Andy Barr

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an exceptional man, Mr. William Stephen Arnsparger, of Paris, Kentucky. Bill Arnsparger was a part of the Greatest Generation, answered his nation's call to service during World War II. He spent most of his life as a football coach, attaining greatness around the country. It is my honor to recognize him before the House of Representatives. Mr. Arnsparger was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1926. He attended Paris High School, where he was All State in football. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in China. Following the war, Arnsparger earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Miami University (Ohio), where he also played football. His coaching career began immediately after graduation as an assistant coach at Miami under Woody Hayes. Arnsparger went on to serve as an assistant coach at the college level at Ohio State, the University of Kentucky, and Tulane University. He was head coach at Louisiana State University. Arnsparger coached in the NFL for the Baltimore Colts, the Miami Dolphins, the New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers. He also served as athletic director at the University of Florida. Arnsparger was famous for being the architect of the ``No Name Defense'' and the ``Killer B's'' of the Miami Dolphins. Bill was inducted into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll as well as Halls of Fame at Paris High School, Miami University, Kentucky Athletic, Florida Athletic, and the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Arnsparger passed away peacefully on July 17, 2015 in Paris, Kentucky. Like many in his generation, he served his country bravely during his time in the military. He went on to live an exemplary life in his chosen profession of football. He was truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a role model to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. Too many Americans across the country are victims of ObamaCare's many broken promises. We all remember the chaos that ensued when the law was first rolled out, a billion-dollar Web site that didn't work, millions of Americans losing their insurance and being forced to find a new plan often at a higher cost. Now hundreds of thousands of Americans, including at least 51,000 Kentuckians, are once again losing their health insurance because of the failure of ObamaCare healthcare cooperatives. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama cited Kentucky as an example of ObamaCare working in a red State. But as we learned last week, ObamaCare does not work in Kentucky. In the past 2 weeks, ObamaCare co-ops have failed in my home State of Kentucky, Tennessee, Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina. Co-ops have failed in Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, and Louisiana. These failures were entirely predictable because the model was not sustainable. The Kentucky co-op lost nearly 60 cents for every premium dollar it collected. Now hardworking taxpayers will be stuck with the bill for hundreds of millions of dollars that will never be paid back. Combined with low enrollment numbers, the result of these failures will ultimately be borne by the American people, more consolidation in the healthcare market, fewer choices for consumers, and higher healthcare costs for the American people. This is not the reform we were promised. The bill we are debating today would repeal the most harmful mandates and taxes imposed by the law. It reduces the deficit by $130 billion, and it gives us an opportunity to put a bill on the President's desk that would make life easier for the American people. I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the faith and service of Rev. Dr. James C. Perkins of Detroit, Michigan to the gospel ministry and its congregants for the last 41 years. My hometown of Lexington, Kentucky has the distinguished honor to host Dr. Perkins as he preaches the gospel to three of our community's churches. His words, written and spoken, have moved many throughout the country for four decades and will continue to do so for years to come. Over the course of the Fifth Annual Simultaneous Revival in Lexington, the Reverend will preach the gospel and speak words of compassion to the Sixth District of Kentucky's own Shiloh Baptist Church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and Imani Baptist Church. The event, hosted by the Interdenominational Pastoral Fellowship of Lexington and Vicinity, will spread the word of God and the enlightened message of peace and goodwill throughout the Commonwealth. Dr. Perkins has been recognized throughout this great country and around the world as a leader in civil rights issues and advocacy for those who face daily struggles, seeking to remedy earthly woes through faith, prayer, and the support of the ministry. The Reverend's close relationship with many prominent groups and institutions such as the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit, Wiley College of Marshall, Texas, Morehouse School of Religion of Atlanta, Georgia, and the National Council of Churches has spread the Lord's word of good faith and love for our fellow man far and wide. In recognition of these good works, Dr. Perkins is a recipient of the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Prize; an accolade bestowed by Morehouse College upon those who ardently pursue a life of work dedicated to the principle of constructing a world filled with dignity, freedom, and happiness for all people. The Reverend's dedication to the gospel and preservation of the rights of Americans of all walks of life has been an inspiration to us all. On behalf of the residents of the Sixth Congressional District, I welcome him to Central Kentucky.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, this makes the home buying process more difficult for consumers. But at the end of the day, even if we are going to go forward with this new, complicated regulation, 1,800 pages or so, at least--at least--give the participants--the closing attorneys, the title insurance agents, the Realtors, the advocates for the home buyers, and the advocates for the consumers--let them have a brief period of time where they can get up to speed with the complexity of this rule so that innocent mistakes are not punished and that home buyers are not punished. Let's set the politics aside on this. This is not about Democrat or Republican here. We have got a big bipartisan letter. This is something that protects our constituents. This is what our constituents are telling us they need to come into compliance with this new, complex law. Isn't buying and selling a home, isn't moving from home to home, complex enough? Let's not let the bureaucrats make it even more difficult.