Mo Brooks

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch of Huntsville, Alabama upon his retirement as President of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). I join Dr. Altenkirch's family, friends, and the UAH community in congratulating him on his exemplary career in academia. As so many of his students and colleagues can attest, Dr. Altenkirch has had an extraordinary career full of accomplishments. Dr. Altenkirch earned a B.S. from Purdue University, an M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. from Purdue, all in mechanical engineering. Dr. Altenkirch served as a faculty member and department chair for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kentucky from 1975 to 1988. He was then appointed Dean of the College of Engineering at Mississippi State University and served in that position from 1988 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Dr. Altenkirch served as Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University. From 1998 to 2002, Dr. Altenkirch served as Vice President for research at Mississippi State University. After that, he served as President of New Jersey Institute of Technology for nine years. In 2009, he was recognized as one of the hundred and one most influential people in the state of New Jersey. Dr. Altenkirch was named UAH President on September 2011. Dr. Altenkirch was chosen for his world-class experience in aerospace research and his reputation as a student-focused president. During his tenure, Dr. Altenkirch initiated the formation of UAH's Department of Space Science in 2013, the Honors College in 2014, and the College of Education in 2014. He also expanded the campus, built new dorms, and brought new sports programs to the school such as Lacrosse in 2016. Dr. Altenkirch's passion for learning, his love for his students, and his desire for excellence have left a lasting impact on UAH. In closing, I would like to thank Dr. Altenkirch for his many years of service at UAH. And, I sincerely wish Dr. Altenkirch continued good health and contentment in his retirement.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Redstone-Huntsville Chapter on their 60th anniversary. I join the entire Redstone Arsenal defense community in congratulating the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter on reaching this momentous milestone. Established in 1959, the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter is the Tennessee Valley's premier private, nonprofit, educational association of individual, business and organization members dedicated to supporting and maintaining a strong national defense with emphasis on the role of the United States Army. The AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter has been recognized year after year as one of America's best chapters. Twelve times in the past fifteen years, the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter has been named the ``Best Chapter Overall of the Year'' by AUSA National for chapters in the largest category, those over 1,350 members. The AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter plays a vital role in major armed forces events such as the Army Birthday/Flag Day/Installation of Chapter Officers Dinner, Army National Guard Birthday Breakfast, Army Reserve Birthday Breakfast, Missiles Symposium, Blast-Off Bash during AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville. In closing, I would like to again congratulate the AUSA Redstone- Huntsville Chapter on their 60th anniversary and thank this outstanding chapter for their contributions to the Army and the Tennessee Valley. I look forward to what the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter will accomplish in the future.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, socialist Democrats advocate dictatorial and guaranteed-to-fail socialism over liberty and the free enterprise economic system that has created America's prosperity. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ``evil'' as ``morally reprehensible,'' ``causing harm,'' or ``pernicious.'' By that definition, socialism is evil, and anyone in America who supports socialism supports evil. Enrique Padron recently published an editorial in the New York Post entitled: ``Hey, Democrats: Here's the price I paid for your Socialist dream.'' It is such a revealing test of the evils of socialism that today I read it in part into the Congressional Record: ``American Democrats are pining ever more loudly for socialism these days, for `free' education, `free' health care and much else. ``Let me tell you about socialism as I lived it under the Fidel Castro regime. ``The house where I was born in Communist Cuba had a dirt floor, a bathroom hole in the ground, which we shared with six other families, and a zinc roof that left us unbearably hot in the summer and shivering in the winter. ``We had no running water, no refrigerator and no door in the back of the house. We cooked with charcoal. My mother raised four boys by herself in that `house,' working 12 hours a day to earn 160 Cuban pesos, or approximately $6, a month. ``Why didn't we fix it? ``In addition to the meager income, we had no access to hardware stores to buy nails or cement to fix our humble house. In fact, the local member of the national assembly was the only person authorized to approve whether we could buy a bag of cement or a roll of roof paper-- if they were available. ``We couldn't buy these simple materials without that precious piece of paper. ``Can you imagine going to your congressional Representative to ask for permission to buy a box of nails? Or roof tiles? Or roof paper? It seems unthinkable in the United States. But in Cuba, where we lacked the necessities of life, we had to. And when we complained, the authorities scolded us to be grateful for free education and free healthcare. ``In Cuba, it is illegal to speak against the government or complain about living conditions. We were prohibited from speaking with local media, but the journalists were state employees and wouldn't publish our stories anyway. We couldn't express our unmet needs and were reminded that we shouldn't complain anyway, because we were promised-- you guessed it--free education and free healthcare. ``In Cuba, doctors make the equivalent of 25 cents an hour and teachers 21 cents an hour. Pharmacists earn eight cents an hour. ``In Cuba, there is no right to free speech and virtually no independent media. There are no free, fair, multiparty elections. In fact, there is just one political party, Communist, and only members of the Communist Party may run as candidates for any office. But we were told we couldn't object to this system, lest we lose our free education and free healthcare. . . . ``In Cuba, if you dare to yell something true, like `Fidel and Raul are dictators,' you could spend many years in prison. Dictatorship is another price we had to pay for free education and free healthcare. ``I desperately needed something more than the promises of free education and free healthcare. I knew that I needed freedom--freedom to speak my mind and vote my conscience. It was worth the risk of being eaten by sharks than to continue living a life with no purpose and no freedom. ``On August 16, 1994, I decided to get into a boat with 20 other Cubans in search of a future. ``One of my two brothers followed me to the United States, also in a raft, nearly dying of thirst and hunger during the journey. My other brother is still awaiting the visa I filed for him. . . . ``After arriving in the United States, I worked as an international sales manager, owned a restaurant, hosted a radio program and authored two books. Today, I work for a Member of Congress. None of those opportunities would have been possible for me in socialist Cuba. ``I wish that one day I might have a conversation with some of these young American socialists who have no experience with actually existing socialism. They like to think they can have democracy and a socialist economy. But everywhere it's been implemented, public ownership of the means of production has led to political repression. ``Not least in my native Cuba, with its promises of `free' cradle-to- grave services. ``I chose so much more than the promise of `free.' I chose freedom.'' Mr. Speaker, Enrique Padron has shared his firsthand experience with the suffering, depravity, and evils of socialism in Cuba. Americans should heed his words. Free enterprise is about liberty and freedom. Socialism is about poverty and slavery through the ruling class.