Dave Brat

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the Midlothian community in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Founded in 1918, Bethlehem Baptist Church remains a pillar in the area and a beacon of light throughout the community in Midlothian, Virginia. Since its inception, Bethlehem Baptist Church has encouraged and empowered individuals with their message of hope, while encouraging the pursuit of opportunity through spiritual growth, education, economic empowerment and development. On behalf of the Seventh Congressional District of Virginia, I want to extend my congratulations to the church, the congregation, and the surrounding community for preserving one hundred years of faith and tradition.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 105th year of life of the Reverend Alphonso Washington. Rev. Washington was raised by his grandparents in Hume, Virginia. He attended the Mount Morris Primitive Baptist Church (later called Mount Morris Baptist Church), where his grandfather served as the pastor. He went to school while also working odd jobs to help his mother and stepfather. Beyond working on the family farm, he also took on plumbing and construction jobs. In November 1942, he received a letter from ``your uncle'' . . . Uncle Sam, stating Alphonso Washington had been drafted into the U.S. Army. He was sent to Fort Meade, MD, for about a week, and then traveled by train to the new Air Navigation School in San Marcos, Texas. The U.S. Army was still segregated at that time, and while the white barracks had been built on the new base, there were no black barracks yet. He and his fellow soldiers slept on the train and then in tents until the black barracks were completed. Since there were no black chaplains, and he had preaching experience, Alphonso was assigned to the base Chaplain Corp. It was during this timeframe Rev. Washington made a truly risky stand for God. While praying for troops that were heading out to war, a new Chaplain Officer, Major Dunn, stated: ``I will not swear to you there is a God, because I have not seen Him. . . .'' Thinking those troops definitely needed their faith strengthened, not reduced, Private First Class Washington stood up and challenged the Major regarding God's existence. For this, he was charged with insubordination, and ``blackballed'' from promotion in lieu of Court Marshall. After the war, Rev. Washington remained in the San Marcos area for nearly 60 years with his first wife, Rosa Mae. When Rev. Washington moved back to Virginia in the early 2000s, he returned to Mount Morris Baptist Church and served as an associate minister, traveling to preach in local churches, perform marriages, funerals, and counseling. He was later appointed to the position of Senior Statesman, where he continues to serve through preaching, committee appointments, the Sunday School Conference, the Women's Auxiliary and Ministers and Deacons Conference. In 2002, he married his current wife and former secretary of the church, Carol Whitmore. In 2009, he wrote an autobiography called, ``All in God's Time'' and has held book signings and been the keynote speaker throughout Fauquier and Culpeper Counties. The book contains his memoirs from his early days in Hume through his marriage to Carol at the time he wrote the book. He has served as an American Legion Chaplain since 1946 and has been preaching the Word of God for over 83 years. Rev. Washington and his wife Carol currently reside in Culpeper, VA. I'm happy to honor Rev. Alphonso Washington on 105 years of life and know he will continue to do great things.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Brady, Chairwoman Foxx, and Chairman Walden for addressing opioid and substance abuse disorders and their work on H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. I am grateful to my colleagues for treating the crisis with the urgency it deserves. In my district, this crisis has affected way too many. I am also grateful that my bill, H.R. 5889, the Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018 was included in the final package before us today.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Congress and the people of Virginia's 7th Congressional District, to recognize Double Ten Day. Double Ten Day, which takes place each year on October 10th, is celebrated by Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans as the national day of the Republic of China (ROC). Double Ten Day led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. In recognition of this historic event, the United States should build on the efforts of the Taiwan Travel Act and strengthen diplomatic relations with Taipei. Taiwan is a strong ally of the United States. In 2017, this island of 23 million people was our 11th largest trading partner. They are rated highly on the Heritage Foundation's 2018 Index of Economic Freedom. They share our values of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. And they are a bulwark against Chinese aggression in East Asia. In December 2016, then President-elect Trump spoke on the telephone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. This marked the first time a U.S. President or President-elect had spoken with an ROC President since 1979. It was the right thing to do then, and it's the right thing to do now. I urge both Congress and the Trump Administration to continue its efforts to advance ties between Taiwan and the United States. America must not give in to Chinese pressure to distance ourselves from Taiwan. We have much more work to do. I would like to thank the government and the people of Taiwan for their friendship, and I wish them a very Happy Double Ten Day.