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I applaud and thank my colleague from Ohio and my colleague from Arkansas for their leadership on this issue. On May 22, I sent a bipartisan letter with my colleague, Congresswoman Maloney, to CFPB Director Richard Cordray requesting a grace period for compliance with the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule, or TRID. The letter was signed by 254 Members of Congress. Of those, 92 were Democrats. TRID is a complex rule and compliance term requiring new, untested software to harmonize data from realtors, mortgage brokers, lenders, land title agents, and others involved in the closing process. All that our letter requested was a grace period for those making good faith efforts to comply with the rule. No delay in the rule, no reproposal, just a grace period. We have listened to our constituents, and what they tell us is that innocent mistakes are inevitable as the disclosure software is tested in the real world for the first time. In fact, CFPB cited a mistake as the reason to delay implementation of the rule from August 1 until this past Saturday, October 3. However, that delay and promises of sensitive enforcement do nothing to provide certainty that honest mistakes during the early days of TRID, when these untested systems are used in real transactions, will not be punished with fines and lawsuits. If the Bureau is allowed to make mistakes, then our constituents should also be allowed to make innocent mistakes without penalty for a brief period of time to establish the systems necessary to reliably comply. The Bureau, however, has proven unwilling to act. So today we consider a bill that implements the grace period requested in that letter. The Homebuyers Assistance Act simply provides a grace period until February 1, 2016, to ensure that home buyers and sellers can be assured their transaction will not be delayed and industry participants won't need to fear enforcement actions or frivolous lawsuits over data issues or typos. It is what 92 of our Democratic colleagues requested just 5 months ago. But today, faced with a legislative solution to the problem, our colleagues are balking. The President has issued a veto threat. Leader Pelosi is whipping her members against the bill. This is quite baffling. It seems to me that the interests of trial lawyers are trumping those of consumers trying to buy or sell their homes. Make no mistake. Allowing immediate legal liability under TRID only benefits litigious attorneys and overzealous bureaucrats. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bill and hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will do the same. In closing, let me just address the response that we should be on the side of consumers. That is absolutely correct. We should be on the side of consumers. What my constituents tell me back home is that, unfortunately, this new regulation doesn't make home buying simpler. In fact, the number of pages are the same. Look at the regulation. Is this pro-consumer? This is the regulation from Washington. This is complex. This is not simplification for consumers. This makes the home buying process more difficult.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, just briefly in response to my colleague from Massachusetts and the analysis that this 1,800-page regulation is just a prop and he blames about 171 pages on explanations and guidance and suggests that, well, that is a good thing, we want explanations and guidance from the bureaucrats to explain how this works, let me tell you what my constituents back in Kentucky are telling me what happens in the real world. In the real world, how closing attorneys--this is a closing attorney in Kentucky who says this interprets this stack of paper, and he says, ``I am going to have to do two closings, a TRID-compliant closing and then another closing that actually informs my client what is going on in the transaction.'' Now, is that simplifying things for consumers? Does that make things easier for a home buyer and a home seller to have two closings, one that is TRID-compliant, compliant with the bureaucracy, and one that actually helps the home buyer with a HUD settlement statement? I don't think so.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, the point here is that we should be making things easier. If it is so doggone complicated that you have to have two closings, at least give us 6 months to figure this thing out, 6 months of a grace period for good faith efforts to come into compliance where innocent mistakes happen.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American hero: U.S. Air Force Captain Matthew D. Roland from Lexington, Kentucky. Captain Roland gave his life in service to his country when he was killed in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015. Captain Roland graduated in 2006 from Lexington Catholic High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and ran cross country. He was recognized as a born leader, motivated and dedicated to all that he did, demonstrated by his achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in high school. He earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 2010. Captain Roland was an officer in the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. He deployed 3 times in his 5 years of service, serving in many locations around the world. The tragic loss of this brave, young man, a patriot to his country, is felt by all who knew him. Along with a grateful Nation, I honor his legacy, embrace his family, and to Captain Roland say thank you for your ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the service of Roy Curtis. He served the city of Berea, Kentucky for thirty-four years as a firefighter. Mr. Curtis rose up through the ranks and eventually became fire chief. He is very well respected among his fellow firefighters and among the people of Berea. Mr. Curtis recently retired from his position as fire chief. He was a caring and compassionate leader who will be greatly missed. Mr. Curtis reported that the hardest part of the job was seeing people suffer the loss of loved ones, pets, and possessions in fires. Mr. Curtis was also an integral part of the team of Berea firefighters. His fellow firefighters showed much respect for Chief Curtis and his leadership. As firefighter Eric Lawson said, ``He's just a top-notch guy. You can't find one better than Roy''. Like all his fellow firefighters, Roy Curtis was a brave public servant who went into dangerous situations many times to save lives and property. The willingness to sacrifice and to serve the public is part of what makes America great. A grateful nation joins with the citizens of Berea to say thank you to Roy Curtis.