Bradley Byrne

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. There are bipartisan cosponsors to this bill. This is a bipartisan bill. What is this bill really about? It is about freedom. It is about the freedom of the American people to be able to use their own waters, to fish in their own waters, something the American people have done since before we were a nation. There is a really great book that just came out that won the Pulitzer Prize called ``The Gulf,'' about the Gulf of Mexico. It recounts the history of our area and how long we have been fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and what it has meant for generations upon generations of both commercial and recreational fishermen. I have commercial fisherpeople in my family, and they are wonderful people, have a great business. It is important to them and it is their way of life. We need to make sure we do everything to preserve that way of life. I am a recreational fisherman, and we have been doing it in my family for generations, and I want to preserve that as well. My grandfather was one of the founders of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, one of the oldest and largest fishing tournaments in the United States of America. It is really great to see, summer after summer, generations of people who have been fishing in that tournament, literally for three or four or five generations, come down there on Dauphin Island and bring the fish that they catch, so proud of what they have done. And what have they just done? They have gone out in their own boat at their own expense, spent a day in the open air on a beautiful summer day, or maybe 2 or 3 days, and got some time to spend time together as a family, with friends, and do something Americans have been able to do without the Federal Government trying to tell them how to do it for a couple, 300 years. It is time for us to restore back to the American people the control of their waters. That is what this bill does. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 965 and the underlying bill.

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

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel Frank E. Wendling upon his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps. Wendling most recently served as the Senior Marine Liaison Officer to the Commander Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, Florida. Colonel Wendling, a native of Dearborn, Michigan, has served our nation in the U.S. Marine Corps for over 29 years. Within this period of dedicated service, Colonel Wendling received designation as a Naval Aviator, completed two Mediterranean deployments with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, taught on the Air War College Faculty as a Seminar Director and Leadership and Warfighting Professor at Maxwell Air Force Base, and accumulated over 3,675 flight hours, amongst many other designations. Colonel Wendling graduated from The University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1988. In 2004, Wendling earned a Master's Degree in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2006, he earned a second Master's Degree from Maxwell Air Force Base in Air Power Art and Science. In 2009, Wendling earned a third Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College at Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island. Colonel Wendling has accumulated a commendable number of awards for his time served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the single mission Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, as well as others. Mr. Speaker, it is people like Colonel Wendling who make the United States the greatest nation on the face of the earth. His commitment to serving our country and his community should serve as a shining example to the next generation. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless people his leadership has impacted, I wish Colonel Wendling all the best upon his retirement. His tireless service to our country will not be forgotten.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to congratulate Dr. Bill Lawrence on his retirement after over 30 years as a principal in southwest Alabama. For the last 21 years, Dr. Lawrence worked as principal of Foley Elementary School in Baldwin County. Prior to that, he served for 10 years at W. H. Council Traditional School in Mobile County. Being a principal is a tough job, but Dr. Lawrence thrived in the role throughout his career. He overcame many obstacles and always provided steady leadership for his students, teachers, faculty, and parents. I know that personally because I am one of those parents. Dr. Lawrence would always go above and beyond the job description. He said that one of his proudest accomplishments was starting the Turkey Takeout program to help provide families in poverty with a free Thanksgiving meal. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless students positively impacted by Dr. Lawrence over his career, including my daughter, Laura, I want to wish him all the best upon his retirement. Foley Elementary School and public education in Alabama will not be the same without him. Congratulating Victor Helmsing

