Brian Babin

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017. This bipartisan and bicameral bill grew to maturity through many long and serious discussions about the future of our Nation's space program. I am encouraged by the bill's persistent emphasis on the continuity of purpose and stability. It is crucial that we continue to support NASA's ongoing human exploration efforts. I am proud to note the inclusion of the To Research Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act, better known as the TREAT Astronauts Act, which will ensure that our Nation's astronauts receive support for medical issues associated with their service. The language of this bill is exactly the same as the TREAT Astronauts Act that was passed in the House on December 7, 2016. As a medical professional myself, I care deeply about this issue. I am honored to have sponsored the original legislation, and am proud to contribute to an important program that will support the brave men and women of our astronaut corps. Outer space poses many medical challenges. The human body simply is not designed to thrive in microgravity, or weightlessness. We know that spending time in space is risky. We want to understand the reasons why the TREAT Astronauts Act will ensure the retention of our astronauts' medical data and help to continue our research in aerospace medicine, while also providing our astronauts with the medical care that they need and deserve after risking so much in service to our country. This bill continues support for the important work on the Space Launch System, the Orion crew vehicle, and commercial cargo and crew programs. The future of the International Space Station is another key topic addressed in this legislation. We are committed to operating the ISS until 2024. Beyond that date, however, maintaining NASA's current level of support for the ISS will dramatically affect the rest of NASA's portfolio, particularly in human spaceflight. This bill opens the debate about how and under what circumstances NASA's presence in low-Earth orbit can and should be continued beyond 2024. Balancing NASA's presence and low Earth orbit and beyond low Earth orbit will require thoughtful and informed decisionmaking. My hope is that NASA will explore unique partnerships that will maintain NASA's ability to utilize low Earth orbit in an efficient manner by leveraging private sector investment. This bill will help inform and frame that imminent debate. This bill also addresses NASA's facilities and infrastructure here on Earth. NASA must develop a plan so that its labs, tools, facilities, and infrastructure can support a robust exploration agenda. Right- sizing NASA's footprint is a longstanding challenge. We must maintain critical capabilities but also find efficiencies where they may exist. The bill before us would call on NASA to develop a policy to ensure that NASA maintains infrastructure to support bold exploration. If NASA determines that facilities are not necessary or could be transferred to the private sector, the bill calls on NASA to do so in accordance with a transparent and equitable process. The bill also urges the administration to pursue a sensible policy on termination liability so that NASA makes the best possible use of taxpayer dollars rather than the inefficient policy implemented by the previous administration. This bill sets out clear intentions for NASA as we move forward into the next chapter of American space exploration. I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting this very important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 442, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 442) to authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work: our chairman, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith); and also the ranking gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson); my counterpart on the subcommittee, Representative Bera; and also Representative Perlmutter, the gentleman from Colorado; and all of my fellow members on the subcommittee and our entire committee. I take a moment to also thank our hardworking staff, and that includes Tom Hammond, Mike Mineiro, Jonathan Charlton, Ryan Faith, Molly Fromm, and Chris Wydler from the majority staff. I also thank Steve Janushkowsky, Jeannie Kranz, Stuart Burns from my congressional staff, and Allen Li and Pamela Whitney from the minority staff. Mr. Speaker, it is because of their countless hours of hard work, negotiation, and finding common ground that we will now send this bill from the floor of this House of Representatives to the resolute desk of the Oval Office to be signed into law. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Doug Collins for leading this very Special Order on a topic that is very near and dear to my heart, the invaluable role of community pharmacists in our society. As a rural dentist who practiced for 35 years, I can relate to the plight of community pharmacists who must overcome all of the challenges involved in running a small business while serving their patients and serving their customers and doing their job as a medical professional. Just like my small hometown of Woodville, Texas, where I practice, many of the areas in which community pharmacies are located are rural and have underserved, low-income and elderly populations. This can present unique challenges and, oftentimes, results in community pharmacists performing a lot of services, such as face-to-face counseling and planning services for patients' medication regimen at no charge, care that is uncompensated by Medicare and not typically reimbursed by private insurance companies as well. What is even more challenging is the uphill battle that community pharmacists continually face in just getting adequate payment for the lifesaving medications that they dispense on a daily basis and still be able to earn a small profit. Community pharmacists rely on pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, who negotiate directly with payors, including private insurance companies, as well as Medicare part D and other government plans, for reimbursement levels for medications. The problem is that the payment levels that make it up to the community pharmacists after the PBMs have ``skimmed off the top'' are well below the pharmacists' acquisition costs and fail to be delivered in a timely manner in many circumstances, in many instances. Simply put, there is a dire need for more transparency throughout this process and for more accountability for PBMs. I proudly cosponsored legislation that would do just this last year. It was called the MAC Transparency Act, and I now proudly support this bill again in this 115th Congress. Now is the time to act on this bill. As a dentist, it was my goal to treat each patient to the highest standard of care, a goal that I share with all of the community pharmacists that I know. Sadly, if there is no change in the conditions that community pharmacists are facing, many of these providers will have to close their doors. Many already have, and our patients suffer. For the sake of many rural communities that I serve, I hope to see the MAC Transparency Act and other similar pieces of legislation move forward, as well as a greater spotlight put on the actions of the PBMs so that community pharmacists can get the relief that they so desperately need to continue practicing. I thank Congressman Collins for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a great man for his military service, Mr. Raymond Holub. Mr. Holub is a 92 year old veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. Born in Pleak, Texas, Mr. Holub spent his teenage years working with the Civilian Conservation Corps. Mr. Holub bravely volunteered to become a Paratrooper and served in the 17th and 82nd Airborne Divisions during World War II from 1943 to 1946. His ship was involved in an accident at sea and hundreds of lives were lost. After overcoming the dangers of the Atlantic, he and his fellow soldiers reached Germany. Upon reaching Essen and Berlin, Holub was reassigned to General Dwight D. Eisenhower's Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force, as an Honor Guard. Mr. Holub left the Army in 1946, only to reenlist and serve his country a second time, in the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. He received the Bronze Star for his military service. He has been a resident of Liberty, Texas for 56 years. Mr. Holub remains an active member of the American Legion Post 658 in Crosby, Texas and VFW Post 912 in Baytown, Texas. It is a tremendous honor to represent Mr. Holub in the U.S. Congress and I thank him for his selfless military service to this great nation.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a great man for his military service, Robert Lukenbaugh. Mr. Lukenbaugh is a 92-year-old veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. After graduating high school in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After basic training in San Diego, he shipped out to the Pacific Theatre on a transport ship stopping at Pearl Harbor before heading to Midway. He later returned to the Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor to receive treatment for a broken leg. He left active duty in the Marines in 1946, but remained in the Reserves. He married his wife, the former Mary Etta that same year. In 1950, he was called back into the Marines to train troops going to Korea at Camp Pendleton. Mr. Lukenbaugh was honorably discharged in 1951 from the Marines and moved back to Oklahoma with his wife. Mr. Lukenbaugh worked for Union Equity Cooperative Exchange for 50 years, 15 of which were in Oklahoma. In 1965, he and his wife moved to Deer Park, Texas where he continued working for Union Equity Cooperative Exchange for 35 more years. After retiring, the couple remained in Deer Park where they attend Deer Park United Methodist Church. It is a tremendous honor to represent Mr. Lukenbaugh in the U.S. Congress and I thank him for his selfless military service to this great nation.