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, America has been the greatest nation in world history. America's standard of living is envied by most. America's military is unmatched. America is a beacon of freedom for all. Unfortunately, America's foundational principles are under attack-- not by a foreign foe, but from within our own country. Socialist Democrats oppose the rule of law that is essential to peace and prosperity by supporting open border policies that consume hundreds of billions in tax dollars and kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. Socialist Democrats' spending sprees put America $22 trillion in debt, thus risking a debilitating national insolvency and bankruptcy. Socialist Democrats support dictatorial and guaranteed-to-fail socialism over the free enterprise economy that has created our prosperity. If the Mueller report is accurate, for 2 years, socialist Democrats and fake news media allies used the big lie propaganda tactic to undermine our elections' legitimacy and falsely accuse President Trump of colluding with Russia. History's most famous evil and horrific use of big lie tactics is by the National Socialist German Workers' Party, or Nazis, for short. Not surprisingly, socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies recently objected to my quoting Adolf Hitler's ``Mein Kampf'' to explain what the big lie propaganda tactic is and how horrific the consequences can be for those seduced by it. Germany's Socialist Party's big lie killed tens of millions of people in the Holocaust and World War II, making it the most horrific and deadly big lie in history. Also, not surprisingly, today's socialists tried to revise history by falsely claiming the Nazis were not socialists. Bunk. Mr. Speaker, America can either learn from history or be doomed to repeat it. By way of background, freedom and liberty are the essence of free enterprise, wherein supply and demand market forces determine which goods and services are offered and at what prices. Citizens who produce goods and services better, faster, or cheaper thrive, and everyone benefits from that. Conversely, socialism is the mortal enemy of free enterprise. Socialist economies reject liberty, freedom, and market forces, artificially dictate economic activity, and determine which businesses and industries prosper and which do not. In a fully socialist economy, government owns and controls all means of production. So was Germany's Socialist Party socialists? The founders thought so because they called themselves socialists. They certainly acted like socialists. Germany's Socialist Party's foundational 25 point platform stated, in part: Plank 13: ``We demand the nationalization of all previous associated agencies, trusts.'' Plank 14: ``We demand a division of profits of all heavy industries.'' Plank 16: ``We demand the . . . immediate communalization of the great warehouses.'' Plank 17: ``We demand a land reform . . . for the free expropriation of land for the purposes of public utility.'' Communalization, land seizure without compensation, nationalization and government ownership of industry--those are all socialist policies. Further, the German Socialist Party hated capitalism and free enterprise. Nazi propaganda posters stated: ``The maintenance of a rotten industrial system has nothing do with nationalism. I can love Germany and hate capitalism.'' Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels wrote: ``In the final analysis, it would be better for us to go down with Bolshevism than live in eternal slavery under capitalism.'' Mr. Speaker, Germany's socialist Nazis are a heinous example of the marriage between big lie propaganda tactics and socialism, but they are not alone. Soviet Union and Chinese-style socialism also subjugated or exterminated tens of millions of people. Mr. Speaker, America must learn from history. Socialism must lose and free enterprise must win if America is to remain a free, prosperous, and great nation.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise, once again, to share stories of Americans who once were vibrant and alive but now are dead because Washington's open borders policies fail to protect our own people. I yearn for the day when there are no more speeches like this to give because we have secured our borders and there are no more illegal alien killings to describe. On average, roughly 2,000 illegal aliens are apprehended each year by Federal agents for homicides committed on American soil. Another, roughly, 120,000 illegal aliens are arrested each year for other criminal activity, including 50,000 assaults and 15,000 sexual assaults. For emphasis, behind each statistic is a crime victim who would have been spared if America simply secured our porous southern border. In Marshall County, Alabama, an illegal alien was recently arrested for first-degree rape of a 12-year-old girl. According to Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims, the illegal alien had at least 10 different aliases, four different birth dates, and two prior deportations. In 2008, the illegal alien was charged with DUI in Louisiana and deported. In 2009, the illegal alien was deported yet again for illegal reentry. This first-degree rape of a 12-year-old girl would have been prevented by proper border security. In Mobile, Alabama, Sonya Jones was recently killed by an illegal alien charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a head- on collision. Sonya Jones was a teacher at Living Word Christian Center Kingdom Academy. One of Sonya's colleagues said that she had a smile that would light up the hallways. The illegal alien who killed Sonya Jones is a prime example of how dangerous asylum laws and catch-and-release policies are to Americans. Sonya Jones' illegal alien killer entered America illegally and was captured by law enforcement but then released when he lied to claim asylum. As is so overwhelmingly often the case, Sonya Jones' illegal alien killer failed to show up in court on the asylum claim and, instead, disappeared, leaving at least one dead American in his wake. Last week, in Washington State, Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Thompson was shot and killed by yet another illegal alien who legally entered America in Texas in 2014 on a temporary agricultural worker visa but illegally overstayed his visa after it expired. Deputy Ryan Thompson was married with three children and is the first law enforcement officer to be murdered in Kittitas County since 1927. In 2005, in Milton, Pennsylvania, beautiful 20-year-old Carly Snyder loved animals and dreamed of being a veterinarian. Her dream ended when an illegal alien forcibly entered Carly's apartment, punched her in the face, knocked her to the floor, and stabbed her 37 times. Carly went into shock and died at the scene. Mr. Speaker, Washington should have more sympathy and concern for the lives of Americans than illegal aliens. Unfortunately, Washington does not and, instead, puts illegal aliens on pedestals, above the interests of Americans. Mr. Speaker, Americans have every right to expect Congress to defend American rights, and the most basic right is the right to life, the right to be protected from illegal alien killings that could so easily be avoided. Tragically, Congress turns a blind eye to the lives and innocence of Americans stolen by illegal aliens. That is wrong. President Trump is right to declare a national emergency to help save the lives of at least 30,000 Americans who are alive today but will be dead a year from now if we do not protect and secure America's southern border. As such, I will not hesitate to proudly vote to sustain President Trump's veto of socialist legislation that supports open- borders policies that aid and abet illegal aliens who kill Americans and aid and abet evil drug cartels that market their poisonous, deadly drugs that take American lives. Mr. Speaker, Americans who die at the hands of illegal aliens had dreams, too.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, a ``big lie'' is a political propaganda technique made famous by Germany's National Socialist German Workers' Party. But more on that later. For more than 2 years, Socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, Washington Post, and countless others, have perpetrated the biggest political lie, con, scam, and fraud in American history. Attorney General Barr's executive summary of Mueller's report has publicly confirmed what many of us have known for a long time. The accusations of collusion between President Trump and Russia in the 2016 elections are nothing but a big lie. The Mueller investigation was massive. It ``employed 19 lawyers who were assisted by a team of approximately 40 FBI agents, intelligence forensic accountants, and other professional staff. The special counsel issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communication records . . . and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses.'' After tens of millions of wasted American tax dollars, the finding is succinct: ``The report does not recommend any further indictments, nor did the special counsel obtain any sealed indictments that have yet to be made public. . . .'' The investigation ``did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian Government in its election interference activities.'' The Mueller report vindicates President Trump and his 2016 campaign from the Socialists' baseless, reckless, and false big lie charges of Russian election collusion. Equally important, there is a converse to President Trump's vindication. Mueller's report confirms that Socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies made up nonexistent allegations and engaged in the most sordid of fake news, big lie propaganda, scam, fraud, and smear campaign in American history. Socialist Democrats and their fake news media allies were shameless, shameless in their big lie scam that has inspired hatred against President Trump and violence against Americans who support America's foundational principles. If Socialists and the fake news media had any honor, they would cleanse their souls and atone for their sins by uttering mea culpas and apologizing to the American people for the fraud and scam committed. More likely, however, they will double down and propagate even more big lies, because doubling down is essential to big lie theory. In that vein, I quote from another Socialist who mastered big lie propaganda to a maximum and deadly effect. ``In the big lie, there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. ``It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation.'' Who is this big lie master? That quote was in 1925 by a member of Germany's National Socialist German Workers' Party. That is right, Germany's Socialist Party, more commonly known as the Nazis. The author was Socialist Adolph Hitler in his book, ``Mein Kampf''. Mr. Speaker, America can either learn from history or be doomed to repeat it. When it comes to big lie political propaganda in America, as the Mueller report confirms, America's Socialists and their fake news media allies are experts and have no peers. Regardless, America must reject their big lies or succumb to the danger that lurks and horrific damage that results.