by following historical precedence and giving the residential portion of D.C. back to Maryland, keeping the Federal Government portion, the Capitol, White House, monuments, The Mall, Federal buildings, and the like in D.C. But this option won't be offered by Democrats because they don't care one twit about D.C. residents voting on U.S. Senators. Rather, their goal is to have two more guaranteed leftwing Senators. If offered, I will vote to return residential portions of D.C. to Maryland, thus giving D.C. citizens the power to vote on Maryland's two U.S. Senators. That option is consistent with historical precedence. But I will never vote to give a single middling-size city the same political power as one of America's great 50 States. I will never support this sham that is motivated by crass partisan political power, not a desire to let citizens of the District of Columbia vote on U.S. Senators.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, after ably and honorably serving as my chief of staff for more than 9 years, Mark Pettitt will retire in June. Mark has provided exceptional leadership, and I've greatly benefited from having him as my chief advisor. I will miss his sound and candid guidance. When asked how he came to be my chief of staff, Mark will often reply, ``I complained about politics too many times to an old friend.'' That is only partly true. Really, it was Mark's deeply ingrained sense of patriotism that led him to Capitol Hill. Mark's tenure as chief of staff caps an already exemplary career as a successful private sector engineer. For Mark, there are few more patriotic acts than simply working hard and contributing each day to America's economic and industrial prowess. Mark worked hard throughout his career. He earned both his masters and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Brigham Young University. He served as an R&D Engineer and Project Manager at Wylie Laboratories in Huntsville, Alabama from 1978 to 1989. While at Wylie, Mark earned his Professional Engineer license. He went on to work as an Executive Consultant and Product Manager for Intergraph Corporation from 1989 to 2010. As an aside, Mark is a 10th degree Jiu Jitsu black belt. Given his private sector background, Mark offers a unique perspective on federal policy issues. Always one to put America first, Mark has been particularly active in addressing America's trade imbalances and has long advocated for trade policies that benefit American workers. As Mark's career concludes, I cannot thank him enough for the value he provided me, the Tennessee Valley, and America. I wish Mark joy and contentment as he embarks on this next phase of life. He is looking forward to enjoying well-deserved time with his wife, Diane, five children--John, Jared, Ben, Nichole, and Joseph--and 12 grandchildren. Mark has earned every bit of that family time. America is a stronger, more prosperous nation thanks to Mark's exemplary career.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, after ably and honorably serving as my chief of staff for more than 9 years, Mark Pettitt will retire in June. Mark has provided exceptional leadership, and I've greatly benefited from having him as my chief advisor. I will miss his sound and candid guidance. When asked how he came to be my chief of staff, Mark will often reply, ``I complained about politics too many times to an old friend.'' That is only partly true. Really, it was Mark's deeply ingrained sense of patriotism that led him to Capitol Hill. Mark's tenure as chief of staff caps an already exemplary career as a successful private sector engineer. For Mark, there are few more patriotic acts than simply working hard and contributing each day to America's economic and industrial prowess. Mark worked hard throughout his career. He earned both his masters and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Brigham Young University. He served as an R&D Engineer and Project Manager at Wylie Laboratories in Huntsville, Alabama from 1978-1989. While at Wylie, Mark earned his Professional Engineer license. He went on to work as an Executive Consultant and Product Manager for Intergraph Corporation from 1989- 2010. As an aside, Mark is a 10th degree Jiu Jitsu black belt. Given his private sector background, Mark offers a unique perspective on federal policy issues. Always one to put America first, Mark has been particularly active in addressing America's trade imbalances and has long advocated for trade policies that benefit American workers. As Mark's career concludes, I cannot thank him enough for the value he provided me, the Tennessee Valley, and America. I wish Mark joy and contentment as he embarks on this next phase of life. He is looking forward to enjoying well-deserved time with his wife, Diane, five children--John, Jared, Ben, Nichole, and Joseph--and 12 grandchildren! Mark has earned every bit of that family time. America is a stronger, more prosperous nation thanks to Mark's exemplary career.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Ray Walker for his induction into the Alabama Baseball Coaching Association Hall of Fame. Ray was born in 1946 in Anniston, Alabama. At two years old, his family moved to Huntsville. Ray was a part of the first graduating class at Lee High School, in 1964. At Lee, Ray played baseball, basketball, and football. Upon graduation, Ray attended William Carey College before transferring to Florence State (UNA), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968. In 1970, Ray received a master's degree in Physical Education (PE) and Administration from Athens State College. In 1968, Ray began teaching Biology and PE at Chapman Junior High School, where he coached baseball, basketball, and football. In 1975, Ray transferred to Grissom High School to become a driving instructor. At Grissom, Ray took on two head coaching positions: baseball and freshman football. Ray remained in these two positions until his retirement in 2000. As the head Freshman Football Coach, Ray's