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne) for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I represent a part of the country that is the economic engine of not only Texas but our entire Nation. My Houston area district and the surrounding districts are responsible for some of the strongest economic growth in our entire country. These are good, well- paying jobs. There are few places in the Nation where you can graduate from high school, get some trade school certifications, and then be earning close to six figures just a couple of years out of high school. You can do that in my district, where the petrochemical plants are thriving because of the low cost of crude oil and natural gas. Manufacturing is coming back and growing strongly in the petrochemical sector. Over $150 billion is being invested by American chemical countries across the Nation, with the largest concentration in the Houston area. The previous administration took numerous steps to stop the oil and gas boom, and the Bureau of Land Management rule that was published in the waning days of the Obama administration was an example of one such overreach. This ill-advised rule was aimed at removing States and localities from the BLM decisionmaking process and centralizing decisionmaking by a few political appointees here in Washington, D.C. This move simply undermines local communities and States. It undermines our ability to develop oil and gas resources on public lands. It threatens American jobs. I call on my colleagues to put American manufacturing first. A vote for this bill today is a vote for American manufacturing jobs, many of them high-paying, blue-collar jobs and many of them union jobs across America's petroleum and chemical plants. I strongly urge my colleagues to support and vote for this bill.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my fervent support for President Trump's executive order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry. I, along with many other Members of Congress, have been speaking out for more than a 1\1/2\ years about the dangers posed by our U.N.-run refugee resettlement program. I applaud President Trump for following through on his promise by imposing strict vetting for seven countries that President Obama labeled in 2016 as countries of particular concern for terrorism. Liberal activists and politicians are leveling baseless assertions about the Trump policy only to see a lazy and complicit media parrot their claims without exercising due diligence to validate it. To me, this is fake news. And in this incident, it is the mainstream media that is pushing this misinformation. Let's separate myth from fact and inject a little coolheaded commonsense into this national dialogue. Friday's executive order does a few things: It pauses the entry of all refugees for the next 120 days; it caps refugee admissions for fiscal year 2017 at 50,000; it stalls, for 90 days, the admission of foreign nationals from seven countries that are well established as terrorist hotspot countries; and it puts priority on highly persecuted religious minorities when the refugee program resumes. The media has echoed the protesters' assertion that this is somehow a Muslim ban. They are flat-out wrong. Remember, it was President Obama who created this seven-country list, not President Trump. If it were a Muslim ban, then why doesn't it include restrictions on the other 40 majority Muslim nations? That makes no sense. That is because this is a targeted approach to deal with the threat posed by terrorists who operate freely in these failed states and pose a direct threat to the American people. There is absolutely nothing in this executive order that says anything about banning any particular group of people. Another shortsighted fallacy being propagated is that President Trump is the only President to ever implement restrictions on refugee admissions. Conveniently forgotten is the fact that in 2011, President Obama stopped processing refugees from Iraq for 6 months after a terrorist plot was uncovered involving two Iraqi refugees who had come into the United States. Previous Presidents of both parties have responded to global threats with refugee admission limitations, so characterizing Trump's actions is unprecedented, is simply fiction and a gross demonstration of partisanship. As ISIS has infiltrated the ranks of refugees in Europe, the President is similarly responding to global threats with the appropriate safeguards as he sees fit. This is something that he should be praised for--not condemned. The notion that the executive order is inherently un-American must be addressed as well. After all, America is the land made up of immigrants that has been a safe harbor to millions fleeing persecution around the world since her inception. But in order for this to continue, we must be vigilant to protect our homeland. America is the greatest Nation in the world, and if we let up on our pursuit of the highest national security standards, we will see this greatness slip away--to the detriment not only of all American citizens, but to the entire world. Finally, I must address the false notion that having a Christian ethic demands that we accept all refugees with open arms. Well, if that is the case, why aren't we opening the doors wide to the 60 million refugees worldwide rather than only a fraction of 1 percent? As a follower of Jesus Christ, I do believe that we should help those in need around us, and that America should be involved in helping the displaced and persecuted whenever we can. Perhaps a more compassionate approach might be to take the money that we spend settling one refugee in the United States and, instead, for the same price, provide for 12, for a dozen, refugees in a safe haven near their own home countries. Just as a father's primary responsibility is to care for his own children, the chief