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, a prominent American socialist politician recently proclaimed that ``capitalism is irredeemable.'' Mr. Speaker, capitalism, better known as free enterprise, is based on freedom and liberty, not government dictate. The claim that freedom and liberty should give way to government control and dictatorship is astonishing, sad, and alien to the America that I know. It is a betrayal of the freedom and liberty Americans have fought and died for, a freedom that has given America the best gross domestic product, the most wealth of any nation in history. In sum, the argument that free enterprise is bad and irredeemable is the height of economic hubris, economic ignorance, and economic stupidity. Mr. Speaker, it is one thing for an argument to be economically ignorant and stupid, it is another thing for it to be dangerous to human life. In that vein, the argument that socialism is better than free enterprise is not only a betrayal of America's foundational principles of freedom and liberty; it is also dangerous and must be dealt with quickly and severely. History is replete with examples of dead or dying nations that have paid a heavy price for succumbing to socialist politicians who care more about personal and dictatorial power, who care more about being the boss, than the welfare of their own people. For those who refuse to learn from history, I suggest reading George Orwell's prophetic book ``Animal Farm.'' It explains all you need to know about how and why socialism fails and who rules in a Socialist society. Venezuela's economic and humanitarian catastrophe is a present-day, glaring lesson that warns all tempted by the siren song of socialism. Thousands of Venezuelans are dying from malnutrition, disease, and lack of food and medicine. The result: deadly riots. In 2018 alone, a staggering 7,523 civilians were murdered due to clashes with military and state police forces. Mothers are forced to choose which child to feed and which child goes hungry. In 2017, the average Venezuelan lost 24 pounds because they could not get the calories necessary to maintain their body weight. Today, there are Venezuelans searching for food in trash cans who are fortunate if they can eat once a day. As Venezuelans lose hope, suicide rates have skyrocketed to almost twice the global suicide rate. Venezuela's socialist economy has collapsed. 2018's inflation rate soared to 80,000 percent. Nearly 90 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. Even electricity is unreliable, as Caracas suffers from sporadic total power failures, casting Venezuela's capital city into darkness. Worse yet, Venezuela's socialism promotes crime and lawlessness by desperate citizens. According to a 2018 report by the World Economic Forum, Venezuela is the second most dangerous country in the world, with Caracas coming in as the second most dangerous city overall with 111 homicides per 100,000 residents. Venezuela's suffering even extends beyond its borders, as thousands of refugees flee to neighboring countries that cannot take care of them. Venezuela is a man-made catastrophe brought about by tyrannical dictators and self-proclaimed bosses that are always the result of socialist policies. Mr. Speaker, America must learn from Venezuela, a country that succumbed to evil socialist sales pitches even though history proves socialism has failed every single time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and America to reject socialism lest America go down the same path of financial self-destruction as Venezuela. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I urge America to reject self-proclaimed dictators and bosses who seek to deprive America of our hard-fought and hard-won freedom and liberty.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, America recently blew through the $22 trillion debt mark with no end in sight. In January, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warned Washington that America faces an unending stream of trillion-dollar-a- year deficits beginning in FY 2022 and culminating in a $1.4 trillion deficit in FY 2028, the amount Congress spends each year on our discretionary budget that pays for the military, NASA, ATF, FBI, and almost every other Federal agency. The cumulative effect of these deficits is a debt that explodes from $22 trillion today to $33 trillion in a decade. As debt goes up, so does debt service. The CBO warns: ``In CBO's projections, outlays for net interest increase from $325 billion in 2018 to $383 billion . . . in 2019, and more than double by 2029, to $928 billion'' a year, which is the rough equivalent of almost 50 NASA programs. Compounding matters, this past weekend, on March 2, the Federal Government hit the debt ceiling, which means the Federal Government's operational costs are being paid for via extraordinary measures, such as borrowing from the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. Washington's response to this financial firestorm is akin to that of Roman Emperor Nero, who fiddled as Rome burned. Rather than be proactive and work to prevent a debilitating national insolvency and bankruptcy, Congress emulates an ostrich that buries its head in the sand and denies lurking danger. In sum, America's sea of red ink and projected financial path is wholly and completely unsustainable. America must learn from financially reckless nations like Greece and Venezuela, and from Puerto Rico, an American territory that defaulted on its $70 billion debt. Unfortunately, the vast majority of American voters are oblivious to America's lurking financial dangers, in large part because of minimal national media coverage. American voters are too often seduced by debt-junkie politicians who promise free stuff to get elected, while knowing full well America can't pay for it. If American voters do not elect financially responsible officials to Washington, America will succumb to the same debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy that wreaks havoc in Greece and Puerto Rico, with one major difference; unlike Greece, which has been bailed out three times by the European community, and unlike Puerto Rico, which may yet be bailed out by American taxpayers, there is no one, no one who can or will bail out America. Instead, America will be more like Venezuela, whose annual inflation rate now exceeds 2 million percent, where the International Monetary Fund reports there are: ``Widespread shortages of essential goods, including food, exacting a tragic toll,'' where grocery stores have rows and rows of empty shelves and Venezuelans can't find food to feed their families. Worse yet, Venezuela's bankruptcy has made it one of the most violent countries in the world, with a chilling 82 homicides per 100,000 population, roughly 20 times worse than America's homicide rate. Caracas, Venezuela's capital is the world's most violent city, with a war-zone-like 120 murders per 100,000 citizens. Mr. Speaker, America must learn from the financially irresponsible mistakes of others. As the adage says, We can either learn from history, or we are doomed to repeat it. American voters must wake up and stop being seduced by the wily ways of debt-junkie politicians who promise anything to get elected, who pretend to be Santa Claus, when, in fact, they are the Grinch that stole America's future. Time is running out. The American people must start being good stewards of our Republic, and elect Washington officials who both understand the threat posed by defaults, and deficit, and debt, and have the backbone to fix it. America's future depends on it.