Bradley Byrne

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the remarks of my good friend from Florida. I do want to note the presence on the floor of our newest member of the Rules Committee, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres). We welcome her to the committee. I do think there are bipartisan things that we can do. The gentleman said one that I think is very important; that is, infrastructure. He and I have had this discussion before. The President wants us to do an infrastructure bill, and I think all of us want to do an infrastructure bill. I think there is some time here we need to take to make sure that we do get a bipartisan bill in that regard. I don't think it will pass without a bipartisan agreement, so I hope we do that. On the gun issue, as I think the gentleman knows, the bump stock rule was actually something put in place by ATF under the Obama administration, and President Trump has asked the ATF essentially to rescind it, and they are in the process of doing that. So I hope they'll do that. We did pass, and this body is part of our appropriations bill for this fiscal year that has gone to the President and been signed, the Fix NICS bill. So there are gun legislation things, addressing these issues, that are moving forward. He also brought up the very important issue of immigration. The President, I think, has made some very bold moves in that regard to try to get a discussion going so that we can have some bipartisanship here. It is clear that that is not going to pass both the House and the Senate without that. I hope that those negotiations and those discussions can somehow resume because they clearly hit a very bad spot. The President has shown his good faith. I hope the rest of us can reach back and find a way to address this issue. But this issue is not just the Dreamers. It is also border security. If we are not willing to talk about that and chain migration and the others, we are not really talking about immigration reform; we are talking about one piece of it. With regard to the AUMF, Authorization for Use of Military Force, I am a strong advocate, as I think the gentleman knows, for a new AUMF. Actually, I am a cosponsor for one of the bills that would provide for that. I have said, going back several years, that I think we have been operating in certain parts of the world without adequate authorization. And whether it is constitutionally required or not, I think it is the right thing to do. However, I do not think the President had to have prior congressional authorization before the strike that was launched Friday night against Syria in conjunction with France and Great Britain. He clearly has that authority under Article II of the Constitution, to protect our servicemen and -women who are in Syria right now. So I applaud what the President did. I applaud the way he did it. But I am clear in my thinking that he did not need prior authorization from Congress to go there. Now, I hope that we will get a strategy in general for Syria that fits into our overall strategy to the Middle East. We have been stumbling around in Syria for several years now. President Obama put out the so-called red line, and then the Syrians walked across it and used chemical weapons against their people. And we did nothing. All that did was encourage further bad behavior like what we saw in this horrible chemical attack on innocent civilians in Syria. At least President Trump is doing something. And I hope that that something that he has done will send a loud message, not just to the Assad regime in Syria but also to Russia and to Iran, that the civilized world is not going to tolerate that sort of activity. And we don't care who does it; we are going to take appropriate action. The President had the authorization to do it, and I am glad that he did it. We are not done legislating this year. I think the gentleman suggests that we are, but we have got some big bills coming before us. This week we will take up a major IRS reform bill. I am looking forward to that, this being tax day for so many of us. A good tax day for the vast majority of the people in America, by the way. We will be taking up a reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. We will be taking up another farm bill. We will be taking up the National Defense Authorization Act that comes out of the Committee on Armed Services that I am in. We have a host of legislation that we will be doing, and I think doing successfully, between now and when we have these midterm elections in November. So we are not done legislating by any means. I look forward to continuing to debate these issues, but today we are talking about a very important bill that did come through committee in a bipartisan fashion and, I believe, is going to get broad bipartisan support here in this body, once more showing the American people that we can get the people's work done in the right way. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I am as well.