teams won 102 games and eight city championships. Ray served as Grissom's Head Baseball Coach for 25 years, where he led his team to 389 wins. Sixty-eight of the players from his program went on to play in college and three went into the minor leagues. In total, Ray's teams won nine city championship titles and advanced to the final four during the state baseball playoffs in 1982 and 1991. Ray's Grissom High Baseball team won the 6A State Baseball Championship in 1989. Ray was chosen several times as Huntsville City Coach of the Year in baseball. In 1989, Ray was chosen as Coach of the Year for the State of Alabama. During the last 20 years of his baseball coaching career at Grissom High School, his team made the state playoffs 18 times. In 2004, Ray was inducted into the Huntsville Madison County Sports Hall of Fame for his many achievements. Ray served in the Army Reserve from 1970 to 1998 and retired as a Master Sergeant. He recalls that as a young man many people had significant influences in his life but none greater than his uncle, Oba Belcher. Ray followed his uncle's career at Athens College with intense interest as he coached many outstanding basketball teams. Ray observed that his uncle always set his standards high, out-worked other teams, and projected a positive attitude through his coaching. Oba was a wonderful role model and mentor, especially when Ray began his coaching career. After teaching and coaching for 46 years in the Huntsville City Schools, Ray retired, or so one thought. Ray's retirement from the school system led to what was the beginning of his new career as the owner and operator of Coach Walker's Driving School. Ray jokes that because the word ``retirement'' is not in the Bible, you need to keep on working. Truth be told, he loves what he has felt he was lead to do, and is continuing to fulfill his life's work by teaching and coaching today's young people.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, 106--nearly half--of House Democrats have cosponsored the socialists' Lower Drug Costs Now Act. I will not mince words: Socialized medicine causes worse healthcare at higher costs with longer waits and more dead Americans. America must learn from countries that have experimented with socialized medicine. Per Britain's Royal College of Surgeons, almost a quarter of a million people must wait more than 6 months--6 months--to receive planned medical treatment from the National Health Service. Worse yet, more than 3,600 Britons wait more than 9 months for medical care. The photo next to me was taken by a British mother outraged by the healthcare her ill son received. As this photo shows, her son was treated on a hospital floor. Do we want newborn babies kept in cardboard boxes like they are in socialist Venezuela? Is that really what we want in America? I say no. But that is exactly what America will get if socialists have their way in this healthcare debate. Canada's socialized medicine is no better. A 2016 survey by Canada's Fraser Institute found a median wait of 20 weeks, almost 5 months, for ``medically necessary'' treatments and procedures. Britain's National Health Service data reveals that almost 25 percent of cancer patients don't start treatment on time, despite urgent referrals from their primary care doctors. Britain's politicians whitewash this deadly statistic by claiming treatment is ``on time,'' if it is given within 62 days of referral--2 months of referral. Such long wait periods for cancer treatment can be, and are, deadly. For example, 81 percent of British breast cancer patients live 5 years after diagnosis compared to 89 percent for American breast cancer patients. Stated differently, 8 of every 100 breast cancer patients who live in America would die in Britain's socialized medicine system. Americans with prostate cancer have a 97 percent 5-year survival rate. In Britain, it drops to 83 percent. Stated differently, 14 of every 100 prostate cancer patients who live in America would die in Britain's socialized medicine system. It is irresponsible and dangerous for America to copy socialized medicine, yet that is exactly what socialist Democrats wants us to do. The House soon votes on a socialist drug cost plan that gives the government control over drug pricing while suppressing the invention of lifesaving drugs. For example, the Congressional Budget Office warns this legislation results in 15 fewer drugs in the next 10 years. That is 15 drugs that help Americans live longer or more comfortably, gone, because of socialist Democrat wishful thinking. Mr. Speaker, socialized medicine is not the answer. Government price controls are not the answer. The answer is more free enterprise competition that forces healthcare providers and drug companies to provide their best products at their lowest prices or go out of business. I urge the American people to not fall prey to socialists who promise taxpayer-funded government healthcare. I urge my colleagues to vote against this socialist drug pricing scheme. Most importantly, I urge America to be wary of propaganda that claims socialized medicine lowers healthcare costs or saves lives. Socialized medicine does neither. Remember that promise that ObamaCare will cut your health insurance premiums by $2,500 per year? That was false propaganda. Remember the promise that, under ObamaCare you can keep your doctor and health insurance plans if you want them? That was more false propaganda. America, do your homework. Don't fall for the lies again. Demand solutions that both lower costs and save lives. Why? Because your very life is at risk.