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in fiscal year 2018, more than 2,000 illegal aliens were apprehended by Federal agents for homicides committed on American soil. Worse yet, roughly 31,000 Americans die each year from heroin and cocaine overdoses, 90 percent of which floods across America's porous southern border. Hence, we can expect at least 33,000 dead Americans each year until America secures our porous southern border. For perspective, the 9/11 terrorist attacks killed roughly 3,000 people. In response, America invaded Iraq and Afghanistan at a cost of trillions of dollars and, roughly, 7,000 lost military personnel lives. Saving Americans should be a bipartisan issue, yet here we are. Republicans seek to prevent another 33,000 dead Americans this year, while partisan Democrats seek to embarrass and stop President Trump from securing America's porous southern border and saving American lives. For emphasis, no national emergency in history has been prompted by more dead Americans than President Trump's national emergency declaration. As such, I support President Trump's national emergency declaration and will vote accordingly. Mr. Speaker, how many dead Americans does it take for open border advocates to support border security? How much American blood must be on guilty hands before Congress recognizes the national emergency we face at America's southern border? America's military protects the borders of, and lives in, South Korea, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, many other countries, and Europe. I thank President Trump, as Commander in Chief, for understanding that America, and Americans, deserve no less protection. Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by noting that dead Americans, Americans killed by illegal aliens as a consequence of porous borders, had dreams, too. We, as a Congress, should remember and honor those dreams and act accordingly and protect this national emergency to protect American lives by securing our porous southern border.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in fiscal year 2018, more than 2,000 illegal aliens were apprehended by Federal agents for homicides committed on American soil. In addition, over 70,000 Americans are killed each year by poisonous drugs, much of which is shipped illegally into America across our porous southern border by illegal aliens, MS- 13, and other drug cartels. Stronger border security, which must include wall construction, will save thousands of American lives each year. Unfortunately, in the worst betrayal of America in history, socialist Democrats, motivated by a lust for political power, selfishly elevate illegal aliens over American citizens because illegal alien families overwhelmingly rely on welfare, thus making them highly reliable Democrat voters who elect socialist Democrat politicians by diluting the votes of American citizens. Inasmuch as socialist Democrats refuse to protect American lives from illegal alien homicides, drug deaths, and America's porous southern border, I urge President Trump to secure our borders and build the wall under existing law and Presidential powers. For example, title 10, section 284 of the United States Code empowers Presidents to order America's military to assist Federal drug and law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug and transnational organized crime. Pursuant to this law, the President may deploy active military and National Guard troops to establish and operate bases of operations; detect and monitor surface traffic in Mexico and in the United States within 25 miles of the southern border; construct roads, fences, barriers, and lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across the southern border; and use aerial and ground reconnaissance. For emphasis, this Federal law empowers President Trump to order America's military to construct walls and barriers to block drug smuggling corridors, with the side benefit of stopping illegal aliens. Mr. Speaker, another example of existing Presidential authority is the power to declare a national emergency and divert congressionally appropriated money to border security and wall construction. America invaded Iraq and Afghanistan based on 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed roughly 3,000 people. In response, America spent trillions of dollars and lost thousands of lives in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. While 9/11 was horrific, 9/11 deaths pale in comparison to hundreds of thousands of Americans who are dead or will die over the years because of illegal alien homicides and overdoses caused by deadly drugs shipped across America's porous southern border. For emphasis, a minimum of 50 Americans die each day we delay securing our southern border. That is a minimum of 15,000 dead Americans each year. This death rate easily justifies a Presidential declaration of a national emergency. In fact, not one of the 58 national emergencies declared by a President since 1979 is supported by a worse death rate or threat to America and American lives. Mr. Speaker, an extraordinarily weak and conflicted Congress is of no help. Worse yet, this Congress is a hindrance. As such, I urge President Trump, as America's Commander in Chief, to invoke title 10 United States Code section 284, declare a national emergency, and use every other authority, statutorily and constitutionally, he possesses to direct the military to secure our southern border, build the wall, and protect and save American lives. America's military protects the borders and lives in South Korea, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Europe, and many other countries. America and Americans deserve no less protection.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, while CNN has had a rotten, no- good, horrible week, the American people have had a great week because last week exposed the CNN vitriol, prejudice, bias, and deception that crowned CNN the fake news king. First, CNN fake news story number 1: For 2 days, CNN drooled over President Trump's impeachment propaganda in a BuzzFeed report that was so bad it prompted a rare public rebuke and ``not true'' proclamation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. CNN, strike one. Second, CNN fake news story number two: CNN viciously and wrongly attacked, ridiculed, slandered, and maligned Covington Catholic High School students by portraying them as racists. By and large, these teenagers at a pro-life march were White males, Catholic, and, heaven forbid, President Trump supporters with Make America Great Again hats. CNN's prejudice against this profile blinded CNN to reality. Had CNN done its homework, CNN would have reported from the very beginning that the students were the victims of African American racists who hurled insults at and sought to intimidate White teenage students and were the victims of Native American political activists who rudely accosted the students, beat a drum in their faces, and yelled that White people should leave America. Did fake news CNN report from the very beginning this racism against White people and how remarkably well these Catholic high school students handled this situation and maintained their composure? No. Sadly, CNN's bias and prejudice did not allow that. CNN, strike two. Third, CNN fake news story number three: CNN did a poorly researched fact check on illegal alien and border security crime data comments by various Republicans, including me. The segment opened with ``New Day'' host Alisyn Camerota deriding ``fact- free fear-mongering'' from ``Trump supporters.'' Really? If you support border security and protecting American lives, you are a fact-free, fear-mongering Trump supporter who must be attacked at all costs? Is that really CNN's viewpoint? CNN's John Avlon then falsely claimed that I said a border wall is the way to keep death-dealing drugs out of America, when I clearly stated a border wall is a necessary subpart of a broader border security strategy required to slow down drugs crossing over our southern border and save American lives. That truth didn't fit CNN's blind fealty to open-border, socialist Democrats, so CNN deceived rather than tell the truth. CNN next showed me stating that Federal officers apprehended roughly 2,000 illegal aliens per year for homicides on American soil. That is fine. That is true. Federal Government's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations reports state Federal officers apprehended 1,886 illegal aliens in FY 2017 and 2,028 illegal aliens in FY 2018 for homicides committed on American soil. But CNN's John Avlon attacked this Federal crime data by citing an unrelated PolitiFact analysis and making an apples and oranges comparison that misunderstands the difference between the words ``homicide'' and ``murder.'' Well, all murders are homicides. Not all homicides are murders. Murders are a subpart of the word ``homicides.'' In any event, the PolitiFact analysis involved another person, not any of us, and was about murders not homicides and disagreed with nothing that I said. CNN strike three. You are out. Madam Speaker, is CNN the most trusted name in news as it claims? No. Not when its reporters, fact-checkers, and newscasters are so blinded by vitriol, prejudice, bias, and hatred for President Trump that they cannot think or see straight; not so long as CNN is nothing more than an apparatchik for radical, open-border, socialist Democrats, not the truth and not the American people. Madam Speaker, CNN has earned its fake news crown, and based on last week, is not at risk of losing its crown anytime soon.