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Shuster and Chairman Thune for the inclusion of the Airport Investment Partnership Program and the removal of the ``flags of convenience'' language in H.R. 302, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. Similar to Brat 150, an amendment I filed to the Rules Committee on H.R. 4, this bill will improve the Airport Privatization Pilot Program by making it permanent, eliminating the numerical limits on airport participation, and providing grants to help with predevelopment planning costs. The new program will be called the Airport Investment Partnership Program. Airports that are looking to reorganize will soon be able to utilize this program as a viable option to achieve their goals. It is my hope and belief that through these changes, more airports will have an opportunity to increase profitability, efficiency, and improve the traveler experience. In addition, I am pleased that the final language of H.R. 302 does not include so-called airline ``flags of convenience'' restrictions. The original language proposed was anticompetitive and would have threatened U.S. Open Skies agreements that have brought consumers more options and better prices. The fact is consumers want more choices, not less. That is why I introduced H.R. 5000, the Free to Fly Act. The Free to Fly Act would repeal an outdated regulation from the Great Depression-era which artificially caps foreign ownership in U.S. airlines at twenty-five percent. This regulation is among the strictest in the world, increases the cost of capital, and limits consumer choice. The Free to Fly Act would also require any foreign U.S. airline subsidiaries to be established and regulated under U.S. law, be based in the United States, and only employ American workers. The Free to Fly Act has been endorsed by a wide array of organizations, from conservative groups such as the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks, business interests like the U.S. Travel Association, Airports Council International-North America, Travel Tech, and the Business Travel Coalition, taxpayer watchdogs like the National Taxpayers Union and Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and consumer groups such as Travelers United, FlyersRights.org, Air Travel Fairness, and Consumer Action for a Strong Economy. Both the travel industry and consumers recognize a need for such a change and for more competition. I hope Congress will turn to the free market more as a solution for financing our infrastructure needs and improving the travel experience for all Americans, and I applaud Chairman Shuster and Chairman Thune on the inclusion of the Airport Investment Partnership Program and the removal of the ``flags of convenience'' language in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome Pastor Rosalinda Rivera, and her friends, of Chesterfield County, Virginia, to the House Chamber today. As an associate pastor at the New Life Outreach Church, the church her parents, Carmen and Victor Torres founded in 1972, she has helped reach those who are in search of a better way of life. In addition to her role in the church, she is involved in many other organizations to serve those in need. Whether it is helping young people overcome the challenges of addiction at New Life for Youth, helping young mothers restore relationships with their children at Mercy Mom's House, or inspiring groups all over the U.S. with her writing and ministry, her service has been one spent devoted to the service of others. She has turned the lives of countless people around, giving them faith, hope, and purpose. Her work is a testament to the Judeo- Christian tradition, which calls all people to love and care for others in the same way that God loves and cares for each of us. Thank you, Rosalinda, and God bless you.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Bonamici, for her great work in committee and for her always keen insights and great presentation today as well. I would also like to personally thank the sheriffs back at home. I am referring to Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade and Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard. I thank them for helping with the statistics they do and for their recovery programs back at home in Chesterfield and Henrico. They do outstanding work, along with some of the other recovery folks. John Shinholser and many of our faith community work hand in hand on this across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5889, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5889, Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018. Last year, we lost more Virginians to opioid overdoses than any other year in the last decade. For 5 years now, fatal drug overdoses are the leading cause of unnatural death in Virginia. In 2017, the average overdose rate across Virginia was 14 per 1,000 people. But in Henrico County, the rate has increased from 11.5 in 2015 to 19.6 in 2017. In fact, 87 percent of inmates in Henrico County identified drug involvement as being a direct or an indirect reason for their incarceration. That is 87 percent. Out of the 1,007 inmates jailed for drug involvement, a plurality began using at age 13. The largest overdose rate last year was in Culpeper County, which increased from about 22.5 per 1,000 people in 2015 to 38 in 2017. We are losing friends, family members, and neighbors every day. Last November, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing to examine how opioids are impacting communities across America. During the hearing, members heard testimony from Ms. Toni