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, renowned Alabama educator, artist, and botanist George Washington Carver, like many Americans, overcame numerous obstacles to achieve greatness. Carver's contributions to science and agriculture made a huge impact that is still felt across the globe today. On January 5, 2020, Alabama will unveil a historic marker honoring Dr. Carver at Decatur's Horizon School. Carter visited Decatur in 1935. Carver Elementary was named in his honor. During his visit, Carver spoke to an audience of more than 1,000 Decatur residents. In a letter to then-superintendent W.W. Henson after his visit, George Washington Carver wrote: ``The Carver School far exceeds my expectations. It is a most beautiful building, and I hope that it will be able in every way to integrate itself into the up- building and the development of the splendid possibilities which lie all around you.'' Carver was deeply devoted to education. During the Civil War, George Washington Carver was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri. Shamefully, Carver was not allowed to attend public schools near his home because he was an African American. But that did not stop George Washington Carver. He was determined to get an education, so he enrolled at a school 10 miles away in Neosho, Missouri. In Neosho, Carver was befriended by Mariah Watkins, from whom he rented a room. Mariah Watkins' advice to Carver was simple: ``You must learn all you can, then go back into the world and give your learning back to the people.'' Carver did just that. Disappointed in the quality of Neosho's school, Carver moved to Kansas and supported himself through a variety of occupations while he furthered his education as he could. After earning his high school diploma, he discovered opportunities for college for Black men in Kansas were nonexistent. So George Washington Carver majored in art at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, as their only Black student. Encouraged by his Simpson professors to focus on botany, Carver transferred to Iowa State, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in science. Thereafter, in April 1896, Booker T. Washington recruited Carver to Tuskegee Institute's agricultural school in Alabama, where Carver taught and mentored generations of students for the next 47 years. At Tuskegee, Carver developed revolutionary techniques to improve soils depleted by repeated plantings of cotton. Together with other agricultural experts, he urged farmers to restore nitrogen to their soils by practicing systematic crop rotation, alternating cotton crops with plantings of sweet potatoes or legumes, such as peanuts, soybeans, and cowpeas. Once at Tuskegee, Carver trained farmers to rotate and cultivate the new crops successfully. Carver developed and established an agricultural extension program for all of Alabama. Carver founded an industrial research laboratory, where he and assistants worked to popularize the new crops by developing hundreds of applications for them. In 1916, Carver was made a member of the Royal Society of Arts in England, one of only a handful of Americans at that time to receive this honor. The United Peanut Associations of America invited Carver to speak at their 1920 convention. He discussed ``The Possibilities of the Peanut'' and exhibited 145 peanut products. Carver received the 1923 NAACP Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by an African American. Before his death in 1943, Carver donated his life savings to establish the Carver Research Foundation at Tuskegee. Carver was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The George Washington Carver National Monument was the first national monument dedicated to a Black American and the first to a non- President. George Washington Carver left a lasting legacy on Alabama's schools, and Alabama is proud to have been the home of this renowned scientific leader.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. The school was originally established not long after the Civil War, in 1873, by the legislature of the State of Alabama. Through the tireless efforts of the first principal and president, William Hooper Council, the Huntsville Normal School opened on May 1, 1875, with an appropriation of $1,000 per year. It had 61 students and two instructors. In 1885, because of its success with industrial education, the Alabama Legislature changed its name to the State Normal and Industrial School in Huntsville. In 1891, the name was again changed to the State Agricultural and Industrial Institute for Negroes, and a new location was provided at Normal, Alabama. In 1969, the school became a fully accredited member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its name was changed to Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, the name that it has today. In the 50 years since its university designation and establishment of the foundation, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University has grown to encompass widely respected programs in engineering, computer science, business, food sciences, agricultural and animal sciences, and education, as well as Ph.D. programs in plant and soil science, food science, physics, and reading. Today, Alabama A&M University is comprised of over 70 buildings and more than 1,000 acres, is home to more than 6,000 students, is a designated Gold Military Friendly institution, and serves as a regional State, national, and international resource, while maintaining its mission of educating the underserved and uplifting the people of Alabama, the Nation, and the world through its excellence in education. On a more personal note, my mother, Betty Brooks, is a proud graduate of Alabama A&M University, having received her master's degree there. I thank Alabama A&M for helping her to successfully serve for a quarter of a century as a Lee High School government and economics teacher. In sum, I am, and all of the State of Alabama is, proud of Alabama A&M University's accomplishments and wish Alabama A&M a happy 50th anniversary as a fully accredited university. Go Bulldogs. May their future success in helping prepare, train, and educate our youth be as great and productive as their past.