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, in 2018, more than 2,000 illegal aliens were apprehended by Federal law enforcement officers for homicides committed on American soil; that is roughly 2,000 dead in just 1 year. And that does not count some number of the 70,000 Americans whose lives are snuffed out each year by poisonous drugs, much of which is shipped illegally into America across our porous southern border. Americans would know more about these horrific killings if the media diverted just a fraction of the time it spends on extolling illegal aliens and attacking our brave border patrol and ICE officers and agents to telling the stories of American lives needlessly ended by illegal aliens and our porous southern border. Today I share a few stories about those who died solely because of illegal aliens and our porous southern border. Louise Sollowin was a beloved mother, wife, and grandmother. Louise spent 50 years helping her sister fire up the oven at Omaha, Nebraska's, Orsi's Italian Bakery, where she worked well into her 80s. In 2013, after 93 years of life, Louise was brutally raped and beaten to death by an illegal alien. To make matters even more horrific, Louise's daughter found her bleeding, battered, and dying mother with a naked illegal alien passed out on top of her. In 2010 in Houston, Texas, 14-year-old Shatavia Anderson was shot in the chest and killed by two illegal aliens. Shatavia loved her family and loved talking on the phone. She proclaimed that one day she was ``gonna be somebody.'' Shatavia was robbed of that dream by illegal aliens. In July 2018 in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, two drug-cartel related illegal aliens took Oralia Mendoza and her 13-year-old granddaughter, Mariah Lopez, from their home in the dark of night. Oralia was stabbed to death while her teenage granddaughter, Mariah, was forced to watch. Later, and in order to eliminate a witness, the illegal alien drug cartel members then beheaded Mariah and abandoned her body in the woods not far from where I live. Mariah's decaying body was not found for weeks. Mariah was a special needs student at Challenger Middle School. Her teachers described her as a ``sweet little girl'' who ``had a lot of friends.'' I have a Washington staff member, Michaila Lindow, who well remembers being baby-sat as a young child by family friend, Tad Mattle. In 2009 in Huntsville, Alabama, then 19-year-old Tad Mattle was driving home with his girlfriend from a church social. While stopped at a traffic light, an illegal alien, who was fleeing the scene of yet another crime and whose blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit, rear- ended Tad Mattle's car. This illegal alien had three prior DUIs. Tad Mattle's car exploded on impact, tragically killing Tad Mattle and his girlfriend. Tad, the oldest of three children, enjoyed making music and served as percussion leader in the Grissom High School marching band. Three days before he was killed, Tad was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he planned to pursue an engineering degree. Mr. Speaker, each of these horrific deaths have one thing in common: none of these lives would have been stolen from us, but for illegal aliens aided and abetted by Democrats who protect, promote, and prefer the lives of illegal aliens to the lives of American citizens. Mr. Speaker, these killings on American soil will continue if America does not secure our porous southern border. As for those who support amnesty and open borders, how many American lives and dreams must be snuffed out by illegal aliens before Washington has the guts and integrity to secure our porous southern border? How many Americans, dead Americans, does it take before you will start saving lives rather than aiding and abetting those illegal aliens who take them?

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on January 4, 2019, President Trump sent Congress a letter about America's border crisis. That letter states, in part: ``It is the sovereign right of every nation to establish an immigration program in its national interest, lawfully admitting those who have followed the rules, while denying entry to those who break the rules or fail to meet the requirements established in law. ``A nation that fails to control its borders cannot fulfill its most basic obligations to its citizens, physical safety, economic security, essential public services, and the uniform protection of our laws. . . . The southern border is a very dangerous place; in fact, Border Patrol agents routinely encounter some of the most dangerous criminals, cartels, and traffickers anywhere in the world. ``Effective border security must dramatically reduce the entry of illegal immigrants, criminals, and drugs; it must keep out terrorists, public safety threats, and those otherwise inadmissible under U.S. law; and it must ensure that those who do enter without legal permission can be promptly and safely returned home . . . current funding levels, resources, and authorities are woefully inadequate to meet the scope of the problem. We are no longer in a status quo situation at the southern border, but in a crisis situation. Status quo funding is not enough. ``In fiscal year 2018, 17,000 adults at the border with existing criminal records were arrested by Customs and Border Protection and border agents. ``In FY 2017 and FY 2018, ICE officers arrested approximately 235,000 aliens on various criminal charges or convictions within the interior of the United States, including roughly 100,000 for assault, 30,000 for sex crimes, and 4,000 for homicides.'' For emphasis, over the past 2 years, illegal aliens have averaged 50,000 physical assaults, 15,000 sex crimes, and 2,000 killings per year, all in America. Returning to President Trump's letter: ``300 Americans are killed every week from heroin, 90 percent of which floods across our southern border.'' Stated differently, our porous southern border and illegal aliens contribute to the deaths of another 15,000 Americans per year from just one drug, heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are another 55,000 dead Americans from overdoses from other poisonous drugs, many of which, like heroin, steal across our porous southern border. President Trump continues in his letter: ``Illegal immigration is not progressive. By every measure it is unfair, unjust, uncompassionate, and cruel. Many people are killed. It hurts both those who make the journey and so many communities bearing the cost in lives, safety, and dollars. . . . Absolutely critical to border security and national security is a wall or a physical barrier that prevents entry in the first place. Members of both parties-- including then-Senators Obama and Clinton, current Senator Schumer, and many other Members of the House and Senate--all voted for a hard physical barrier. Walls work. That's why rich, powerful, and successful people build them around their homes. All Americans deserve the same protection. In Israel, it is 99 percent effective.'' Madam Speaker, open borders advocates forced Washington to either shut down the government or do nothing, nothing to prevent the deaths of thousands of Americans each year that result from our porous southern border and illegal alien criminal activity. This is a bad choice. To the contrary, we should both end the government shutdown and secure our borders by building a wall and changing our immigration laws to protect the lives of American men, women, and children. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record President Trump's letter to Congress. The White House, Washington, January 4, 2019. Dear Members of Congress: Congratulations to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her entire team, on her election to be Speaker of the House. I look forward to working together on our shared priorities for the American People, including rebuilding our infrastructure, reforming unfair trade deals, and reducing the price of prescription drugs. Our recent bipartisan success on numerous legislative accomplishments such as Criminal Justice Reform, opioid legislation, and the Farm Bill, underscores the extraordinary achievements that are possible when we rise above party politics to advance the good of the Nation as a whole. As we begin this new Congress, our first task should be to reopen the Government and to deliver on our highest duty as elected officials: the security of the Nation and its borders. It is the sovereign right of every nation to establish an immigration program in its national interest--lawfully admitting those who have followed the rules, while denying entry to those who break the rules or fail to meet the requirements established in law. A nation that fails to control its borders cannot fulfill its most basic obligations to its citizens--physical safety, economic security, essential public services, and the uniform protection of our laws. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Congressional leadership at the White House this Wednesday to discuss the border security crisis, and the need for a government funding bill that secures the border and keeps Americans safe. During the meeting, there was debate over the nature and extent of this crisis and its impact on Americans. It had been my hope that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would have the opportunity to deliver a presentation discussing the facts about the depth and severity of the humanitarian crisis and the security crisis that is now unfolding at the Southern Border. However, some of those present did not want to hear the presentation at the time, and so I have instead decided to make the presentation available to all Members of Congress. I encourage you to review it carefully, to share it with your staff, and to discuss it with other lawmakers. In crafting a Homeland Security bill, it is essential that we make decisions based upon the facts on the ground--not ideology and rhetoric--and that we listen to the law enforcement personnel on the front lines. The Southern Border is a very dangerous place--in fact, Border Patrol agents routinely encounter some of the most dangerous criminals, cartels, and traffickers anywhere in the world. Effective border security must dramatically reduce the entry of illegal immigrants, criminals, and drugs; it must keep out terrorists, public safety threats, and those otherwise inadmissible under U.S. law; and it must ensure that those who do enter without legal permission can be promptly and safely returned home. As the enclosed presentation makes clear, current funding levels, resources, and authorities are woefully inadequate to meet the scope of the problem. We are no longer in a status quo situation at the Southern Border but in a crisis situation. Status quo funding is not enough. In fiscal year (FY) 2018, 17,000 adults at the border with existing criminal records were arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and border agents. In FY2017 and FY2018, ICE officers arrested approximately 235,000 aliens on various criminal charges or convictions within the interior of the United States--including roughly 100,000 for assault, 30,000 for sex crimes, and 4,000 for homicides. We are now averaging 60,000 illegal and inadmissible aliens a month on our Southern Border. Last month alone, more than 20,000 minors were smuggled into the United States. The immigration court backlog is nearly 800,000 cases. There has been a 2,000 percent increase in asylum claims over the last five years, with the largest growth coming from Central America--while around 9 in 10 claims from Central American migrants are ultimately rejected by the immigration courts, the applicant has long since been released into the interior of the United States. In FY2017, roughly 135,000 illegal and inadmissible family units arrived from Central America. Of those, less than 2 percent have been successfully removed from the country due to a shortage of resources and glaring loopholes in our federal laws. So far in FY2019, we have seen a 280 percent increase in family units from FY2018. 300 Americans are killed every week from heroin--90 percent of which floods across our Southern Border. Illegal immigration is a humanitarian crisis: 1 in 3 migrant women is sexually assaulted on the journey northward to the U.S. border; 50 illegal migrants a day are referred for emergency medical care; and CBP rescues 4,300 people a year who are in danger and distress. Illegal immigration is NOT progressive--by every measure, it is unfair, unjust, uncompassionate, and cruel. Many people are killed. It hurts both those who make the journey and so many communities bearing the cost in lives, safety, and dollars. Senator Chuck Schumer once said: ``Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration, we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now, and on rationalizing our system of legal immigration. That's plain and simple and unavoidable.'' Absolutely critical to border security and national security is a wall or a physical barrier that prevents entry in the first place. Members of both parties--including then Senators Obama and Clinton, current Senator Schumer, and many other members of the House and Senate--all voted for a hard, physical barrier. Walls work. That's why rich, powerful, and successful people build them around their homes. All Americans deserve the same protection. In Israel, it is 99 percent effective. We must also close the legal gaps in America's defenses. Loopholes in federal law that prevent removals provide a magnet for illegal entry, and a lucrative business model for vicious coyotes, while overwhelming the U.S. immigration system. The worst loopholes incentivize the smuggling of minors. Under these legal loopholes, if an illegal minor, or those traveling with a minor, merely set foot on United States soil, they cannot be successfully returned home. This explains the profound increases in the arrival of minors travelling both alone and with adults on the dangerous journey to our border. To protect these children from abuse, and stop this illegal flow, we must close these loopholes. This is an urgent humanitarian necessity. Children are terribly used by criminals and coyotes to gain access to our country--they are the biggest victims of all. The most pressing legal changes are as follows: Terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement--which is preventing families from being held together through removal; and Amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), to allow for the safe and humane return of illegally-smuggled minors back to their families in their home countries. Americans have endured decades of broken promises on illegal immigration. Now, is the time for both parties to rise above the partisan discord, to set aside political convenience, and to put the national interest first. Now is the time--this is the moment--to finally secure the border and create the lawful and safe immigration system Americans, and those wanting to become Americans, deserve. Sincerely, Donald J. Trump.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the remarkable career of a great American, Mr. Ray Fitzgerald, a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service, upon the occasion of his retirement after 46 years of selfless service to our nation. A highly respected leader, Ray Fitzgerald has made immeasurable contributions to the warfighter and the military community as a whole. Mr. Fitzgerald had an exemplary military career. Upon graduating from the University of Alabama in 1972, he entered the U.S. Army. Rising to the rank of Colonel, his assignments included; Chief of Staff of the deployed 101st Airborne Division Task Force in Kosovo; Commander of the 101st Airborne Division Garrison at Fort Campbell, Ky.; Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.; senior brigade observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC); and Commander of U.S. Forces in the Balkans (Bosnia). Mr. Fitzgerald also commanded the 1st Battalion, 50 8th Infantry (Airborne) during Operation Just Cause. Mr. Fitzgerald was appointed to the Senior Executive Service after 30 years of Active Duty service as an Army Infantry Officer. He has led organizations at every level, culminating in his assignment as the Vice Director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO). Mr. Fitzgerald served with distinction as the Deputy Director for Interagency and Interdepartmental Cooperation at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and was the Department of Defense Executive Manager detailed to the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), Quantico, VA. There he supported TEDAC's mission to eradicate the lED threat by providing scientific and technical exploitation, actionable intelligence, timely responses to requests and forecasting worldwide threats. While assigned to JIEDDO and JIDO, Mr. Fitzgerald has deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent deployment to Iraq in 2016 was as the Senior Coalition Advisor for the security of Baghdad. His 2014 deployment to Afghanistan was as the Senior Coalition Advisor/Mentor to the Afghanistan National Security Advisor. Prior to JIDO, Mr. Fitzgerald served at the Department of State, where he was the Chief of Staff for the Bureau of Resource Management. His State Department duties also included two 18 month tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he served as the senior State Department representative responsible for Afghanistan Police Reform and as the political advisor (POLAD) to Task Force 714. Ray Fitzgerald is the best friend a Warfighter ever had. He is a passionate, selfless leader who has devoted his life and energies to ensuring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines receive the best possible training, equipment, intelligence, and tactical support. While serving with JIDO, he has applied his extensive military background and knowledge to a myriad of material and non-material problem sets. His tenure spanned some of the most dangerous and critical periods in our Nation's fight against terrorism. As an aside, Mr. Fitzgerald never avoided a difficult task or assignment, tackled every complex problem, and consistently made a difference for deployed Warfighters. Our Nation's history is grounded in the efforts of those like Ray Fitzgerald, who have served this nation with great distinction. He exemplifies what it means to commit one's life to his country and has more than earned our admiration and respect. Mr. Fitzgerald leaves a legacy of service that will most certainly serve as an inspiration to others for years to come. My fellow colleagues, please join me in congratulating Mr. Ray Fitzgerald as he enters the next chapter of his life.