role of the President and other national leaders is to ensure the best interest of the citizens under their charge. If President Trump were to overlook the safety of the American people, it would simply be an abdication of his own responsibility that the American people elected him to do. It seems the President's opponents have cherry-picked particular Bible verses to suit their own political agenda, while ignoring other basic Biblical concepts of stewardship and responsibility out of sheer political convenience. To conclude, the hysteria surrounding this national security executive order must come to an end. After all, the main provisions of this executive order are temporary in nature and are in line with what many Presidents in the past have done. ISIS presents one of the most extensive and complex threats to our Nation, and we do want our President to take every precaution to make sure that Americans are safe. This--not the false narratives of Trump's opponents--must be the focus of the national dialogue, and we must share in what he is doing.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the West Orange- Stark Mustangs for winning back to back football state championships, along with their fourth state title in school history on December 16, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The task of winning repeating championships and maintaining a twenty-seven game winning streak is extremely difficult in Texas football. Not to mention, West Orange- Stark is currently the twenty-third high school team in Texas history to score over eight hundred points in a season. These young men have shown incredible persistence, hard work, passion and commitment to accomplish this feat and I applaud each and every one of them. I would like to personally recognize each one of them and their coaches. Players: Keyshawn Holman, Jackson Dallas, Kentavious Miller, Dominque Tezeno, Justin Brown, Malick Phillips, Mandel Turner-King, Chaka Watson, Jarron Morris, Kaleb Ramsey, Davien Teate, Ronald Carter, Jeremiah Shaw, Kayven Cooper, Jay'len Matthews, Teshaun Teel, Keion Hancock, Ja'Vonn Ross, Mark Thibodeaux, Demorris Thibodeaux, Tyshon Watkins, Ryan Baham-Heisser, Cory Skinner, Paulino Santos, Justin Sibley, Chad Dallas, Ryan Ragsdale, Jalen Powdrill, Ja'Qualan Coleman, Te'ron Brown, Paul Ivory, Jerrick Spencer, Ja'Corry Brady, Morris Joseph, Bobby Rash, Chris Griffin, Adrik Mims, Rufus Joseph, Anthony Griffin, and Blake Robinson; Superintendent: Rickie Harris; Principal: Rod Anderson; Athletic Director/Head Coach: Cornel Thompson; Defensive Coordinator: Mike Pierce; Offensive Coordinator: Ed Dyer; Assistant Coaches: Del Basinger, Terry Joe Ramsey, Joseph Viator, Hiawatha Hickman, Justin Trahan, Rick Butler, Russell Bottley and Depauldrick Garrett; Athletic Trainer: Nic Tanner I wish each one of them continued success on and off the football field. Go Mustangs!

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming. Madam Speaker, for the past 30 years, through the Hyde amendment, the U.S. Congress has acted to prevent taxpayer money from being used to pay for abortions. The bipartisan Hyde amendment has been an annual rider on appropriations bills, but ObamaCare bypassed this abortion funding prohibition leading to the largest expansion of taxpayer funding of abortion in American history since Roe v. Wade. That is why we desperately need to pass H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act to permanently codify the Hyde amendment and apply it across the entire Federal Government. This bill will also ensure that the prohibition is not subject to annual threats and it will close the massive loophole that was created by ObamaCare. Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has saved the lives of over 2 million babies--roughly the same number of people who live in the city of Houston, Texas, where I serve as a U.S. Representative. For the sake of these 2 million people and the millions more that will be saved, we must permanently codify the Hyde amendment's pro-life protections. Furthermore, as ObamaCare presented the largest expansion of abortions since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case, we must ensure that the Hyde amendment covers all areas of the Federal Government. This will ensure that taxpayer dollars are no longer used to subsidize abortions. H.R. 7 is a critical piece of legislation that is supported by nearly two-thirds of the American people who do not want the government to be in the business of killing unborn babies. Congress must act to preserve the Hyde amendment for posterity and to put an immediate end to the ongoing harm being done with taxpayers' money. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote for the passage of this much-needed bill to end taxpayer funding of abortion once and for all.