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. G. Douglas Ripley, for his diligence in ministry and service to others. On January 1st, 1970, Dr. Ripley received Jesus Christ as his Savior and immediately began to cultivate his relationship with Christ and understanding of the Bible. Within a few weeks he enrolled in the Gulf Coast Bible College at Anderson Church of God and thereafter traveled as a student evangelist, during which time he met his wife, Katy. In 1973, Dr. Ripley and Katy pastored Open Door Baptist Church in Tennessee, where the church grew from 16 to 1,000 people in a short twelve years. By December of 1985, Dr. Ripley, Katy, and their two children, Jessica and Jeremy, moved to Decatur, Alabama where Dr. Ripley became the Pastor of Moulton Heights Baptist Church. The church grew rapidly, relocating once and having five major renovations from 1988 to 2004. Under Dr. Ripley's leadership, many lives have been impacted. Known as ``Brother Douglas,'' Dr. Ripley's passion for world missions and discipleship have reached across the world. In fact, he was one of the first pastors to visit Albania and his act of bravery opened the way for more churches to evangelize in Albania. Madam Speaker, Dr. Ripley's diligent and obedient service to his flock and God is inspiring and sets an example for future generations. I commend Dr. G. Douglas Ripley for his leadership in the church and passion for service to Christ.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to welcome Reverend Phil Waldrep to the House of Representatives to serve as today's guest chaplain. Reverend Waldrep was born in Morgan County, Alabama, near Decatur, and began preaching when he was 14 years old. He earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Alabama and completed seminary at Luther Rice Theological Seminary in Georgia. Through his ministries, Reverend Waldrep connects with audiences of all ages and sizes with his sense of humor, powerful illustrations, and Scriptural insight. He is a frequent speaker at some of America's largest churches and conferences and has been a vocational evangelist since 1975. Reverend Waldrep is also an author, having published ``Beyond Betrayal: Overcome Past Hurts and Begin to Trust Again,'' ``Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I Do Now?'' and ``The Grandparent Factor: Five Principles to Help You Make a Difference in the Life of Your Grandchild.'' Phil and his wife, Debbie, live in Decatur, Alabama, and have two daughters who, with their husbands, actively serve in the ministry.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Richard D. Milton, a key contributor to the development of the Hellfire missile. In the 1960s, Mr. Milton worked with a team at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) on Redstone Arsenal to find practical uses for lasers in the medical and military fields. By 1965, Mr. Milton found a unique role for lasers on the battlefield, and that by illuminating a target with a laser, a missile could be guided to that target. In March of 1979, Richard Milton's invention, the Missile System Using Laser Illuminator, became U.S. Patent 4,143,835. U.S. Patents 6,166,803, 6,296,803, and U.S. Patent 6,305,797 can also be attributed to Mr. Milton. The invention of laser guided missiles contributed to the creation of the Hellfire missile, and this revolutionized America's defense. The ability to be launched from various platforms, the use of missiles by military personnel under the protection of cover, the ability for long range and multiple launches, and accuracy of hit are all battlefield advantages of the Hellfire missile. Mr. Milton's coworkers often refer to him as ``Dick'' and speak highly of his brilliance and everyday problem-solving skills. Mrs. Debbee Jordan, a coworker, says, ``Working with Dick and watching how he thought and attacked each problem was a great gift for a just out of college engineer.'' Madam Speaker, the new-age ideas Richard Milton offered in the 1960s revolutionized many U.S. ally's missile systems and the U.S. precision in missile defense we have today. I commend Mr. Richard D. Milton for his innovation and passion for public service to the American people.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, President Herbert Hoover once stated, ``Blessed are the young, for they will inherit the national debt.'' Four young interns in my office--Nathan Olsen, Jill Oxley, Austin Snell, and Tyler Wiley--recently shared their concerns about the debt burden they will inherit from debt-addicted Washington politicians. These remarks reflect their concerns. Ironically, their concerns coincide with a massive $2 trillion deficit bill Congress will soon vote on that bequeaths at least $24 trillion in debt to America's future generations. Bequeathing this dangerous debt is the greatest disservice ever done by one American generation to another. My interns itemize three ways in which excessive debt endangers America. First, excessive government debt and borrowing compete with and crowd out private borrower investment opportunities by decreasing available credit, thereby costing American jobs and better incomes. According to the Congressional Budget Office, when the government borrows, it borrows from people in businesses, which limits American business and citizen opportunity, which, in turn, drives them to be less productive, cuts their compensation, and makes them less inclined to work. In sum, excessive government debt stunts future growth and hurts the American economy and people. Second, excessive debt hurts Congress' ability to respond to challenges and emergencies. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation warns that high levels of debt reduce our government's flexibility concerning ``future emergencies, unanticipated challenges, wars, or recessions.'' The Peterson Foundation adds that one reason ``the United States was able to recover from the Great Recession more quickly than other countries was because our debt was fairly low, at 35 percent of GDP.'' As recent history proves, America can better respond to a financial crisis if we are not drowning in excessive debt. Unfortunately, by year's end, America's debt will explode to roughly 78 percent of GDP, more than double that of a mere decade ago. That trend is dangerous. Third, as America's debt becomes more unmanageable, our creditors become increasingly concerned about government default and national bankruptcy and insolvency. The Congressional Budget Office warns that with the debt-to-GDP ratio projected to grow to ``unprecedented levels, it is increasingly likely that . . . investors will become concerned about the risk of default.'' America has clearly entered dangerous, uncharted financial waters. The greater the debt, the greater the risk. How do we safely navigate these dangerous waters? Washington must learn from history and heed the advice of President John F. Kennedy, who said we do not choose to cut spending because it is easy, but because it is hard. Unfortunately, today's Washington politicians reject President Kennedy's wisdom because they are as hopelessly addicted to debt as a junkie is to heroin. As a result, America faces a mountainous $22 trillion debt and a bipartisan debt agreement that adds yet another $2 trillion in debt in just 2 years. If America is to soar to new heights rather than crash and burn on a mountain of debt, Washington politicians must act like adults. Our choice is clear. Washington can rack up obscene deficits, accumulated debt, and pay hundreds of billions of dollars each year in debt service costs, with the ultimate catastrophe being debilitating national insolvency and bankruptcy. Or Washington can protect America's future, stop unnecessary spending, and bequeath future generations economic freedom and prosperity. Mr. Speaker, I choose the path of economic freedom and prosperity for future American generations. That is why I vote against so many unnecessary and excessive spending bills that we don't have the money to pay for. And that is why I will vote against the proposed spending deal that creates a short-term debt junkie high while badly risking America's future and health.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, let's be clear: Venezuela is one of the most natural-resources-rich nations on the planet, and for oil, in the top five in reserves in the world. The problem with Venezuela is not its people, other than that they made mistakes in whom they elected. The problem is not the lack of resources, which should empower those people to be wealthy. Rather, the problem in Venezuela is the self-inflicted adoption of socialism. Let's be clear about the economic havoc that is now occurring in Venezuela. We have starvation. In one recent study, the average adult over a year's period of time had a weight loss in excess of 20 pounds because they could not get the calories needed to sustain their body weight. Riots have resulted. Inflation a few years ago was over 1,000 percent. Today, we have estimates that inflation in Venezuela is as high as 10 million percent. Of course, the currency is worthless and becoming more so. Venezuela, as a country, has been brought to its knees by the adoption of socialism. I find it ironic that so many in America now advocate the suppression of free enterprise and the liberty on which it is based, and the replacement of free enterprise and liberty with socialism and the dictatorial nature that is inherent in the adoption of socialist practices. Venezuela is an excellent example of why America must never go socialist. I want to emphasize one thing: While Maduro has been in charge of Venezuela, Maduro is not the cause of the economic hardship that is now being faced in Venezuela. Rather, it is the people's adoption of socialism. Let's go to H.R. 549 and how it relates to what I have just said. This bill proposes a tsunami of people coming to our country who are ill-equipped to support themselves. Let's put that into the perspective of where we are as a nation. We just blew through the $22 trillion debt mark earlier this year. This year, we are looking at a roughly $900 billion deficit. A deal has been reached that will only increase our deficit by $2 trillion over the next 2 years, pushing our debt up to $22 trillion. This is money we do not have, have to borrow to get, and can't afford to pay back. How does that relate to H.R. 549? Well, let me share some numbers with you: Sixty percent of households with a lawful immigrant in them are on welfare, living off the hard work of others. Seventy percent of illegal alien households are on welfare, living off the hard work of others here in the United States of America. Quite frankly, Madam Speaker, the United States of America can no longer afford to be the world's orphanage for children and adults alike. We have to get our own house in order, and this legislation helps to increase that disorder by increasing our deficit and debt, making it less manageable and further risking debilitating insolvency and the bankruptcy of a great Nation. Madam Speaker, I ask for opposing H.R. 549, and that is how I will vote.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, socialist Democrats support open borders. Open borders mean a literal tsunami of illegal alien labor that artificially inflates the labor supply and suppresses American wages. This is economics 101. If the supply goes up, everything else being constant, the price goes down. The way to raise wages is simple: America must stop importing cheap foreign labor that takes American jobs from American workers and suppresses the wages of hardworking Americans who need that money for their families. The question is: Do we care enough about American family incomes to secure our borders and stop the flood of illegal alien labor that suppresses American wages? Of course not. Instead, there are those who seek an imperial decree for a $15-per-hour minimum wage. Well, that all sounds fine and good. Socialist policies always have a cost, and according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, that cost is a loss of as many as 3.7 million jobs. You heard right. The policies being advocated today really are advocating the firing of as many as 3.7 million American workers from their jobs. That is like firing the entire population of the State of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, if the advocates of this legislation really cared about American workers, they would not fire them; rather, they would help secure our borders, save American jobs, save American incomes, and, as an added bonus, help prevent the deaths of over 30,000 Americans who die each year because of America's porous southern border. But that is not what the advocates of this legislation prefer. Rather, out of a lust for political power, they prefer open borders and the firing of 3.7 million American workers. Mr. Speaker, I say yes to border security; I say no to killing jobs; and I say no to this job-killing socialist legislation.