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the Congressman for the Tennessee Valley of the State of Alabama, I am uniquely situated to appreciate the valuable contribution the Marshall Space Flight Center has made and continues to make to America's rocket propulsion capabilities. As a child growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, I well remember the 1960s as nearby Saturn V rocket engine tests shook the ground and rattled the windows. I also remember the great pride in America I felt the moment Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon after leaving the Earth on one of our Saturn V rockets. No doubt about it, developing and improving rocket propulsion is essential to America's leadership in space exploration and national security. It has been the Marshall Space Flight Center that has provided and continues to provide the cutting-edge expertise America needs in both solid and liquid rocket propulsion. Over the last several years, Americans have witnessed a resurgence in the rocket propulsion industry. As traditional and emerging actors move forward, it is important that the Federal Government minimize expensive duplication and support healthy cooperation and communication between the private sector and the Federal Government to promote America's robust rocket propulsion industry. With President Trump's establishment of Space Force as an independent branch of the military, rocket propulsion is recognized as even more important to securing America's future than ever before because America's military relies heavily on its space assets--global positioning satellites being but one example--to protect our national security. As Congress guides America's national space policy, we must promote the robust rocket propulsion industrial base that is essential to our space presence. My bill, H.R. 5345, the American Leadership in Space Technology and Advanced Rocketry Act of 2018, commonly known as the ALSTAR Act, helps ensure the long-term stability of the rocket propulsion industry through better coordination and collaboration between all relevant stakeholders, public and private. Specifically, the ALSTAR Act formally designates Marshall Space Flight Center as NASA's current and future lead center for rocket propulsion. In addition, the ALSTAR Act directs Marshall to explore, develop, and mature new rocket propulsion technology in cooperation with partners across and outside of government. This new emphasis, while building on a strong foundation, helps to ensure that America remains at the forefront of space exploration. Mr. Speaker, in the 1940s and 1950s, voyages to the Moon were thought impossible, but America rose to the challenge and overcame the impossible. Today, America must, once again, challenge itself to reach far beyond its limits. Through our increased attention, focus, and support of utilization of space and the exploration of deep space, we too can overcome the impossible and help inspire the next generation of Americans to look to the stars and go where no one has gone before. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5345, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5345) to designate the Marshall Space Flight Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to provide leadership for the U.S. rocket propulsion industrial base, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to defend Alabama citizens' right to fair representation and equal apportionment under the United States Constitution. In some recent censuses, the Census Bureau counted illegal aliens, and indications are they will count illegal aliens again in the 2020 census. This potentially illegal practice puts Alabama at significant risk of losing a congressional seat when the 2020 census reapportionment occurs for the 2022 elections. For this reason, the State of Alabama and I have filed suit in Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against the United States Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to require them to exclude illegal aliens when they conduct the 2020 census. Specifically, the State of Alabama and I challenge the legality of the Department of Commerce's residence rule, which counts everyone, including illegal aliens, in America's population count. If the roughly 15 million illegal aliens in America--no one knows for sure how many there are--were dispersed throughout the United States in equal proportion to each State's population, then no State would be disadvantaged in congressional representation and this discrimination issue would be moot. However, the difference in illegal alien population between States is dramatic. According to Department of Homeland Security 2014 estimates, 46 percent of America's illegal aliens live in just three States. California, with the greatest concentration of illegal aliens, estimated at 2.9 million, has roughly four more Congressmen due to apportionment that counts illegal aliens. Reapportionment of House seats and electoral votes is a zero-sum proposition: one State's gain is another State's loss. With an estimated 65,000 illegal aliens, Alabama citizens, and citizens of many other States as well, lose proportional representation because of various open borders policies of some States. The exact effects of the illegal alien population on the apportionment of Congressmen is complex based on the Method of Equal Proportions formula that is used to minimize the percentage difference in population per Congressman. But one thing is clear: Simulations of the apportionment process, using current population projections, suggest Alabama is at great risk of losing a congressional seat if the Census Bureau counts illegal aliens. As with anything in the United States Constitution, the census should be read, understood, and strictly administered according to its original intent. The 14th Amendment protects the rights of citizens to fair and equal representation. Any deviation in this process threatens the right of each American citizen to fair and equal representation in Congress. We cannot allow a small number of States to cheat the rest of America by promoting illegal immigration and then, as a reward for their lawless conduct, to receive greater proportional representation in Congress and the electoral college. Mr. Speaker, the question is clear: Should congressional representation be based on the number of American citizens or expanded to include the number of illegal aliens? I cannot speak for anyone else in Washington, D.C., but for me. And, as for me, I side with American citizens, not illegal aliens and illegal conduct. America is a Republic, and the essence of being a Republic is respect for the right of American citizens to equal protection and equal influence over congressional elections. Any attempt by the Census Bureau to undermine American citizens' equal protection and equal influence over congressional elections must be opposed. That is exactly what the State of Alabama and I are doing by filing this action on behalf of Alabama citizens.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I am sending a joint letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to limit the Mueller investigation in two respects. The letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions states: We, the undersigned, urge you to, one, limit Special Counsel Mueller's investigation to, A, alleged Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential election, herein referred to as ``Russian interference,'' and, B, alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians with respect to the alleged Russian interference, herein referred to as ``Trump collusion.'' Two, terminate the investigative phase of Mueller's authority no later than July 5, 2018, which is the 2-year anniversary of the date on which the FBI began investigating alleged Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential election. We respectfully request that you consider the following reasoning for our request. First, with respect to limiting the Mueller investigation scope, the letter states: You recused yourself ``from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.'' This request does not conflict with your recusal because it asks that you direct Mueller to cease investigation of matters that go beyond allegations of Russian interference and Trump collusion. For emphasis, matters beyond alleged Russian interference and Trump collusion, if any, can and should be treated like any other matter investigated and prosecuted by Federal law enforcement officials and the Department of Justice. While public opinion must not always dictate justice, it is important to emphasize that the expansion of Mueller's work scope goes way beyond the alleged Russian interference and Trump collusion that was the public basis for the appointment of a special counsel. As such, continuation of Mueller's work scope beyond alleged Russian interference and Trump collusion betrays the public trust on which America's justice system is founded. Second, with respect to termination of the Mueller investigation on the 2-year anniversary of when the FBI and Department of Justice began the Russian interference investigation, the letter states: The investigation of