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Craig Williams and the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. Twenty-five years ago, the Foundation formed the Chemical Weapons Working Group. This group was made up of residents who were concerned about building chemical weapons incinerators at eight sites across the country and one island in the Pacific. The CWWG has worked hard over the years at the grassroots level to successfully advocate for federal legislation that mandated research and implementation of safer weapons disposal technologies that did not include incineration. The Chemical Weapons Working Group has done an excellent job of bringing people together from many different social and political persuasions and many different perspectives. These dedicated people have worked over the past twenty-five years to come to consensus on safe solutions for the disposal of U.S. chemical weapons. Currently, a non-incineration technology facility is under construction in the Sixth District of Kentucky. The project is being done with continued oversight by Mr. Craig Williams, as he also serves as the Host Community Liaison between local governments and the Pentagon. Mr. Williams is a founding member and past Director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. In addition to serving as Director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, he is a charter member of the Kentucky Governor's Chemical Material Demilitarization Citizen's Advisory Commission and currently serves as co-chair of the Kentucky Chemical Destruction Advisory Board. Mr. Williams is the co-founder and secretary of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation. He has received several tributes in the United States Congress and was presented the John O'Connor Citizens Achievement Award in 2003. Williams is involved in many community activities. Williams and his wife live in Berea, Kentucky near their two children and two grandchildren. The people of the Sixth District and our nation are safer today because of the determined work and excellent leadership of Craig Williams and the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. They have worked tirelessly and with great passion to mandate ways to dispose of chemical weapons in a safe manner. I join a grateful nation in congratulating the Kentucky Environmental Foundation on their twenty- five years and thanking Craig Williams for his excellent leaderships.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate John Calipari, Head Basketball Coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, on his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Over his career as a basketball coach, Calipari has received many well deserved awards and the Hall of Fame recognizes the years of successful accomplishments. In twenty two years as a head coach in college basketball, Coach Cal has an overall record of 593-174 (.773). He has led three schools to the Final Four; UMass, Memphis, and Kentucky. At the University of Kentucky, his teams have reached the Final Four in four out of the last five years. As all Kentuckians know, the 2012 Kentucky team won the national championship. He has twenty official twenty win seasons and eight official thirty win seasons as a college head coach. In addition to his amazing won-loss record and his successful teams, Coach Cal can be very proud of the positive affect he has had on the lives of many young men. Numerous former players are now successful stars in the next step of their careers, the NBA. Coach Cal continues to follow their careers after they go to the NBA and takes time to show continued interest in their lives. Coach Calipari can also be proud of the positive contributions he has made to the communities where he has coached through philanthropic efforts. Not only does he give generously to the community in many ways, he teaches his players to do the same. Young men on his teams are known for spending time with those who are less fortunate, especially children. He teaches players to be positive role models and good citizens. For all the accomplishments of his college basketball coaching career, Coach John Calipari has been honored with membership in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky and lifelong Wildcat fan, I am happy to be able to congratulate him before the House of Representatives.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Dr. Sanford L. Jones, of Richmond, Kentucky. Dr. Jones, a part of the Greatest Generation, answered his nation's call to service during World War II. Following the war, he had a distinguished career as an educator. Today, on his ninetieth birthday, it is my honor to recognize him before the House of Representatives. Dr. Jones was born in Lost Creek, in Perry County, Kentucky. The oldest of seven children, his father worked as a coal miner and his mother taught school. When he was a senior in high school, Dr. Jones was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army 15th Air Force, 304th Bombardment Wing, 455th Bombardment Group from 1944-1945. Dr. Jones was assigned as a nose turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He completed 35 missions over Europe, with targets in Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal, with three Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal, for his outstanding service. Dr. Jones flew many important missions, but one stands out in particular. On March 23rd, 1944, 157 Liberators flew a raid on the Saint Valentine tank factory north of Linz, Austria. The anti-aircraft flak by the Germans was rough. In the words of Dr. Jones, ``I never saw flak burst so close and so much at one time. There were flashes of fire everywhere.'' His plane was badly damaged. After the pilot miraculously landed the plane, crew members