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the remarks of my good friend from Florida. I certainly hope that there can be some further discussions and we can have something that comes forth on this floor that is truly bipartisan on the issue of immigration reform, including border security. I know that there are some people, not including my friend from Florida, who would like to pass legislation that would repeal the Second Amendment. I hope that that legislation doesn't come to the floor because I do not think it would meet with the approval of the vast majority of the people of America. I do strongly believe at some point we should be debating on this floor a new Authorization for Use of Military Force. But I will say again, the President did not need that authorization for what he did on Friday night, not because he was presuming to act under an old authorization, but because he had the inherent power to do that under Article II of the Constitution. If he is acting under that authority, he doesn't need extra authorization from us. This bill, however, that we are talking about today is something we can all agree on, is something that is important for protecting young children and, yes, for protecting people who have just become immigrant citizens of this country. So I applaud the fact that we have come forward with this legislation. It shows that we are working together. I look forward to the debate on the floor of this House. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 830 and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lend my strong support for this balanced budget amendment. Mr. Speaker, the very first bill I introduced when the 115th Congress kicked off last year was a balanced budget amendment. With the national debt at over $21 trillion, it is no secret that the Federal Government has a spending issue. Before coming to Congress, I served in the Alabama State Legislature. Like many States, Alabama is required to pass a budget that does not spend more than we have. We do it each year. A balanced budget is not some far-flung idea. Families in southwest Alabama and all around the country sit around the kitchen table and figure out how to make ends meet. Small businesses face the exact same challenges. The Federal Government should be required to play by the same rules. I want to be clear about a few things. First, despite what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle believe, the answer to our debt issue is not to tax the American people more. We do not have a tax problem. We have a spending problem. Second, the most serious drivers of the national debt are on autopilot. So-called mandatory spending programs must be reined in, and a balanced budget amendment would finally require Congress to tackle those programs head on. Mr. Speaker, I know passing a balanced budget would be hard, but I didn't run for Congress because I thought the job would be easy. We were elected by our neighbors to make difficult choices and decisions. We can make a strong step in the right direction by passing this balanced budget amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution today.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Thomas Russo. Tom was born in New Orleans and grew up in Louisiana, where he received a degree in broadcast journalism from LSU. I got to know Tom in his role as assignment manager at the WPMI television station in Mobile, Alabama. Tom was a consummate professional, always with a smile on his face and a contagious positivity about himself. In all of my experiences, Tom was a true joy to work with. Tragically, Tom passed away, unexpectedly, on March 3 at the young age of 56. To Tom's wife, Kristine, and his children, Ryan and Nick, please know that Tom helped make southwest Alabama and the world a better and happier place. His legacy will live on in each of you.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mobile Police Officer Justin Billa. Officer Billa was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty on February 20. I am not sure my path ever crossed with Officer Billa, but it may have. We take for granted the work our police officers do on a daily basis. Police officers hug their families good-bye and leave their home each day or night not knowing whether they will come home safe. Each and every day, our law enforcement and first responders work to keep us safe and support our communities, but we far too often take their service for granted. I can think of no better way to honor the life of Officer Billa than to encourage every American to take time to say ``thank you'' to your local police officers. Mr. Speaker, I hope Officer Billa's wife, Erin, and their young son, Taylor, take comfort in knowing that they are loved. Justin's service and sacrifice to Mobile, Alabama, and to the United States will never be forgotten.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life and legacy of Ms. Jo Ann Flirt. Jo Ann was a vibrant member of the Mobile community. To me, Jo Ann was a dear and trusted friend. Jo Ann attended both undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Alabama, where she went on to teach journalism and public relations. Upon returning to Mobile, she was a founding member and former president of the Press Club of Mobile and a founding member of the Mississippi-Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Society of Alabama. Jo Ann was known for her immeasurable work ethic. She started two businesses in Mobile, the Public Relations Counsel Inc., an advertising and public relations firm, and the Mobile Record, a daily legal publication with real estate and other civil business news. She also founded a group called Alabamians Behind Local Education with the purpose of peacefully integrating schools in Alabama. Jo Ann was also a passionate advocate and champion for historic Blakeley State Park, where she served as director for almost fifteen years. It would not be a surprise to see Jo Ann out working on various projects at Blakeley, in addition to her administrative tasks. As a true testament to her character, Jo Ann was regularly called upon to serve in her community and was well known for her determined, caring spirit. Sadly, Jo Ann passed away on February 2, 2018 at the age of 85. So, to her family and friends who will miss her dearly, I want to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences. May they take comfort in the warm memories of Jo Ann and the lasting impact she had on so many.