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, this week America celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of mankind's--and America's--greatest achievements: walking on the surface of the Moon. Although then only a child, I well remember the earth shake and the dishes in our kitchen cabinets rattle as the Saturn V engines were tested nearby. Even now, 50 years after the Moon landing, I get chills remembering when Apollo astronauts landed and later planted the American flag on the Moon's surface. It was American ingenuity, boldness, technical prowess, and economic might that made this historic achievement possible. I am proud to say the legacy of the Apollo 11 Moon landing lives on in the Tennessee Valley of Alabama that I represent. Some history is in order: The Tennessee Valley's Marshall Space Flight Center is the birthplace of America's space program. Americans generally, and Alabamians in particular, designed and engineered the Saturn V rocket that launched the historic Apollo 11 and took American astronauts to the Moon. I will never forget the flames and the roar as our Saturn V rocket was launched and carried the Apollo 11 crew in vehicles to the Moon. I remember with tremendous pride Neil Armstrong's words as he set foot on the Moon: ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'' That giant leap meant to benefit all mankind is a prime example of American exceptionalism and helped cement America's status as the best, most powerful and most influential nation in world history. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted America's flag on the Moon surface on July 20, 1969, there was no doubt that America's space program had passed the Russians and become the preeminent leader in space exploration, a position America maintains today. This week, America not only reflects on the miraculous achievements of the Apollo 11 mission, but we also honor those who played a critical role in its ultimate success. The Tennessee Valley is immensely proud of our pivotal role in landing a man on the Moon and, equally importantly, returning them alive to Earth. Reflecting our pride in America's achievement, there are two--that is, two--Saturn V rockets displayed at the United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. These Saturn V displays help inspire the next generation to reach for the stars and achieve what now may be thought impossible. While it is important to remember the historic achievements of the Apollo missions, it is also important to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the effort to achieve American greatness. In that vein, Huntsville has named schools after Apollo Command Pilot Virgil ``Gus'' Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger Chaffee, each of whom died in a capsule fire during an Apollo 1 ground test. After the Moon landing and return of Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins to Earth on July 24, 1969, Huntsville's streets were awash with revelers. German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun said on the Huntsville courthouse steps that day: ``My friends, there was dancing here in the streets of Huntsville when our first satellite orbited the Earth, and there was dancing again when the first Americans landed on the Moon. I'd like to ask you: Don't hang up your dancing slippers.'' Von Braun's words remind us that mankind's greatest achievements are yet to come, that America will continue to accomplish the unimaginable in space for the benefit of all humanity. As we reach for the stars, I have confidence that the Tennessee Valley, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Huntsville, where we say, ``The sky is not the limit,'' will be instrumental in carrying American astronauts back to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the President is Commander in Chief. His highest constitutional duty is protecting American lives. As of 2016, so-called refugee admissions from the Middle East, Near East, South Asia, and Africa accounted for 80 percent of so-called refugee admissions into America. I say ``so-called refugees'' because the United Nations states no country is obligated by international law to take refugees from a country in which they are already protected. The result of America's flawed policy? America is the world's top refugee resettlement country on the planet. In a 2015 Breitbart interview, I opposed these dangerous refugee policies and stated: ``Barack Obama wants to endanger Americans by importing people, some of whom undoubtedly will resort to terrorism and killing Americans at some point in the future.'' Consistent with my view that importing unvetted people from terrorist-laden countries threatens American lives, the House, in 2015, passed a law requiring a full FBI background investigation for alleged Iraq or Syria refugees. The bill died in the Senate while under an Obama veto threat. In 2017, a newly elected President Trump stated: ``In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution or those who would place violent ideologies over American law.'' ``In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred, including `honor' killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own.'' As