counted over one hundred holes in the plane. Seven Liberators were lost on this mission, the most harrowing one of Dr. Jones' service. Following the war, Jones completed high school and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky State College. He taught high school in Perry County before receiving a master's degree from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate from the University of Tennessee Memphis. Dr. Jones served on the faculty of Eastern Kentucky University from 1961-1992, serving as Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences for 13 years. Over his many years in education, he has affected hundreds of young lives. His dedication to the education field is admirable. The bravery of Dr. Sanford and his fellow men and women of the United States Army is heroic. Because of his courage and the courage of individuals from all across Kentucky and our great nation, our freedoms have been preserved for our generation and for future generations. He is truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the centennial year of the Rotary Club of Lexington, Kentucky. This honorable humanitarian organization has been bringing men and women together to serve the Bluegrass community since 1915. It is one of the oldest and best established community-oriented organizations in the state and was Lexington's first civic club. The newly established Rotary Club first met in the historic Phoenix Hotel, which has been host to numerous celebrities and public figures including six United States Presidents. The club has grown over the years to become the twenty first largest in the world. The motto of the Rotary Club is ``Service over Self'' and the Lexington club certainly exemplifies that. They are a shining example of individuals with servants' hearts coming together to better their community. Rotary organizes and implements several significant service projects that benefit our community, our commonwealth, and the world. Hundreds of community projects have been completed by the Rotary Club of Lexington, including providing clothing for children in the Fayette County School System, organizing the Southern Lights Santa Project, funding the Surgery on Sunday program, mentoring and assisting in school classrooms, funding the Born Learning night classes for parents, awarding sizeable college scholarships, and sponsoring international youth exchange programs. Rotary raises money and donates thousands of dollars each year to worthy programs such as the End Polio Now campaign and the Cardinal Hill Foundation. Rotary membership consists of business owners, professionals, managers, and community leaders who take great interest in the happenings and welfare of the community. Lexington's Rotary Club members have been instrumental in community action for the betterment of Lexington and the quality of life of its citizens for one hundred years and this is cause for celebration. It is my honor to stand before the United States House of Representatives to acknowledge the historic celebration for the Rotary Club of Lexington. I wish them the best for a successful future in their next one hundred years.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding educator, Michael Godbey. Mr. Godbey leads Frankfort High School as its principal. Mr. Godbey's career as an educator spans twenty years. In this time he has served as an instructional assistant, bus driver, mathematics teacher, assistant principal, director of curriculum and instruction, and principal. Under Godbey's leadership, Frankfort High School has earned the classification of a Proficient and Progressing High School based on Kentucky's Next Generation Learner Accountability system. Frankfort High School was also ranked the Twelfth Best High School in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by U.S. News and World Report in 2014. Mr. Godbey was recently selected as the 2015 Principal of the Year for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This Award was presented by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Godbey earned this award by his accomplishments in the education field over the years. His dedication to the education of his students is evident. Godbey earned his B.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Kentucky and his M.A. in Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to his tenure at Frankfort High School, Godbey worked in the Danville, Kentucky Independent School district. He and his wife Claudia reside in Nicholasville, Kentucky with their sons Jared and Hayden. Education of our nations' young men and women is critically important. Mr. Godbey has exemplified strong leadership and innovation and is very deserving of the recent Principal of the Year award. Mr. Speaker, I applaud his creative talents and dedication in the education field.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 497-500, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on 497, 498, 499 and ``no'' on 500.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of a special man from Kentucky's Sixth District, Bernard T. ``Bud'' Gates, Jr. Mr. Gates was a successful business owner and a leader in the automotive industry. Mr. Gates was born in 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University, where he played football. Mr. Gates served his country as a member of the United States Army Air Corps. He was a well- known and successful race car driver. He was also a local television personality in Indianapolis. Mr. Gates began his automotive career at the age of ten when he began working at his father's Chrysler-DeSoto dealership. He went on to own and operate Bud Gates Chrysler, Bud Gates Chevytown, one of the largest General Motors dealerships in the midwest, and Bud Gates Toyota, Indiana's first Toyota dealership. He was most recently an associate with his son Steve Gates at Toyota South in Richmond, Kentucky. Gates served on the National Automobile Dealers Councils for Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Toyota. Bud Gates was a leader in the automotive industry and a great American. He died on September first. He will be deeply missed, especially by his daughter and two sons, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of a very special man from Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Thomas S. Foster was a pharmacy educator and a pioneer in pharmacology research. Dr. Foster earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky's College of Pharmacy in 1973. He had a long and successful career at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Foster served as a Professor of Pharmacy, where he inspired generations of pharmacy students who have gone on to be successful in their profession. He motivated students to achieve more than they thought possible. Dr. Foster's clinical pharmacy research involved investigational drugs and drug administration systems. His research efforts led to the development of numerous products that improved the health of Americans and others around the world. Dr. Foster served in many professional organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Pharmacists Association, and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Foster chaired Kentucky's Drug Formulary Council, the Drug Management Review Board, and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. He was a consultant to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as the Office of Human Research Protection of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was elected to fellowship in the American Pharmacists Association, the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Foster and his wife Marijo had a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren. Dr. Foster contributed greatly to the pharmacy profession. He loved his work and left a legacy of education and research. The many accomplishments of Dr. Thomas S. Foster are renowned and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Mr. Albert Wess, of Paris, Kentucky. Mr. Wess, a part of the Greatest Generation, answered his nation's call to service during World War II. Today it is my honor to recognize him before the House of Representatives. Mr. Wess was born in North Middletown, Kentucky. During World War II he was a member of the United States Army. He served his country as a truck driver in the famous ``Red Ball Express''. He and his fellow drivers delivered munitions and supplies to the Army front lines in Europe, following General George Patton. They supplied troops fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and the many battles that followed. The brave convoy drivers traveled at night with no lights, making it more difficult for German planes to strafe the convoys and destroy the trucks and supplies. Mr. Wess worked in the steel mills of Ohio for a time after his military service ended. He then moved back to Bourbon County, where he worked at the Lexington Army Depot for thirty two years. After retirement, he worked for Wilson's Drug for more than nineteen years. Mr. Jones and his late wife have four children. He continues to be active in his church, Seventh Street Christian Church in Paris. The bravery of Mr. Wess and his fellow men and women of the United States Army is heroic. Because of his courage and the courage of individuals from all across Kentucky and our great nation, our freedoms have been preserved for our generation and for future generations. He is truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of a public servant from Kentucky's Sixth District, Edwin ``Ed'' Green Lane III. Mr. Lane was a successful business owner, a member of Lexington's city council, a philanthropist, and a leader in the community. Ed Lane founded Lane Consultants in 1981, a commercial real estate brokerage based in Lexington. Later he added Lane Communications Group, publisher of several magazines and e-newsletters. Best known of these is The Lane Report, a highly respected magazine for Kentucky business news. He was well known as a strong voice for the business community in Lexington and indeed all across Kentucky. Councilmember Lane was elected to represent Lexington's 12th District on the Urban County Government Council in 2005. He was known for focusing on sound financial policy and for thoroughly analyzing budget numbers and their long term effect for the city. Councilmember Lane was a strong advocate for his district and brought business expertise and experience to the council. He will be deeply missed in Lexington's government. In addition to his business and governmental interests, Councilmember Lane served on the boards of numerous business, arts, government, and civic organizations. He gave generously of his time and resources. Ed Lane loved his work in business and in government. He was an artist, art collector, and photographer. Ed was an avid cook and enjoyed entertaining. He loved gardening, reading, fast cars, and, yes, politics. He always had a strong work ethic and an enthusiasm for life. He was energetic and optimistic in all that he did. Ed fought cancer bravely for over two years ago, only sharing his diagnosis with close family members. He is survived by two daughters, Susan Brett Lane and Katherine Meredith Lane. Ed Lane was a great American who gave of himself in many ways to better his community and his nation. He will be sorely missed, but the world is a better place because of the impact made by Edwin Green Lane III.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American hero, Air Force Captain Matthew D. Roland, from Lexington, Kentucky. Captain Roland gave his life in service to his country when he was killed in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015. Captain Roland graduated in 2006 from Lexington Catholic High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and ran cross country. He was recognized as a born leader, motivated and dedicated to all that he did. Roland was also an Eagle Scout. He earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 2010. Captain Roland was a special tactics officer at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron in Afghanistan. He completed the rigorous special tactics training program in 2012, then was a team leader who supervised combat preparedness training for a thirty five member team. He deployed three times in his five years of service, serving in many locations around the world. Colonel Wolfe Davidson, 24th Special Operations commander, described Roland and fellow hero Forrest as ``incredible warriors who not only volunteered to join our nation's Special Operations Forces, but earned their way to the tip of the spear in defense of our nation.'' Captain Roland is survived by his parents, retired Air Force Colonel Mark Roland and Barbara Roland, and his sister, Erica. The tragic loss of this brave man is felt by all who knew him. Along with a grateful nation, I honor his legacy, embrace his