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I join millions around our country and in NASA and the space industry who are mourning the loss of one of a dozen Apollo space legends, Capt. Eugene ``Gene'' Cernan. As the Commander of the Apollo 17 mission, and the most recent man on the moon--as he put it--he remained a tireless and outspoken advocate for NASA and America's manned space exploration program. Captain Cernan testified before Congress numerous times, and took a leading role in promoting human spaceflight. Captain Cernan had an unshakable conviction that it was mankind's destiny to explore and that the U.S. must take the lead, for the benefit of all mankind. He conveyed these sentiments as he left the lunar surface, ``. . .as I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come--but we believe not too long into the future--I'd like to just (say) what I believe history will record: that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for mankind. . .'' I first met Capt. Cernan here in Washington D.C. about one year ago, and I was inspired by his incredible passion for human space exploration and conviction that the United States must lead in this world-changing endeavor. God speed Capt. Cernan, I promise that I will continue your fight in the Congress to establish a bold and purposeful human space exploration program. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Captain Cernan.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Centennial Year of the Lions Club International. Founded by Melvin Jones in June, 1917, the Lions Club was established as a place where men of, ``drive, intelligence and ambition,'' could come together and, ``put their talents to work improving their communities.'' It was Jones' vision that the Lions Club become the global leader in community and humanitarian service. Indeed, 100 years later the Lions Club has become an international movement with 1.4 million men and women across nearly 200 countries-- including my hometown of Woodville, Texas. Across the globe, the Lions Club is empowering volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding. As a Lions Club member myself, I share this commitment to serving others. My own club, in Woodville Texas is part of Lions Club District 2-S1, and the 36th Congressional District that I represent is encompassed by both Lions Club Districts 2-S1 and 2-S2. Members within these districts are paragons of servant leadership, and have mobilized to support countless worthy causes across Texas--including natural disaster recovery, vision screenings and diabetes awareness. I want to take the time to personally thank each Lions Club within these two districts, and commend the dedication and servant leadership that each Lion gives to their community. District 2-S1: Alto Lions Club, Angelina County Ladies Lions Club, Beaumont Breakfast Lions Club, Beaumont Founders, Beaumont South/Forest Park Lions Club, Beckville Lions Club, Bridge City Lions Club, Buna Lions Club, Burkeville--Toledo Bend Lions Club, Carthage Noon Lions Club, Center Noon Lions Club, Chester Lions Club, Corrigan Lions Club, Cushing Lions Club, Diboll Lions Club, Dick Dowling Lions Club, Garrison Lions Club, Groveton Lions Club, Hamshire Fannett Lions Club, Hemphill Lions Club, Jacksonville Lions Club, Jasper Evening Lions Club, Jasper Lions Club, Kirbyville Lions Club, Lamar University, Little Cypress Lions Club, Livingston Lions Club, Lufkin Evening Lions Club, Lufkin Host Lions Club, Lumberton Lions Club, Metro Lions Club, Nacogdoches Breakfast Lions Club, Nacogdoches Ladies Lions Club, Nederland Professional Lions Club, New Summerfield Lions Club, Newton Lions Club, Onalaska Greater Lions Club, Orange Lions Club, Orange Noon Lions Club, Panola County Lions Club, Port Arthur Founders, Port Neches Lions Club, Rusk Lions Club, San Augustine Lions Club, Shelbyville Lions Club, Silsbee Lions Club, Sour Lake Lions Club, South County Breakfast Lions Club, Spurger Lions Club, Trinity Lions Club, Vidor Lions Club, Winnie Stowell Lions Club, Woodville Lions Club. District 2-S2: Alief Lions Clubs, Anahuac Lions Clubs, Barbers Hill Lions Clubs, Baytown Lions Clubs, Brookshire/Pattison Lions Clubs, Cleveland Lions Clubs, Conroe Noon Lions Clubs, Crosby Lions Clubs, Cut and Shoot Family Lions Clubs, Dayton Noon Lions Clubs, Deer Park Lions Clubs, Hardin Lions Clubs, Hempstead Lions Clubs, Houston Aldine & Spring Area Lions Clubs, Houston City-Fair Lions Clubs, Houston Founder Lions Clubs, Houston Fil-Am Lions Clubs, Houston Greenspoint Lions Clubs, Houston Heights Lions Clubs, Houston Hobby Airport Lions Clubs, Houston Lady Lions Clubs, Houston Memorial Lions Clubs, Houston Midwest Lions Clubs, Houston Millennium Lions Clubs, Houston Northwest Lions Clubs, Houston Royal Oks Lions Clubs, Houston Southwest Lions Clubs, Houston Space City Lions Clubs, Houston Sports Lions Clubs, Houston Spring Branch Lions Clubs, Houston Westbury Lions Clubs, Huffman Lions Clubs, Humble Lions Clubs, Humble Noon Lions Clubs, Huntsville Lions Clubs, Katy Lions Clubs, Kingwood Lions Clubs, Klein Lions Clubs, La Porte Lions Clubs, Liberty Lions Clubs, Magnolia Lions Clubs, Montgomery Lions Clubs, Panorama Lions Clubs, Pasadena Lions Clubs, Prairie View A&M University Lions Clubs, Sam Houston State University Lions Clubs, South Montgomery County Lions Clubs, The Woodlands Lions Clubs, Tomball Lions Clubs, Twin City Lions Clubs, Walker County Lions Clubs, Waller Lions Clubs. On behalf of the 36th Congressional District of Texas, I commend the Lions for their 100 years of service to our communities across East Texas, to our nation and to those in need across the world.