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Court Reporting and Captioning Week. As an attorney, from firsthand experience, I can say that court reporters have had and continue to have an enormous impact on our legal system, both in a practical matter but also in an important historical sense. As we attorneys talk away, court reporters tirelessly capture every single word. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. Without their record, there would be no Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, or countless other legal decisions of importance to the American people. Captioners also do wonderful work to help better the lives for millions of Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing by providing captioning realtime. So, on National Court Reporting and Captioning Week, I want to thank the thousands of Americans who work in this industry for their hard work and dedication.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Prior to coming to Congress, I worked for 30 years as a labor and employment attorney in Alabama. I advised clients on how to prevent sexual harassment and how to navigate the process if a harassment claim was made. Quite frankly, I was shocked to see how complicated the congressional process for handling sexual harassment and other employment law claims was. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a shining example of how Congress should work. Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady engaged a bipartisan group of Members, including Representative Jackie Speier and me, interested in solving this problem. After months of thoughtful negotiation, we come to the floor today with a product that this House and the American people can be proud of. Under this legislation, we will bring the congressional workplace into the 21st century and ensure that Congress plays by the same rules as the private sector. There are far too many important reforms to mention all of them, but I want to highlight a few that I think are especially transformative. First, the bill creates a fair and simpler process for employees to file an employment law claim and for the claim to be resolved. The bill creates an Office of Employee Advocacy to ensure staff has access to legal counsel just as Member offices are provided. The process is also simplified to make the claims process smoother, faster, and fairer. Second, the bill increases transparency by requiring that basic information about any sexual harassment or other claims be made public so the American people are fully aware of what is happening in Congress. Third, the bill will ensure that Members of Congress, not taxpayers, are responsible for paying out sexual harassment settlements that they are responsible for. Fourth, the related resolution paves the way for every congressional office to have a clearly defined antiharassment and antidiscrimination policy. This reform alone will result in greater awareness. Fifth, the resolution prohibits Members of Congress from engaging in a sexual relationship with any staff member under their supervision and makes clear that sexual harassment is a violation of the Code of Official Conduct and will not be tolerated. In closing, I want to again thank Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady for their leadership on this issue, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and the related resolution.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I appreciate all of the work that she does on behalf of our Nation's military men and women. Mr. Speaker, here we are again. Once again, this House will vote to fully fund our Nation's military and critical national security programs. I have said this many times before, but I will continue saying it because the point is so very important: the global threat environment facing the United States today is greater than at any time since the conclusion of World War II. North Korea is continuing to build its nuclear weapon program, which poses a direct threat to the United States and our servicemembers stationed abroad. Terrorist groups, like ISIS and al-Qaida, may be weakened in Iraq and Syria, but their influence continues to spread to other areas throughout the Middle East and Africa. The situation in Afghanistan is deeply concerning. Look no further than the recent wave of attacks by the Taliban in Kabul. China is continuing to build up its military and exert aggression in the South China Sea. Russia and Putin remain emboldened as they take provocative actions in Ukraine, throughout Eastern Europe, and even in the Pacific. Other countries continue to catch up to our Nation's capabilities in the space domain. Iran is showing more and more involvement in the Middle East and continues to support terrorist groups that threaten