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Victor Helmsing on his retirement after 35 years serving as a teacher at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile. Throughout his time at St. Paul's, he held a range of teaching positions, including everything from senior government and economics to AP U.S. Government and politics, to Western civilization. He also helped lead various extracurricular programs, including the Key Club for 28 years, and serving as senior class sponsor for 35 straight years. He has also been a leader among his peers, serving as chair of various administrative committees. During various time periods, Victor served as associate headmaster, assistant headmaster, and director of the upper school, but his true passion has always rested in the classroom. I know every former student has their own story about something Victor Helmsing taught them or a way he had a lasting impact on their lives. That is just the type of teacher and leader he has always been. So on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to wish Victor and his wife, Vaughan, all the best upon his retirement. His impact on St. Paul's and his former students will be felt for years to come.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I appreciate her steadfast leadership on behalf of our Nation's servicemen and -women. Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of a long-needed rebuilding of our Nation's military, and this funding bill will ensure the rebuilding process continues. I have spoken on this floor many times about the readiness crisis facing our military. We are finally getting our planes back in the air and troops who are fully prepared to deploy. This readiness crisis hurts our overall national security. But, Mr. Speaker, it also puts our servicemen and -women at great risk. Last year, we lost four times as many servicemembers in training accidents as we lost in combat. We owe it to these men and women to do everything in our power to avoid more of these accidents. That duty requires consistent and robust funding for all aspects of our defense. I am pleased to say that this funding bill builds on the progress made over the last 2 years, and I am proud to support the Defense Appropriations bill and this rule. This bill sets aside $674.6 billion for the Department of Defense, which is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of this body earlier this year. Importantly, the bill will help us recruit and retain the greatest fighting force on the face of the Earth. That includes full funding for a 2.6 percent pay raise for the military and an increase in overall end strength. The bill makes much-needed investments in training and equipment acquisition to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources and tools they need to safely and successfully defend or country. As vice chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to see the bill make progress toward rebuilding a 355-ship Navy fleet. The bill funds the construction of 12 new Navy ships, including three littoral combat ships. The bill also funds the procurement of additional F-35s, F/A-18 Super Hornets, Black Hawk helicopters, Abrams tanks, and C-130J aircraft, among many others. Given the current threat environment, the bill invests in our Nation's missile defense programs and ensures support for some of our key allies around the globe. Mr. Speaker, peace through strength should always be the position of the United States. There is no greater deterrent to war than a strong, fully equipped U.S. military. I want to thank Chairwoman Granger and her subcommittee for their work on this legislation, and I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote later this week.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel James A. DeLapp upon his retirement from the U.S. Army. DeLapp most recently served as Commander of the Mobile District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Colonel DeLapp, a native of Barrington, Illinois, has served our nation in the U.S. Army for over 24 years. Within this period of dedicated service, Colonel DeLapp assisted in military and peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as leading the Corps of Engineers Recovery Field Office mission to provide relief to residents of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Prior to his experience commanding the Mobile District, Colonel DeLapp served as Commander of the Nashville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As Commander of the Nashville District, he managed improvements in navigation, flood damage reduction, hydropower, environmental stewardship, and recreation for the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins. Colonel DeLapp graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Kansas State University with a Bachelor's of Architecture Degree in 1994. In 2003, he earned his Master's of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University. Colonel DeLapp has accumulated a commendable number of awards for his time served in the U.S. Army, including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Superior Unit Award, as well as others. The work the Army Corps does in Southwest Alabama and throughout our country is critical to protecting our local communities, ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce, and protecting our unique coastal ecosystem. Colonel DeLapp has played a pivotal role in ensuring that mission is accomplished on a day-to-day basis, and his leadership will be sorely missed. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless people his leadership has impacted, I wish Colonel DeLapp all the best upon his retirement. His tireless service to our country will not be forgotten.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a great Alabamian who tragically died the morning of Thursday, May 31 in a single-car crash near Atmore, Alabama. At 10 a.m., an Alabama Army National Guard Humvee was involved in an automobile accident on I-65 that killed one soldier and injured the other. John Wesley Wardrop, 38, of Satsuma was killed when his 2009 military Humvee left the roadway and overturned. Wardrop had devoted much of his life to serving our state and nation. He was a squad leader for the Alabama National Guard's 1165th Military Police Company out of Fairhope. At the time of the crash, he was on a mission preparing for his unit's annual training. Wardrop was a staff sergeant for the National Guard. He served our country in the military for over twenty years and completed four tours of duty overseas. Family members say that Wardrop was a man of steadfast faith. The night before his passing, he visited Living Hope Church in Saraland and made a donation to support the children's bible school program. He embodied what it means to be a servant leader. Sergeant Wardrop left this worldly place helping others. That legacy of service and sacrifice is how he should always be remembered. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to share our deepest condolences with his wife, Terri, and their two children, Madi and Logan. I hope you can take comfort in knowing that Sergeant Wardrop will forever be remembered for his service and sacrifice to our community, state, and nation.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Martha Lyon Peek upon her retirement as the Superintendent of the Mobile County Public School System. Martha Peek, a native of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, has worked in the Mobile County School System for over forty years. Throughout her four decades, she has served as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent. Notably, she was the first female superintendent to serve in the 180-year history of the Mobile County Public School System. Her career in education follows behind a line of her family members who have been continuously serving in the Mobile County School System since 1908. She represents the third generation in her family to work in education, and her career carried on an important family tradition. Martha Peek was formally named Superintendent in July 2012 after serving as Deputy Superintendent since 2008. Prior to that, she was Assistant Superintendent for Academic Affairs, Executive Director of School Improvement and Accountability, and Principal at Dixon Elementary School. Her career in education started in 1972 as an elementary teacher at Alba School before she went on to work at Fonvielle Elementary School and Brookley Elementary School. During her tenure, Martha Peek oversaw the largest school system in the State of Alabama with over 56,000 students. She successfully changed the perception of Mobile schools, improved test scores, and increased the graduation rate. She should also take great pride in the strides she made in establishing signature academies to help connect students with the skills they need to thrive in the local workforce. Beyond her work in the school system, she is an involved community and civic member. She serves as a board member for the United Way of Southwest Alabama and Junior Achievement of Mobile and as a representative on the American Heart Association's National Superintendent Roundtable. Additionally, she is a member of the Leadership Alabama Class XXVI. In 2015, AL.com recognized her as one of the Women Who Shape the State of Alabama. On behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District and the countless students she impacted throughout her remarkable career, I wish Martha Peek, and her husband, Tyler, all the best upon her retirement. Her legacy will live on in the Mobile County Public School System for years to come.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

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

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 908 provides for complete consideration of H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The rule makes in order 168 amendments to go along with the previous 103 amendments made in order by yesterday's rule. That means the full House will consider 271 amendments to this year's NDAA. When you add in the 317 amendments considered in the Armed Services Committee, that means a total of 588 amendments to the NDAA will be considered this year. Mr. Speaker, for this year's NDAA, a record number of amendments were submitted to the Rules Committee. I want to thank both the majority and the minority Rules Committee staff, our Rules associates, and the staff of the Armed Services Committee for the many hours they put into this open and deliberative process. As a member of both the Rules Committee and the Armed Services Committee, I have spent my fair share of time working on this piece of legislation. Like years past, I want to again highlight the bipartisan nature of our work. This year's NDAA passed out of the Armed Services Committee on a bipartisan 60-1 vote. That bipartisanship will continue here on the floor, where 176 of the amendments made in order are minority or bipartisan amendments. The theme of this year's NDAA is to reform and rebuild our Nation's military. The bill supports an increase in top-line funding for the military, as we continue working to reverse the readiness crisis we faced for at least the last decade. Any organization, including the military, is only as good as its people, and this NDAA authorizes a 2.6 percent pay raise for our troops, the largest increase in 9 years. This will help us retain and recruit the best and the brightest. The bill also calls for increases in the size of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Naval and Air Reserves, as well as the Air Guard. As vice chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I am pleased the bill authorizes construction of 13 new Navy ships. This is a much-needed step, as we continue building towards a 355-ship Navy. I am especially proud that this year's NDAA includes many provisions important to my home State of Alabama. From Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville to the Anniston Army Depot to Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass to Maxwell-Gunter in Montgomery to the Austal Shipyard in Mobile, this bill ensures that Alabama will continue playing a leading role in supplying, training, and supporting our Nation's military. Sadly, we have lost far too many servicemembers to training accidents over the last year. The bill ensures improvements to military training and safety programs to