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sarah Jefferson Simon. Born and raised in Orange, Texas on November 26, 1961, Sarah was a lifelong Texan. In 1989, Sarah joined the Orange Police Department and quickly rose through the ranks as she put her life on the line to protect those of us who call East Texas home. After only one year as a Patrol Officer, she was promoted to the Detective Division and given the rank of Detective-Sergeant. Sarah was the first African-American woman to attain this esteemed role within the City of Orange Police Department. Sarah had a God-given gift for her craft, and was often called upon by other law enforcement agencies to break cold cases and execute some of the region's most challenging criminal investigations. It is no surprise that, with such a heart for the community, Sarah was also deeply involved with the local school district as a tutor, and served as a Trustee of the West Orange-Cove school district. Her children, Diztorsha and Herman, have continued her legacy of public service as educators. Sarah was a woman of God, a pillar of faith for those in her community and to those in her care. For over 30 years, she attended Starlight Church of God in Christ and richly gave of her time and talent in service of the Church and its parishioners. Her son, Herman, pastors the faithful in Bon Weir. Sarah went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, January 6, 2017. She will be deeply missed by those whose lives she touched. My prayers and condolences go out to Sarah's loving family, and her children, Diztorsha, and Herman. Sarah will be sorely missed, but her legacy will certainly live on.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina, my good friend and RSC chairman, Mark Walker, for this Special Order opportunity tonight. Mr. Speaker, Americans are hurting right now with their health care. ObamaCare supporters are quick to point out some Americans who have actually been helped by ObamaCare. After spending over $1 trillion of borrowed money, I would certainly hope that there are at least some people who have been helped by this terrible law that was forced on us over 6 years ago by the Democrats and without one single Republican vote. Thousands of my constituents are demanding to be rescued from ObamaCare. They have shared their individual stories with me about how it has hurt them--higher premiums, excessive deductibles--how it has disrupted cancer treatments, forced them to change doctors, and how it has even cost many their jobs. Here is what real people are saying--my constituents. This is what they are telling me: A young couple with three children, living in Tyler County, Texas, shared how their premiums have gone up year after year. They began with a $900 monthly premium and with a $2,500 deductible. The very next year, the premium went to $1,100, and the deductible went up to $5,000. Then, in 2015, they were forced from a PPO into an HMO at $1,000 a month with a $6,600 deductible. These are individual deductibles. That is $33,000, plus the $12,000-per-year premium. That is an extraordinary burden on a young family. This family tells me about their problem every time they see me, and they see me a lot because this is my daughter and my son-in-law and my three grandchildren. Gale in Deer Park, Texas, and Alisa from Crosby, Texas, wrote to tell me how their ObamaCare mandates have forced their employers to cut their work hours. They are losing hundreds of dollars in income each and every month. This 30-hour mandate means that this college student has lost out on hundreds of dollars in pay that she could have earned over the recent Christmas break. Tim in Baytown, along with several others, wrote to share with me that it cost him his job. Paul from Harris County and Frank in Jasper shared how they have been significantly experiencing higher costs and a decrease in coverage. Roy in Pasadena says that his deductible is now over $12,000. Ben and Carol, like thousands of others in southeast Texas, have had their healthcare plans canceled. This calamitous unaffordability and poor coverage have inundated folks everywhere, like Linda in Vidor, who have to choose between their medications and food; like folks in El Lago--David and Sheryl--and Brian in Houston. It continues to tragically affect folks every single day. Sharell from Jasper County has faced a doubling of her premiums, and Carol in Baytown shared how she has seen substantial increases in her premiums and her deductibles. Retirees who have worked their entire lives, like Jack from Orange and Glenda from Hardin County, wrote to tell me how they are finding it difficult to afford their healthcare costs. Let's not forget that ObamaCare cut hundreds of billions of dollars and services from Medicare, hurting the elderly. Many who are sick have reached out to me, such as Randal of Harris County, who had their medical treatments disrupted by ObamaCare. I hear all the time the firsthand accounts of hardworking folks who are at their wits' end under this monstrosity. I am voting to repeal ObamaCare in order to provide relief to Brian, Brad, LaLa, Gale, Alisa, Abby, Tim, Paul, Frank, Roy, Linda, David, Sheryl, Brian, Sharell, Carol, Jack, Glenda, Randal, and the tens of thousands more Texans just like them. Perhaps Paul in Deer Park sums it up the best: It made it worse for me. It increased the costs, and it decreased my coverage. That is the story I have heard for 6 long years, and it is why this failed program must be repealed and replaced with a plan that restores healthcare freedom to all Americans--health plans that are affordable and that meet their families' needs--a plan that they choose, not the Federal Government. Americans need relief now.