our allies, like Israel. Not to even mention the evolving and serious threats posed to the United States by state actors and rogue actors when it comes to cybersecurity. Despite so many real and wide-ranging threats, our military has not received the funding that is necessary to keep up. As the gentlewoman said, we have the smallest Army since before World War II, the smallest Navy since before World War I, and the smallest and oldest Air Force we have ever had. The military does not work like a spigot. You can't just turn it on when a crisis happens and expect everything to work and all of our servicemembers to be ready. Training takes time, and building equipment takes even more time. We have to prepare now for the crisis of tomorrow. The commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Neller, put it best when he said: ``Marines don't get ready when the crisis occurs.'' ``The instability of the current fiscal environment, compounded by current shortfalls in our operation and maintenance accounts, impact our ability to maintain a `ready bench.''' Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson also recently stated that: ``We are stretching the force to the limit, and we need to start turning the corner on readiness.'' I could go on for hours talking about the real challenges facing our military. But, instead of looking back, I want this Congress to look ahead and solve these problems, instead of just continually talking about them. This Defense funding bill includes $659.2 billion in full-year funding for the Department of Defense. That includes increases in military operations and maintenance accounts. That includes a 2.4 percent pay raise for our troops, which would be the largest in 8 years. That includes increased funding for missile defense systems and programs, which is so important, given the threat posed by North Korea. That includes funding for 11 new Navy ships, including three littoral combat ships, which are built, in part, by Austal USA in my district. That includes critical funding for training and readiness operations. That also includes much-needed money for research and development to ensure our military continues to have the most innovative and state-of- the-art equipment at their disposal. All told, this bill would be a landmark step toward rebuilding our military, standing up to our adversaries, and supporting the men and women who work every single day to keep the American people safe. Now, I hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle saying that this bill has no chance in the Senate. While I don't understand why our colleagues and the Senate would not want to fund our military, I have a strong rebuttal to that argument. If the Senate wants to add nondefense programs to this bill or make changes, then they should take this bill up, make whatever changes or additions that they desire, and send the bill back over to the House. It simply makes no sense to just declare this bill dead and not take a vote on it. I intend to talk to my two home State Senators about passing this bill, and I expect they will be supportive of this effort because they understand the need to fund our Nation's military. But I reject the notion that we shouldn't be passing this bill and sending it over to the Senate. I am tired of the Senate not acting on our government funding bills, and I think we should keep sending funding bills over there until they take one up and actually pass it. This ridiculous crisis of funding our government from one crisis to the next must end. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and, once again, send a military funding bill over to the Senate. Here, in the House, we must continue to fulfill one of our most basic responsibilities outlined in the Constitution: to provide for the common defense.

Mr. BYRNE. With this funding bill, we can move back toward a position of peace through strength, and we can keep American families safe. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, this is a shame. It is a shame that we find ourselves in this position all because Senate Democrats think they can hold the Federal Government hostage until they get their way on immigration issues. There is no way around it. That is exactly what is happening here. A majority in the House and a majority in the Senate have voted to prevent this shutdown and keep the government open. Point of Order

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, where was I before my poster of Senator Schumer was ruled in order? Oh, yes, government shutdowns have devastating implications on so many different areas, especially when it comes to our Nation's military. All Active-Duty military personnel will come to work, but they cannot be paid. Critical maintenance operations and training that are not directly related to ongoing military operations are forced to stop, all because of the Schumer shutdown. Mr. Speaker, the government funding bill in question also includes 6 years of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as ALL Kids in Alabama, but Minority Leader Pelosi recently said that the efforts to fund the government and fund CHIP are like a bowl of doggy- doo. I can assure the minority leader that funding for ALL Kids in Alabama isn't doggy-doo to the over 150,000 children in my State who receive insurance through the program. Mr. Speaker, I have a message to my colleagues in the Senate: Enough is enough.