help protect our servicemen and -women. These efforts include repairing outdated equipment and ensuring the procurement of new first-class capabilities. This includes additional Stryker A1 combat vehicles, Army armored brigade combat team vehicles, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, C-130 Super Hercules aircraft, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and advanced missiles. The bill continues to build on Chairman Thornberry's priority of reforming the Pentagon bureaucracy to make it more efficient and effective. This includes streamlining buying practices. From Russia to Iran to China to North Korea, the bill makes investments to ensure we are keeping up with our adversaries. The United States must stand ready to confront aggression around the globe, whether it is from major state actors or rogue terrorist organizations. Importantly, this year's NDAA includes much-needed investment in our nuclear deterrent and authorizations for the Missile Defense Agency. It authorizes funding for codevelopment and coproduction of missile defense and weapons systems with our key ally, Israel. All told, I am confident that this bill includes the reforms and funding levels necessary to rebuild and empower the greatest fighting force in the world. With this NDAA, we can hopefully continue to embody the strategy of peace through strength and support our servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, if you ever need a pick-me-up or a shot in the arm, I encourage you to spend some time visiting with our servicemen and - women. These individuals come from all different walks of life and backgrounds. They all play different roles and have different jobs, but they are united by the common goal of defending and protecting the United States of America. I distinctly remember a conversation I had with a group of sailors from my home State of Alabama aboard the USS John C. Stennis a few years ago. After hearing about their various paths that led them to the Navy, I asked what I could do for them. One response was straightforward, but very poignant. She asked me to make sure the American people knew what they did and that we supported them. That is exactly what we do with this bill. We bring together Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, from different parts of the country, and we unite behind the common goal of supporting the men and women in uniform who protect the United States of America. With this bill, we can send a clear message to our sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines that the United States Congress has their back, that we are committed to the mission, and we will ensure that they have the right policies and the right resources to get the job done. This bill also sends a message to our friends and our adversaries that America is back, and that while we prefer peace, we will not hesitate to do what is necessary to defend our country and protect our interests. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 908, and for the 58th year in a row, let's pass a bipartisan NDAA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 908 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let's compare the records of the Republicans and the Democrats and who has the most open Congress. As of May 23 of this year, Republicans in this Congress have provided for consideration of over 1,130 amendments on the House floor. Over 520 of those, or 46 percent, were Democratic amendments; 430, or 38 percent, were Republican; and 170, or 16 percent, were bipartisan. In the 114th Congress, the GOP majority allowed over 1,700 amendments. In the 113th Congress, the GOP majority allowed over 1,500 amendments. In the entire 111th Congress, when the Democrats were in control, Speaker Pelosi, the Democrats, allowed less than 1,000 amendments to be considered on the floor. Who is more open? Democrats have highlighted the number of amendments not made in order in this Congress. However, in the 111th Congress when they controlled, their majority blocked nearly 3,000 amendments, with roughly 2,400 of those occurring in the very first sessions. Unlike our Democratic colleagues who shut the doors and refused to accept the late amendments from Members, Chairman Sessions of the Rules Committee has made it a point to ensure that every single Member has the opportunity to submit their amendments and come to the committee to share their thoughts and concerns, oftentimes late at night. Under this model of transparency and openness, the committee has spent countless hours listening and considering Member testimony. In fact, we have welcomed over 225 Members to testify at this Congress roughly 493 times and made in order over 1,130 amendments, including 521 from the Democrats, as I said. So I am glad to compare our record of openness with theirs. Let's talk about the escalation in Afghanistan. There is a clear AUMF that authorizes what we are doing in Afghanistan. Under that AUMF, the military doesn't have to come back to the Congress to say: Pretty please, can we put more soldiers into that country? I trust General Mattis. He knows what he is doing. He has a clear, legal authorization to do it, and I don't think it makes any sense for him to have to come back to us. On the issue of the AUMF, which I know we will have more debate on during this rule debate, let me say one thing and say it clearly: I have cosponsored at least two AUMF bills, and those are in the Foreign Affairs Committee, not in the Armed Services Committee. We don't have jurisdiction over that. I wish we did. In fact, I have cosponsored a bill with a Democratic colleague to put jurisdiction in the Armed Services Committee so we can get something done. So I would dearly love for the Foreign Affairs Committee to come forward with a bill, and I am happy to work with the gentleman to see that that takes place. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell), the newest member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Virginia's comments. He is the ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee in the House. I have the privilege of serving with him on that committee. I spent 8 years on the Alabama State Board of Education, 5 years in the Alabama State senate serving on both of our education committees, and 2 years as chancellor of postsecondary education for the State of Alabama. I care deeply about education. I know what it can do to better the lives of everybody in America. I find many of the comments the gentleman made with regard to this bill very interesting, and I hope there will be a time when we can take those up and consider them, but this is not that time. We are here today to talk about the defense of the United States of America. So, with all respect to the gentleman's comments, I hope that he and I can sit down with others later and talk about that, particularly what is the role of the Federal Government versus what is the role of State and local governments. But today let's talk about the defense of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the gentlewoman's comments, and she probably is unaware of the fact that we are presently undergoing for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense a full Department-wide audit. We are already getting some of the things that they have determined from that audit back. That audit is going to give us information we need to make some further changes in the management performance of the Pentagon. She probably didn't know we are already underway with that, but that is going to be completed in early fall of this year. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney), who is my colleague from both the Rules Committee and the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill authorizes what it authorizes with regard to these smaller nuclear weapons because we find our adversaries developing such nuclear weapons. We are not developing them because we want to use them. We want to develop them because the mere fact that we have got them, we believe, is a deterrent to our adversaries using the very same weapons they have in their arsenal themselves. So we are simply making sure that we don't have one hand tied behind our back if we get into one of these types of conflicts. I understand what the gentleman is saying. No one ever wants to use a nuclear weapon. But to see your adversary have such a weapon and do nothing is not what we should do to defend the people of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I know that some of our Democratic colleagues--not all of them--would like for us today to be talking about a Federal takeover of local education. Some of my Democratic colleagues--not all of them-- would like to talk about doing away with the Second Amendment. But that is not what we are about today. We are talking about the defense of the United States of America. Remember where we were 2 years ago, at the end of the Obama administration. ISIS still controlled vast swaths of western Iraq and eastern Syria. Iran had just gotten its hands on tens of billions of dollars that had been frozen--money that they were able to get because of the deal that President Obama cut with them. We now know that they have taken that money and increased defense spending, military spending, in Iran by 40 percent. Two years ago, we had cut troop levels down to levels we haven't seen in decades. In fact, we cut the Air Force to the point it had never been since the founding of the Air Force. Our fleet had been cut down to less than 280 ships after it had been to at least 400 under the Clinton administration. Fifty percent of the Navy's jets couldn't fly. Our adversaries didn't fear us and our friends and allies didn't know if they could count on us. We have begun to turn that around. ISIS is largely gone from Iraq. It is largely gone from Syria. It is obliterated as a conventional force after becoming a conventional terrorist army that controlled a big chunk of the Middle East. Gone. Slipped over into North Africa. We understand that. So we have to continue what we are doing to fight against them in those places. And, yes, we need an AUMF to do that. We have also done something that is very important in rebuilding our military. We have told our men and women that we value them by giving them pay increases. This bill calls for another pay increase on top of the one we gave them last year. They have gone too long without real pay increases. We are beginning to give them the equipment they need to do the missions that we have them to do. More ships, more jets, more ammunition, more missiles, more missile defense. We are going to make sure that our jets can fly. Most importantly, we want to make sure that our men and women in uniform have the training, preparation, and support they need so we don't have another year that goes by where we have more of our men and women in uniform who lose their lives in training exercises than they do in combat. We are turning that around. We are leaving the sorry legacy of the Obama administration so that we can put in place a defense strategy for this country that will defend our country and, at the same time, protect the safety of our men and women in uniform. So that is what we are here today to talk about. I believe that we will vote on this bill, the underlying bill, in a bipartisan fashion because, going back to the Kennedy administration, that is what we have done year after year after year. That is the message that we send to our foes, to our friends abroad, and, yes, to those men and women in uniform: that we come together, this Congress comes together, to make sure that we do what we are supposed to do in our job to defend this country. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 908 and the underlying bill.