family, and say thank you for his ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual, Mr. George Buchanan, of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Buchanan, a part of the Greatest Generation, answered his nation's call to service during World War II. Mr. Buchanan grew up in Hazel Green on a small subsistence farm. There were three boys in his family, all of whom served in WWII. Following high school, young George got a job in a drugstore, working behind the soda fountain. He was drafted shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. Because of his drugstore experience he was chosen to be a medic, despite a great fear of the sight of blood and passing out several times during training. He completed his training and became a surgical technician 861. He was assigned to the 97th QM Battalion, where they packed onto the Aquitania for a very rough North Atlantic crossing. Mr. Buchanan landed on Omaha Beach just a few days following the D- Day invasion. He and other medics treated the sick and wounded. They also checked the dead, tagged them, and took them to the morgue. They saw hundreds who were shot, burned, and mangled. His unit traveled across Europe, through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia, continuing to treat the sick and wounded, tagging the dead and taking them to the morgue. They lived in foxholes along the way and showered about once a month when they got a clean change of clothes. During the Battle of the Bulge, the medics were armed for the first time as they were surrounded by German troops. They were thankful to be rescued by General Patton's troops. Mr. Buchanan never forgot all the death and injury he witnessed in the war. He went on to attend the University of Kentucky, where he met his future wife Margaret. They settled in Lexington and had four children. Buchanan enjoyed a long career with Commonwealth Life Insurance, where he rose to a prominent level and earned numerous awards. He and Margaret were charter members of Crestwood Christian Church where both were very active. Buchanan was also an active member of the YMCA, serving as a board member and a donor. He was awarded the prestigious Red Triangle Award for service by the YMCA. He was able to make a visit back to Normandy in recent years. After a full and productive life, Mr. Buchanan passed away on July 20, 2015 at the age of 94. The bravery of Mr. Buchanan and his fellow men and women of the United States Army is heroic. Because of his courage and the courage of individuals from all across Kentucky and our great nation, our freedoms have been preserved for our generation and for future generations. He was truly an outstanding American, a patriot, and a hero to us all.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding Kentuckian and a prominent member of the agriculture industry. Mr. Mike Bach, of Owingsville, Kentucky, served for twenty-eight years as an officer in the United States Army. For four years, he worked as a sales agent for a farm machinery distributor and in 1978 purchased several farms. In 1996 he inherited the family farm in Bath County. Currently Mr. Bach operates B&E Farms along with his wife Mary and son Steven. His farm covers 2,000 acres of beautiful Kentucky farmland in Bath County, where he operates a cow and calf farm and his son Steven raises 1,000 acres of row crops. In addition to his own farm operation, Mr. Bach is an active leader in Kentucky agriculture. He is past president of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association and currently serves on the board. He is program chair of the Montgomery County Cattlemen's Association. Bach serves on the board of the Bath County Farm Bureau. Mr. Bach understands the need to educate and encourage the next generation of farmers and as part of that commitment, he serves on the Kentucky 4-H Foundation Board. Mr. Bach's love of farming and dedication to the agriculture industry in Kentucky were recently recognized by his selection as a member of the Bath County Agriculture Hall of Fame. This honor was well deserved and Bach is a role model to farmers of the future. In addition to his agriculture interests, Bach is a member of the Association of Officers for the U.S. Army Reserve and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. He enjoys working with old farm equipment. I am honored today to recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Mike Bach, who has great love for his country and great love for the land. He exemplifies all the men and women across our nation who work hard every day in a job they love--the American Farmer.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, last month, I traveled to Israel with more than 35 of my colleagues to meet with key leaders in that country, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, and learned firsthand what our closest ally in the Middle East thinks about the proposed Iran nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between the P5+1 countries and Iran. The consensus view from the Israelis across the political spectrum, from the Prime Minister to the opposition leader in the Knesset, Isaac Herzog, from the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, to the military leaders in the Israeli Defense Forces, they all agree that the deal negotiated by Secretary Kerry and championed by President Obama is a dangerous and historic mistake. This confirms what we have learned in briefings and hearings in Congress. This deal will not deliver the safety and security the American people deserve. Instead, it will transform Iran from the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism with an illicit nuclear program into the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism awash in billions of dollars in sanctions relief with an internationally sanctioned nuclear program on an industrial scale. This is not just a bad deal for Israel. This is not just a bad deal for America. A nuclear Iran is a global threat to everyone everywhere. Consider the counterparty to this deal. Since the seizure of the U.S. Embassy and the taking of 52 American hostages during the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken the long view on its global ambitions of exporting its revolution, supporting terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Boko Haram. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the leader of its elite Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, is responsible for the killing of over 500 U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The Iranian regime has covered up and lied about its nuclear program for decades, deceiving international inspectors, agreeing to intrusive inspections, and then allowing those inspections to be implemented only provisionally and selectively. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, regularly chants ``death to America'' and openly calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel. In Jerusalem, we visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum. There, we saw exhibits recounting the horrifying images of the Holocaust. During our visit with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he made a profound observation. He said they compare this to the 1930s. This is not like the 1930s. In the 1930s, the Nazis concealed their intentions for the Jewish people in the Holocaust. Here, they are actually telling us. They are telling us what they want to do to the Jewish people and death to the Great Satan. Let's not give them the tools to actually carry it out. The President's promise of anytime, anywhere inspections has been replaced with managed access to suspect nuclear sites in which international inspectors must appeal to Iran, Russia, and China. This bureaucratic process could take up to 24 days at least, during which Iran would remove anything covert or in violation of the agreement. The Associated Press now reports that at least one of two secret deals between the IAEA and Iran--secret deals neither Congress nor even the Secretary of State has been allowed to see--allows Iran to use its own inspectors at the military complex long suspected as the headquarters of Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. Given the Iranian regime's past behavior and contempt for U.S. negotiators it knows are weak, there is little doubt Iran will cheat and dare the Obama administration to find violations which prove the very deficiencies of the deal it negotiated. Even if Iran does not cheat, even if Iran actually complies with the deal, three bad outcomes are guaranteed. First, Iran will be allowed an arsenal--not a bomb--an arsenal of nuclear weapons in as little as 10 years. Under the agreement, Iran is not required to dismantle key bomb- making technology, is permitted to retain vast enrichment capacity, may continue research and development on advanced centrifuges, and will be allowed to acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles in as little as 8 years. Intercontinental ballistic missiles--those are not for Tel Aviv; those are for Washington, D.C., and New York. Second, Iran gets sanctions relief, at least $56 billion almost immediately, and that is according to the Obama administration itself. Independent analysis projects the relief could be as much as $150 billion. As a member of the Task Force to Investigate Terrorist Financing, I have heard extensive testimony that, when these funds are released, a significant percentage will go to Iran's terrorist proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria, and elsewhere. Experts warn it will be impossible to snap back effective sanctions. Third, because Iran's neighbors know this deal reverses a decades- long bipartisan U.S. policy blocking Iran's nuclear program, this agreement will spark a nuclear arms race in the broader Middle East. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have already signaled their intent to acquire nuclear retaliatory capability if this deal is finalized. The people who know Iran the best trust them the least. This President says it is this deal or war, but that is a false choice. Rejecting this deal will keep most sanctions in place and allow Congress and our allies to turn up the pressure on Iran to get a better deal. In fact, I signed a letter with 366 colleagues outlining the conditions we would consider to be part of a better deal, none of which were included in the one before us. On the last night we were in Israel, one of the last nights, as we finished dinner at a restaurant on the Sea of Galilee, the owner of the restaurant took the microphone and announced that Members of the American Congress were here to stop this bad Iran deal. The whole restaurant stood up and sang ``God Bless America.'' To conclude, Mr. Speaker, on the Iran deal, I proudly stand with our allies in Israel, not with the mullahs in Tehran.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Paris Independent Schools in Paris, Kentucky. On September 1, 1865, the Paris City Schools opened its doors in the old Bourbon Academy Building, which had been used as a hospital by the Union Army in the Civil War. The first superintendent was Professor Julius Herrick. Records indicate that in 1875 total enrollment was 225 students. Over the last one hundred and fifty years, the school system has grown in numbers of students, added facilities, organized a Parent Teacher Organization, added libraries, and made numerous educational advancements. Many prominent educators have devoted their careers to educating the children of Paris, Kentucky. A few of the more well- remembered names include Sarah Blanding, who later became dean at the University of Kentucky and Cornell University and President of Vassar College. Blanton Collier taught and coached football and basketball at Paris High School for sixteen years before serving in World War II, becoming head football coach at the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns, and being named as All American coach. Harry Lancaster was an assistant coach at Paris High School before he became an assistant basketball coach at the University of Kentucky under Coach Adolph Rupp, head baseball coach, and athletic director. These are just three of the hundreds of outstanding teachers that have taught the students of Paris. Paris Independent Schools have been known over the years for high academic achievement, strong music programs, and great athletic teams. They provide well rounded educational opportunities for all students. A strong education is vital in opening doors to young people and providing them hope for a good life. For one hundred and fifty years, Paris Independent Schools have focused on excellence in education. I am honored to commemorate their 150th anniversary and wish them all the best in the future.