Mr. BYRNE. Stop with these political stunts that put our military at risk. Stop with the reckless antics that create uncertainty for families across the country. Stop playing to the resistance base. Stop with the games, and let's get our Federal Government back open for business. Enough is enough. Mr. Speaker, I encourage adoption of this rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my great frustration with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their reckless behavior that is threatening the safety and security of the American people. Let me explain. Some Members of the House and Senate are holding funding for the Federal Government, including funding for our Nation's military, hostage in an effort to advance their immigration agenda. I understand that immigration is a very important issue. I have many priorities in the immigration debate myself, like increased border security. But I understand that there will come a time and a place to debate immigration issues. That time is not now, and that place is not on a bill dealing with funding our military and other essential functions of government. Mr. Speaker, this is what the American people hate about Congress. Instead of simply doing one of our most basic jobs, funding the government, we are having an unrelated debate about an immigration issue. Let's be clear about what is going on here. Congressional Democrats are using our military men and women as pawns in a political game. They think they can use funding for the military as leverage to get their way on a very complex immigration issue. I think that is not only wrong. I think it is irresponsible and it has very grave consequences. I want to strongly reject the notion that this is a Republican problem. The House passed a bill back in September, over 4 months ago, to fund the military and the entire Federal Government. That bill has been stuck in the Senate, where 60 votes are necessary to pass the bill. There are only 51 Republican Senators, so that means it will be necessary to have bipartisan support to get any bill across the finish line. I vehemently reject this is an issue just facing congressional Republicans. Frankly, that is a lie. So why am I so passionate about this issue? Because our Nation's military is facing a serious readiness crisis, and we as the Congress are making things worse. We have the smallest Army since before World War II, the smallest Navy since before World War I, and the smallest and oldest Air Force we have ever had. General Daniel Allyn, vice chief of staff for the Army, put it best when he said the budgetary problems have ``left the Army outranged, outgunned, and outdated. As a result, the Army risks falling behind countries like Russia and China.'' There are similarly alarming quotes from the other services as well. Our military needs and demands funding certainty in order to make purchases and perform long-overdue maintenance. Every time we pass a continuing resolution and kick the can down the road, that hurts our military. It hurts the very men and women we send into battle each day. It makes their job harder, and, frankly, it puts lives at risk. We have seen fatal accidents aboard the USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain caused by insufficient time to train sailors and maintain ships. We have also seen fatal aviation accidents in the Marine Corps as their equipment ages and their training is limited. The average age of Air Force aircraft is 27 years, and only 5 of 58 Army combat brigades are ``ready to fight tonight.'' Continuing resolutions also hurt our taxpayers. In fact, the Secretary of the Navy recently said that the lack of funding certainty has cost the Navy between $4 billion and $5 billion. It makes it costlier to buy military equipment, and that added cost is ultimately passed on to the taxpayer. The threats we face today are so great. From China to Russia, to Iran, to North Korea, to terrorist groups around the globe, we haven't seen this serious a threat environment since World War II. What makes this issue even more frustrating is that both the House and the Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, have passed a defense authorization bill showing our clear support for funding our military at $700 billion. The bill passed with 356 votes in the House and on a unanimous voice vote in the Senate, yet we find ourselves at a deadlock and our government on the verge of a shutdown because congressional Democrats want to advance their immigration agenda. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. I know my colleagues may not like our President; I know my colleagues may not agree with me on immigration; I know my colleagues have different priorities than I do; but for goodness' sake, can we not at least agree that we should adequately fund our troops and the Nation's military? Can we not at least agree that we shouldn't be playing political games with our military men and women? We can save the political theater for another day.