Miner, a family support partner for Child and Youth Leadership who uses her own past struggle with drug abuse to help other families and children who need help overcoming addiction. In her testimony, Miner told members that: ``Addiction is a family disease, and if the whole family is not treated, history will continue to repeat itself.'' One of the unintended consequences of the opioid epidemic is that addiction has devastated not only the lives of users, but the lives of their families as well. Maybe the most tragic reality of this epidemic is it has devastated the lives of our children. Half of opioid overdose deaths occur among men and women ages 25 to 44, and many of these individuals are parents. The number of children in the U.S. foster care system is increasing, and a recent study showed almost one in three children who were placed in the foster care system in 2015 entered at least partially due to parental drug abuse. In Virginia, there were 5,295 children in foster care as of April. These children, and those living with an addicted caregiver, experience unimaginable hardship and trauma and, thus, have unique needs. When these tragedies occur, the children need the community's help. The professionals working at child care homes and centers, Head Start programs, faith-based organizations, camps, doctors' offices, and many other places are in a special position to identify and assist children affected by substance abuse. However, they may not have the preparation and education needed to recognize the risk factor associated with childhood trauma due to an adult's substance abuse. Information and resources from the Department of Health and Human Services could help educate child care and early education providers how to identify risk factors and respond appropriately when faced with a child experiencing trauma related to substance abuse. Such information and resources will help keep more children safe while aiding in the healthy development and well-being of the child and promoting whole-family approaches whenever possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5889.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5889) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate information, resources, and if requested, technical assistance to early childhood care and education providers and professionals working with young children on ways to properly recognize and respond to children who may be impacted by trauma related to substance abuse.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80 Henrico County, Virginia area high school seniors who plan to enlist in the United States Armed Forces after graduation. These students have excelled in their academic and extracurricular activities, and I offer my sincere congratulations for their selflessness and courageous decision to serve their country upon their high school graduation. I commend these student leaders for their selflessness and courageous decision to serve their country as members of the United States Armed Forces: Chandler Anderson, Michael Armstrong, William Baker, Madison Balagtas, Kahlil Barnes, Alicia Barnett, Trenea Booker, Preston Bourne, Zachary Bowman, Cody Bryant, Naveed Canter, Rebecca Cary, Brandon Church, Nicholas Clarke, Tiana Clary-Haymon, Johnny Clejel, Bryce Courtney, Keanu Davis, Deisler Deleon, Steven Devault, Caleb Dison, Jon Christopher Duran, Jacob Edwards, Deyoni Escalante, Courtney Ferraris, Brianna Field, Connor Foutz, Wyatt Fulton, Christopher Garcia, Eileen Garcia-Morales, Tyrese Gary, Kyeron George, Melvin Gwaikolo, Braxton Hicks, Genesis Hill, Donald Hines, Jalen Howard, Christopher Huitzachi, Colin Hurley, Jacob Jenkins, Robert Johnson, Michael Johnson, Isiah Jones, Damian Kidd, Makayla Knipp, Emmanuela Koranteng, Samael Lariosgonzalez, Austin Leroy, Alexander Leseman, Daniel Morris, Marcus Newsom, Marcus Oughton, Alonzo Paige, Christian Pearsall, Samuel Peters III, Nathan Price, Derek Prokesch, Lonnie Reid, Sean Robertson, Nicolaus Ross, Kamario Russ, Dylan Scruggs, Alham Shadan, Jason Shaw, Jordan Shumate, Alyssa Simpson, Jackson Squires, Sarah Stanton, Joshua Tolbert, Jose Torres, Steven Travis, Isaiah Vannote, Dane Virginia, Mubarak Vodel, Andrew Wade, Carl West, Nate Williamson, Christian Yin, Zachariah Youngwood. We also take the time to recognize Samuel Rivas, who only recently passed away but was part of this group of fine men and women; we honor his memory and his willingness to serve our country. These students will be honored by the Henrico Chapter of Our Community Salutes at their Annual Military Enlisted Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Hermitage High School in Henrico, VA. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these young men and women and their families for their dedication to serving this great Nation. We owe them and the many Americans who have served and will serve a debt of gratitude.