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Jef Chaison Russell III or ``Rusty'' as I knew him, who went to be with the Lord on December 31, 2016. Rusty was a former Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau director who devoted himself to promoting tourism in the Beaumont region. He was known in many different convention and tourism circles having served as director of the Bureaus of Beaumont, Texas, Forth Worth, Texas and Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Rusty loved people and in turn people loved him. Rusty and I have been friends since 1953 during our kindergarten days at Longfellow Elementary School in Texas. There was no finer man than Rusty. Among the many memories we share together there is one I will cherish forever; two years ago, he traveled to D.C. to take part in my being sworn into the 114th Congress. I am saddened by his passing, but I am so thankful for the years of friendship I had with my dear friend. We do not know the day, hour or minute that the good Lord will call us home; Rusty knew this and spent his days serving others and touching every life he could. I will cherish the memories of our friendship. Rusty's family will continue to be in our prayers.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jesse William ``J.W.'' Ray, who died on January 2, 2017. J.W. lived an impressive life. He served as a Seabee 24th NCB in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was among the soldiers who fought in the Philippines and Okinawa before being honorably discharged on April 20, 1946. After leaving the U.S. Navy, J.W. married and was blessed with four children. He spent thirteen years working with Texaco refinery as a pipefitter and two years working for the Southern Pacific Railroad. As a family man, J.W. decided to leave the railroad because it took him away from his loved ones for days at a time. He entered the insurance industry and founded his own insurance company in Woodville, Texas, which he ran for forty years. When his first wife Cecil passed away in 2004, J.W. began Cecil's Pantry at the United Methodist Church in Warren, Texas. It still continues to help others today. J.W. Ray was a kind man and I feel honored and privileged to have known him. He will be missed, and his family will continue to be in our prayers.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. ``No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.''

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor two young men who gave their lives in service to the State of Texas and the United States when their Apache helicopter crashed in Galveston Bay, Texas, during a training mission last week in my congressional district. My deepest sympathies go out to the families of Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lucas Lowe of Daisetta, Texas, a resident of the 36th Congressional District, which I represent, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dustin Mortenson of League City, Texas. The heartbreaking loss of these two fine Texas Army National Guard pilots, assigned to the First Squadron 149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division, has been felt throughout our southeast Texas community. Both men tragically leave behind a wife and family. Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Lowe's wife, Kami, was also pregnant with twins due next month, in February. As a former Texas Guardsman myself, my prayers remain with all those who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. As the U.S. Congressman for District 36, it is my commitment and duty to the families to see that they get the support they need during this very difficult time. Please keep these families in your thoughts and your prayers. May God bless these two soldiers, their families, and all who serve their country.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of a very special person and dear friend of mine, David Drinkard. David was a former art teacher at Warren High School in Warren, Texas and a renowned wildlife painter. We have been friends since attending Forest Park High School and Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. He was an expert at painting God's beautiful creations in nature. There is nothing prettier than a ``David Drinkard sky.'' His paintings hang in homes, businesses and galleries all over, including my own home and dental office. David was a devout Christian, a loyal husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a strong conservative and an active conservationist, donating many paintings for auction to the Coastal Conservation Association and other groups to help raise funds for conservation projects and causes. He was an excellent hunter and probably ranked as one of the best fishermen with whom I ever had the privilege of casting a lure. I am honored to have one of his paintings prominently displayed in my congressional office in Washington. It depicts David and me catching speckled trout on Sabine Lake in Texas. Some of my children and I even took art lessons from him in his hometown of Warren years ago. David Drinkard has a very special place in our hearts and we will miss him dearly. David passed away on December 26, 2016. His wife Beverly and family will continue to be in our prayers.