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1532, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Land Reaffirmation Act, is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will provide much-needed certainty to an Indian Tribe in my district. The Poarch Creek Indians are a valued and trusted part of our community in southwest Alabama. Their economic impact in Escambia County, Alabama, speaks for itself. From their help with funding for community projects to their business enterprises that employ thousands of Alabamians, the Poarch help make life better for so many people in our area. This legislation is necessary due to the legal uncertainty caused by the Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. This decision has unnecessarily created legal ambiguity about whether the Poarch Creek land is actually in trust or not. To be clear: this legislation would not have any change over the way the Poarch Band or their land are currently being treated in Alabama. In fact, this legislation simply provides legal certainty to help prevent future challenges regarding the status of the Tribe's land. I am pleased we were able to attract bipartisan support for the legislation, including a unanimous vote out of the Natural Resources Committee last year. I also want to extend my gratitude to Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva, and the committee staff for their commitment to Indian issues and their work on this legislation. Ultimately, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense, straightforward legislation to give much-needed legal certainty to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Mr. BYRNE

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

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I have been listening to my colleagues from the other side of the aisle talk about the 1 percent, the people at the top of America. Let me tell you who benefits from the status quo of our Tax Code. It is the 1 percent. They can afford the lawyers, the accountants, and the lobbyists to get them all these special tax treatments that the rest of us don't get. If you want to do something about the 1 percent, fix the current Tax Code. Instead, what our friends on the other side of the aisle keep doing is defending the present Tax Code, because if you don't pass this bill, we have the present Tax Code. We have the status quo, and the rest of us don't see the benefits from the present Tax Code. The rest of us need a break. Now, I asked the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, when he was before the Rules Committee the other night, three questions that I think are relevant to everybody in America. The first thing I asked him was: Will the average individual taxpayer in my district get a tax cut? He said: Absolutely. And he pulled out a sheet of paper. He said: In fact, in your district, Congressman, the average family of four is going to get a tax break of over $2,100 a year. I know in some places in America, $2,100 a year extra in people's pockets doesn't sound like a lot of money, but in south Alabama, an extra $2,100 in the pockets of hardworking parents who are trying to raise two kids, that is a lot of money. So that is a good thing that is coming out of this bill. I asked him: Will it be easier for those individuals to fill out their tax returns? He said: Absolutely. By making the changes we made in here and taking out some of these special tax breaks, we made it easier for everybody to fill out their tax return. Then I asked a third question. I just heard the gentlewoman from New York talk about how this benefits big corporations. I don't have big corporations in my district in south Alabama. I have got mainly small businesses. Let me tell you about one. It is called Fast Time Convenience Store. Now, we call those in Alabama filling stations, because you go there and you put gas in your car. In the morning, you go get a cup of coffee, you get one of their breakfast biscuits, and you see a lot of people in there getting ready to go to work. You go in there at lunchtime. You have also got something called Fred's Kickin' Chicken. You go in there and get a good thing of fried chicken and a soft drink, and he has got some barbecue in a little trailer across the way. That is the sort of businesses I have got in my district. I think those businesses are darn important. The owner of that business asked me the other day when I was in there: I don't care about the big boys. Are you going to do something that helps me, that helps businesses like me? So I asked the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee: Are we going to be helping those small businesses? Absolutely. They are going to see historic tax cuts, particularly if they are one of these passthroughs; historic tax cuts. Yes, their tax returns will be simpler to fill out. So when I think about it from the standpoint of south Alabama--and I daresay my district is not that much different from most every other district that is being represented here--I see a threefer. Individuals get a substantial tax cut, more money in their pocket. Individuals will have an easier time filling out their returns. These small businesses that are the backbone of America are getting a real break. Now, I know that our friends on the other side of the aisle think that the government needs to be more involved in the lives of ordinary Americans. But in order for the government to do that, the government has to have money. The government doesn't produce anything and it doesn't provide a single service, so they don't sell anything. So how does the government get money? It takes money. A tax is a taking. It takes money from people in the private sector. We on this side of the aisle don't think the government should be so involved in people's lives in America, and we don't think we should be taking so much money from them through taxes. So we have come up with this bill that gives sort of tax breaks to ordinary people and small businesses, and we believe that that benefits America in two ways: Number one, giving people more control over their money is a good thing in and of itself. Number two, we are absolutely convinced--and dozens and dozens of economists have told us--that this is a major shot in the arm for the American economy. This is also a jobs bill because this is going to pump up the American economy and get our economy growing at a much faster rate. When we do that, we not only create more jobs, but we create a sort of lift in our economy when we start seeing real wage growth. What we have been missing out there is real wage growth.