expected, socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies reacted by calling President Trump names rather than supporting policies that save American lives. For example, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: ``This week, I joined my colleagues on the steps of the Supreme Court to fight the President's reprehensible order. . . . The values illustrated were in stark contrast with the President's unconstitutional, immoral, and dangerous ban on refugees and citizens of Muslim countries coming into the United States.'' Predictably, a radical, leftist judge restrained President Trump from protecting American lives. Fortunately, a later President Trump refugee and travel policy was approved by the Supreme Court as ``squarely within the scope of Presidential authority.'' As would be expected, this decision was ridiculed with hysterical headlines from the left. NBC News stated, ``The Supreme Court's travel ban decision adds to its legacy of legitimizing racism.'' Protecting Americans from terrorism is ``reprehensible,'' ``immoral,'' ``racism''? This is all ignorant and baseless socialist Democrat and fake news media slander intended to stifle rational debate. But truth eventually wins out. Recently, an unvetted so-called Syrian refugee who entered America 3 years ago was charged with terrorism. According to an affidavit filed in Pittsburgh Federal court, the FBI investigation of Mustafa Mousab Alowemer ``revealed that Alowemer plotted to bomb a church located on the north side of Pittsburgh . . . using a weapon of mass destruction, i.e., an explosive device.'' According to Alowemer, his motivation to detonate a device at the church was to ``support the cause of ISIS and to inspire other ISIS supporters in the United States to join together and commit similar acts in the name of ISIS.'' Fortunately, the FBI stopped Alowemer from blowing up a church and slaughtering innocent American Christians. Unfortunately, American lives are still at risk from terrorists masquerading as refugees. Mr. Speaker, I ask: How many dead Americans does it take to cause open-border advocates to secure our borders and protect American lives? Unfortunately, no one knows because socialist Democrats have shown there is no amount of American blood on their hands that will cause them to protect American lives by securing America's borders.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hartselle Police Officers Robert Baker and Roger Speake, Hartselle Police Lieutenant Robert Finn, and Hartselle Utilities employee Stephen Johnson for their brave, life-saving actions on February 22, 2019. In the early morning hours of February 22nd, Officers Baker and Speake, and Lieutenant Finn responded to a house fire. Upon their arrival at the home, they found the fire was spreading quickly and a woman with limited-mobility was trapped. Thankfully, Hartselle Utilities employee Stephen Johnson, who had been working nearby, was already on the scene. As a team, Baker, Speake, Finn, and Johnson, risking their safety, broke down a fence at the side of the house and successfully evacuated the woman from her bedroom window with only minutes to spare before the house was completely engulfed in flames. Madam Speaker, in the face of imminent danger to their own lives, Officers Baker and Speake, Lieutenant Finn, and Mr. Johnson, acted decisively and selflessly, saving the life of our fellow community member. I commend Officers Baker and Speake, Lieutenant Finn, and Mr. Johnson for their courageous actions in service to others.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, recent Persian Gulf tanker attacks do not--I repeat, do not--justify unilateral American military action against Iran. On May 12, 2019, two Saudi Arabian tankers, a United Arab Emirates tanker, and a Norwegian tanker were attacked. According to a Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Norway joint report, explosions caused all four vessels to suffer hull breaches. The report states that limpet mines were ``highly likely placed by divers below or at the waterline,'' and the placement of the mines was ``consistent with intention to disable the mobility, but not physically destroy, each vessel.'' The report concludes that ``these sophisticated attacks were most likely carried out by a state actor.'' For emphasis, the report does not accuse anyone of conducting the attacks. On June 13, 2019, a Japanese tanker and Norwegian tanker were attacked with explosive devices that caused considerable fire and hull damage to both tankers. Who is responsible for these two tanker attacks? There is international disagreement. America and the United Kingdom blame Iran. Iran denies responsibility. Other nations offer no opinion and caution against a rush to judgment. Perhaps more evidence will persuade the international community that Iran orchestrated these tanker attacks, perhaps not. Regardless of blame, there are other factors to consider. For example, what is America's national security interest in these six tanker attacks? Not a single attacked tanker is owned by Americans. Rather, they are owned by Saudi Arabia, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan. Not a single attacked tanker involved oil produced in America. Rather, all six tankers were shipping Saudi Arabian or United Arab Emirates oil. Neither of the two tankers loaded with cargo was bound for the United States. Hence, the United States has no national security interest in the six attacked tankers sufficient to trigger an American retaliatory military action against Iran. There are, however, other nations that do have a national security interest in these tanker attacks. Japan and South Korea import roughly 80 percent of their oil from the Persian Gulf. India imports roughly 60 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf. China imports roughly 50 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf. Western Europe imports almost 20 