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

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to World War II veteran Paul Rosenblatt in honor of his 95th birthday. ``Mr. Paul,'' as he prefers to be called, is a Purple Heart recipient and the last remaining member of his unit, the 9th Armored Division. His unit successfully held the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, releasing Allied forces into Germany that ultimately led to Germany's defeat. Paul was born in Michigan in 1923 but raised in The Bronx, New York. After the death of his father, Paul began working at the age of 15. By 1942, Paul was living and working in Dayton, Ohio for the U.S. Army engineering unit as an aircraft mechanic's assistant. As a vital member of the engineering team, his personnel officer urged him to resist joining the Army and remain in his current position. Despite the opposition, Paul answered the call to serve and enlisted in the Army, where he was sent overseas as a mechanic for the 9th Armored Division. After serving three years, Paul was discharged from the Army and returned to his position in Dayton. Here he met his wife, the late Millie Rosenblatt, who traveled with him throughout the country and world during his 43-year career as a civilian contractor with the Air Force. Paul, his wife, and their four children lived in Santa Maria, CA; Rapid City, SD; Laredo, TX; and abroad in Turkey, England and Israel. By the 1950's, Paul finally had the chance to fly. He knew each part of the aircrafts he worked on, but was never given the opportunity to go up in the air. In Laredo, Paul and a group of his friends bought a plane together and named themselves ``The Flying 20.'' In addition to his work within the Army and Air Force, Paul is also a servant of his community. While living in Santa Maria, the Jewish community was holding services in basement of a Methodist church. Unsettled by this arrangement, Paul sought out a California Polytechnic Institute architecture student to design blueprints for a synagogue and launched a fundraising campaign. By 1969, Temple Beth El was constructed. Paul finished his career at his dream job working at the American embassy in Tel Aviv and retired in Haifa, Israel with Millie. After 63 years of marriage, Millie passed away and two years later, Paul moved to Mobile, Alabama following a visit with his daughter, Shoshana, and her husband, Jake. In the past three years, Paul has embraced the Mobile culture. Paul rode on the World War II float in a Mardi Gras parade, attended every showing at the Mobile Jewish Film Festival, and held season tickets to the Mobile Symphony. For his 95th birthday, Paul celebrated accordingly by taking a trip to the air in a Stearman biplane, the same model he worked on as the mechanic's assistant before World War II. Family and friends gathered at the airway to celebrate this momentous occasion. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to commend Paul Rosenblatt for his service to our country and community. America is a better place because of Paul Rosenblatt, and we will be forever grateful for his service.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning, during National Police Week, to recognize and remember the men and women in blue, who protect and serve our local communities each and every day. Law enforcement officers leave the safety of their homes each day not knowing if they will pass back through their own front doors when their day is done. They leave their families behind to ensure the safety of our loved ones at schools, in neighborhoods, and on roadways. These individuals are true public servants who answer the call and put their lives on the line. Among their many roles in the community, law enforcement officers serve as role models for our children, keep the peace in our neighborhoods, direct traffic for football games, and are the first to respond when help is needed. Far too often we take their services for granted. This week, I am proud that the House is taking up a number of important bills to support our local law enforcement. From legislation to prevent attacks on our officers to providing funding for additional resources, we are working to ensure that these dedicated individuals have the tools they need to do their jobs and keep us safe. See, our law enforcement officers are heroes who put their lives on the line each day to keep our citizens from harm's way. National Police Week is a time for us to stop and show our appreciation to these heroes for all that they do for our communities. Our law enforcement officers serve selflessly, facing the many dangers of the job with courage and bravery. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to ride along with members of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office in southwest Alabama. It was an eye-opening experience. At every single traffic stop, the deputies had no idea what to expect. Every call was different, but each one came with an inherent risk of the unknown. Despite the uncertainty, the deputies always conducted themselves with respect and professionalism. Whether it is a routine traffic stop or responding to a domestic call, these officers have no idea how their encounters will turn out. There is always the risk their interaction on the job can turn hostile and, in some cases, even deadly. National Police Week is also an opportunity to honor the heroes who have lost their lives while serving our communities. In 2017, 136 officers were killed in the line of duty. Already this year, 54 officers have lost their lives while serving our communities. Sadly, one of these deaths occurred in my home State of Alabama earlier this year. Mobile Police Officer Justin Billa paid the ultimate sacrifice when he was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call on February 20. At just 27 years old, Officer Billa left behind a loving wife, Erin, and a 1-year-old son, Taylor. In such a time of immense grief, we saw the city of Mobile rally together to support the family and friends of fallen Officer Billa. You see, these officers are much more than enforcers of the law; they are an integral part of the community. Mr. Speaker, I loved seeing the community wrap Officer Billa's family up in a shield of prayer and love, but we shouldn't just do that when we lose an officer, and we shouldn't just do it during National Police Week. Each and every day, we should show our deep appreciation to members of law enforcement, at every level, who put their lives on the line so that we can live in safe communities. May we not forget that we get to lay our heads down on our pillows at night feeling safe because of the brave men and women out there patrolling the streets. Mr. Speaker, as we observe National Police Week, I can think of no better way to show appreciation for our men and women in blue than encourage every American to take the time to say ``thank you'' to your local law enforcement officers. May their sacrifices never be forgotten.

Mr. BYRNE

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 830 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

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

Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 830 provides for consideration of H.R. 5192, the Protecting Children From Identity Theft Act. The resolution calls for a closed rule, as no amendments to the bill were submitted. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation is designed to reduce identity fraud by allowing financial institutions to verify the accuracy of a name, Social Security number, and date of birth before passing that information to credit bureaus. This legislation is designed to target something known as synthetic identity fraud. This begins when a criminal combines a real Social Security number with fictitious information, such as a name and date of birth, to apply for credit with a financial institution that passes information to credit bureaus for a credit check. Credit bureaus create a record based on the fraudulent credentials. Over time, this creates a synthetic identity based on the valid Social Security number but a false name. Currently, children and other vulnerable individuals are more likely to be victims of synthetic identity theft because they do not drive, work, or establish credit. This makes it easier for an identity thief to misuse the Social Security number of a child without being detected. Reports indicate that over 1 million children have their identity stolen each year. Studies show that children are 50 times more likely than adults to be a victim of identity theft. This is a real and serious issue that is only becoming more and more common. According to TransUnion, a record $355 million in outstanding credit card balances was owed by people who it suspects didn't exist in 2017. That is up more than eightfold from 2012. This type of fraud can saddle children with unintended debt and a flawed credit history sometimes before they can even walk or drive a car. That is why this bipartisan legislation is so important. The bill would require the Social Security Administration to create a verification system to match the name, Social Security number, and date of birth submitted by permitted entities against their official records. This would allow financial institutions to verify the accuracy of the customer's personal information in order to guard against synthetic identity fraud. Importantly, the bill requires that users of the verification system pay the full cost to limit any costs to taxpayers. Also, the bill ensures that the provisions do not distract the Social Security Administration from their core duties and responsibilities. It is also important to note that the bill includes protections to ensure the verification system is secure and not subject to abuse or misuse. The consumer must also consent before their information could be subject to an inquiry. This is bipartisan, commonsense legislation that solves a real-world problem, but I bet it will never get the attention that it deserves. This bill went through regular order. It passed out of the Ways and Means Committee on a 38-0 vote, and I hope it receives a similar vote here on the House floor. Despite what some in the national news media would have you to believe, this type of bipartisan legislation actually happens all the time here in the House. The vast majority of bills we pass receive bipartisan support, and while that may not make for the best television, it is the reality of the work we do on a daily basis. So I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the Protecting Children From Identity Theft Act, and let's work to solve a problem impacting Americans each and every day. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 830 and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.