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and his continued leadership. We are on the cusp of something truly historic that will make life better for millions of people across the United States. By reforming the Tax Code, we will be able to put more money in people's pockets and create a fair and simpler tax system. Under the current Tax Code, well-off individuals and big businesses can higher lobbyists and lawyers to help them find loopholes and special interest giveaways, all at the expense of working Americans. With our plan, the Tax Code will be simplified, loopholes will be closed, and the playing field will be leveled. I want to make one thing clear: if you are looking for a tax plan that benefits the elite, the well connected, and the 1 percent, then you need to look at the current Tax Code. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to great lengths to defend the current Tax Code that truly benefits the top 1 percent. For example, the Democratic leader has called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ``the end of the world.'' So, apparently, giving the hardworking people in this country a tax cut is, to her, ``Armageddon.'' Let's stop with all the doomsday political rhetoric, cut to the chase, and say what this bill really does: It cuts taxes on hardworking Americans and allows them to keep more money in their pockets; It supports American families by increasing the child tax credit and doubling the standard deduction; It grows the American economy by making the corporate Tax Code actually competitive with other industrialized countries; It benefits Main Street businesses in Alabama and across the country with a new 20 percent tax deduction for passthrough income; It will lead to greater economic growth, higher wages, and more jobs, which is exactly what the American people sent President Trump and the Republican Congress to Washington to do. So let's save the political hyperbole for another day. Let's pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and let's give the American people a real Christmas present and put more money in their pockets.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate National Miners Day. National Miners Day is recognized on December 6 each year, and I want to express my deep appreciation to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who work in our Nation's quarries, dredge operations, and other mine facilities to help build and power our Nation. These workers do a great deal to extract the materials found in every home, building, road, bridge, and public works project. U.S. domestic production and use of stone, sand, and gravel, or aggregates, amounted to 2.5 million tons of crushed stone, valued at $25 billion. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has reported that, throughout its 40 facilities, almost 3,000 people in my home State of Alabama owe their jobs to aggregates mining. While performing this critical function, workers in the aggregates sector have helped make workplaces the safest they have ever been. In fact, 2016 marked the 16th consecutive year in which the industry reduced its injury rate from the year-earlier level. The rate stood at the record low level of just 1.95 injuries per 200,000 hours worked. I applaud the safe practices of the aggregates industry and the hardworking men and women who are helping to continue this positive trend. As chairman of the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I look forward to continuing to work with the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration to advance smart regulation and preventive enforcement that can help keep the workplace safe. Honoring the Life of Dr. Laurel Blackwell

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Dr. Laurel Blackwell. Laurel recently passed away after fighting cancer and other medical issues. Laurel was raised at her childhood farm home in Monticello, Iowa. She obtained an associate's degree from Cottey College in Missouri and a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She later earned her doctorate in administration of higher education from the University of Alabama. After an early career in K-12 education, she started working in Alabama's community college system. She rose from serving as a tutor to becoming the director of adult education at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Alabama, and the director of workforce development at Southern Union Community College in Opelika, Alabama. Ultimately, she would become the president of Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Alabama. During my time as chancellor of Alabama's community college system, I grew to know Laurel as a very professional and dependable colleague. I appreciated her honest and direct approach to the issues we faced together. During her career, she held numerous roles in professional and civic organizations. She was recognized with a Girl Scout Woman of Achievement award and as the city of Dothan's first ever Community Leader of the Year. Even though she retired from education, she never stopped working to make the world a better place. She launched Communities of Transformation, a program through the United Methodist Church focused on bringing together people from every segment of society to elevate families. Suffice it to say, Laurel had a positive impact on so many lives throughout her time on this Earth. Whether it was helping a student at her community college reach their full potential or giving hope to a struggling family, so many people owe their success to Laurel Blackwell. So, on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to share my deepest condolences to Laurel's husband, Fred, and their four children. I hope they can all take comfort in knowing that Laurel will live on in the lives of the countless individuals she touched. She will be sorely missed.