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf. Hence, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Western Europe, and many other nations all have a national security interest in keeping Persian Gulf oil shipping lanes open and are justified in using military force to defend those shipping lanes at their own risk and at their own cost. Similarly, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates all have a national security interest in keeping Persian Gulf shipping lanes open to transport the oil they produce and sell. Hence, each of these countries is justified in using military force to defend their shipping lanes at their own risk and at their own cost. Clearly, then, other nations have a far greater national security interest in Persian Gulf oil and shipping lanes than does the United States. As such, these nations should be primarily responsible for using military force as is necessary to protect their national security interests. Madam Speaker, America must stop being the world's policeman on every corner of the planet. America must stop burning through our treasury and risking our American lives when we have no compelling security interest in a dispute. This is particularly true when those nations that do have a national security interest don't care enough about their own national security interest to protect them. While America can and should help our allies, it is equally important that America's allies put up their own defense capabilities, protect their own national security interests, and shoulder their own share of military burdens. If countries with a national security interest in Persian Gulf shipping lanes act as a unified force to protect them, and if they ask for America's assistance, America should then, and only then, consider military assistance. Unless that happens, this is not America's fight. Of course, should Iran attack Americans or their property, or should Iran attack and kill any of our allies' citizens, an entirely different set of considerations come into play, and Iran will not like America's response to those kinds of attacks.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, as I speak, unprecedented tsunamis of illegal aliens swamp Customs and Border Patrol resources on America's porous southern border with Mexico. What is the socialist Democrat response to this dangerous, life- threatening invasion? Today, they help make our border security crisis worse by pushing legislation that gives illegal aliens amnesty that, in turn, entices even more illegal aliens to cross our border. What is the result of past socialist Democrat amnesty efforts? In the first half of fiscal year 2019, the number of illegal alien family units captured by Border Patrol roughly tripled over the previous year. Worst yet, the number of captured illegal aliens topped 100,000 in each of March and April. Further, the number of illegal alien caravans has skyrocketed from two in fiscal year 2017, to 13 in fiscal year 2018, to 104 large illegal alien caravans of 100 or more individuals, totaling 17,242 illegal alien captures in just the first 6 months of fiscal year 2019. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost recently testified to the Senate that, ``Our apprehension numbers are off the charts. . . . We cannot address this crisis by simply shifting more resources or building more facilities. It is like holding a bucket under a faucet. It doesn't matter how many buckets you give me if we can't turn off the flow.'' Thanks to socialist Democrats' betrayals of the American people, the crisis is not just centered on illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America. For the first time ever, on May 31, Border Patrol agents captured a large caravan of illegal aliens from Africa, including places like Angola, Cameroon, and Congo. Also, on May 31, Border Patrol agents captured the largest group of illegal aliens ever captured at one place: 1,036 illegal aliens at the El Paso, Texas, border. Let me be very clear: Illegal alien amnesty only begets and encourages more lawless illegal alien conduct. Socialist Democrats' callous disregard for American citizens plagued by illegal aliens demonstrates just how radical socialist Democrats have become. However, if you understand the underlying reason for the socialist Democrats' dangerous open borders policies, the inaction and callousness make sense. About 70 percent of households with an illegal alien in them live off welfare and on the backs of American taxpayers. Since illegal aliens are heavily dependent on welfare, once they get the amnesty and the American citizenship socialist Democrats desperately seek to bestow, that makes them reliable socialist Democrat voters. After all, socialist Democrats are the party for taking much-needed money from hardworking American taxpayers to pay for welfare for those who prefer to vote for a living rather than work for one. Quite frankly, socialist Democrats don't give one twit about the thousands of dead Americans who die each year because of illegal alien homicides. Socialist Democrats care not one twit about American blood on their hands. Socialist Democrats covet political power, and they see open borders, amnesty, and illegal aliens voting as the way to get it. That is why so many socialist Democrat cities, like San Francisco, are passing laws that allow illegal aliens to register to vote, and vote, in American elections, regardless of how badly this denies American citizens control over their own governments. This insult to American voters is so astonishing, it deserves repeating. Socialist Democrat cities, like San Francisco, are passing laws that allow illegal aliens to register to vote, and vote, in American elections, regardless of how badly this denies American citizens control over their own governments. Mr. Speaker, I yearn for the day that socialist Democrats put the interests of American citizens above the interests of illegal aliens, above the socialist Democrats' craving for political power. Unfortunately, that day is not today.