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman, my colleague and friend, from West Virginia for his leadership in the Congressional Coal Caucus, to my colleagues from Pennsylvania and Ohio, and all over the country representing coal-producing States where good people--men and women--working in the coal mines literally power America. They come from an industry--they work in the coal mines; they support the coal miners--an industry that provides affordable and reliable energy that powers the American economy and has been the backbone of the American economy. Instead of celebrating that industry, instead of applauding the heroic work that these men and women do, day in and day out, underground and above ground, what is the response of the Federal Government over the last 6 years? It has been to singularly punish this industry. I can't think of an administration from either party in the history of the United States that has singled out a single industry with the level of vindictiveness, frankly, and targeted a single industry and literally bankrupted many of these companies. I don't understand it for a variety of reasons, but let me just share with you a little bit about the coal industry in Kentucky. We could very well be the poster child for demonstrating the tremendous negative impact and the consequences of this heartless, aggressive, anticoal policy from the EPA and from this administration's regulatory policy. Since 2009, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has lost more than 8,000 coal mining jobs throughout our State. For every one coal mining job, three additional jobs are directly tied to every coal mining job. This is a direct result of the administration's war on coal. Sure, there are competitive pressures from natural gas, and we celebrate the fracking boom and the result of discoveries in natural gas, but I can tell you what the coal industry says. It is not cheap natural gas that is the cause of these lost jobs; it is the fact that the Federal Government has put its heavy hand of regulatory power on the scales to make this industry noncompetitive. Just to give you a sample of the problem, in the first quarter of 2015 alone, Kentucky's coal employment numbers dropped another 10\1/2\ percent. What does that mean in total? Coal production in Kentucky has decreased to its lowest level since 1963. In 2015, production levels are currently half of what they were just two decades ago; yet demand for energy in the United States has suddenly increased. There are more than just statistics, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to talking about the face of the war on coal. Many of my colleagues have shared these stories about what this really means, what all of these regulations really mean in the real world. It is not statistics on a page; it is not about coal production percentages on decline. What it is really about, it is about Sally, the young woman in Wolfe County, Kentucky, that I met with tears in her eyes at the end of a townhall meeting. She came to me as her Congressman and she said: Do they know what they are doing to our family? My husband lost his job because the coal mining employer that he works for didn't get a permit, and so now, he is out of work. Don't those people in Washington understand that I have got kids? We are going back to school; it is August, and I can't afford shoes for my kids. I had to go to Walmart and buy them flip-flops, just so they wouldn't be embarrassed to go back to school. Now, I want the regulators in Washington, D.C., to come back to Kentucky, to eastern Kentucky, and meet Sally and look Sally in the eye and ask her to describe to them what the impact of this war on coal is for her. What about Robert? Robert the coal miner from Wolfe County, Kentucky, in my district, he gets up at 3 a.m. every morning to commute an hour to go to work in the coal mines just to put food on the table. Or what about James, who looks at me with an incredible expression and says: Andy, don't they understand what they are doing? They are putting people out of work. They are making life harder on the American people. Surely, these are the people who say they are fighting for the working man. I am the working man. Congressman, what are they thinking? Then you talk about Chris, Chris who says: Congressman, I don't know much about politics; I don't really care much about politics, but if you can go save my job, I am for you. Can't the politicians in Washington fight for people just to go to work and provide for their families? These are paychecks that these people depend on. Finally, it is Curtis, Curtis who said to me that his father crawled on his belly for decades to take care of his family, and because of his father's hard work, he had opportunities. This is more than statistics. This is about real people who have been victimized by bureaucrats in Washington who are out of touch--if the bureaucrats in Washington would at least just go to these places--West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky--and look these people in the eye and ask them what they think about their policies. Worst of all, it is all done in the name of the environment. We all love the environment. These coal miners love the environment. They come from a beautiful part of the country, in Appalachia. It is not about not wanting to help the environment or environmental stewardship, but what is so sad is that these regulations aren't going to do a darn thing about global carbon emissions. The Clean Power Plan rule that this administration has proposed would reduce global carbon emissions by less than 1 percent--for what, $8 billion in additional annual cost to our economy and thousands of American families without paychecks. This is wrong. The Congress of the United States is right to stand up for these families. The Congress of the United States is right to stand up for jobs. That is why I support all of the legislative work done by this House by these good Members--the STREAM Act from my colleague and friend from West Virginia; the coal residuals bill that the gentleman, the chairman, has championed and done a great job in supporting, my colleague, Ed Whitfield, the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the Ratepayer Protection Act; the REINS Act, which we just voted for and passed out of this House, which would stop all of these costly regulations. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to stand up for American jobs, for American energy, and for American-produced coal power. I thank the gentleman for his leadership.