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize twenty mining companies awarded the National Mining Association's (NMA) Sentinels of Safety award, the oldest occupational safety and health award in our nation. Presented annually, the award recognizes mines that have worked the most employee hours in a year without experiencing an injury. In addition to the Sentinels award, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recognized three mining companies that ``have made an extraordinary effort to apply technology or improve processes in innovative ways, above and beyond mandatory requirements, to improve mine worker safety and health.'' The Sentinels award was created in 1925 by a mining engineer, then- Secretary of Commerce and future President Herbert Hoover, who desired to ``stimulate greater interest in safety among the nation's mineral extractive industries and to encourage the development of more effective accident prevention programs by according national recognition to operations achieving outstanding safety records.'' The U.S. mining industry continues to make great strides in safety performance. Last year, 85 percent of the more than 11,000 mines in our country operated without a single injury. This year's Sentinels award winners are the top twenty operations among the 3,500 mines operating without a single injury. The National Mining Association continues to be a leader in mine safety and health. Our miners are indeed a precious national resource serving as the front-end of the supply chain for the energy, minerals and materials that are indispensable to our standard of living and prosperity. We should be thankful for what they provide our great country and proud of them for being both more productive and safer than ever before. The following are the 2016 NMA Sentinels of Safety and NIOSH technology award winners: Freedom Mine--The Coteau Properties Co, Barrick Cortez--Barrick Cortez, Inc., South Arturo Mine--Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc., Barrick Cortez Underground--Barrick Cortez, Bull Mountains Mine No. 1--Signal Peak Energy, LLC, Briggs Plant-- Fordyce Holdings, Inc., Murphy Plant--Fordyce Holdings, Inc., Ceredo Dock--Kanawha River Terminals, LLC, Cargill Deicing Technology, Cleveland--Cargill, Inc., St. Genevieve Facility--Tower Rock Stone Co., Portage Aggregate & Supply LLC, Curtin Gap Quarry--Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania LLC, Siderite Mine--Sidco Minerals Inc., Coon Cedar Grove Mine--Marfork Coal Co., LLC, Buick Mine/Mill--The Doe Run Co., Decker's Creek Limestone Co--Decker's Creek Limestone Co., Kinross Gold, Freeport-McMoRan, Peabody. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional and the entire House, I applaud this year's winners and look forward to continuing to advocate for the health and safety of our miners throughout my time in Congress.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, those of us in Washington are really good at talking in big general statements that don't mean much to the average American. I want to tell you what the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will actually do for the families I represent back in southwest Alabama. According to data from the IRS, almost three-fourths of the tax filers in my district claimed the standard deduction instead of itemizing. Well, under our plan, the standard deduction will be doubled. Just consider the medium family of four in southwest Alabama. That family earns a little over $77,000 a year. If that family takes the standard deduction, as most do, they will see a tax cut of $1,739 a year. That comes out to almost an extra $150 a month. Now, that may not sound like real money in Washington, but for families in Bay Minette or Citronelle or Monroeville, that is important. That is extra money for a car payment. That is additional savings for a child's college. That is money to help pay for home repairs. That is real money. When you add in the fact that we are fixing our corporate and business Tax Code to make it fairer and simpler, then we can truly make America boom again. President Trump has called it the ``middle class miracle.'' By making our Tax Code more competitive, we can unleash our full economic potential, bring jobs back to America, raise wages, and ultimately get more money in the pockets of working Americans. Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what President Trump promised and what the American people sent him and us to Washington to do. Now, my colleagues on the other side like to say this bill helps the 1 percent, and they vehemently defend the current Tax Code. You know who benefits from the current Tax Code? The 1 percent-- people who can hire lawyers and lobbyists to help them get a special tax break, people who can spend thousands of dollars a year on specialty accountants. If you want to help the 1 percent, then keep the current complicated and confusing Tax Code that only helps the elite and well connected. We can do better than that. We can pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we can put more money in people's pockets, and we can unlock America's full economic potential.