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, the American people are sick and tired of the double standard shown to the Clintons, and the issue does not just stop narrowly with all of the issues which were just laid out so well by my colleague. There is sufficient evidence that Democratic opposition research was submitted as evidence to a FISA court so that our intelligence community could begin spying on the Trump campaign and American citizens. Justice has not been done here, as elsewhere, and Americans know full well what is going on up here. Mr. Speaker, the script has flipped, and it seems clear it was the Democrats, not Republicans, who abused their power to try to get Clinton elected. Unique in world history, America is the first Nation that was founded on the premise and the promise that all people are created equal under the law. That means no matter how well-connected, no matter how wealthy you are, no matter how many foreign leaders you have under your thumb, no matter how popular, no matter how elite, no matter how educated, no matter how many lawyers you have, no one in this country stands above the law of the land, and we have to ensure that that remains the case. The system is rigged. Bernie Sanders ran for the people without power, and the system and a party rigged his election. I ran to protect people from the corruption in D.C. Now, what was going on in D.C. last week, we have monopolies run amuck, Facebook, Google, Amazon, big banks, big insurance, big everything, the exact opposite of the logic of the Founders. Adam Smith, the founder of free market economics, wanted a country where small businesses competed against each other--no monopolies, no oligopolies. James Madison, the author of the Constitution, wanted a country with a large number of factors that duked it out among themselves. No power centered--especially in the Federal Government up in D.C.--all power returned to the States and to the people. But today, that is all, unfortunately, upside down up in the swamp. I know it sounds like fiction that the FBI used a piece of opposition research paid for by the Clintons and the Democrats to file a warrant to spy on American citizens and the Trump campaign. Comey, McCabe, Rybicki, Jim Baker, Lisa Page, Peter Strzok, all of these are top personnel, political appointees in the FBI who are wrapped up in this story. They are not going to investigate themselves. We need a fair and independent special counsel looking into this to see if there is anything wrong and any wrongdoing. Mr. Speaker, a second special counsel really is the only way to have the flexibility to fully investigate the matter of political bias in regards to ruling of the FISA court and see if anyone has broken the law of the land. Only after we fully investigate this matter will we have the full confidence that no one has escaped justice. The American people want that closure, and so do I.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Corporal Robert H. Meier. Corporal Meier served in the 88th Division which served in continuous combat operations for 14 months. Corporal Meier would eventually make the ultimate sacrifice as a soldier in Castleforte, Italy in 1944 where he was killed in action. Corporal Meier's nephew, Bob Meier, recognized that his uncle should have, in addition to receiving the Purple Heart, received Combat Infantryman's Badge and Bronze Star. Because of Bob Meier's effort, and the work of my staff and the U.S. Army we were able to ensure that Corporal Meier received his medals posthumously and that his legacy will be passed along to future generations.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a constituent Richard Bell, Jr. Mr. Bell lived in Blackstone, and served as a truck driver in the renown Red Ball Express where he drove supplies to the front line in France during the invasion of Normandy. It was this group that preserved the 28 Army divisions through the summer and fall of 1944 throughout France and Belgium, and allowed the allied troops to advance relentlessly, pushing the Germans out. My office was privileged to assist his family when they learned there were seven medals he earned, but never received, during his service during World War II. Having the opportunity to present those medals to him at a special ceremony organized by his family is a memory I will never forget. I am extending my heartfelt sympathy to his family as they mourn his passing.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the centennial of Merchant's Grocery. The store has been a cornerstone of community for Culpeper County and is worth taking the time to recognize. The store was founded in 1917 and is one the few stores to make the transition from a Mom and Pop grocery store to a modern food service model without losing the culture and atmosphere that has made it desirable. Merchant's Grocery has remained unswerving in its care for its customers and employees. Their quality of service is what has allowed them to last for 100 years and has kept their customers loyal to their industry. Businesses such as Merchant's Grocery are a taste of an age gone by. These businesses serve as a reminder of the importance of small businesses and the crucial roles they play within their communities. Merchant's Grocery has been a servant to Culpeper County, Shenandoah Valley, and the area of Central Virginia for the past 100 years and will continue to be a blessing to its employees and customers alike.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enthusiastically support H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act. This bill will return clarity and certainty to all businesses. Small-business owners all around Virginia's Seventh Congressional District have been asking for tax and regulatory relief that will free them from the tyranny of government control. Take, for example, two employers in my district: a home care franchisee called BrightStar Care of Richmond, and a daycare center called Rainbow Station at the Boulders. Mark Grasser, president of BrightStar Care, had this to say to me about the unworkable joint employer standard: ``We have a franchisor who wants to work with a franchisee to provide services. Unfortunately, that is not possible because that would violate the current joint employer standard. This ends up hurting everyone in the process. This standard is forcing employers and employees to make decisions that are not best for everyone involved, but what is best to satisfy government.'' John Sims, the owner of Rainbow Station at the Boulders, similarly said this: ``Having the proposed standard reversed allows small businesses like mine to thrive, knowing exactly where everyone stands.'' I am happy to report that the House is taking a bold step forward on defending businesses and workers today. The vague and convoluted joint employer scheme enacted in the Browning-Ferris decision under the Obama administration's National Labor Relations Board has caused employers and employees harm. Decades before the radical NLRB overturned what worked, businesses and employees knew the rules and thrived. It is time to roll the government back and return to what worked. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the centennial of Chesterfield County's historic courthouse. This building is a point of pride for the county of Chesterfield and is an official Historic Landmark for Chesterfield and the commonwealth of Virginia. The Chesterfield Courthouse sits where the original 1749 colonial courthouse once stood. It took only a mere eight months to build the 1917 Courthouse and began hearing cases shortly after construction. The bell from the 1749 Colonial courthouse has been carefully preserved and is the oldest historic artifact in Chesterfield County. It currently stands on display at the Chesterfield County Museum. The bell is, in fact, three years older than the great Liberty Bell. The Courthouse is more than a well-preserved Landmark, it is a symbol of our great history. When it was built in 1917, it was one of the first preservation struggles in our nation. It was the place where WWI draftees camped out as they waited to ship out to training camps. It has and will continue to represent the critical third branch of government where it still hears cases to this day, 100 years later. A centennial anniversary is a great accomplishment and is worth recognition and appreciation. It is necessary for our culture and history to be preserved and remembered; whether that be in the abstract of our ideals and principles, or in the physical; such as the Chesterfield Courthouse. Behind the physical buildings is where our principles and values lie. For this reason, I want to recognize the 100 year anniversary of the historic courthouse in Chesterfield, Virginia.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Anthony ``Tony'' Reed who passed away in June, and was a good friend who had a deep love for America. Born in the United Kingdom in 1938 as it was hurtling towards the start of World War II, Tony eventually immigrated to Virginia with his mother and stepfather in 1947. Before his 20th birthday, Tony enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and joined the C&P Telephone Company. Tony's reserve career was distinguished, rising from the rank of Private to Colonel in the Army Special Forces. He also achieved the status of Master Parachutist, logging over 900 parachute jumps. In 2015, Tony sat down with me and my former Chief of Staff to discuss a white paper he wrote for my attention on China. He was a Senior Fellow at The International Strategic Studies Association and was steeped in world history. Tony was a true gentleman and scholar and gave us many great memories. Tony will certainly be missed.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 414.

Mr. BRAT

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to the bill, H.R. 3219. I would like to thank Dina Titus, Ted Poe, Ro Khanna, Brian Mast, and Ted Lieu for cosponsoring this amendment. In short, my amendment will stop funding for painful dog experiments at the VA. It also includes protections to ensure service dog training programs can continue unencumbered so that veterans affected by conditions from blindness to PTSD can receive the help they need. My amendment combines three bipartisan issues: puppies, veterans, and government accountability. Earlier this year, when my wife Laura and I read the news report about the VA's dog testing program at the Richmond VA Medical Center, we were disturbed by the descriptions of the types of experiments conducted on these puppies. From what I read, the type of work they were doing was on the level of torture. In Richmond, this included inducing heart attacks. At other labs, the VA was giving methamphetamine to narcoleptic Dobermans. My family had a Doberman, and he was part of our family years back. I can't imagine conducting these tests on man's best friend. I believe our veterans deserve to receive the highest quality of healthcare. The Richmond VA Hospital is staffed by talented healthcare professionals. However, the experiments being conducted at the Richmond dog research lab have questionable medical benefit. The resources, money, time, and space being used to conduct these experiments would be better utilized to deliver high-quality healthcare to Richmond veterans. The VA's first priority should be caring for our veterans. A recent report by the VA Office of Research Oversight that was made public by a FOIA request found widespread lapses in adhering to protocol, failure to follow Federal animal welfare regulations, and the lack of sufficient documentation to justify the severity of these disturbing experiments. Federal taxpayer dollars are better spent directly caring for our Nation's veterans. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to defund these harmful experiments on man's best friend.

Mr. BRAT. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. BRAT. I yield to the gentlewoman from Nevada.

Mr. BRAT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.