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the full committee.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, for over 50 years, the United States of America has asked its bravest to travel to space in service of their country. From the dynamic launch environment to the unforgiving vacuum of space, to the energetic reentry of Earth, human spaceflight places astronauts in challenging environments. Even training for spaceflight carries significant risks. I am very proud to say that I represent a great number of these astronauts who call Houston their home. As a nation, we have an obligation to those whom we put in harm's way. As a Congress, we have a responsibility to provide for the treatment of conditions caused by Federal service. As a healthcare professional myself, and as their Representative, you can say it is my duty to make sure that these folks are taken care of properly. This is why I have sponsored H.R. 6076, the TREAT Astronauts Act, a very commonsense, fiscally responsible, bipartisan bill that makes sure that our brave men and women who venture into space receive the support for medical issues associated with their service. The psychological and medical data associated with an astronaut's human spaceflight service is very important for our future space endeavors. The TREAT Astronauts Act will provide this additional data and will enable NASA to better understand the medical risks of spaceflight, minimize these risks, and enable future long-duration missions to Mars and even beyond. I am very thankful to Chairman Lamar Smith for his support of the TREAT Astronauts Act and for his leadership as chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I am also very glad that my colleague, Ms. Edwards, is an original cosponsor and that the bill was reported out of committee by a voice vote with broad bipartisan support. The amendment before us today represents compromise language agreed upon with the Senate in good faith that this language will be included and passed in a NASA Authorization Act before the 114th Congress recesses. The program established under this compromise language is very similar to the program that passed out of the committee. In developing this bill, my staff and I had extensive discussions with former astronauts, NASA, and a number of other Federal agencies. The TREAT Astronauts Act is also informed by a hearing the Space Subcommittee held back in June, at which a number of former astronauts testified, including Captain Scott Kelly, who spent a year on the International Space Station. Under existing statutes, NASA has the authority to collect voluntary astronaut medical data for research. It exercises that authority through the Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program, or LSAH. However, there are limitations on the usefulness of the LSAH program. Former astronaut participation is only 61 percent and the existing LSAH program only affords NASA access to yearly checkup data, not the entirety of the former astronauts' medical records. Furthermore, NASA is unable to provide for the appropriate diagnosis and treatment under the existing authority to conduct research. The TREAT Astronauts Act solves this problem by supplementing existing authorities. Congress would be remiss not to ensure that the TREAT Astronauts Act is fiscally responsible. The TREAT Astronauts Act is not a mandate and is subject to existing discretionary appropriations. In order to address cost risks, the bill establishes NASA as a secondary payer to existing obligations of the United States or third parties, ensuring that the cost to NASA is minimal. Establishing NASA as a secondary payer is not unprecedented. For example, the Department of Defense is a secondary payer to veteran and civilian healthcare programs. Allow me to make this clear for the record. Although NASA is a secondary payer, the TREAT Astronauts Act provides that no participating former astronaut or payload specialist will have to pay for anything out of pocket, including deductibles and copayments associated with the primary payer. There are a number of reporting requirements, including an independent cost estimate and an annual fiscal report. These reports will ensure that Congress is well informed and able to conduct appropriate oversight. Participation in the program is voluntary. No astronaut should be forced or coerced to participate in this program. In the event that an astronaut chooses not to participate in the program, there are still other occupational healthcare options available to them. But if they do participate, the astronauts have consented that NASA can use and disclose the data they collect, subject to protecting their personally identifiable health information. In conclusion, I strongly support the TREAT Astronauts Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, fiscally responsible, bipartisan bill that makes sure that our brave men and women who venture into space receive the support for medical issues associated with their service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.