alleged Russian interference began almost 2 years ago. Two years is more than enough time for a competent and thorough prosecutor, backed up by the resources of the FBI and Department of Justice, to do his job. If no harm was being done by the tardiness of an investigation, that would be one thing. But in this instance, Mueller's tardiness is damaging America. The alleged Russian interference and Trump collusion investigations have taken on the character of an endless political persecution that not only harms America's trust in the justice system but also severely damages and distracts from the ability of a duly elected President to fulfill his duties to the American people. As you know, America is racking up deficits and debt at a frightening and dangerous pace. Washington public officials must be more prudent with tax dollars forcibly taken from American citizens. Mueller appears to be burning through tax dollars at a roughly $1.5 million-per-month clip. Given the rather paltry results to date, a strong argument can be made that Mueller's investigation is an extravagant waste of tax dollars. We urge you, on the second anniversary of the start of the alleged Russian interference and Trump collusion investigations, to end it. Between now and then, Mueller has plenty of time to get the job done. Mr. Speaker, so far, this letter has been respectfully signed and submitted to Attorney General Jeff Sessions by no less than 16 Members of the United States Congress.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 53- year pastoral career of Dr. Jimmy E. Jackson, who is set to retire in early June. I first met Dr. Jackson 38 years ago in 1980. Over those 38 years, I have grown to very much appreciate and admire all that Dr. Jackson has done to improve the physical and spiritual lives of Tennessee Valley residents. Dr. Jackson has dedicated the last 40 years of his pastoral service to the congregation of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, Alabama. My colleagues may recall when Dr. Jackson served as a guest chaplain for the House of Representatives in April of 2015. Dr. Jackson's walk with Christ began on October 26, 1968. That day, Dr. Jackson made the solemn decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and devote his whole life to serving God. Dr. Jackson has said that he ``knew about Jesus before October 1968, but on that morning when I knew myself to be lost and turned to Jesus Christ in faith, I was converted by the grace of God.'' Through 40 years at Whitesburg Baptist, Dr. Jackson has remained committed to leading people in the Rocket City and Alabama to Christ and has been integral in the spiritual life of the people of the Tennessee Valley. Under Dr. Jackson's leadership, Whitesburg Baptist Church has grown to 7,100 members, making it one of the largest and most successful churches in the Tennessee Valley. In Matthew 28, verses 19 and 20, Jesus instructed his disciples to ``therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. . . . '' Dr. Jackson has lived this Great Commission through his long pastoral career at Whitesburg Baptist and in our community and the broader Christian faith. In addition to presiding over Whitesburg Baptist Church, Dr. Jackson served in a number of distinguished capacities, including but not limited to: the executive committee of the Alabama State Board of Missions, the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and on the board of regents of the University of Mobile. I commend Dr. Jimmy Jackson on his exceptional career and service to God. I wish Dr. Jackson many years of happiness as he begins this new phase of life with his bride of nearly 58 years, Bobbi; his children; his grandchildren; and his great-grandchildren.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Finally, this legislation has no express enforcement provision. What good is it to have a balanced budget constitutional amendment if there is no enforcement mechanism? I, as a United States Congressman, or any of my colleagues, 434 other Congressmen, United States Senators, Jane voter, Joe voter, they are not given the power under this constitutional amendment to enforce its terms. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate then to change three aspects of this. Number one: increase that 60 percent to two-thirds, three-fourths, or four-fifths. Number two: make sure that we adjust the problem with the majority vote whenever there is a military conflict--which the United States seems to perpetually be in. And number three: have an enforcement provision so that we know this is not a hollow shell of a constitutional amendment; rather, it is one that has substance; rather, it is one that will help prevent a debilitating insolvency of a great Nation that it took our ancestors centuries to build.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate some of the comments of others here and make it very clear. We have been warned over the years in writing by the Congressional Budget Office, by the Government Accountability Office, and by Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States, that our current financial path is unsustainable. In accounting language, that means insolvency and bankruptcies. Back in 2015, by way of example, we as House Republicans had been able to successfully reduce America's annual deficits from the peak of $1.4 trillion under the Obama administration in the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 timeframe, to approximately $438 billion in 2015. However, beginning in 2015, Washington took a wrong turn. In 2016, the deficit increased to approximately $585 billion. In 2017, the deficit increased to approximately $666 billion. This year, the Congressional Budget Office just this week has warned us that we are looking at a roughly $804 billion deficit this year. Again, wrong direction. Wrong turn. Next year, almost $1 trillion, and every year thereafter, $1 trillion or more hastening the day that the United States of America suffers from a debilitating, a dangerous insolvency and bankruptcy. Hence, it is very important that we become masters of our own fate. It is very important that we do not become the debtor--as warned in Proverbs 22:7--that becomes a slave to the creditor who becomes the master. In that vein, let's be clear about who one of our masters is, one of our creditors: China--$1.2 trillion. Perhaps for the long term they will be a geopolitical friend, but there is also a chance that they will be a geopolitical foe. Do we really want them to have control over our fate as a country? And let's be clear about the situation that we are in right now. Right now, if the Congressional Budget Office's projection of $800 billion is accurate, if, in fact, we are going to spend roughly $1.3 trillion in our discretionary budget that we just got through passing a few weeks ago--in my judgment, irresponsibly, but nonetheless that is in the past. It has happened. If that is going to be the case, if our creditors tomorrow were to simply cut us off, were to say we are not going to loan you any more money--which they have every right to do-- and if that $1.3 trillion was prorated, that $800 billion shortfall out of $1.3 trillion, you are looking at a roughly $400 billion cut to national defense. That would be their share of an $800 billion proration out of $1.3 trillion. That puts national security at risk. So it is important that we have a balanced budget constitutional amendment that forces Washington, D.C., to act like every family has to act, to act like every city, county, and State government has to act, to act like every business has to act, and that is to act within our financial means, act within our financial resources. That having been said, I am inclined to vote for this balanced budget constitutional amendment, but I have serious reservations about whether it is ineffective and somehow hollow. It needs to be stronger, and I urge the United States Senate to make it stronger if it passes this body and gets to the Senate. Here are three of the problem areas that I have identified: Section 2: ``The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.'' Mr. Speaker, three-fifths isn't going to cut it. It needs to be two- thirds or three-fourths or four-fifths, something substantial so that those of us who understand the economic risk of a national insolvency and bankruptcy who only constitute 10, 20, or 30 percent of this body are able to enforce this provision and force the United States Government to be financially responsible. That is one area, increase that three-fifths to two-thirds or three- fourths or four-fifths. A second area in section 5: ``The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority''--a mere majority--``of the whole number of each House.'' So let's be clear. In virtually every year since December 7 of 1941, we have had a military conflict. A sharp lawyer is going to say that it involves national security, which triggers a majority vote to go into deficit spending. What is the law now? The law in the House is 50 percent plus 1, and you can pass a spending bill. The law in the Senate, though, is 60 percent because of their filibuster rule. So we are moving that 60 percent threshold down to 51 percent, thereby making it easier to pass a deficit-ridden bill.